A thought on the ADR system...

[lilmrsellis]

As I listened to the recent discussion show and the section about the ADR system I had a thought. What if the system is set up to leave some tables empty? I mean most planners can tell you walking up and into a restaurant can be nearly impossible. Anyone who isn't an obsessive planner would have no clue that you have to plan your meals weeks or months in advance. Maybe Disney is trying to rectify this problem. I for one think this is a very diplomatic way of going about it, though I don't know that this is what they're doing. If Disney is trying to level the playing field for all types of Disney guests, !

 

[DisneyKevin]

As I listened to the recent discussion show and the section about the ADR system I had a thought. What if the system is set up to leave some tables empty? I mean most planners can tell you walking up and into a restaurant can be nearly impossible. Anyone who isn't an obsessive planner would have no clue that you have to plan your meals weeks or months in advance. Maybe Disney is trying to rectify this problem. I for one think this is a very diplomatic way of going about it, though I don't know that this is what they're doing. If Disney is trying to level the playing field for all types of Disney guests, !

I would think this might be true were it not for the situation where you call for an ADR, get told that there is nothing available and show up to find an empty restaurant.

I'm also not sure why a business would run the risk of upseting a person looking to make an ADR (almost a sure thing) in favor of a possible "walk up". Seems a bit cavalier and like bad business.

I think the same is true when telling parties of two that there are no tables available but finding ample availability when asking about a party of three. Again, this rubs me the wrong way.

If you are going to suggest and take reservations...the playing field is already level. Be the first one to call for that specific time and you get a reservation.

Imagine calling Macy's to find out if a certain item was available and being told no...only to go to the store, find several of the item available and being told that they were saving that item in case someone else came in. I'd imagine anyone would throw a fit and / or stip shopping at Macy's.

 

[lilmrsellis]

I think leaving a few tables out of the system for walk-ups just makes sense. A restaurant full of empty tables, on the other hand, seems to be poor implementation (a common Disney problem it would seem).

 

[gkrykewy]

I think leaving a few tables out of the system for walk-ups just makes sense.

I don't think it makes sense, inasmuch as it effectively gives a bonus to non-planners (Kevin said it better above).

Also, if that were found to be the case, it would just give planners one more thing to worry about (i.e., they'll plan to split up and attempt walk-ups at X, Y, and Z, after consulting their handy actuarial table on which restaurants are most likely to have walk-ups available on Tuesdays at 5pm in March)

 

[SunnieRN]

I think if a restaurant is under booked, it is through an error in the system. (This of course would not apply to the less popular restaurants of course.) I also think that non-Disney owned restaurants do under book with Disney as on our last trip we wanted to go to Raglan Road, couldn't book through Disney, as we were told they were full, but RR had multiple openings when we called.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I think leaving a few tables out of the system for walk-ups just makes sense. A restaurant full of empty tables, on the other hand, seems to be poor implementation (a common Disney problem it would seem).

If you owned a restaurant and had the chance to fill every table with a reservation (keeping in mind that these are folks that thought well enough in advance to call and tell you that they wanted a seat in your restaurant) would you actually turn them away in favor of keeping tables open just in case someone decides to show up?

What happens if the "walk ups" dont walk up?

You've turned away revenue so as not to inconvenience someone who didnt make any plans.

In my opinion...this is poor business practice.

 

[schoen]

well, it is pretty common in the restaurant industry to book out only a percentage of your tables. There are a few reasons for this. If a table makes a reservation, you make an assumption about how long they will be there, and then that dictates when you can make the next available reservation for that table. This is obviously an imperfect science, because many tables will take much longer, and you don't want guests with reservations to have to wait. It is actually smart restaurant business to keep an inventory of tables available, and fill them with walk ups if need be. (a good rule of thumb is 85% booking) This is obviously not going to be the same for each restaurant.

Disney has a very captive market. It makes sense that they would do this.

They do seem to be taking fewer reservations than they used to though, since there is NEVER any availability. This could be a marketing strategy too. It might increase interest. It might also be a way to drive guests to their quick service destinations.

We'll see. It has been annoying, and I am dreading making adrs for our trip in Dec.

 

[baby1disney]

OK...coming from someone who works in the restaurant industry...I think BOTH ways is practical. Having an ADR guarentees(sp?) you a spot. Which is nice...especially in a busy restaurant because you may run into traffic, an accident, flat tire, whatever the reason may be. Most restaurant hold the table for about 15-20 min past the time you're suppose to be there. If you don't show, then it goes to the next person available.

As far as walk-ups go, isn't that how most buffets places are...like Ponderosa, Home Town Buffet, or any other place in your area?? Some people may not get a chance to call and book a ressie or if a couple decided that they wanted to be spontaneous and go to WDW for a weekend/week, then they should be able to walk up to one of the table service(s) and see if anyone hasn't shown up for a ressie or see if there's any tables available. If it's two people, I don't see a problem. That's not takin away space for my family because there's 8 of us when we go. ANd I'm not saying the same for a family of 8 either..altough that might bug me a bit more..why...I just don't know.

It really shouldn't matter. I mean let's say for instance, Tony's restaurant at MK. Let's say that they have 75 tables in the whole place. Are you really going to be upset if they set aside 10 of their tables for walk-ups?? That's 65 tables of "guarenteed" tables they have for the whole day. That's about 90% bookings of ADR's.

I personally would love something like that. I'm doing a solo trip in Dec and I think it would be pretty cool if I treated my self to V&A and didn't have to make ressies. Maybe the rule should be parties of 4 or less don't have to have a ressie for walk ups. But if a family of 10 come bustin thru...then...sorry...you have to have a ressie...UNLESS another family the same or very close in size has cancelled or not shown up for their ressie.

OK...I'm done!! Thanks!!

 

[KGH]

I'm also not sure why a business would run the risk of upseting a person looking to make an ADR (almost a sure thing) in favor of a possible "walk up". Seems a bit cavalier and like bad business.

I think the other side of it, though, is that it seems there are many people who made ADRs but choose not to use them. Someone walking up to a certain resturaunt is a sure thing. They fully intend to be seated and eat there... I hear on the boards often "oh, well, I made an ADR for Rose and Crown, but decided to eat at Sunshine Seasons instead."

ADRs, to alot of people, seem to be a very unbinding agreement. I would say the guy who walks up to the podium and asks to be seated is much more of a sure thing than the guy who called three months ago but could flake out at any moment. There is very little that can come up between a party asking for a table at the podium and being seated... they are less likely to bail in the 20 minutes they wait than the party who booked 90 days ago, who could in those three months cancel their trip, develop an allergy to mexican food, convert to raw veganism, or go on a hunger strike. (Ok, I am exaggerating. But only a little!)

Of course, I understand what you are saying, that on the whole, you can't bank on having walk-ups to fill the resturuant, and it is a safer bet to fill the tables with people who are calling ahead than to turn away an interested party and hope another shows up...