About dining reservations....

[lisatx04]

Quick question-I called this morning twice to make some ADR's for our trip in
March. I was told by a very rude CM that they needed my reservation number to make the requests because it was at my 180 day mark. Never needed it before, but okay. I hung up and called back and gave my reservation number. I was told that I needed to call DVC to make my dining requests since I am a DVC member and made my stay through DVC.

I have never had to do this in the past and am wondering if it is something new that I totally missed the information on. Is it?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have always made mine through the regular Disney Dining number. Never needed to call DVC before. I wonder if this is a change because of the DDP?

 

[Chuck S]

I used the regular dining number last week, like Diane said, it may be a new change.

 

[DVC Grammy]

I've used both; if I'm on the phone with MS planning a trip, MS makes any ADR's that I request for the trip. If I am calling only to make an ADR, I call Dining directly. Other than asking for my home phone # and the standard "press 1 if.........." questions, they have never asked whether or not I was DVC. DDP, yes, but not DVC!

 

[scootert]

In the past I have used both. When I called member services last month to add DDP for our trip next year, the CM said that when we reach the 180 day mark to call Member Services and they would handle our ADR. Maybe they're trying to take some of the burden off Disney Dining??

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wonder if DDP is the operative here. It could be that they are having DVC book their own DDP ressies, since the program differs from the one used for guests at the regular WDW resorts.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I usually make my ADR's over the weekend, and so I call Disney Dining. I know on the prompt you are asked for either the ressie number or home phone number. I always give my home phone number, and that has worked when talking to the CM as well. I did not make any this past weekend, but I was making ADR's over Labor Day weekend and all went well.

Bobbi

 

[Deb & Bill]

When I made by ADRs for Thanksgiving week at 180 days out, I was asked for my reservation number. I told them I was staying in a DVC resort on points, but I could give them that number. She took that number and made the reservations.

 

[BCV23]

I would call back and ask for someone else, Lisa.

The DDP must be booked by MS but not dining reservations.

The DDP itself is the same for DVC as it is for someone on a resort package. Free dining has been offered for a limited # of resort reservations during a limited time of the year but the plan itself is no different.

The things being blamed on the DDP is getting to be pretty funny.

If you were calling to make all your reservations (the 180 plus 10 days), they may need your reservation # to ascertain that you are indeed a WDW resort guest but that includes DVC resorts.

Just think folks, anyone on or off property can call to make a reservation to dine at 180 days. Do you really think WDW would limit DVCers to calling for dining reservations during the more limited MS hours while someone staying off site grabs the Chef's Table....I don't think so.

I would call back.

 

[starbox]

I made ADRs via the regular dining number on Saturday. The CM was very gracious - asked how I liked DVC. Commented that "isn't the DDP great!" and told me her own recent experience at a restaurant I was going to try for the first time.

I asked if I would call the same number to book a Pirate Cruise for our Spring trip and she offered info about the 180 day window and when to call to book.

Sounds like your CM was just having a bad day.

 

[lisatx04]

I could see a CM having a bad morning, but two in a row?? Only to me....

Anyway, I called MS this afternoon, and made some of my ADR's. The woman I spoke with said that yes, disney dining should make my dining ADR's. I told her the story and said they told me they could not since I was DVC. I am not on the DDP or any other plan. All I wanted was to book some dinners. She said absolutely they should have made my ADR's.

I will call back tomorrow morning before work to make the rest of my plans. Hopefully the CM will be in better moods &/or know the rules.

Thanks for all you comments!!

 

[Dean]

I could see a CM having a bad morning, but two in a row?? Only to me....

Anyway, I called MS this afternoon, and made some of my ADR's. The woman I spoke with said that yes, disney dining should make my dining ADR's. I told her the story and said they told me they could not since I was DVC. I am not on the DDP or any other plan. All I wanted was to book some dinners. She said absolutely they should have made my ADR's.

I will call back tomorrow morning before work to make the rest of my plans. Hopefully the CM will be in better moods &/or know the rules.

Thanks for all you comments!!

They're conditioned to ask for it to make sure you're eligible to schedule at 180+10 days out. They can't look up DVC reservations so it doesn't help them to have the number. If the denied one the chance to book based on it being DVC, they were simply being difficult. Be nice but firm and insist on making the reservations and you should be successful even if you get an initial reluctance.

 

[NMW]

When I made by ADRs for Thanksgiving week at 180 days out, I was asked for my reservation number. I told them I was staying in a DVC resort on points, but I could give them that number. She took that number and made the reservations.

Same with me, made them 180 days out and gave them the DVC conf#-no problem. I even called last week to see if I could change an ADR time for our Oct trip (I couldn't, it was booked solid) and there was no problem using regular dining number. The CM even confirmed where I was staying and my legnth of stay at the BWV and asked if I needed anything else.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I've only used MS to make ADR's once before & it was a pleasant experience so I decided to call them again yesterday to make one last ressie.

The very apologetic MS rep said they were having compouter problems again & they didn't have access to dining & some other WDW stuff so I called the regular dining number back.

No problems either way but I do agree that the mood of the CM's seems to be hot or cold. Either they are great, friendly & efficient or they are annoyed that you are bothering them.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Quick question-I called this morning twice to make some ADR's for our trip in
March. I was told by a very rude CM that they needed my reservation number to make the requests because it was at my 180 day mark. Never needed it before, but okay. I hung up and called back and gave my reservation number. I was told that I needed to call DVC to make my dining requests since I am a DVC member and made my stay through DVC.

I have never had to do this in the past and am wondering if it is something new that I totally missed the information on. Is it?

Were you trying to make an ADR for more than 180 days out? Resort guests can make ADRs for 180 days + 10 if their check in date is within 180 days. This gives an on-site guest the benefit of being able to make all ADRs 180 days from their check in date.

If the dates you were requesting for your ADR were more than 180 days from the day you were calling, but less than 190 days, what they were probably telling you is that they could make your ADR if you had a resort reservation number, but not if you didn't.

I ususally call member services to make the bulk of my ADRs (because I have a list of about a dozen of them and want to use the 800 number). If I'm making a change to one or two closer in, I may use the 407-WDW-DINE number to get through quicker.

If you call 407-WDW-DINE and are making a reservation within the 180 day window that's available to anyone, you can use your phone number instead of your reservation number. Your ADRs will still be linked to your reservation.

 

[lisatx04]

I ended up making some of my ADR's using MS.

I had called at 180 days out to the WDW dining line and they (2 CM) told me they could not help me even with my reservation number. It's okay. I wanted to call today for more ADR's, but never did. Hopefully when I do call, I won't have an issue. I'll do what Dean recommends-be nice but firm.