ADR 'ethics' question

[GoofyDad869]

I know it is possible to make multiple ADRs at the same time, at different resorts and parks. Most who do this will pick the one they want and then cancel the rest (or worse, some just pull a no-show). Is this 'right' in your mind, or an abuse of the system?

 

[Camping Griswalds]

I'm okay with the multiple ADR's for multiple meals thing. I've seen where some people super plan and for each day of their vacation have a park planned with ADR's and then an alternate option of park and ADR's. There is no rule against this, and if it makes their stay more enjoyable...good for them. Remember it's not a guarantee for anyone. It is just saying that you'll get seated befor others who just walk in. i have one ADR planned for each day. i wouldn't hesitate to plan more if I thought it was possible that I might end up in a different park than I had origionally planned. If Disney wanted to make my life easier, they would post their park hours and EMH hours a couple of days befor the 90 day ADR date.

 

[wintergreen]

I think that it is ok, as long as you remember to cancel the ones you don't use. This practice may actually make it easier for some walk ups to be accommodated.

 

[gigi1313]

i don't know if it's a "right" / "wrong" / "abuse of the system" thing but it is certainly rude and inconsiderate of others who may be hoping to dine in a restaurant that night and get turned away...

 

[Gaiusrex]

i don't know if it's a "right" / "wrong" / "abuse of the system" thing but it is certainly rude and inconsiderate of others who may be hoping to dine in a restaurant that night and get turned away...

No one gets turned away because of ADRs. They aren't a reservation. They just let you "cut in line" if there are walk-ups

 

[gigi1313]

<<Remember it's not a guarantee for anyone. It is just saying that you'll get seated befor others who just walk in.>>

it is a "guarantee" of sorts, in that you will not be turned away and eventually seated/able to dine there... unlike those that do not have adrs at all, they run the risk of getting told NO you cannot eat here at all today! big difference imo!

 

[gigi1313]

No one gets turned away because of ADRs. They aren't a reservation. They just let you "cut in line" if there are walk-ups

yes, walk-ups get turned away if there are "enough" (or too many!) adrs booked in advance... we saw LOTS of walk-ups get turned away in many restaurants when we were there late august/early september... and those w/adrs often did not get to "cut" the line but still had to wait a decent amount of time (some of our restaurant waits -with adrs- were longer than most of our ride waits! LOL!)

 

[henrylovespooh]

I haven't done it, but I would personally would love to have two ADRs for dinner because each visit I always seem to pick the wrong ADR times and we end up cancelling more than one TS meal I had looked forward to. Happened twice last week and I never got to Kona Cafe or Park Fare for Cindy's Royal Feast.

But I will add this: For our trip last week, I had called a few weeks prior to the trip to change one ADR and the CM noted that I had two ADRs for that night and while she didn't say it directly, implied that I needed to cancel one. It was a scheduling error on my part, so I cancelled the one I knew I wouldn't use. Some CM's will be hard on those who make two.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

I'm sorry...but I do think it is wrong and somewhat greedy to have multiple ADRs for the same time...and just being able to "pick" one. This takes away a chance for another family to have an ADR. Think about CRT...or some of the other nice dining spots. ADRs are very important...they gaurantee that you will be able to have dinner there or whatever meal you are planning. The restaurants plan around these reservations. Sure..you don't have to have one. But why not? Its free and doesn't take that long. I think you should pick one place and make a reservation. The more that we can spread around..the happier everyone will be.

 

[NCombs]

No one gets turned away because of ADRs. They aren't a reservation. They just let you "cut in line" if there are walk-ups

Actually, many people get turned away.

 

[GoofyDad869]

Here's an example:

Most restaurants around here do free call-ahead seating or honest-to-God reservations. Just say you're hanging out at home one weekend. Do you call multiple restaurants and make 'reservations' (the 'R' in ADR) knowing there's no way you'll go to more than one restaurant? Most people wouldn't do that. What makes that acceptable at WDW?

 

[eam]

i don't know if it's a "right" / "wrong" / "abuse of the system" thing but it is certainly rude and inconsiderate of others who may be hoping to dine in a restaurant that night and get turned away...

I agree -- I saw plenty of people getting turned away because of ADRs!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

No one gets turned away because of ADRs. They aren't a reservation. They just let you "cut in line" if there are walk-ups

Try going to Chef Mickeys without an ADR and you'll see how fast you get turned away. It happens all the time, especially during peak season and even occasionally during value season at very popular restaurants, like Le Cellier, 50's PTC, Brown Derby, Les Chefs, etc.

While the ADR is not a true reservation, it does put you on the list to be seated at the next available table that will accommodate your party. Walk-ups, if they are accepted at all, are at the bottom of the list and may end up waiting a long time before being seated.

To answer the OP: JMO, it's an abuse of the system. I don't see it as a moral issue, more of a common courtesy issue.

 

[Lewisc]

I think it's rude. Too many "no shows" leads either to other guests not being able to get an ADR or excessive overbooking which may lead to long waits for guests with ADR.

Disney is starting to take a credit card guarantee for CG. I'd hate to think guests overbooking will cause Disney to follow that policy for more restaurants.

 

[BCV23]

Disney calls them Advanced Reservations.....not ADR. I think the name reservation makes it pretty clear what it is.

I do think it is abuse to make multiple ARs on purpose. I had two for the same night by accident this past trip! Getting old.

I also ended up changing many ARs this trip which really frustrates me.

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

Disney calls them Advanced Reservations.....not ADR. I think the name reservation makes it pretty clear what it is.

I do think it is abuse to make multiple ARs on purpose. I had two for the same night by accident this past trip! Getting old.

I also ended up changing many ARs this trip which really frustrates me.

I thought it was ADR. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought when they changed from PS (preferred seatings) they went to ADR (advanced dining reservations).

 

[melomouse]

IMHO, It is discourteous. After I make an ADR, I "let go" of the decision. I will not do everything on one trip. In an effort to be "flexible", some folks end up holding ADR's in 2 or more places at once, then go thru second-guessing themselves. I have had success with walk - in's - we're a party of 3 or 4...and I have also seen people turned away when I have had ADR's. For my family, I make a couple of ADR's and let the rest fall into place... I won't destroy the magic if I miss a meal at whichever restaurant. There's too many other things to enjoy and I can't pack every experience into one trip - tho some of us sure seem to try!!!
melomouse

 

[DisneyMim]

I think it's very rude to make multiple restaurants reservations. Just pick one place and make one AD. If everyone did this there would be a lot of unhappy people. I would never think of doing this just as I would never make multiple resort reservations, and yes I am one of the rare people who actually call and cancell my AD if we can't make it. We did this on our last trip and the CM was speechless, after a few seconds of silence she said nobody does this and she thanked us for being so considerate. JMHO

 

[BCV23]

I thought it was ADR. Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought when they changed from PS (preferred seatings) they went to ADR (advanced dining reservations).

I know people call them ADRs on the DIS and also I think on AllEars. But when I have called for ARs, CMs just call them ARs. I also had something in print that called them ARs...I think a concierge questionnaire.

I think the D part of ADR may just be an internet legend.

 

[Mom B]

I guess I didn't know that "double booking" was something that was practiced...but I just did it for the first time last week and I really think I have an "excuse." Two years ago when we booked the Luau at the Polynesian, our dinner was cancelled because of the weather (in January). Since we planned this time to try to get the Luau especially for the night of our 32nd wedding anniversary, once again in January, and I know the weather can be quite unpredictable that time of year, I asked the CM if we could make a "backup" reservation (at 'Ohana) just in case. I really didn't want to find out that we had to try to find a place for our anniversary dinner at the last minute if things fell thru (especially since it has happened before)! The CM hesitated, put me on hold for a moment to "check" and then allowed me to do it. I apologize to anyone who disagrees, but in this instance I feel justified for having the two reservations. And I do intend to call and cancel the second reservation (it's not until an hour or so later anyway) if things go well. Then again, I wouldn't mind eating at 'Ohana either so if things don't go well I am still optimistic that we'll have a nice evening.