ADR 'ethics' question

[BCV23]

Mom B, not only is that a good reason for a backup but you received the "pause" of approval.

 

[kellyg403]

When I was making our reservations earlier in Oct for our December trip I was told that you can not have more than one dining reservation for the same day for the same meal...2 for dinner etc. I really don't remember how the conversation came up with the CM since I did not want two but somehow we were talking about it. She said they are not allowed to do it anymore.

Kelly

 

[BeccaGrace]

As someone who has been calling Disney Dining 4 times a day since 90 days out looking for cancellations, I always make sure to cancel ADR's when I change my mind and book something else. I've had a few regrets doing it that way when I changed my mind again but I know how frustrating it is to really want an ADR and not be able to get it--I just don't think it's fair to others to keep extras.
I had a Concourse and 'Ohana for three days while trying to decide but once a decision was made I cancelled the one I wasn't using leaving plenty of time for someone to reserve it in advance.

 

[GoofyDad869]

Mom B,

That is the first time I've heard an excuse that makes sense. Good thinking. I'm just tired of the "We don't have a clue where we'll be so let's get one everywhere we MIGHT be" mindset.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Mom B,

That is the first time I've heard an excuse that makes sense. Good thinking. I'm just tired of the "We don't have a clue where we'll be so let's get one everywhere we MIGHT be" mindset.

I agree, but think that Disney is going to have to try to sync-up the park hours and EMH schedules to make multiple AR's less necessary in the early planning stage. I also think that policies might change with many more people using the dining plan.

 

[KAMommy]

Not only are people turned away from TS restaurants (a fact I saw in person several times last week), but they park restaurants are booked. When we went to MK there was a large sign in front of Town Hall saying that all TS's were booked and suggesting several CS places to eat. None of the restaurants were taking walk-ups. I guess if you happened to catch a no-show just right, you might have been able to get in, but that is not worth it IMHO.

My bottom line on this is that making multiple ADR's and then just not showing is selfish. Disney does use these to manage restaurant flow (otherwise whey have them) and making a reservation you never intend to use prevents other Disney fans from having that experience.

 

[BCKatie02]

For our trip in January, I made a reservation for lunch at LeCellier the day that we arrive. We land at 12:01 and our reservation is for 2:50. I think we'll have enough time to make it, but I also made a dinner reservation at LeCellier a few nights later just in case we miss lunch. If we make lunch we'll cancel the dinner reservation. Is it wrong to make 2 reservations at the same place to guarantee we get to eat there?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

For our trip in January, I made a reservation for lunch at LeCellier the day that we arrive. We land at 12:01 and our reservation is for 2:50. I think we'll have enough time to make it, but I also made a dinner reservation at LeCellier a few nights later just in case we miss lunch. If we make lunch we'll cancel the dinner reservation. Is it wrong to make 2 reservations at the same place to guarantee we get to eat there?

I see no problem with this as it is 2 different meals at 2 different times. I think what many people object to is someone holding a "reservation" for Le Cellier and Les Chefs and Nine Dragons, etc., then deciding at meal time what they are "in the mood for" (and not bothering to cancel any of the other "reservations.")

 

[KAMommy]

BCKatie, Tigger is right. Your situation is not the problem (I also agree that MomB has a wonderful, and exceptional, reason for having multiple ADR's).

I have actually had two ADR's for a while. Last October we knew we wanted to go to CRT's. I wanted to go the third day of my visit, but I tried and got a reservation for the second day. Then, the next day when I got the day I wanted, I cancelled the other. Planning isn't the issue. The problem is with those that don't plan and then knock the rest of us out of restaurants.

 

[GoofyDad869]

Tigger_Magic:
That's EXACTLY my point. Disney not setting hours far enough in advance is kind of an excuse, but most of us have a general idea of what time parks are opening and closing anyway on any given day (EMH excepted).

Disney's policies are already beginning to change (like CRT requiring a credit card reference).

 

[heatherfeather24]

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?

This is exactly what I was thinking.

On the other hand, though, I have no problem with someone changing the ADR on the day of or the day before an ADR as long as you cancel the first one. i.e. I really don't fell like Restaurant A today. Let's see if Restaurant B has anything open. If yes, I'll make a new ADR at Restaurant B and Cancel Restaurant A.

It's inevitable that plans and tastes change, so if a last minute change works for you, that's fine with me. It's just holding multiple ADRs well in advance that I find to be rude. I'm not sure there's a real distinction here, but the second one simply doesn't bother me as much.

 

[heatherfeather24]

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.

I actually asked Disney Dining the last time they called. The CM told me that they originally switched from "Priority Seating" to "Advance Dining Reservation," but after a couple of weeks they switched to "Advance Reservation" Apparently, ADR was too much of a mouthful.

Bottom line: what the heck difference does it make? It's the same darn thing.

 

[BCV23]

I actually asked Disney Dining the last time they called. The CM told me that they originally switched from "Priority Seating" to "Advance Dining Reservation," but after a couple of weeks they switched to "Advance Reservation" Apparently, ADR was too much of a mouthful.

Bottom line: what the heck difference does it make? It's the same darn thing.

That is interesting to know. And you're right, it is the same thing with the word reservation being operative.

 

[Snurk71]

Tigger_Magic:
That's EXACTLY my point. Disney not setting hours far enough in advance is kind of an excuse, but most of us have a general idea of what time parks are opening and closing anyway on any given day (EMH excepted).

I don't think it's an excuse. Critical planners (at least 80% of the DIS population) will set their park touring according to the EMH schedule. In the past when EE was standard for the park and day and never changed - you could set a touring plan for the park you would be in. If a park stayed open an hour or two later, no change to the plan needed.

But now with EMH, you don't know at 90 days what park will be open early or late. There hasn't been enough history with EMH to know the likely EMH plan for your vacation time. And if you're not making your ADRs at 90 days for a number of restaurants at different times of the year, you're not going to be eating at that restaurant.

Not an excuse, but a reason why some may set two different ADRs at the 90 day mark. I know I'm not going to be at MK on an EE day after lunchtime. I'll be back at the resort or at another park. I would hope that most people would forgive that if one set was cancelled once the park hours were firm.

 

[calie_j]

I learned thru experience that you never know what will happen so don't be too hard on other people and to be more understanding towards others. I've held multiple ADR's so no I see nothing wrong with it, but I do think it's only courteous to cancel as soon as you know you won't need it. My excuse was that right after making all my ADR's at 90 days there was a situation where the "possibility" that our oldest son would be coming to live with us again after 3 years away from home came up and this would happen before our trip. I made duplicate ADR's for 5 people to include him for all the popular places I was worried about getting if I waited too long. As soon as I knew for sure he would be joining us I changed all my ADR's I could and canceled the old ones and the duplicates. This was all done well in advance of our trip between 60-80 days out.

Calie

 

[DebbieB]

I agree that part of the problem is ADR's are available at 90+ days but hours are not released until 60 days or less. They should release hours sooner or change the reservation window to 45 or 60 days.

 

[erikthewise]

I agree that part of the problem is ADR's are available at 90+ days but hours are not released until 60 days or less. They should release hours sooner or change the reservation window to 45 or 60 days.

That makes sense. It's easy to forget that the current EMH system was just introduced this year. Hopefully in the future they will be able to establish the EMH dates at least 90 days in advance, if not the actual park hours.

 

[LakeAriel]

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!)

During the free dining promotion anyone without an ADR was turned away. I feel bad about this BUT my reservation advised me to make them in advance and every time I spoke to a CM she asked if I had made them. It pays to be organized even on vacation. That said I had ONE per night.

 

[DisneyKT]

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 with you. Very Rude

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I have a question. A few years ago we were speaking with the Restaurant manager at Tony's at MK and he said that they only take reservations for 1/2-3/4 of the tables at each restaurant at WDW and the other half to one fourths they leave open to walk-ups. I guess this has changed? Because now it sounds like they just reserve the whole restaurant.