Anyone else find ADRs less than ideal?

[koquinn]

Am I crazy to be frustrated? This is the first year we booked our trip really early, and I was all set to call at 180 days until I found out they changed it to 90. Before the dining package, we had no problem getting ressies. Before the FREE dining package, we still didn't have major problems. Now it seems everything is booked instantly, somehow before I even get a chance to book. I've been up since 4:50 this morning waiting for my 5am time (I'm in CST), and I still couldn't get things I thought should be simple. I told DH it's taking the fun out of it for me. For us a big part of our trip is the dining out at nice places each night; dining plan, free dining plan, or paying out of pocket, we'd do it anyway. I feel like the system now is so overrun. Plus I feel like it's really unfair that someone who's coming a day ahead of me gets to book for my trip days before me with the 90+10. What's to stop anyone from booking a 2nd trip earlier just to get things reserved? I'm not the only one who's thought of that as I've seen it posted; I imagine there are people doing it. I wish they'd charge your credit card too for no-shows - it doesn't seem fair to have people hoarding ressies. I know I have one reserved now that I am very unlikely to go to, but I won't cancel it till the last minute when I see if I can get something else. *sigh* I'm just crabby from being up early, I guess, but this sure doesn't seem like Disney magic to me.

 

[disgirl]

I do not think you are crazy to feel frustrated at all. We are going mid to end of August and I had difficulty getting what we wanted at the 90 day mark as well. It is so disappointing as we are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary and bringing my son's friend for his first visit. There were a number of places that we wanted for dinner and could only get lunch, if even, at 90 days out. I really think the 180 days was better even during free dining.
You have the free dining as well as DVC expanding and many more people trying for the same restaurants during the same time. I do feel your frustration. Your trip is not even in the summer like mine, when you can expect more crowds.

Good luck, maybe you will get some cancellations and get more of what you want.

 

[tlev]

I think its the 90+10 that's the problem. If they did away with the "10" it would be a fair playing field for everyone each day. Yes, you would have to get up at 6:00am each day, but I don't think as many people would, leaving a better chance for the more, dedicated, among us. This "+10" logic is so wrong, there will always be, what, 10 previous days for people to book reservations before you get a chance to book the first night of your vacation. The state of NY uses a similar method to reserve campsites, so if you want a weekend date at a popular site, you are forced to book the eight days before as well and then cancel it, because that's what everyone else does, ridiculous.

 

[rgf207]

I think this has everything to do with Free Dining. We are going August 1 - 10. I called 2 hours late on my 90 day mark and got everything including 'Ohana and Le Cellier for prime dinner times (party of 2).

I think free dining has the restaurants clogged

 

[wdwmaw]

It is all in the planning. We have been going to Disney since '99 and I don't remember a year that I did not call right at my whatever time frame (90/180 ) to get my ADR's (Cindy's use to be awful before Aukerhaus opened to a princess meal)

~You have to call or go online right at our 90 day mark
~stay on property so you can get the +10 (perk for us on property)
~flexable in your planning and have back up for several days. When I called and asked for Cindy's I asked for ressie on the 5th (no 8a), 6th(no 8am), and then 7th(available at 8am so I took it)
~book more popular meals later in your vacation.
~be very aggressive and don't let the cm talk to much. Be very precise with what you want, when and how many so the CM does not have to take the time to ask you these questions. My 6am window on the website did not open up for the +10 so I had to call at 7 to get my ressies and I was literally finished booking 9 ressies in 8 min.When I was finished I talked a couple of minutes and praised the CM thanking her for our success and she was so nice,she even comented, you've done this before.

I like the 90+10 policy, it is a perk for staying on property and I personally don't want that taken away.

All of that said keep calling/going online, check out the cancel/trade ADR thread, you will not believe what you will be able to get there from the nice people here. Be very presistant Last thing call/check at about the 1 month out range from your vacation. In my experience Disney seems to open up some times at about that mark for most resturants, how or why who knows but it seems to allways happen.


Please post what you are looking for and for what day.

Good luck

 

[disnut8]

I think it has to do with expectations. I've never had a problem getting something I wanted just because my wants/needs are simple. And I'm flexible. If you are trying for the more popular places (at least the popular ones this year), you are going to have some difficulties. If you are trying for your normal meals times at home, you could have some difficulties.

We've had some great late lunches all around Disney World. And we've found some really nice places that most people don't think about (Captain's Galley right outside Epcot at the Yacht Club).