Anyone Else Think 180 Days is too Far for Dining Reservations?

[LongIslandCouple]

I want to know I am going to be able to eat where I would like to while I am on vacation - having a six month window to book ADRs permits me that. Honestly, if I could not eat at California Grill, Ohanas and Yachtsman's Steakhouse for my quick getaway this summer, we probably would have kept our vacation @ DL instead of swapping to WDW.

 

[Luv4Disney]

I don't like the 180 days especially since we don't plan it until abouy 5 months out and the AP rates don't come out until 2 months before our trip. Also, they made it 180 days after I was already well into that amount of time for our trip. I was stressing I wouldn't get any of the ADR's we wanted. I was a fan of the 90 days.

 

[cobbler]

180 days doesn't bother me one bit. I just mark on my calendar when to call. I plan out my vacations ahead of time. The only thing I base our food around is MVMCP or MNSSHP. I don't worry about park hours, EMH or any of that.

I pick one sit-down meal for the day and that is where we eat. During all of our visits we only didn't go to a sit-down place once and that was because hubby wasn't feeling well. It works for us.

 

[jann1033]

180 is 90 days to early imo

1) i was waiting to see what opened up promo wise before i finalize anything which means by the time they release promos the good meal times will be gone

2) lots can change in 6 months, different menus, different places open

3) 3 months sooner i have to give disney my money( need to book the room to make the adrs) and then try to change things or get penalized if something happens and we can't go or everyone can't go or we want to go to another resort .

 

[dabute]

Having the ability to call and make reservations six months out makes the vacation seem a whole lot closer. Planning the vacation is half the fun!

I use TGM to determine the least crowded days for the parks and pick restaurants from there. My husband and I are very picky eaters, which narrows down the choices even further. It’s very easy for me and it’s extremely enjoyable to shape up an itinerary.

 

[shellybaxter]

3) 3 months sooner i have to give disney my money( need to book the room to make the adrs) .

You don't have to book room to make ADRs at 180 days. You need to book a room if you want to use the 180 plus 10, but not for 180 days

Shelly

 

[Gradar1]

I can understand that it is frustrating for people who don't plan their trips well in advance of the date, like Florida residents. But for those of us who don't go very often, it's a blessing to have the priority seatings in advance, even if we do have to call at 7 am for Cinderella's Table!

 

[we6clarks]

Throwing my .02 in. I think 180 days is too far in advance. I liked the 90 day policy better.

 

[La2kw]

I agree. I hate this new dining plan and some of the changes is has spawned. I guess I'll just plan on eating offsite more or cooking in our DVC unit rather than hassling with trying to figure out where I want to eat 6 months ahead of time.

 

[threeboysmom]

I too am an obsessive, compulsive planner, but 180 days is a little too far out - 90 days was much more reasonable.

But, it really doesn't matter where they put the date. I just had my TA call on Sunday for my trip ADR's 59 days out and I got all the places I wanted. So I really don't think it matters whether it is 180 days or 90 days. As long as you don't wait too long, you will be fine in getting your ADR's. I highly doubt there are more than a few people calling in at exactly 180 days out!

 

[Amyg]

I too am an obsessive, compulsive planner, but 180 days is a little too far out - 90 days was much more reasonable.

But, it really doesn't matter where they put the date. I just had my TA call on Sunday for my trip ADR's 59 days out and I got all the places I wanted. So I really don't think it matters whether it is 180 days or 90 days. As long as you don't wait too long, you will be fine in getting your ADR's. I highly doubt there are more than a few people calling in at exactly 180 days out!

I too am an obsessive planner but I think that 180 is too far in advance for dining plans! I agree that you can still get good ADR's around 60 days out since people cancel all the time.

 

[Krissalee]

I think 180 days is too far in advance. I have to admit that I am an obsessive planner, but even that is too far in advance for me.

DH and I go to WDW each year in mid to late October, to celebrate our anniversary, and to enjoy the Food and Wine Festival. The Food and Wine Fest schedule of events usually comes out in mid August, so I don't like to plan dinners, etc., until the schedule comes out, as I want to try for specialty meals and events. I don't want to book ADRs, and then cancel at a later date whan I am able to get a F&W event. And by then, it is harder to change my ADRs, especially for busy weekend nights.

 

[Allison]

the end of my post was just stating our observation and hinting that you need ADR's if you have your heart set on certain restaurants.

Got it.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

When I heard they were moving to 180 days, I thought I would never get CRT. I am an obsessive planner, but my DH is definitely not, and he is the one who gives the go ahead for the trips. This year it was at about the 120 day mark, and I called right away and actually got CRT for breakfast! I much prefer 90 days over 180 days.

 

[jaysue]

No chance of us deciding at 180 days where we want to eat - we can barely decide what we want for dinner in real time!



cheers
jasyue

 

[Twinprincesses]

I think 180 days is a bit far out as well.

I totally remember the people in the computers at Epcot!!! I thought it was so neat when I was little. That was always our first stop!!

 

[lovevacations]

I made my ADRs 180 days out and I think I have changed my mind 180 times since then and I still have 75 days until our tirp!! I wonder if they have more cancellations now?

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I think they went 180 out simply to encouraging to book trips early.

I'd rather see them go back to 90 days personally. I don't get the kid's break schedule for October until well into the window.

 

[majortom]

Include me in the group that thinks 180 days is way too far out!!! For us, living a little over an hour away, we rarely plan a trip that far out. (How many people really plan trips to destinations so close to their home that far in advance? ) We have been so many times that we now plan the whole trip around where we want to eat. If we can't get into most of the restaurants on our list, we'll just choose another destination. I can't imagine that we're the only locals who feel that way. I think 90 days made much more sense, but 60 would be fine also. If I plan a trip in less than 90 days & can't get CRT, that's not such a big deal. On the other hand, if I start to plan a trip 3 months in advance & can't get any of the popular restaurants, then there will be no WDW for us. JMO

I think that opening up blocks of tables at 60 days, 30 days, 15 days, 7 days (maybe 3 days), 1 day and same day would make it better for people.

I would love to know what their no show and cancelation rates are for people that book 180 days out, and how many people like you (local and somewhat locals) do not go at all because reservations are not available with a shorter lead time.

/carmi

 

[majortom]

HA! i remember the kiosks with the "computer people"

the first time i was using one i was making funny faces and the woman started laughing and said she can see me!!!

i was sooo embarrased!

World Key was interesting. They had a black and white camera on you while there was a color camera on them. It was also the only way to make reservations for the restaurants at EPCOT and it started out as same day only.

/carmi