Anyone Else Worried About New Adr System?

[Tricia1972]

That was my understanding also......but I was lambasted on other thread that this is just a rumor and there has been no official word that it involves online booking, that it's just an improvement to their internal system which now requires you to make multiple calls to book your trip.

I really felt like I read something that made it seem more of a sure thing than just a rumor....but I can't remember where. Do you have anything more concrete? (Ok, I'll admit I really want to know so I can go lambast back, lol)

I know that both Disneydine and IMACM (ok, maybe just one) said that eventually it will lead to online reservations. My understanding is that when they launch it'll be phones only and then a few months after that is up and running smoothly that they will launch online reservations. (Lord help us all once that goes live )

 

[Allison]

That was my understanding also......but I was lambasted on other thread that this is just a rumor and there has been no official word that it involves online booking, that it's just an improvement to their internal system which now requires you to make multiple calls to book your trip.

I really felt like I read something that made it seem more of a sure thing than just a rumor....but I can't remember where. Do you have anything more concrete? (Ok, I'll admit I really want to know so I can go lambast back, lol)

The Disney Mom's Panel members talked about online booking and they got their information in an email from Disney.

 

[Mom of 2 Wife of 1]

Disney is clearly instituting the online dining reservations to supplement the phone aspect. They will not do away with the latter in favor of the former, at least not initially. As a business, you have to believe them spending so much on a complete system overhaul would be done to "relieve" their dining call centers of some CMs. Disney isn't installing this upgrade out of the kindness of their heart.

If it's anything like Opentable.com then it will be a success. Disney only has so many table service restaurants to book, so it's not impossible for them to do this correctly. And yes, when 12:01 am hits on the 180+10 or 90+10 date prior to your arrival, you as well as thousands of others will blitz the online system like the Allies did Normandy. Will that send the servers into overload? It shouldn't. Disney has the internal numbers on how many people call each day (remember, it's 180+10 for lots of people every single day), so they should know exactly what type of system to install to accommodate the number of people who would go online and/or call on a daily basis. Having said that, we have all visited Disney.com and that site is molasses in Vermont even if you have a T1 connection. Why is that? Because they spend too many resources trying to impress you with flying pixies and videos when they should be making it a functional and informative site assisting you in booking a vacation, etc. I love the site so long as I don't have to do anything productive on it. But sometimes I do.

Bottom line, I'm looking forward to the online dining reservations system. We've already made our ressies for our upcoming trip and this system will be in place for nearly eight months before we have to use it. Just think, a whole new DIS forum full of threads dedicated to online reservations!

That's just what this Disneyworld needs...

 

[CarolA]

Disney is clearly instituting the online dining reservations to supplement the phone aspect. They will not do away with the latter in favor of the former, at least not initially. As a business, you have to believe them spending so much on a complete system overhaul would be done to "relieve" their dining call centers of some CMs. Disney isn't installing this upgrade out of the kindness of their heart.

If it's anything like Opentable.com then it will be a success. Disney only has so many table service restaurants to book, so it's not impossible for them to do this correctly. And yes, when 12:01 am hits on the 180+10 or 90+10 date prior to your arrival, you as well as thousands of others will blitz the online system like the Allies did Normandy. Will that send the servers into overload? It shouldn't. Disney has the internal numbers on how many people call each day (remember, it's 180+10 for lots of people every single day), so they should know exactly what type of system to install to accommodate the number of people who would go online and/or call on a daily basis. Having said that, we have all visited Disney.com and that site is molasses in Vermont even if you have a T1 connection. Why is that? Because they spend too many resources trying to impress you with flying pixies and videos when they should be making it a functional and informative site assisting you in booking a vacation, etc. I love the site so long as I don't have to do anything productive on it. But sometimes I do.

Bottom line, I'm looking forward to the online dining reservations system. We've already made our ressies for our upcoming trip and this system will be in place for nearly eight months before we have to use it. Just think, a whole new DIS forum full of threads dedicated to online reservations!

That's just what this Disneyworld needs...

Umm... if it's anything like OpenTable it will work!

However, thier hotel reservation system doesn't really work and it's been online for YEARS!!!!

What Disney overall needs is to upgrade IT!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . As I understand this everything is happeing so they can implement online booking . . . BE VERY AFRAID! . . .

1) We had a neighboor BBQ.
2) Some of the IT guys were there.
3) They talked about the new system.
4) People wanted on-line booking (it also reduces manpower).
5) People will now get what they wished for.
6) There will be a lot of complaining - and that is if everything works as designed.

 

[aljack33]

Does anyone know why Disney would do this during one of their busiest times? March and April are spring break times and the busiest times. Why would they do this to directly affect their busiest times? They should have did it for January and February. Or October/November. Anytime other than March/April.

 

[Tricia1972]

As I sit here with my very high speed cable connection taking minutes upon minutes to load the page for the moms panel - YES I am very worried!!

Their system is ridiculously slow and they need to improve it before launching online ADR's. If it goes this slow when the mom's panel is first accepting reservations - I can't imagine how slow ADR's will be.

 

[aljack33]

I think a lot of people are going to agree with the making them by computer being a bad idea initially. My bet is most will call. Once the kinks are worked out - hopefully less than a year - this new system will work great.

I just don't understand why they chose such a busy time to start implementing it.

 

[Abharmagic]

YES- I think trying to make ADRs computerized is going to make it all a BIG MESS!!!! I also think the first day when everyone can call is also going to be CRAZY- what were they thinking.

 

[karaeric]

Well, I have mixed feelings here. I'm excited because I'm on the west coast, and frankly do not like having to wake up and speak to someone about dining reservations before the sun comes up, so automation works for me.

One the other hand, if you've experienced the online booking for DCL (Palo, Spa ressies, children's clubs, excursions), it gets overwhelmed VERY fast on sold out cruises whentoo many people are trying to book at once. It just crashes their system. It was so bad for the May Panama Canal cruise that I sent a complaint letter to DCL about their system. They basically said "thanks for the feedback." I agree with many other posters that IT is most certainly NOT Disney's strengh, so be prepared with extra patience if trying to book ADRs during busier times. You may enounter system problems.

Now, if there is hope out there, it's that Disney is reading this and will consider bandwidth in their development...

 

[George69]

As I understand this everything is happeing so they can implement online booking


It's Disney's IT shop..

BE VERY AFRAID!

This IT shop cannot run a hotel reservation booking system and now they want to make dinner reservations.

RUN!!!!!

I agree 100%. First it takes a LONG time to pay online and even when you do it initially comes up error, secondly they say you can add flight info. online after you book which you CAN NOT, next, you can not get into your itinerary, next,you can not view messages in your itinerary, and lastly, the flight info THEY put in when you call has arrival and departure times at 3 AM or 12 AM automatically placed with you reservation (crazy isn't it?) as a default and they will look up the info. for you as per your flight # before you arrive....Do I trust this after seeing the site? NO! All this has taken place for me in the last 2 weeks and 4 emails and 1 phone call to Disney. Personally, it makes me nervous that they will add more into their already floundering online reservation system. PS...They have told me their are some glitches that they are trying to fix, but from what I understand the glitches have not been fixed in months at least,,,or years maybe?

 

[aljack33]

Guess I'll have to think about getting the new CS DP Or heading to universal this next trip.

 

[aviva5675]

Sorry to jump in the middle of this thread, but I hadn't heard about this new policy-- so is it: as of Nov something the window changes to 90 days, but the online booking will be available then? Then after a period of time the 180 thing will return.??
So 90 days will be temporary while they get online ADR up and running, then 180 day booking will resume?

Or, no?

 

[Tricia1972]

Sorry to jump in the middle of this thread, but I hadn't heard about this new policy-- so is it: as of Nov something the window changes to 90 days, but the online booking will be available then? Then after a period of time the 180 thing will return.??
So 90 days will be temporary while they get online ADR up and running, then 180 day booking will resume?

Or, no?

As of today, you can book your dining reservations up through February 22 2009.

Beginning in November, about on November 21, the window will open up to 180 days. The window will remain 180 days from there on out.

 

[GatorLady]

I know that both Disneydine and IMACM (ok, maybe just one) said that eventually it will lead to online reservations. My understanding is that when they launch it'll be phones only and then a few months after that is up and running smoothly that they will launch online reservations. (Lord help us all once that goes live )

DisneyDine posted this on 9/1:

"Don't mean to throw a monkey wrench into the works but as of right now online reservations are nothing more than a rumor. We have received a lot of information about the new dine system but never a mention of online reservations."


the saga continues...

 

[Tricia1972]

DisneyDine posted this on 9/1:

"Don't mean to throw a monkey wrench into the works but as of right now online reservations are nothing more than a rumor. We have received a lot of information about the new dine system but never a mention of online reservations."


the saga continues...

Thanks for the update! This makes me very happy.

I pretty much trust anything DisneyDine or IMACM post - they've never steered us wrong.

 

[GatorLady]

I pretty much trust anything DisneyDine or IMACM post - they've never steered us wrong.

I agree! I think when it starts getting close to the November date, I'm going to be "stalking" their posts! OK., so maybe I've already started!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Can BBB still be booked 180 days in advance?

 

[Tricia1972]

If you don't call the WDW-DINE number for BBB, then I'd guess that it can be booked.

If you call WDW-DINE for BBB - then you may need to give them a quick call to ask.

 

[aljack33]

See, now I thought it was going to be 90 days out after the November 21 date. I didn't think they were going to bring back the 180 days untils the new system is up and running. Anyone know?