Anyone heard about "Adv. Dining Reservations" Change on 7/18???

[mstec]

I found this info on another board. They said that it has been confirmed. I'm wondering how they will handle DVC folks...

"Disney will be making a major change to the Advanced Dining Reservations (formerly Priority Seating) procedures at Walt Disney World as of Monday, July 18, 2005.

Guests at Disney owned-and-operated resorts ONLY (does not include Swan/Dolphin, Shades of Green, Downtown Disney or offsite hotels) will now have extra privileges when booking Advanced Reservations for dining.

Beginning 7/18/05, Disney resort guests can call 90 days in advance of their day of arrival and make up to ten days of Advanced Dining Reservations at (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463). "


I've sent an email to DVC to find out what this means for DVC folks when making reservations. I called the dining reservations folks this am, and they knew nothing about it, but said they often don't get the news until that day. Has anyone else heard about this??? I'm a little concerned since my understanding is that DVC reservations don't go into the reg. system until 2 weeks prior to the actual trip, so I wonder how the dining folks will be able to confirm that we are actually staying at Disney owned Resort. I have to make some reservations in 2 weeks. Anyone else know anything about this??

Thanks, Michele

 

[Ducky4Disney]

We can call MS to make ADR's, right? They'll have our reservation information so they should be able to help us out. I think!

D4D

 

[Deb & Bill]

We can call MS to make ADR's, right? They'll have our reservation information so they should be able to help us out. I think!

D4D

You can kiss those CRT reservations good-by if you have to make them through MS.

 

[NMW]

I read on the restaurant board that this info is now posted on Mousesavers. I read it, and it is call at 90 days and you can make 10 days worth of ressies. You can ONLY do this if you are staying at a Disney owned resort (swan/dolphin/SOG/DTD hotels/off-site are not included).

It says you have to give your Disney confirmation number or your phone number and the rep confirms that you are staying on Disney property. If you cancel your resort reservation, all your dining reservations get canceled too. (This peice of info was from a CM on the restaurant board, so not sure about that). She also said they are calling it 90 plus 10.

It doesn't specificly say anything about DVC, but I would guess that since we get confirmation numbers and are onsite it would apply to us. Maybe someone who's calling MS on Monday for something can ask?

If not at a Disney resort, you still have to call day by day, starting at 90 days.

 

[newholidayx2]

What happens to those going to WDW for more than 10days? When can those other days ARs be booked?

 

[deerh]

Sorry to be so "dumb", but hasn't PS or what ever they call it this week, LOL!!,
ALWAYS been 90 days out????

I don't see the big difference. I thought for the longest it has been 90 days out!

I DO think this would include DVC, as they are "on site"!

JMHO..

DeerH

 

[eileenkeeney]

As long as they are trying to sell DVC, it will likely be included in all "stay on Disney property" benefits.

Once it is no longer selling, benefits will likely be kept at a minimum.

I never make PS reservations. I am not one to like this level of planning.
But maybe one day I will.

It is the rumors related to the fast pass system, and staying on property, that have me concerned, about the future status of DVC as an "offical" disney on-site property.

 

[mstec]

Yes, it is still 90 days out, but they are doing it a little different, to give folks who stay onsite an advantage. With the new plan, 90 days before the FIRST day of your stay, you can call and book ALL of your dining reservations for 10 days of your vacation. It's only a big deal, in that, if you really wanted a reservation that was difficult to get, such as Breakfast at Cinderella's Castle, you would have an advantage, because you wouldn't have to wait until exactly 90 days prior to the date you wanted to go - you call potentially call 100 days (if you wanted to go on the 10th day of your stay).

The only reason it would impact DVC folks is if, when we called, the reservations people couldn't verify that we were staying onsite, since our DVC reservations didn't usually get entered into the main system until 2 weeks prior to the trip. I would think that they would have thought about this and come up with a solution - I was just wondering if anyone had heard any details about this, since this new process is supposed to start on Monday.

 

[DebbieB]

What happens to those going to WDW for more than 10days? When can those other days ARs be booked?

10 days before the 11th day of your stay. You can't go over 100 days before.

This is the same concept as people bring up for DVC. People say why can't you book 11 months from your check-in day rather than check-out day? This would eliminate day by day calling. However, I disagree with the new dining plan for the same reason I disagree with it changing for DVC. It gives an unfair advantage to those with longer stays. Someone arriving on 10/16/05 can call on Monday (07/18) and make dining reservations (whatever they are called now) up to 10/26/05 (90 days + 10). Someone arriving on 10/23/05 may already find that all the reservations are already taken for 10/16 to 10/22 when they can first call on 07/25 (90 days), they would never have a chance to get them.

 

[Laurabearz]

So are DVCers in on this?? Do we know yet???

Thanks...

 

[CarolMN]

I agree with you DebbieB. That said, it only matters if you want a princess breakfast. Can't believe all the spots for the other on site restaurants will fill 90 days ahead - never have in the past, even with the free dining promotion.

Best wishes -

 

[Dean]

As long as you have a reservation, I can't see DVC resorts being left out on this. I'd look at it just like early entry or similar options and not like the MYW dining options.

 

[sprite]

I called WDW-DINE today and asked about this. I asked first about the 90 + 10 system, which the cm confirmed and told me they had just learned about it in a meeting yesterday. Then I asked if this would also apply to me since I booked my trip through DVC on points (and I need to make some reservations next week). She put me on hold for a few minutes, came back and said, "that's actually a very good question."

She said they were trying to find out the answer, but didn't want to put me on hold, so took my name and number to call me back. About 30 minutes later I got a call back and confirmation that - yes, this does apply to DVC.

I really don't like this new system. I think this could make it more difficult for those who are only staying for a few days to get the princess meals. This system definitely gives an advantage to those with longer stays.

 

[Sammie]

My understanding is as long as you have a confirmation number then you book.

Someone did ask about renting points, would this affect their ability to book their's since the member actually makes the reservation.

 

[DebbieB]

My question is if DVC members can make dining reservations through the regular WDW-DINE or we will have to call member services since they have to confirm your room reservation to make the dining reservation more than 90 days ahead.

 

[bicker]

It gives an unfair advantage to those with longer stays.

What makes the advantage "unfair"? It seems like a very fair advantage to me: Disney wishes to provide incentive for longer stays, so they give folks who make reservations for longer stays this dining advantage.

 

[Doctor P]

Yes, but I am not sure that someone who comes on December 15 for ten nights should have preference for a Christmas day reservation over those who come on December 23 for ten nights. Personally, it sounds like a good idea but in practice I think it is going to be an absolute nightmare with a lot of people rightfully upset.

 

[mstec]

Yes, but I am not sure that someone who comes on December 15 for ten nights should have preference for a Christmas day reservation over those who come on December 23 for ten nights. Personally, it sounds like a good idea but in practice I think it is going to be an absolute nightmare with a lot of people rightfully upset.

Hmmm...That's actually a good point. I was only really concerned about it because, although I did think that DVC members would be considered "onsite", I did not know how they would confirm our reservation when I called, so that I would be able to take advantage of the new plan. I hadn't even thought about it from the perspective that if I'm only staying a short time, I would be at a bit of a disadvantage. I guess I understand the reasoning behind it, and I'm certainly glad that Disney is trying to offer perks for "onsite" stays, but this plan seems to add a bit more complexity and confusion to the process, doesn't it? I wonder if they are simply testing it, such as last year when they started the Evening extra magic hours...

Well, either way, I will be making some dining reservations in about 2 weeks, one hopefully for a breakfast at Cindy's Castle, so I'll let you all know how I did then...

 

[Dean]

Yes, but I am not sure that someone who comes on December 15 for ten nights should have preference for a Christmas day reservation over those who come on December 23 for ten nights. Personally, it sounds like a good idea but in practice I think it is going to be an absolute nightmare with a lot of people rightfully upset.

Life is not always fair. Everyone has the option of staying those 10 nights if they so chose. Many people feel Disney (other companies also) should take their personal situation into account. This includes anyone who can only travel when school is out, families with 5 or 6, etc. And while most companies do consider it, they just can't please everyone. Frankly, I'd like to see DVC give the same priority to reservations as well.

As I've posted before, Marriott's reservation system gives this exact type of priority if one is reserving concurrent or consecutive weeks. Thus at 13 months out I reserved 3 summer weeks at HH a full month before many owners could even call for reservation. That's actually the main reason I bought my second week at Grande Ocean, just to get the priority. I know someone who owns 17 weeks at a Marriott out west and they call 13 months out from the first and reserve a full 17 weeks in a row. Thus they always get exactly what they want as long as they can get the first and second week.

 

[chipscinderelly]

On the restaurants thread several have reported that DVC is included - you just need to give your reservation # to the CM when calling.

I think that people need to WAIT until the plan is in place before complaining about it. There are several posts indicating that not all spaces will be released for the 90 + 10 but that some will be saved for the actual 90 day out callers (off site etc) so it may not be impossible to get holiday/CRT reservations.