Back from WDW and have a comment about ADRs

[mamacatnv]

I made some ADR's for our upcoming trip, and unless they were guaranteed by credit card I was told there was a 15 minute window and then our reservation would be given away.

I agree that it is just plain silly to hold tables for hours on end and I also agree that a certain percentage of tables needed to be kept open and given out as needed.

 

[Lizzybee]

How's about this complication...
We had ADR's for our free dining trip in August. I even got CRT lunch about 3 weeks before our trip. I don't think we ate at any of the times listed for our ADRs. At 1900 Park Fare dinner, we arrived about 20 mins early and were seated immediately. At CRT, we arrived about 35 mins early and were seated in 10 minutes. At 50s PT, I think we a bit over an hour early, but we were so hot, tired, and hungry and didn't want to miss Fantasmic, that I said what the heck. We got a table in 20 mins, thank goodness because although we were seated by 5:30pm, we didn't get out of the restaurant until 7:20 and the Fantasmic showing was at 8pm. (that's not a complaint, we enjoyed the down time of a leisurely meal, if it had caused us to miss Fantasmic, it would have been a complaint lol). The busses were running super slow for our ADR at Donald's Breakfastasauris in AK and we were nearly 40 mins late. We were seated within 5 mins. So basically we averaged 30 mins give or take on our ADRs and it was no problem at all. Most of our TS meals came after a trip back to the resort so I was willing to wait at the restaurant but didn't want to miss our ADR.

 

[DanaHesson]

Like I said, I am not complaining. We were told that if people do not show up for reservations, they are not going to fill the table with people who are there and want to eat. They are not taking standbys. So if I have an ADR for 7:00 at 50s Prime Time Cafe but I am having fun at MK and decide I don't want to go to MGM and don't bother to call and cancel, then that time block is not given to someone who walks up. I thought that WDW used Priority Seating but it seems to be more like reservations, except if you don't show (or you show up an hour or two late) they don't give that table to a standby. I just think that maybe some revamping needs to be done considering this dining plan is getting more popular.

Kathleen

Sounds to me like it was a cast member problem, as they do not reserve a specific table for you, even with the ADR system... glad it worked out though!

 

[LaLa]

Last year we had an ADR (or PS then!) for Chef Mickey's. We were running a little bit late as DH made a wrong turn on the way to the Contemporary. (What a maze that place can be the first few days) Anyway, I estimated that we would be about 15 minutes late for our ADR once we got back on track and I called Disney Dining to let them know we were indeed coming and and to ask them to not give our table away. I didn't assume they would do anything differrent. The CM on the line acted like this was indeed a very big deal. She phoned the restaurant and let them know the situation. I got the impression that had I not called, we might have lost our table, and that if we weren't there roughly around the time I said we would be, we would be out of luck. Maybe it was because our ADR was for one of their big hitters (CM). I don't know. But we have never been late for another ADR, believe me.

 

[happygirl]

I really don't see a problem either you wanted a table with no ADR and you got one 20 minutes later, I have waited longer then that with a ADR

 

[Kramer]

We have found that Disney's dining sytem does not always work perfectly... during our last trip we were in AK and decided to head to Breakfastasaurus at the last minute. I called Disney Dining while we were walking and was told that there were no ADR's available for that morning as they were all booked up. We decided to head over anyway and try standby... well, we were seated immediately and there were plenty of open tables. Doesn't make sense, but I guess there has to be a few bumps in the road with a dining system as large as Disney's.

 

[redsback]

I'm still not understanding why tables were reserved, since ADR's only guarantee you the next available table. They don't hold a table for you. Also, I had the same problem at Chef Mickey's as one of the previous posters. I made a wrong turn & ended up there about 5 minutes after our ADR was scheduled. I didn't even think to call Disney dining, either. When we got there, the hostesses was very nice & said it was no problem. We were seated immediately. I guess it's just a luck of the draw thing!

 

[robinm1215]

We had no problems with our ADRs last week. Showed up about 10 minutes before each one and were seated pretty close to our actual ADR time, sometimes early. I do think I remember a CM telling me they hold your ADR for about 10 minutes.

It doesn't make any sense that they were holding empty tables when they could have seated so many people who may have just walked up. When we were in Le Cellier for lunch last week, there were many empty tables -- I would say the restaurant was only half full. I thought it was odd, but I chalked it up to the fact that it was almost 3pm and they serve lunch till 3 and then switch over to dinner at 4. I thought they must not take any ADRs between 3 and 4 and that was why it was so empty. It was weird to see the empty tables especially with how popular this restaurant has become. And I saw them turn people away at the front.

Also, I would guess it's just luck of the draw with walking up vs. calling dining. We were supposed to dine at WCC and didn't want to make the trip over. So we called dining to see if either LTT or CP in the MK had any openings. They did not, but when we walked up to CP they seated us in about 20 minutes.

 

[snowbunny]

sorry it just doesn't sound like the disney we all know and love now does it? all that empty space = less$$$$$$!

You got that right...not to mention the percentage of people (I have no idea what it is) that make multiple ADRs at different places for the same time because they can't be bothered to plan where they'll actually be. Hard to believe that disney would rather let a table go empty than sell food.

To those who say, 'what's the big deal, you were seated' I'd point out that the OP only was seated because her DH made a big deal of being turned away from a half-full restaurant. Other people might not insist.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I believe their frustration comes from you have to have ADR to eat in restaurants there or you are out of luck and that if they weren't persistant then they would not have been allowed to eat there when there was an opening, I could be wrong though. I think that Disney should leave some tables open for walk ups, it's really not right for people who are not on the dining plan or do not know about the ADR's (or PS's as I still call it, lol!!!).

True. I don't know that I would have persisted with it. I would have thought, "Well, I guess we're out of luck!"

I do think they need to do something to deter people from making ADRs and not showing up, though. Perhaps a credit card deposit for all ADRs with a different cancellation policy? Who knows.

 

[Lynn4Mel]

We were in WDW the last week of Oct. I made ADR's for what we needed except the night we went to Downtown Disney. It was the day of Hurricane Wilma. When I was planning I thought we'd be fine for that week to go without the one and take a chance. Unfortunately for us 3 of the places were closed because of Private Functions so the others that were available had long wait times. When eating in the restaurants I did see people waiting outside for seats and saw empty tables. I do agree with one of the posters who said that Disney should have some tables set aside for standby. I think if there is a no show... they should be only allowed a certain amount of time to check in ( I would allow up to 1 hour... you never know what could happen along the way) and then give the table to someone else and if and when they show up then get them seated as soon as they can. I would expect that to happen to me if I were that late ADR.

Just sounds like Disney needs to "tweek" their policies when it comes to that and hopefully they'll come up with a good solution.

 

[TDC Nala]

The dining plan has really made ADRs necessary if you want a sitdown meal in the parks.

It was my impression that an ADR was not actually a reservation and they don't hold tables. ADR holders merely go to the head of the line when they check in and get the first available table for their party size.

 

[Beca]

One time we wanted to eat at San Angel, so on our way to Mexico I got on the phone and called for a PS. The CM on the phone told me that there was a time-limit on how close dining's central computers could make ressies, and that they were not able to give someone a PS for a restaurant within one hour of the time they called (like, I called at 4pm, so the earliest PS I could get was 5pm). Now that I see people have called and received ADR's for 5 minutes later, I realize he was either wrong, or lying to me. It didnt' bother us, though. We made the ressie for 5pm and then walked to the restaurant to see if we could get in early...they seated us immediately.



Beca

 

[Pig Pen]

I cannot believe this is a true Disney policy. I had tried to make an ADR at OHana for 5:00 pm (first seating) and was told they were full. DH and I decided to show up anyway and try to get a table. We figured if it didn't work out, we would try Kona or head to MK early and eat counter service.

Well they said they had a cancellation and seated us immediately (and before some of the ADR people, by the way)....

Of course I was very nice and put on my best "pitiful" face.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

There just seem to be so many inconsistencies throughout.

 

[LaLa]

Like so many other things at Disney, I think a lot of it just comes down to which CM you are dealing with at the time.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We noticed something odd during our July/August trip. Dh and I did not make any lunchtime ADR's. One day we decided to try to get into Sci Fi for lunch. We were put on the list and warned that there would be a considerable wait. After that, we noticed some parties of 2 and 4 without ADRs being turned away and others (one time only a minute or two later) being put on the list. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to scheduling. Dh and I were put in the very back seat of a car with another family in front of us. The other family was quite put out that they didn't have a whole car to themselves. We noticed at Sci Fi that every available space was being used.

I agree that it is too easy to make an ADR and not keep it. I have posted in the past that we have heard quite a few CMs complain about this increasing problem. My personal feeling is that making ressies 180 days out is only going to aggravate this situation.

 

[Scottwdw]

Like so many other things at Disney, I think a lot of it just comes down to which CM you are dealing with at the time.

Unfortunately, this seems to be an increasing problem where WDW Dining management is not keeping close tabs on how their policies are being interpreted at all the dining locations in WDW. I think WDW Dining should be made aware of this so, please, email them and give specifics as to when and where. That way, they can try and be more consistent.

Now, many CMs will go out of their way to try and accomodate their guests. I hope that management doesn't put too much restraint on them.

As I understand it, the Advanced Dining Reservation system was just a name change and should work like the old Priority Seating (still a much better name) system did. If you have an ADR, you are given preference over those who do not have an ADR. If you do not show within a reasonable amount of time, your ADR will go to the next party in the restaurant's queue.

As for cancellations, I still think the system needs some work. Any made, should immediately inform the person at the podium of the opening.

Nothing is perfect but WDW Dining should strive for guest satisfaction first and foremost.

 

[TammyJ]

Wow this is all so confusing and frustrating. May I just vent for a minute? We are planning our first trip to WDW. We didn't know we'd be going until my husband's deployment "shedule" firmed up a bit. Once I realized we may be able to go to WDW, I started trying to plan this trip. Of course, deployments change... He was originally deployed to Tampa but then onto Qatar... anyway, I had less than two months to plan this from scratch (still no guarantee we can make it), having never been or even researched WDW. Trying to make dinner arrangements is almost impossible! I don't really know a better system for Disney to try but it can be really discouraging to us newbies. I was able to get ADRs for Bistro de Paris since it doesn't take ADRs until 30 days prior and am VERY excited about that.

OK now that I vented, I am so excited about our trip and I'm sure we'll have a fabulous time but I wish they'd reserve more restaurants or sections of restaurants for say like that 30 day point.

 

[Scottwdw]

TammyJ,

I certainly understand your frustrations. I, personally, think 180 days is way too far in advance. 90 days was a good compromise. I see many, many folks who wait and make WDW trips within a month of going and always have a great time.

BTW, there are some very nice counter service places which have nice eating areas. Some of my favorites are Columbia House in the Magic Kingdom (MK), Tusker House in Disney's Animal Kingdom (DAK), Yorkshire County Fish Shop in Epcot's United Kingdom (there's a quaint outdoor seating area just around the corner) and the Studio Catering Company in Disney-MGM Studios (DMGM).

Plus, use the tips here to get last minute reservations so program your cell phone for WDW Dining and May the Force Be with You!