Be careful calling ADRs.

[MayMom]

I called this evening to change our September ressie fron the LeCellier to Coral Reef (at my DH's request). The man that I spoke with immediately told me he "doubted" he would find anything at Coral Reef this close to our departure. After waiting a few seconds he said he had nothing on September 28th for Coral Reef. I got the feeling he didn't even try to check for me. I hung up and (remembering my DIS friends advice) decided to call back. I got a young lady on the phone who told me she had unlimited reservations from 11:00 am until 3:20 pm!!

 

[Delaware Mike]

I called this evening to change our September ressie fron the LeCellier to Coral Reef (at my DH's request). The man that I spoke with immediately told me he "doubted" he would find anything at Coral Reef this close to our departure. After waiting a few seconds he said he had nothing on September 28th for Coral Reef. I got the feeling he didn't even try to check for me. I hung up and (remembering my DIS friends advice) decided to call back. I got a young lady on the phone who told me she had unlimited reservations from 11:00 am until 3:20 pm!!

Interesting.... We called this evening as well, changing a dinner ressy for Tuesday, September 26. We wanted to add a TS for Aldredo's, and asked what was available. The extremely nice CM with whom we spoke immedately offered several dinner ressy times, starting at 6:30pm through 8:15pm...any time we wanted we could get. Maybe Alfredo's isn't so popular???

 

[lisabarr]

I also wanted a Chef Mickeys Breakfast and was told only 7am(not) or 11am (hello thats lunch) called back and low and behold 10am. So, my suggestion is to keep calling.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

this is hte second thread i have read with problems with ADRs. i have not had problems and i am a serial changer! haha! i've changed my mind soo many times. i'm not leaving until september 28th though?? i don't know. i think i'm done for no! but who knows!!

 

[JimMIA]

There is always a lot of ebb and flow with ADRs, especially close to the date of the ressie. While you are on the phone asking, someone else is canceling exactly what you want. That's usually not a CM error; it's just the way the system is.

You can, and should keep checking for ADRs periodically, especially the DAY OF your intended meal. Just stop by guest services, any restaurant, etc, and check.

 

[ntsammy5]

Interesting.... We called this evening as well, changing a dinner ressy for Tuesday, September 26. We wanted to add a TS for Aldredo's, and asked what was available. The extremely nice CM with whom we spoke immedately offered several dinner ressy times, starting at 6:30pm through 8:15pm...any time we wanted we could get. Maybe Alfredo's isn't so popular???

Alfredos is great. But I've also had the same experiences. At Coral Reef was told repeatedly nothing for 9/22 for 2, then got a CM who suggested I make the res for 3, since she could do that. Then just tell them the 3rd person didn't show. Long story short the ressie is now for 4 (same table we had for 3) and all of us will show up. Had CMs offer suggestions for other alternatives too. ADRs now for every night.

 

[MayMom]

There is always a lot of ebb and flow with ADRs, especially close to the date of the ressie. While you are on the phone asking, someone else is canceling exactly what you want. That's usually not a CM error; it's just the way the system is.

Okay - I totally understand this IF he had said there is nothing at (insert time). What he said is there is NOTHING available all day. No openings at all. Literally 2 minutes later another person, told me there was anything available from 11:00 to 3:20. She said, "You tell me what time you'd like."

That is a CM error without a doubt!

 

[BroadwayGirl]

Okay - I totally understand this IF he had said there is nothing at (insert time). What he said is there is NOTHING available all day. No openings at all. Literally 2 minutes later another person, told me there was anything available from 11:00 to 3:20. She said, "You tell me what time you'd like."

That is a CM error without a doubt!

Not necessarily...looking for dinner and looking for lunch will give the CM completely different results. Obviously, I didn't hear the phone call but if you said something like "I want to change my DINNER reservation from LeCellier to Coral Reef on Sept 28" then the CM might have been completely truthful in stating he had no dinner reservations at all that day. He was taking you literally, looking only for dinner time reservations. In this case, he literally would not have seen any availability earlier in the day because their computer systems separate lunch and dinner into separate pools that cannot be viewed simultaneously. I wouldn't say he did anything wrong - he probably searched per your request - but he also didn't go over and above what you requested of him.

The 2nd CM didn't take your request as literally as the 1st did and when she didn't see any dinner hour reservations she probably changed the times and checked for lunchtime reservations to offer as an alternative. Hence, she found availability between 11am and 3:20pm which worked for your party.

Remember, CMs can't read your mind so if you say dinner they're going to be searching the dinner hour inventory and might not realize that you would be fine with a lunch reservation instead. If you are flexible, let them know and most CMs will do their best to fulfill your needs.

 

[PeterPansMum]

I just changed two of ours yesterday afternoon with no problem. I even get good times! I was getting a little worried about changing things around at this point but there seems to be plenty of options left right now..

 

[MayMom]

Not necessarily...looking for dinner and looking for lunch will give the CM completely different results. Obviously, I didn't hear the phone call but if you said something like "I want to change my DINNER reservation from LeCellier to Coral Reef on Sept 28" then the CM might have been completely truthful in stating he had no dinner reservations at all that day. He was taking you literally, looking only for dinner time reservations. In this case, he literally would not have seen any availability earlier in the day because their computer systems separate lunch and dinner into separate pools that cannot be viewed simultaneously. I wouldn't say he did anything wrong - he probably searched per your request - but he also didn't go over and above what you requested of him.

The 2nd CM didn't take your request as literally as the 1st did and when she didn't see any dinner hour reservations she probably changed the times and checked for lunchtime reservations to offer as an alternative. Hence, she found availability between 11am and 3:20pm which worked for your party.

Remember, CMs can't read your mind so if you say dinner they're going to be searching the dinner hour inventory and might not realize that you would be fine with a lunch reservation instead. If you are flexible, let them know and most CMs will do their best to fulfill your needs.

NOPE - the reservation that I cancelled was a lunch reservation for 2:50 at LeCellier....I also asked specifically for anything all day.

 

[Terk-1]

I must have lucked out since I got where and when I wanted for all my ADR's on my upcoming trip. Called the other day to change my ADR at the Rose & Crown to a little later than the original time and had no problem. Called today to get an ADR for later lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe for the day after Thanksgiving and had no trouble.

 

[Delaware Mike]

Alfredos is great. But I've also had the same experiences. At Coral Reef was told repeatedly nothing for 9/22 for 2, then got a CM who suggested I make the res for 3, since she could do that. Then just tell them the 3rd person didn't show.

Okay, first let me put on the nomex suit...

Last September (2005), DW and I walked up to Le Cellier during the DDP, which we didn't have. Asking for a dinner table for two, we were told none were available. However this very nice CM (Quebec, I think) looked at me and said in a lovely French accent, "I'm sorry the third member of your party could not join you, however we should be able to seat the two of you in a few minutes." Looking at me and smiling, she made the "trick" known... I would try making an ADR for three and simply say one member had to cancel, to gain a table for two.

While I didn't initiate the thought at the time, I did mark this up to "lessons learned". Needless to say the tip that night was good....

 

[hrbib21]

A lot of restaurants ARE booked that week. Le Cellier is booked solid and Ohana's I couldn't get anything earlier than 9PM and I'm just not eating that late. Mind you, I made my ADR's about 3 weeks ago so I imagine it will be worse now.

However, I did get Spoodles, Boma, San Angel Inn, and Yachtsman Steakhouse. We're playing it by ear for the rest.

 

[kcashner]

Bottom line...if there is a place that you really want to eat, keep trying. We called from our resort at WDW and were told that there was nothing available at LeCellier for the remainder of our trip. I called 4 hours later and was told that there was a cancellation at 5:50 if we could make that. I took it, and cancelled my Spoodles for 8 pm.

I could have accepted the first 3 answers of "nothing available" ( on 3 different days) and missed a wondeful evening. Of course, Spoodles would probably have been great too.

 

[MayMom]

Bottom line...if there is a place that you really want to eat, keep trying. We called from our resort at WDW and were told that there was nothing available at LeCellier for the remainder of our trip. I called 4 hours later and was told that there was a cancellation at 5:50 if we could make that. I took it, and cancelled my Spoodles for 8 pm.

I could have accepted the first 3 answers of "nothing available" ( on 3 different days) and missed a wondeful evening. Of course, Spoodles would probably have been great too.

Thank kcashner! This is the message that I was trying to get out....I just wouldn't want anyone to give up based on a CM's word! It pays to call again!

 

[LeesyUD]

Okay - I totally understand this IF he had said there is nothing at (insert time). What he said is there is NOTHING available all day. No openings at all. Literally 2 minutes later another person, told me there was anything available from 11:00 to 3:20. She said, "You tell me what time you'd like."

That is a CM error without a doubt!

I really think there is a CM or two there that 1) really do not care to do there job...2) do not know how to look the system...3) it was truly sold out before and just did not bother to check.

You may have spoken to the same CM I did yesterday. I was booking the CP Package for Coral Reef. I asked about a couple days and he did not ask which show or time I wanted and said everything was sold out for the day. Now the packages just went on sale yesterday and I called late in the day so I am sure alot of them went. However something told me to call back bc it didn't even seem like he really checked. Well I called back and ugh got the same person who again said they were sold out for the 3 days I asked for. Well meanwhile I had my mother, who is dining with us call on her phone at the same time I was on with him again. As I was hanging up she told me she got 5:10 at Coral Reef on the day we wanted and the CM offered her other days too! I think maybe you spoke to the same CM I did. He definitely answered too quick and he said the same thing that there was nothing all day. Was he mumbly on the phone with you? The guy I talked to mumbled quite a bit and I had to keep asking him to repeat himself bc I could not hear him.

 

[shyjade]

Alfredos is great. But I've also had the same experiences. At Coral Reef was told repeatedly nothing for 9/22 for 2, then got a CM who suggested I make the res for 3, since she could do that. Then just tell them the 3rd person didn't show. Long story short the ressie is now for 4 (same table we had for 3) and all of us will show up. Had CMs offer suggestions for other alternatives too. ADRs now for every night.

OMG!! I've been trying for over 3 weeks to get ressies at Boma the night of our arrival (Sept. 27) for 2 people. Nothing. Nada. Each and every day I call, hoping (including this morning). I decided to take your advice and just called for a table of 3...they had room! Well, not till 9pm, but that's still better than nothing. Next I think I'll try for a party of 4 and see if I can get earlier ressies. THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!!!!

 

[ssdeverell]

OMG!! I've been trying for over 3 weeks to get ressies at Boma the night of our arrival (Sept. 27) for 2 people. Nothing. Nada. Each and every day I call, hoping (including this morning). I decided to take your advice and just called for a table of 3...they had room! Well, not till 9pm, but that's still better than nothing. Next I think I'll try for a party of 4 and see if I can get earlier ressies. THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!!!!

That worked for us last year at LeCellier, too.

 

[MayMom]

I really think there is a CM or two there that 1) really do not care to do there job...2) do not know how to look the system...3) it was truly sold out before and just did not bother to check.

You may have spoken to the same CM I did yesterday. I was booking the CP Package for Coral Reef. I asked about a couple days and he did not ask which show or time I wanted and said everything was sold out for the day. Now the packages just went on sale yesterday and I called late in the day so I am sure alot of them went. However something told me to call back bc it didn't even seem like he really checked. Well I called back and ugh got the same person who again said they were sold out for the 3 days I asked for. Well meanwhile I had my mother, who is dining with us call on her phone at the same time I was on with him again. As I was hanging up she told me she got 5:10 at Coral Reef on the day we wanted and the CM offered her other days too! I think maybe you spoke to the same CM I did. He definitely answered too quick and he said the same thing that there was nothing all day. Was he mumbly on the phone with you? The guy I talked to mumbled quite a bit and I had to keep asking him to repeat himself bc I could not hear him.

This HAS to be the same guy...I was embarrassed to keep asking him, "Pardon me?" And like you said he didn't appear to even LOOK at a computer and "something" told me to call back too. Dirty rotten cast member - trying to come between me and my free food!