Beefs with Online ADR System

[dioxide45]

I know it is still new and some quirks need to be ironed out, but I have some issues.

• You still have to keep track of all your confirmation numbers. There is no one place you can go and look up all of your ADRs. You have to enter them all in and look them all up. If you forget one or don't write one down then you may have a ADR hanging out there. There is a high probability you didn't get the e-mail they are supposed to send you. So now you have to pick up the phone and call. Why can't I just search for all ADRs associated with my phone number?
  
• You can't really search a range of time. You can pick a time and it returns the closest time. It only gives you one option.
  
• I can only search one restaurant at a time. It would be great if I could pick several restaurants and a time range. Then I pick the one that I think works best for me.

Overall it is an improvement to what they had, but it is clunky, slow and at times just doesn't work. I am not blown away by the system by any means.

 

[TillyMarigold]

• You can't really search a range of time. You can pick a time and it returns the closest time. It only gives you one option.

I've had it give me options for time just like it gives options for restaurants. When I searched for Akershus for 7 pm, I was offered 6:35 or 7:25.

 

[disneydreamer98]

I know it is still new and some quirks need to be ironed out, but I have some issues.

• You still have to keep track of all your confirmation numbers. There is no one place you can go and look up all of your ADRs. You have to enter them all in and look them all up. If you forget one or don't write one down then you may have a ADR hanging out there. There is a high probability you didn't get the e-mail they are supposed to send you. So now you have to pick up the phone and call. Why can't I just search for all ADRs associated with my phone number?
  

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  I whole heartedly agree with this! I like that it sends you an email confirmation with the number listed, but when I pull up "My Vacation" I wish that it listed out all my ADR's in that one location!

 

[Puget Peach]

Amen to the above suggestions - I hope this system is still a work in progress. I am not a phone person and do just everything I can online. I found this system to my liking with the above exception. My other complaint - having to open the email and SCROLL to see which restaurant the confirmation is for. I forwarded the emails to myself with the Date, Time, Restaurant, and ressie number in the subject line. Don't even have to open the thing... Then I also deleted everything in the body except the location and pertinent information so I don't have to scroll down. But then, I am a bit of a geek...

 

[Disneyliscious]

In addition to the above beefs.....

It will not let you change the phone number you made the ressie with. I started out using my home phone and then started using my cell phone. I switched carriers and got a new cell number where I snagged a few more ressies. I then realize its long distance to call my cell phone from my house phone and had to change my cell number again. Overall I had ressies under 4 different phone numbers. When I call in to modify the time or get info.....I have to sometimes go through multiple numbers to find it. The CM tried to put them all under one phone number a few days ago but the system wouldnt let her.

Im not able to book online because the last page (confirmation page I guess) never loads for me.....just goes white. I have to find them online and then call in and hope I get it. Maybe its because Im on dial up internet service.....but all I can do is search....not book.

She did say they are working on being able to change the phone numbers along with some other issues. As with anything new, there will always be kinks that have to be worked out. I just hope its done in a timely manner.

 

[Abbys mom]

You still have to keep track of all your confirmation numbers. There is no one place you can go and look up all of your ADRs. You have to enter them all in and look them all up. If you forget one or don't write one down then you may have a ADR hanging out there. There is a high probability you didn't get the e-mail they are supposed to send you. So now you have to pick up the phone and call. Why can't I just search for all ADRs associated with my phone number?

This is my biggest beef with the new online system!

What I did, was go to the screen where you can retrieve multiple ADR's at one time, and retrieved all of my ADR's on one screen. I then printed that out and put it with all of my other WDW paperwork. I also sent it to myself as an email so I can also retrieve them on my phone while at WDW in case I lose the paper. I just hope that I got them all!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I'm not a phone person either, so I am VERY grateful you can book dining online.

I would be a very happy camper, though, if the system didn't cut in several times telling me I will be cut off due in inactivity. Inactivity? I have been entering one time after the next, in succession, for several minutes trying to find an opening, lol, I would hardly call that inactive.

I wish we could just put in "morning" and they will give us all the available morning times instead of painstakingly entering each time.

The system is slow, but it's still better than calling, imo. However, it is so slow that when you finally DO get your coveted ADR, this is when they want to cut you off. And by golly, they do! I lost a ADR because it was in my cart and they cut me off. Then poof, it was gone when I tried to start a new session.

Also, I can't seem to FIND my cart after I have at least one ADR inside my cart. The only way to get back to my cart before I get timed out, is to book a bogus ADR and then immediately cancel it once I am in my cart.

Why do we have to be timed out anyway? What's the rush? It is very irritating. Yet! Yet, I am thrilled I am able to do this and will just get through it best I can. Thank you, Disney, for giving us this option.

 

[clutter]

My problem was finding my cart. I added a reservation and looked for another one. Didn't find it, so I went to 'check out' and couldn't figure out how to get to my cart. Ended up having to accept a bogus reservation to get there, then delete it. I'm sure there's a way to get there, but I sure didn't see it!

 

[billfatora]

Ya' know... I don't want to sound like a real jerk here, but if making ADRs are really that important, then you do have the option to pay a little extra and stay at any of the resorts that offer "Club Level" services. Please don't get furious at me for the comment; as it's being offered only as a suggestion, and not an admonishment ! I've been doing this for twenty-some-odd-years now, and over the years, things have changed dramatically. Computers, cell phones, blackberries, applications... we've all become quite "spoiled" by technology. And it's hard enough for us, as individual families, to "keep up"; so I can't imagine what it's like for WDW to manage a computer system server and database the likes of one that can keep track of all the dining options and reservations .... As I recall, there was actually a time when you had to call each restaurant - individually :chat- for reservations, and then hope that you still had it when you arrived.:. They really have come a long way... and I do hope that they keep moving foreward; but, for now, what they've got is a lot better then what they had, years ago....

 

[Disney-Kim]

I agree that I wish you could see all your ADR's at once so you can print them out or make sure you got them all.

keying all your ressie #'s in and emailing them to yourself is a pain too as I can not always bring up ALL the ones I have.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I love the new ADR system, but I would also like to see the OP's ideas implemented. It is still better than having to call in every time you want to see if something is available.

billfatora, you bring up a question that I have been wondering. Does Club Level guarantee they will find you a reservation for exactly what you want? I have heard about people using the CL for making ADRs, just wondered if one of the perks was guaranteed ADRs?

 

[ga9497]

Considering this is phase 1 of the online dining I am sure there will be things that will be adjusted in future upgrades. I for one am glad to have this option yes it is isn't 100% the way I would like it to work but it is much better than not having it.

 

[ga9497]

I love the new ADR system, but I would also like to see the OP's ideas implemented. It is still better than having to call in every time you want to see if something is available.

billfatora, you bring up a question that I have been wondering. Does Club Level guarantee they will find you a reservation for exactly what you want? I have heard about people using the CL for making ADRs, just wondered if one of the perks was guaranteed ADRs?

No they don't guararntee avaialblity at the restaurants if you stay club level. Actually one time I was able to get better times then club level was and they told me that they didn't get Fantasmic for me but I was able to after a few days of trying.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Ya' know... I don't want to sound like a real jerk here, but if making ADRs are really that important, then you do have the option to pay a little extra and stay at any of the resorts that offer "Club Level" services.

Must be nice to have enough money that you can consider $500-800 more per night "a little" extra. Sure, I think next time I'll just triple or quadruple the cost of my vacation, why not?

 

[billfatora]

Must be nice to have enough money that you can consider $500-800 more per night "a little" extra. Sure, I think next time I'll just triple or quadruple the cost of my vacation, why not?

And that certainly is another point of view.... Thank you.

 

[Maren1111]

Also, I can't seem to FIND my cart after I have at least one ADR inside my cart. The only way to get back to my cart before I get timed out, is to book a bogus ADR and then immediately cancel it once I am in my cart.

Someone elsewhere mentioned the trick to this: under "my vacation" at the top of the screen, you'll find "saved dining offers." This is where your cart can be found.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I am sorry.
2) But, people get upset at the silliest things.
3) You wanted on-line ressies, now you got them.
4) I think some people will just never be satisfied.

. . . they can't show all the open slots, as they fill up too fast
. . . even CM's get upset
. . . they can see all the holes and then they try to fill one
. . . presto, someone else grabbed it before they could
. . . can you imagine the complaints from the general public?
. . . "I wanted THAT ADR, and then it was gone!"
. . . "Now, give it to me, because the computer said it was available!"

. . . someone wanted 7:00pm
. . . the screen offered 6:35pm and 7:25PM
. . . duh, those were the times open
. . . besides, VERY FEW ADR's are right on the hour or half-hour

. . . no system is ever perfect
. . . especially when it has to serve a wide cross section of people
. . . be thankful you got on-line ADR's
. . . of course, you are always free to phone call
. . . the CM can see every time that is open

 

[billfatora]

Hey "Rusty"...

To respond to previous questions about "Club Level" guaranteed ADRs...
ABSOLUTELY NOT ! I guess I should have also included that as part of the statement I really don't know of any way to get the exact times at the exact places on the exact days that you want, unless you really have I was actually heading the same direction as "Rusty", in that they have taken our suggestions and recommendations over the years, and have attempted to accomodate us, as best they could. And it certainly hasn't always been pretty ! But they keep trying, never the less, to give us what we want (albeit at a price, of course ). Bottom line, roll with it... it'a a vacation... and keep this thought in mind - I've done rental property, off-property, on-property, All-Star, Fort Wilderness, G.F., and even honeymooned at The Contemporary... I've pretty much done it all, and - no matter what - I've always had a great time... so enjoy !

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Someone elsewhere mentioned the trick to this: under "my vacation" at the top of the screen, you'll find "saved dining offers." This is where your cart can be found.

Thank you! I did eventually find that.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I believe everyone who posted here is very grateful for the new system. I think most who posted here have said what a good thing the new system is and it was terrific of Disney to offer it to us. But since the title of this thread is beefs about the new online system, I believe we should be able to point out what could be improved in this new system without being judged. Who knows, Disney may actually welcome this kind of "review" from the public while working out the kinks.