Beware: Disney auto-cancelling your DDP ressies

[Tricia1972]

Ouch! Sorry.

No problem! They changed the system about a year ago, and that's what led to the change of the ADR canceled policy on the boards.

 

[DanceGirl914]

I think I will leave them how they are for right now - and just keep checking to see if anything happens to any of them in the next 4 1/2 months!

Thanks for your help!

 

[Brygida]

Personally, and this is only an opinion, I think you got an angry CM. Similar to the one who posted on this thread, they are human and they get fed up with what they perceive as "cheating" the system.

I think she made a mistake with you and handled your call badly. I highly doubt that your reservation was flagged for anything, but you 'seemed' double booked to her so she said that so you'd drop a reservation.

You think so? OK. .... me calming down again...... So she probably DID hang up on me.

Thank you.

 

[Tricia1972]

You think so? OK. .... me calming down again...... So she probably DID hang up on me.

Thank you.

I truly do

(She probably did hang up on you. Bummer that she was so rude!!)

 

[mcd2745]

As someone who is very careful (i.e. a bit anal) about making sure that we either make our ADRs or cancel them at the first sign that we might not make it I would have no problem if WDW made some sort of cancellation fee. Although I could see it being a Customer Service nightmare when having to deal with people having every reason under the sun for not making or cancelling in advance.

Have room behind that cover?

Sure...come on in, plenty of room.

Actually...I didn't think it would be the fees idea that would be a problem. I thought the suggestion of going from 180 days to 45 that would have people reacting like I wanted to take away their first-born. I just can't think of any legitimate reason why a meal needs to be planned 6 months in advance.

 

[bytheblood]

I have a VERY hard time swallowing this. We were there in DECEMBER with a Le Cellier dining reservation at 5:30 PM and the restaurant was only at half-capacity. This being the same time that people where people have to provide a credit card and use 2 TS credits for Candlelight Processional.

We saw people walk up outside and ask for a table (walk-ups, literally) from a table size of 2 to 8 and were turned away as they were "fully booked" for the evening.

We were a table of 2 and requested a specific waiter and were seated at a 4-top to sit in his section. We were in there for a little more than an hour and at no point was every table full.


So, my point in saying all of this is:

• People cannot book an EPCOT restaurant for CP (which is where most of the tables are assigned in December) and not show up without having their credit card charged.
• If people are not showing up, the restaurants could very easily sit a walk-up at those tables so that they are not losing any money. Not all people use the DP. As a matter of fact, we see many people still pay out of pocket.

I do not believe that the seats are empty for this reason.

Had this exact same experience in December as well. We asked for Patrick and were seated a table in his section. It was just me and my sister and we were seated at a table for 4. The place was empty from 5 - 6:30. We were so surprised considering all of the people who said that they could not get Le Cellier for CP.

 

[creativeamanda]

I think that they plan for a good portion of the tables to be empty. If they book all of the tables, then lots of people are waiting way past their ADR times. That's just my HO.

 

[juliemcalister]

Of course there's no real need to book a meal 180 days in advance. I think the reservations are open 6 months out to get people to make a mental commitment to their vacation plans. If there weren't any urgency then many would feel that they didn't have a real reason to commit. And it gives Disney more time to respond to market conditions.

Would love to hear other theories.

 

[mcd2745]

Of course there's no real need to book a meal 180 days in advance. I think the reservations are open 6 months out to get people to make a mental commitment to their vacation plans. If there weren't any urgency then many would feel that they didn't have a real reason to commit. And it gives Disney more time to respond to market conditions.

Would love to hear other theories.

Those are valid explanations from Disney's perspective - as I said, if anything they'll go even further out. However, there's no real valid explanations from the guest's perspective.

 

[juliemcalister]

Agreed.

 

[kjs1976]

I just have to to say that this has been a very interesting thread to read. So glad to see ideas/opinions discussed w/o snarky-ness. Never knew this could be a possible issue w/auto-cancel or mad CMs. Very interesting indeed!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Those are valid explanations from Disney's perspective - as I said, if anything they'll go even further out. However, there's no real valid explanations from the guest's perspective.

I think having it 180 days out is BETTER from a guest's pespective.

Almost everyone has their vacation plans settled at 45 days out. So, if ADRs could only be booked that far in advance, almost everyone would call on the 45 day out mark, making the system completelly overwhelmed first thing every morning, in the mad dash to make ADRs for 45 days later.

By having it 6 months out, MOST people will not be making their ADRS at the 180 day mark (believe it or not, most people who make ADRs are not on the DIS). So, ADRs fill little by little starting at 180 days, making the whole system much more managable.

 

[squirrel]

I think having it 180 days out is BETTER from a guest's pespective.

Almost everyone has their vacation plans settled at 45 days out. So, if ADRs could only be booked that far in advance, almost everyone would call on the 45 day out mark, making the system completelly overwhelmed first thing every morning, in the mad dash to make ADRs for 45 days later.

By having it 6 months out, MOST people will not be making their ADRS at the 180 day mark (believe it or not, most people who make ADRs are not on the DIS). So, ADRs fill little by little starting at 180 days, making the whole system much more managable.

I agree! I was doing the online booking last year when it was at 45 days and I was up very early trying to get my ADR's each morning (I was staying 14 nights).

 

[mcd2745]

I think having it 180 days out is BETTER from a guest's pespective.

Almost everyone has their vacation plans settled at 45 days out. So, if ADRs could only be booked that far in advance, almost everyone would call on the 45 day out mark, making the system completelly overwhelmed first thing every morning, in the mad dash to make ADRs for 45 days later.

By having it 6 months out, MOST people will not be making their ADRS at the 180 day mark (believe it or not, most people who make ADRs are not on the DIS). So, ADRs fill little by little starting at 180 days, making the whole system much more managable.

There's no doubt 180 days is better for those who have made their vacation plans way in advance. But 45 days would be a lot more "fair" for everyone as a whole. Yes, there would be a ton of people going in at the 45 -day mark, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as it would likely keep people from double and triple booking ADRs for each night of their stay. Rather than make a second (and maybe a third) ressie for the same night, they'd be more likely to move on to the next night knowing there's more competition for the table.

 

[TDC Nala]

It was 90 days last year and there was a lot of complaining about how 90 days wasn't enough time to plan.

 

[clanmcculloch]

There's no doubt 180 days is better for those who have made their vacation plans way in advance. But 45 days would be a lot more "fair" for everyone as a whole. Yes, there would be a ton of people going in at the 45 -day mark, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as it would likely keep people from double and triple booking ADRs for each night of their stay. Rather than make a second (and maybe a third) ressie for the same night, they'd be more likely to move on to the next night knowing there's more competition for the table.

Your concept of "fair" is interesting. It sure wouldn't seem all that "fair" to those who book their vacations far ahead of time that they don't get to book their dining any earlier than those who book relatively last minute (1.5 months is a last minute vacation to many of us).

I do wish that park hours would be released a good month before the ADR booking window was opened up.

 

[mcd2745]

Your concept of "fair" is interesting. It sure wouldn't seem all that "fair" to those who book their vacations far ahead of time that they don't get to book their dining any earlier than those who book relatively last minute (1.5 months is a last minute vacation to many of us).

I do wish that park hours would be released a good month before the ADR booking window was opened up.

I'm sure everyone's views of whats "fair" is different. Our differences is what makes the world go 'round.

You're essentially going with the 'early bird gets the worm' rationale - which is fine. I have no problem with the early bird getting a worm. But when the early bird takes all the worms, but only eats one and lets the rest rot...that's wrong.

1.5 months may be somewhat of a last minute vacation, agreed. But what about the person who booked 5.5 months out? Hardly last minute IMO. And that person is essentially shut out from several restaurants, the F! package, etc. And how many people book ADRs 180 days out (probably many before they have even made hotel/flight reservations) only to cancel the whole trip. At least at the 45 day mark, everyone's paid up (yes I'm making the assumption everyone is staying on-site, which of course isn't the case), not likely to cancel so the ADRs aren't "wasted".



As for the other post about how poeple complained that 90 days wasn't enough...

Maybe it's just me, but I just don't get that. Outside of a WDW vacation, in your life how many other meals do you plan 90 (or 180) days in advance?


I guess at the end of the day, I'm generally not an obsessive "planner" with anything in my life, but when it comes to a WDW vacation, you have no choice and I'm having difficulty with it.

 

[bytheblood]

Your concept of "fair" is interesting. It sure wouldn't seem all that "fair" to those who book their vacations far ahead of time that they don't get to book their dining any earlier than those who book relatively last minute (1.5 months is a last minute vacation to many of us).

I do wish that park hours would be released a good month before the ADR booking window was opened up.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'm sure everyone's views of whats "fair" is different. Our differences is what makes the world go 'round.

Agreed!

You're essentially going with the 'early bird gets the worm' rationale - which is fine. I have no problem with the early bird getting a worm. But when the early bird takes all the worms, but only eats one and lets the rest rot...that's wrong.

1.5 months may be somewhat of a last minute vacation, agreed. But what about the person who booked 5.5 months out? Hardly last minute IMO. And that person is essentially shut out from several restaurants, the F! package, etc. And how many people book ADRs 180 days out (probably many before they have even made hotel/flight reservations) only to cancel the whole trip. At least at the 45 day mark, everyone's paid up (yes I'm making the assumption everyone is staying on-site, which of course isn't the case), not likely to cancel so the ADRs aren't "wasted".

I booked my August trip after my 180 day booking window had already opened. I got every ADR I wanted at the times I wanted. Granted I wasn't trying to get a Fantasmic ADR (got that in December over Christmas I think at around 4 months out because I didn't decide to do it until that point) or LeCellier (got that in December over Christmas though I did get this one at 180 days out) but I did get dinner at 'Ohana, Akershus and Coral Reef at my preferred time as well as prime last breakfast ADRs at 'Ohana and 1900PF. Your assertion that at 5.5 months out a person is shut out of several restaurants is pure hyperbole. Maybe the person won't get one of his choice ADRs at the exact time he wants but he'll still get the majority and maybe even all.

It really is only the extra small minority of people who double and triple book ADRs blocking out those who are trying later to book.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I booked at 3 months out for next month's Aug trip.

I got everything I wanted, at the perfect times for all but 2. Le Cellier is about an hour and a half later than I would like (7:40 pm), and 1900 Park is 50 min earlier (at 5:10)

I also have CRT, Akershus, Donald's breakfast, and Crystal Palace breakfast.