Curious - Why no ADR bookable online?

[Where's Pluto?]

Just wondering, and thought y'all might have an answer. Why aren't ADR's bookable online? It sure would make my life easier. Thanks

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I was wondering the exact same thing. Since I didn't know which restaurants I wanted all at the same time, I had to call, listen to that automated message and sometimes have to wait for a CM to pick up multiple times. It was gettig on my nerves. I wish they would have an online system.

 

[bicker]

I think of it this way: How much more would you be willing to spend on your WDW vacation, and how much more often would you visit, based on there being an online restaurant reservations system? If it wouldn't really cause that many people to pay more and/or visit more, then why spend money putting it in place, making sure it cannot be hacked, etc., when there are so many other things they could do with that money to make the guests' experience better -- things that the guest would pay more for, and/or would visit more due to.

 

[Cass]

I think it's a good idea to have an online system - as safe and secure as their regular reservation system. It would take the pressure off the CMs at the call center too

 

[The Sweetness]

Wouldn't there then be less need for call center employees? This would pos. save $$$ for WDW, but what about all of those ppls jobs?

 

[powellrj]

I think its because it would be too easy for people to book multi- reservations for the sametime. I can see people booking 3 TS meals for the same night because it was easy to do it and then "decide" where they want to eat when they get there.

 

[crisi]

Its also really hard to do real time over an internet connection. Anything that sells quickly is really hard to manage - people put it in their "cart" and its available, by the time they checkout and the transaction processes, it isn't available any more (my husband did the XBox release for a major online retailer).

So you need to "sell" things over the internet that either have nearly unlimited inventory or very slow inventory cycles (yes, its fairly rare, but we only sell one of them every couple months). Or you need to have some sort of online auction system like eBay.

Disney reservations don't fit this model well. Imagine the Illuminations reservation for Rose and Crown, Cindy's breakfast (in the day) or Le Cellier for dinner.

Or look at DCL which has done this on a much smaller scale with Palo. We booked our Palo reservation the day it became available fairly early in the morning. By afternoon, booked. Lots of people see what they want on the DCL system, but by the time they try and book it, its gone. That doesn't make for happy customers.

I think they will do it eventually, but there are issues with it beyond just the cost.

 

[pooh2001]

The Dining CM's also make suggestions.
We never ate at Tony's before and did so last year with a recommendation by the CM on the phone.
Our dinner we wonderful, we sat on the porch and ha a birds eye view of the Electrical Parade and were in a great spot for the fireworks.
It was a great place for our last dinner at WDW - until we visiti again.

So - CM's in person on the phone are great for making suggestions, helping with dietary requests, and celebration cakes.
I think the Dining CM's should still be available to guests and are an asset to WDW

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

An online WDW Dining reservation system is probably already in some phase of development.

Companies such as airlines and hotel chains love online reservation systems because of significant cost avoidance. Conventional call center operations are labor-intensive, and thus expensive to operate. In addition, there are space and telecom costs (although Disney's telecom costs must be fairly low because most guests call 407-WDW-DINE, with the guests paying the long distance charges).

In fact, some airlines now charge more if you book with a human agent rather than at the airline website.

The problem is that WDW Dining would require a highly customized system. It's not a simple matter of loading a standard online shopping system onto a big server and being done with it. The online system would have to interface with the legacy dining system, and such interfaces are always a challenge.

An online WDW Dining reservation system would cost millions to develop, implement, and operate. But it would be likely to save even more millions in the long run. Also, if developed right, the reservation system would be integrated with a user interface that allows guests to learn about their dining options, view menus, view video about each restaurant, and, in general, and be "sold" the table service dining options. Remember, most guests don't have the knowledge and experience that DISboards participants have.

 

[zulaya]

I just don't think it would happen. Too many variables. Too many ways to "cheat" the system.

And given that people complain about everything being so automated nowadays, that they never get a "real person", I think Disney will keep it's ADR as call in.

The few of us onthe DIS (when compared with the rest of the public travelling to Disney) are probably going to want to ask questions of the CMs, especially if their first choices are unavailable.

Would I like the convenience? Sure. But I also can take one phone call out of my life to make my ADRs for my trip and be done.

 

[Lynne M]

You can be sure that Disney has already done a cost/benefit analysis on this, or is in the process of doing it now.

We will only see online ADRs when/if they can show that one of the following is true:

1. It will increase their 'sales' (the number of customers buying food at their restaurants) enough to cover the costs of developing and maintaining such a system, and make a profit as well.

2. It allows them to lay off enough Dining CMs to cover the costs of developing and maintaining the system, and still produce a profit.

This would be a major undertaking for Disney, and companies just don't jump into a big development project unless they are very confident that it will produce a profit. And it's not just the initial development costs - large database applications don't run themselves. There's database/OS maintenance to be done, periodic upgrades, servers need maintenance, etc.

Much as I would love to see something like this, whether we get it or not is going to depend on whether it makes a profit for Disney.

 

[Lindy Loo]

We hda to ring numerous times from the Uk to get ADRS, On line would have been easier and cheaper for us.

HOWEVER I do like speaking with a human, asking questions etc, and KNOWING its all booked OK. It just feels "better" for me.

 

[SpecialK]

I think its because it would be too easy for people to book multi- reservations for the sametime. I can see people booking 3 TS meals for the same night because it was easy to do it and then "decide" where they want to eat when they get there.

The last time I called to make ADRs, Iasked the CM if an on-line system was in the works. He said no, and gave the reason stated above.

 

[Where's Pluto?]

I have often thought about it and why it doesn't exist. Sometimes, to me it would be some much easier to do than call. There might be a way to make the system work, but I'll leave that up to the tech guys.

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind, though, that it is not a "tech guy" problem -- it's a human behavior problem.