Disney's Flawed Reservation System

[jaredjohn4]

So after getting back from an early March 2022 Disney Trip, I went online and made reservations for 11 days at the end of September and beginning of October. After working out the logistics of a 3500 mile trip from Chicago to Dallas to Disney and back to Chicago I decided to drop one day off the end of the trip. After the website crashed several times trying to modify the fall reservation I tried calling. All circuits are currently busy. After 3 hours of trying, I finally got through and was on hold for only a little over an hour. Once I actually talked to a cast member and said I wanted to drop 1 day from the end of my reservation I was told I can't. It appears that to drop 1 day they would actually try to get a new 10 day reservation. The only place available was in a tent/popup site. Since that really isn't a choice with a 38ft fifth wheel I stayed with my current 11 day reservation. I've read on here about people putting together several one day reservation to get a full week, but not being able to drop one day from a reservation seems crazy. I know the Disney IT department struggles, but this shouldn't be such a problem. Maybe we can blame this problem on Chapek also. When traveling I've had campgrounds wave the 3 day rule for holiday weekends while I am just moving through to another part of the country. Why does Disney make everything so hard these days?

 

[Dashzap]

I think it has to do with resort stay minimums and maximums, which are different on different dates. There are all kinds of background formulas. Perhaps drop that last night at front desk when you check in?

 

[bama_ed]

The one night you drop may not be picked by anyone else so it won't generate revenue - that's referred to as an "orphan(ed) night". It's the same concept in some theaters and concerts where you might see three vacant seats and you are looking for a pair. Some places won't let you buy just the two because that would strand them with a single that might be hard to sell in their market. Same concept.

Disney has had this programmed into their system for years. It's easy to add nights if space is available but nearly impossible to drop for the above reason. Occasionally, if there is still a ton of availability, the system will allow the drop but the same drop may not be permitted if availability is running lower.

I think the work-around would be to leave that night on the reservation and when you walk into the lobby to check in after arriving in September, tell the front desk CM that you need to leave one night earlier and they should be able to drop it as @Dashzap suggests above.

It does suck though because this policy means Disney is doing what's good for Disney and not what's good for their guests YET again.

Bama Ed

PS - so what that means is the Disney Reservation System is NOT flawed - it's working EXACTLY as it should be (and has for years). What's flawed is the selfish logic supporting the policy.

 

[jaredjohn4]

I understand the orphan day is a problem, I was just hoping this early that there would be a better chance of someone else picking it up. Scheduling 8 campgrounds over 33 days is just about as much fun as using Gene+ during the busy season.

 

[Disneypeach]

I’ve cancelled days on trips just by dropping by the outpost check in desk and letting them know. Never had a problem and was not charged for the dropped days.

 

[bama_ed]

I understand the orphan day is a problem, I was just hoping this early that there would be a better chance of someone else picking it up.

Okay, yes you are a long-time member, @jaredjohn4. You've heard/seen/read/experienced it over the years. But not everyone reading knows what the orphan problem is.

Disney Customer Complaint Operators are waiting to take your sincere, heartfelt call here:

And I get trying to schedule plans over a long period of time. I'm a planner Type-A myself. But over a period of 33-days, there will likely be bumps in the road.

IMO there is not a good chance at 6-7 months out of this working out especially since the end of your trip is in October (been there, done that). If that orphan night was in August, we would not be having this conversation.

Ed

 

[wdw_dine_junkie]

I needed to drop two nights off my reservation back in Jan and couldn't do it online. After calling, the cast member put in a ticket for the people that have those powers and it was changed by the end of the day. Not sure who the special people are, but there is a team that supposedly can do that. I'm not sure if they want you to know that though!