Do you need to make ADRs if you are staying Club level?

[akeogh]

My friend's family (2 adults, 3 children ages 12, 9, and 5) are staying at the Polynesian, at Club level, in January. She asked me if I knew if she had to make ADRs now, or could the Concierge just arrange everything when they get there? She doesn't want to overbook or make everything so structured, but she also doesn't want to find they can't get in anywhere. I didn't know the answer. My advice was to go ahead and book a couple of the more popular restaurants that she was sure she wanted to go to. But does anyone know if the Concierge can "make it happen" when she gets there?

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Concierge can make the ADR's - but they need to let them know asap what they are looking for. They definately cannot just *make it happen* when they get there. They will certainly do everything they can to help, but once you are there they can only make ADR's based on what is open for availability at that point.

 

[clerkshipwanted]

does concierge at club level have special access on the 180 day mark? can you tell them what you want and they do it for you?

 

[debrapagliasotti]

does concierge at club level have special access on the 180 day mark? can you tell them what you want and they do it for you?

IPO should contact you prior to your 180 day mark (email) to find out if you want them to make reservations for you. If so, they need the dates/times/locations you are hoping for as well as CC for any needing guarantee. They cant make magic happen, they are just doing the work for you if you want them to.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When staying Club Level you can have the IPO Cast Members of your resort make all your ADR's at your 180 day mark. Just e-mail them before a list of the places you want to eat at along with times you want, then they will get back to you. However you should know these are not the Cast Members you will see working in the Club Level lounges, because the IPO Cast Members are completly different from the Club Level Cast Members. Also the IPO Cast Members have access to the same ADR system as everyone else, so if a restaurant is not available all they can do is offer you another one.

Now when you are at WDW one thing the Club Level Cast Members told me is they are usually able to get an ADR at a restaurant in your resort only even if it's sold out. When they log onto the ADR system it can see they are doing it from a Club Level lounge, so they have better luck for restaurants located where you are staying. For example if you are staying at the Boardwalk Inn and wanted to try Flying Fish Cafe or Kouzzina but was told it was sold out before you arrived, their Club Level Cast Members working in the lounge should be able to get you an ADR. If the system still says it's sold out then they would call the restaurant as a last option.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

If your friend is going in January, as in January 2012, then they are well past the 180 day mark and may have difficulty getting some of the more popular ADRs. She should contact IPO now with her preferences and see what they can do. As CR Resort Fan 4 Life pointed out, if the restaurant is booked solid, IPO may not be able to help unless it is a restaurant at the resort where you are staying.

 

[clerkshipwanted]

IPO should contact you prior to your 180 day mark (email) to find out if you want them to make reservations for you. If so, they need the dates/times/locations you are hoping for as well as CC for any needing guarantee. They cant make magic happen, they are just doing the work for you if you want them to.

but do they do it at the crack of dawn to make sure they get the best reservations or does having them make the reservation actually delay you?

 

[vicki_c]

but do they do it at the crack of dawn to make sure they get the best reservations or does having them make the reservation actually delay you?

At 180 days out, I haven't had any problem getting exactly what I wanted by using the IPO office. I do not have any idea what time they make reservations. I have done this 2x. Sometime later in the day on the 180th day out, I got an e-mail from them saying everything was done. Then a few days later, I got the full itinerary with ADRs in an e-mail.

 

[akeogh]

I am going to copy my friend on this thread so she can see what everyone is advising her. I wonder if she will have better luck finding open bookings in January than other, more crowded times of year? I will say that I myself have had some booking magic in the past. We stayed at GF in February one year as a last minute reservation, and somehow, I got transferred to the Club Level Concierge when I started asking questions about 1900 Park Fare. I thought I was talking to the front desk at 1900 Park Fare, but instead I began, unknowingly, talking to the GF Concierge. We spoke about 1900 Park Fare and how, really, I couldn't get any reservations anywhere, and he said he would help me, and did I have my hotel reservation number? He then realized I was not staying on Club level, and then I realized that I had been transferred to the wrong phone number for help! But he was so kind, and he did *make things happen* for us. First he booked us at 1900 Park Fare, which was my original question. Then, he asked us where else we wanted to go, and he booked everything, including CRT for dinner on Valentine's Day, and many other hard-to-get reservations. When I asked him how in the world he managed to do it, he said for Club level guests at the GF, if he called, they would add a table to the restaurant to accomodate the request!!! I said "Oh my, but you do realize I'm not Club Level, right?" And he said, "We want all of our guests to experience the magic of Disney." Anyway, this was three years ago, and I just accepted it as Disney magic pixie dust at the time, but that was why, when my friend asked me if the Concierge could just *make it happen* - well, I thought maybe so!