DVC member advantage when making dining ADRs?

[bangzoom6877]

I have heard that the dining ADR system is now tiered, and that DVC members are on the top tier, meaning that we get first priority for dining ADRs. Is this true or a rumor? If it is true, how exactly does it work?

Also, is there still a glitch with the online ADR system for DVC members being able to book their 90 + 10 window?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I thought that was just a wish by DVC members.

 

[disneynutz]

I read somewhere that we were on the bottom tier.

 

[n2mm]

I read somewhere that we were on the bottom tier.

I read we were on the top tier (delux) and offsite guest were on the bottom tier.

 

[DMKEDM]

There's a thread on this (a bit old now...haven't looked at it in several weeks) over on the restaurants board...

I have no idea if the "tier'ing" is true, and if it is, if DVC gets a high priority...

But I do know that I made ADRs late in the game ... for a trip from 8/30-9/4, I made ADRs for character b'fasts about two weeks ago (mid-June)...I wanted both Chef Mickey's and Cinderella's Castle, for four people, at a "normal" b'fast time (as I recall, all our ADRs are for between 8:30 and 9 a.m.)...

Got all three I requested (Cape May, Chef Mickey's & Cinderella's Castle)...

At first I was "shocked" (especially w/Cindy's Castle!)...then I realized I was "only" a week or 10 days into the 90-day window. That may have made a difference. Or, maybe we do get a priority?

 

[vicki_c]

I would put that in the unfounded rumor category.

And yes, from other posts, it seems that the DVC +10 ADR thing is working now -there's some other threads about it here.

 

[DebbieB]

Actually they said if you had a discount (CM, DVC, Tables in Wonderland), you were put on a lower priority, they only allow so many tables for discounts. So if it's a restaurant with a DVC discount, it may be more difficult. On the other hand, not too many of the "popular" restaurants have a DVC discount.

 

[JimMIA]

Yes, there were some pretty specific examples on the older thread that we were near the bottom. It seemed to me that the tiering - if it exists at all - is discriminating against anyone who has any kind of discount, and that the bottom of the list is folks who have the TiW card (20%).

There was one very specific situation where someone staying in Concierge (!) was not able to get an ADR because they had the TiW card. They were forced to get a non-TiW card ADR and hope for the best when they presented the card to the server. I never saw any update on how they fared, and they may not have even gone to WDW yet.

OTOH, I have not heard any general complaints about DVC members not being able to get ADRs because of their membership, even though we get a 10% discount at many restaurants. The only real issue I've heard of was with the TiW card.

 

[Sammie]

The new alacarte system when it is completely implemented, will allow certain resturants to limit the number of tables that can be reserved using a discount.

Many guests have complained that since free dining and the dining plan the better restaurants have watered down their menu to cover the loss of revenue from having so many guests fill the restaurants using a discount.

Therefore certain restaurants can now decide how many tables will seat a discounted guest. This number can change during certain times of the year. For example it might be more during free dining, and less at other times.

Personally I see no difference in this, than airlines and hotels limited the number of discounted seats or rooms.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

How does anyone know if you have a TiW discount card until you use it? Any AP holder can purchase the card when you get to the park and that could be months after the dinning reservations are made.

 

[ccgirl]

I am a bit confused here. I am purchasing a TIW when I get to WDW so I didn't mention it while making ADR's. Does that mean I won't be able to use it?

 

[Chuck S]

Kind of falls uder the "Be careful what you wish for" category. People complained about the DDP dropping the quality, so they now have the ability to limit discounted tables. It is a shame, though, that Disney hasn't realized that the DDE/TIW and all the other discount programs were in effect prior to the DDP and Free Dining, so logically it is those programs that has thrown the system of the balance, not the other discounts. So while the DDP may not be profitable for the restaurants, it is obviously profitable for the resorts division.

 

[Brian Noble]

That's true, Chuck. But, on the other hand, if, say, Le Cellier could fill up entirely on full-fare guests, why wouldn't Disney prefer to have those more profitable customers? Disney has been in a real bind for the past year in trying to prop up falling guest spending numbers in the face of relatively steady attendance, so they're doing everything they can to maximize revenue. I suspect this "change" would have been coming sooner or later in the context of any discount plan, DDP or no.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

How does anyone know if you have a TiW discount card until you use it? Any AP holder can purchase the card when you get to the park and that could be months after the dinning reservations are made.

Exactly...
I don't believe there is any truth to this rumor. Actually, I thought it had already been debunked.

MG

 

[CarolMN]

If they ever limit the number of ADRs available for TiW discount, I certainly hope that is CLEARLY disclosed ahead of time to those who purchase the discount card. I think $75/year is a bit much to pay for something that you may not be permitted to use.

FWIW, I do not think this will ever be enforced. Can't imagine any waitstaff refusing the card & it's automatic 18% gratuity.

 

[vicki_c]

People are talking about this in this thread (not everyone) like it's a fact. No one has shown me anything that says this is fact, just the postings of some people who may or may not be dining CMs, from what I recall.

Until someone posts something credible that proves this, I don't believe it's currently happening.

 

[Chuck S]

Oh, I think we can probably agree that the new dining computer system is capable of limiting tables based on discounts, just as we know the fastpass system is capable of much more, like tiering fastpasses bases on resort class (Value, Mod, Deluxe, DVC, etc.)

As to whether Disney would actually use the capability is questionable. For instance, limited dining for those that pay for the DDP or the TIW, would, IMO, be a very unwise move...they as CarolMN said, they would definitely need to disclose the limitation at the time of sale.

 

[vicki_c]

Oh, I think we can probably agree that the new dining computer system is capable of limiting tables based on discounts, just as we know the fastpass system is capable of much more, like tiering fastpasses bases on resort class (Value, Mod, Deluxe, DVC, etc.)

As to whether Disney would actually use the capability is questionable. For instance, limited dining for those that pay for the DDP or the TIW, would, IMO, be a very unwise move...they as CarolMN said, they would definitely need to disclose the limitation at the time of sale.

I agree - that's all I was saying. I have no doubt there are tons of capabilities that are possible -- but I don't think they're actually using them at this point.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Oh, I think we can probably agree that the new dining computer system is capable of limiting tables based on discounts, just as we know the fastpass system is capable of much more, like tiering fastpasses bases on resort class (Value, Mod, Deluxe, DVC, etc.)

As to whether Disney would actually use the capability is questionable. For instance, limited dining for those that pay for the DDP or the TIW, would, IMO, be a very unwise move...they as CarolMN said, they would definitely need to disclose the limitation at the time of sale.

How would they be able to tier fastpasses based on resort class? I bought my tickets from Undercover Tourist (not directly through Disney) so I don't think there would even be a way for the computer to tell I am staying DVC, if they were to ever implement such a tiering system. Many folks do things like this too, they don't buy their tickets through Disney but they are staying concierge at a deluxe resort, for example.

 

[Brian Noble]

Until someone posts something credible that proves this, I don't believe it's currently happening.

Vicki, take a look at this post. Presuming it is accurate, it certainly suggests that *something* like this was done *at some point*.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32189470&postcount=77

In the interests of full disclosure, I just don't care. I never have a problem getting in *somewhere*, even at the last minute, and I have yet to eat in any Disney restaurant that makes or breaks a trip.