Empty Restaurants, yet hard to get ADRs. Here's Why

[ParrotBill]

We were in WDW the last 2 weeks. The first week crowds were moderate; last week they were light.

We made ADRS for every day based on our experience 2 years ago when all restaurants were slammed by free dining.

We expected the same thing because it was hard to get our ADRs.. which we made about 75 days prior to arrival. I had to forget about some popular restaurants but got into some but with very late times.... examples

Mama Melrose 2pm was all I could get
Artist Point 7:20pm all I could get
Boma 7:50pm earliest I could get
Luckily we got into Chefs de France and Biergarten with times between 12 and 1.

Yet, there was only one restaurant that we went to that was actually busy - Chef Mickey's.

All the others were light to moderate at most. We stopped worrying and went to restaurants without concern for ADRs and they could fit us in easily every time. Biergarten - 30% occupied. Chefs de France - 50%. Artist Point - 25%.

So I asked at Artist Point (our last night big dinner).... has it been this empty a lot, and why could I only get in at 7:20pm?

I got a knowing look. "Do you know if it was the new reservation system?" he asked. I knew. "Yes," I answered.

He then explained what it does, whether you call or use the online.

It takes your requested time, and looks for open times from one hour before to one hour after, and offers you one open time in that window - and it intentionally offers times that are spread out across those 2 hours to avoid "Selling out" the best times right away. It then offers alternate restaurants to help spread out reservations through "suggestive placement".

He said we should complain, and complain loudly.

He also said when we want a reservation at Artist Point, to call the restaurant directly during their open hours to get the time we want if it's open.

He also sad they've been running about 1/3 occupied for months, ever since the economic slowdown, and because they are "out of the way" compared to park restaurants or EPCOT resort restaurants.

It was an interesting discussion, which we repeated with the restaurant manager (who is new there and recognized us from past visits to other restaurants, amazing.)

 

[disney queen]

interesting.....

 

[princesslover]

That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

 

[jdb1232]

You mean to tell me that I got up at 5:45am on my 90th day like a fool for nothing?

Although this is the first time that we got ADR's in three years for Le Cellier, I guess that makes it worth it on its own.

Where else did you eat?

 

[JandD Mom]

Thanks! I absolutely agree. We developed a new strategy -- take whatever time they offer and show up when you feel like eating. We got lucky once that way. We also got lucky at Chef Mickey. The grandparents "suprised" us by showing up at our hotel room the morning of our Chef Mickey Res. We showed up without having included them on our reservation and they gave us no trouble and got us a bigger table.

Other problem, the new reservation system is too difficult to use. It takes too long, it's unreliable, and they don't make it easy to cancel your reservations. In the past, we have always made sure we canceled unused reservations to make sure someone else could get in. This time, it was sometimes impossible to do that. Once, there was a 25 minute wait to get through on the phone, and then when I tried to go online, the system was down. I went to the concierge and they couldn't help because they couldn't log onto the system either. So I tried 3 times and couldn't do it. Someone else couldn't get into a restaurant because of it. The system stinks.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

thanks for letting us know. I take the ADR for the day and if we need to eat early we try to go at the restuarant and see if they can sit us early and 90% they let us sit early.

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

Thanks! I absolutely agree. We developed a new strategy -- take whatever time they offer and show up when you feel like eating. We got lucky once that way. We also got lucky at Chef Mickey. The grandparents "suprised" us by showing up at our hotel room the morning of our Chef Mickey Res. We showed up without having included them on our reservation and they gave us no trouble and got us a bigger table.

Other problem, the new reservation system is too difficult to use. It takes too long, it's unreliable, and they don't make it easy to cancel your reservations. In the past, we have always made sure we canceled unused reservations to make sure someone else could get in. This time, it was sometimes impossible to do that. Once, there was a 25 minute wait to get through on the phone, and then when I tried to go online, the system was down. I went to the concierge and they couldn't help because they couldn't log onto the system either. So I tried 3 times and couldn't do it. Someone else couldn't get into a restaurant because of it. The system stinks.

I do not think your strategy will work. Last Wed. we were had reservations at Le Cellier at 4:40pm. However, due to a flood in our hotel room at Kidani, and having to unexpectedly move rooms, we were detained. We showed up at 6:00pm hoping to be seated. NO GO! They would not seat us. I even asked to speak to a manager, who flat out refused to seat us.

 

[im4pacers1]

I do not think your strategy will work. Last Wed. we were had reservations at Le Cellier at 4:40pm. However, due to a flood in our hotel room at Kidani, and having to unexpectedly move rooms, we were detained. We showed up at 6:00pm hoping to be seated. NO GO! They would not seat us. I even asked to speak to a manager, who flat out refused to seat us.

Oh whoa! I would think that someone at Kidani would've called for you. That sounds like a crappy experience. Sorry that happened to you.

 

[mackait0307]

This is so true. We were at Disney the last week of August and the only restaurants that were packed were O'Hana (dinner), Kona (dinner) and Chef Mickey's. We made a reservation at Whispering Cannon (Lunch) we were told that the only time available was 1:30. When we arrived, half of the restaurant was empty. When I told the waitress about what were told about reservation times, she was shocked and went to tell her manager. Apparently they have been dead all week. Shocking...even when we at Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast, our reservation was for 8:20....when we checked-in at 8:05 we were taken right in. Again there where many open tables. I'm not sure if people aren't showing up for their reservations or if they canceled their trips and didn't cancel their dining reservations.

 

[Mysteria]

Oh whoa! I would think that someone at Kidani would've called for you. That sounds like a crappy experience. Sorry that happened to you.

I agree. I would have had management at the resort call the restaurant. We got stuck on a bus from DHS to CR once due to an accident for 90 minutes. Made us late for a Chef Mickey res. I called as soon as I knew I was going to be late and they were able to make it work for us.

 

[laura-k]

This is one issue that really bothers me alott i have been going to Disney World every year for the lst 12 years and for about the last three years reservations have been
more and more difficult to get -Finally last year I had to beg concierge to help me to get into OHana for my sons Birthday - If I have to leave property to get a meal that changes my entire Disney experience

 

[JandD Mom]

I do not think your strategy will work. Last Wed. we were had reservations at Le Cellier at 4:40pm. However, due to a flood in our hotel room at Kidani, and having to unexpectedly move rooms, we were detained. We showed up at 6:00pm hoping to be seated. NO GO! They would not seat us. I even asked to speak to a manager, who flat out refused to seat us.

I happen to agree with you about Le Cellier. They are way to small for their following and are not at all accommodating, even when you have a reservation AND show up on time. That's why we've stopped making reservations there. Another place where it won't work is Rose and Crown after 7 pm, because everyone wants to eat there for fireworks.

But for other restaurants that are larger and more accommodating, you might get lucky. Like I said we showed up a little early even for our Chef Mickey reservation and even added 2 people, and we were seated within 10 minutes and they had no problem changing our reservation for 9 people, to a reservation for 11. We were prepared, however, for them to tell us they could not seat 11. If that happened, the 2 "surprise" guests would've gone to Wave to eat. But we were lucky.

 

[Chris Rex]

So all this being said, what is the best approach?

Do the online/ new systems show more and more open reservations as the day gets closer? (ie- is it prudent to try the system 4 days before you'll be there?)

Are there direct numbers to call these restaurants, and if so, how far in advance is it ok to call direct?

Any ideas?

 

[JandD Mom]

So all this being said, what is the best approach?

Do the online/ new systems show more and more open reservations as the day gets closer? (ie- is it prudent to try the system 4 days before you'll be there?)

Are there direct numbers to call these restaurants, and if so, how far in advance is it ok to call direct?

Any ideas?

Chris Rex, unfortunately, even the concierges I spoke to during our trip could not help us with the dining. They are constrained by the same awful computer system. A couple even expressed to me their dislike for the system and encouraged me to complain to Disney. They even recommended showing up at restaurants and hope to get lucky. Obviously, this won't work in some places, like Le Cellier.

Also, they will not give out the direct phone number for the restaurants, but it won't matter anyway. My parents even ate at Cape May Cafe for breakfast 1 morning, and tried to book a group dinner for 11 of us the next night, and the folks there said they were not able to access their book and that we would have to go through Disney Dining.

So It seems that your best bet is to call Disney dining and try the computer. If you have a "must eat" place take whatever reservation time they will give you, and then hope you can get the time changed, or that they will seat you a little early (or late). Again, realize, some placed (like Le Cellier) this just won't happen - even when you show up on time!

 

[rentayenta]

We had an ADR during the YOAMD and one of our Dreams lasted a good 3 hours so we were late. When we showed up and I explained what happened, they sat us the next table.

 

[ParrotBill]

To answer the question about where else we ate....

Fulton's Crab House - empty at lunch, sparse at dinner
Earl of Sandwich - not busy even at dinner on a weekend
Rainforest Cafe DTD - walked in at main lunchtime no reservation no wait, half full on a weekend
Kouzzina's - got ADR the day the news was out they were open early. Half full.
Chef Mickey's was full as expected with ADR hard to get (10:20 breakfast)
Chefs de France - able to get ADR for 12:00 and full but taking walk-ins
Biergarten - able to get ADR for 1:00 but not 12:00, a third full
Mama Melrose - hard to get ADR, one third full at 2pm and learned we could have been easily seated at 12
Teppan Edo - hard to get ADR, and then half full
Artist Point - hard to get ADR, a third full, been that way for months
Cape May - hard to get ADR, but not full, taking walk-ins

And lines for counter service were short both weeks we were there at
Flame Tree, Yak & Yeti Anandapur, and Aloha Isle, all of which have typically long lines.

 

[Carolina Mouse]

I've read twice on here where we should complain and complain loudly. To whom do we complain about the ADR situation?

I'm ready to fuss.

 

[skeletor40]

I'm glad ParrotBill you started this thread. Most interesting. Difficult ADR's and half empty restaurants; sounds like a recipe for revolt.

 

[DoctorK]

That wasn't our experience the last week of August. Other than Yak & Yeti lunch and CRT lunch, where we were the first seating (so the place was empty when we arrived) every place we at appeared to be over capacity (tables full, waiting rooms overflowing):
LeCellier
Teppan Edo
Chef Mickeys
Biergarten
Coral Reef
Whispering Canyon
50's PT Cafe

All of our ADRs were right around 6pm -- prime dinner time for families, I would expect.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

We ate at WCC on 9/1/09 for a late breakfast at 10:50 a.m. When we arrived, there were perhaps 2-3 tables full in the entire restaurant, and when we left - about 11:30 a.m. - there was no one in the restaurant. The wait staff was standing around talking and we asked when the lunch started, and they said RIGHT NOW! seeming very surprised that absolutely no one was out front waiting to get in.

We walked around the WL for a while, and at 12:00, I noticed that only a handful of tables (5-6) had people, the rest of the place was empty. I wonder if there were people trying to get ADRs on that day that were denied because the place was supposedly full? Sad.