Feeling frustrated with Disney--anyone?

[DebbieB]

Don't know why you had such problems. On day 180, i got 2-3 table service ADRs for 13 days with no issue in about 45 minutes including BOG, California Grill dinner and brunch, and a Candlelight Processional dining package. My only issue is that RoL dining packages still are not loaded for December. So, no I don't share your frustration.

There's part of the issue. The system favors those with longer stays. If you have a shorter trip, what you want has already been taken by those with longer stays. I think some people also manipulate the system with "dummy" reservations. If you cancel or change dates, then dining or fastpasses obtained with those dates should be cancelled.

I think they should do what DVC does. You can only book 7 nights at the 11 or 7 month home/non-home windows. Prevents someone from booking a long trip to hold the dates and then cancelling part, manipulating the system.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

There's part of the issue. The system favors those with longer stays. If you have a shorter trip, what you want has already been taken by those with longer stays. I think some people also manipulate the system with "dummy" reservations. If you cancel or change dates, then dining or fastpasses obtained with those dates should be cancelled.

I think they should do what DVC does. You can only book 7 nights at the 11 or 7 month home/non-home windows. Prevents someone from booking a long trip to hold the dates and then cancelling part, manipulating the system.

The easiest solution is to remove the 180 day system which is stupid to begin with. Reduce it to 90 days. If you want a restaurant on your 90 day mark, you call in or go online for that 1 day. And if you want restaurants for the next day of your trip, then you wake up the following morning and call/go online again. Rinse, wash and repeat until you have all your days. None of this +10 garbage. I don't care if people have to call in sick at work for a week straight to book their ADRs.

 

[Disneylover99]

The easiest solution is to remove the 180 day system which is stupid to begin with. Reduce it to 90 days. If you want a restaurant on your 90 day mark, you call in for that 1 day. And if you want restaurants for the next day of your trip, then you wake up the following morning and call again. Rinse, wash and repeat until you have all your days. None of this +10 garbage. I don't care if people have to call in sick at work for a week straight to book their ADRs.

Call in? Every day beginning at the 90 day mark? No thanks. Can you imagine the bunged up phone lines? What's wrong doing it online?

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Call in? Every day beginning at the 90 day mark? No thanks. Can you imagine the bunged up phone lines? What's wrong doing it online?

Oh yes, online is fine too. Or carrier pigeon. As long as they get rid of that +10 garbage.

 

[Disneylover99]

Oh yes, online is fine too. Or carrier pigeon. As long as they get rid of that +10 garbage.

I'd actually prefer +14. Our trips are long.

It's a pain in the butt (as it is now) going online each day for 4 days. So I really wouldn't want to do it every day for two weeks.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I'd actually prefer +14. Our trips are long.

It's a pain in the butt (as it is now) going online each day for 4 days. So I really wouldn't want to do it every day for two weeks.

Yes I'm sure you would prefer that, lol. But it creates an unbalanced playing field where people staying longer (not necessarily spending more) are getting an advantage. This means that everyone else essentially has to create dummy/throwaway bookings to be on the same level. Kind of silly isn't it?

 

[sam_gordon]

The easiest solution is to remove the 180 day system which is stupid to begin with. Reduce it to 90 days. If you want a restaurant on your 90 day mark, you call in or go online for that 1 day. And if you want restaurants for the next day of your trip, then you wake up the following morning and call/go online again. Rinse, wash and repeat until you have all your days. None of this +10 garbage. I don't care if people have to call in sick at work for a week straight to book their ADRs.

You think it's stupid because it doesn't suit the way YOU want to plan. Shoot, make it a year out. If you can book a hotel room, you should be able to book restaurants. However, Disney needs to do two things...
1) Up the "no show" fee and have it for ALL reservations. What is it now? $10pp? Make it $25pp.
2) You must cancel at least 72 hours in advance. After that, the booking is firm, and you're subject to the no show fee.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes I'm sure you would prefer that, lol. But it creates an unbalanced playing field where people staying longer (not necessarily spending more) are getting an advantage. This means that everyone else essentially has to create dummy/throwaway bookings to be on the same level. Kind of silly isn't it?

It's a perk for staying onsite. You think people who stay longer don't spend more? Look at the price of rooms per night.

I think Disney should tie ADR's to your resort reservation beyond day 180 to get rid of throwaway rooms. If you book something at day 181 or further out and you cancel your resort reservation, your ADR's are cancelled. If you book at 180 days or less, and you cancel your resort, your ADR's are safe.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

It's a perk for staying onsite. You think people who stay longer don't spend more? Look at the price of rooms per night.

I think Disney should tie ADR's to your resort reservation beyond day 180 to get rid of throwaway rooms. If you book something at day 181 or further out and you cancel your resort reservation, your ADR's are cancelled. If you book at 180 days or less, and you cancel your resort, your ADR's are safe.

It's a perk for staying onsite and booking LONG trips. If I book the Yacht Club for a 5 day trip and you book the All Stars for a 10 day trip, you have an ADR advantage over me even though I'm spending about 4x what you are.

And what about locals? To hell with them?

 

[Pacolovestacos]

You think it's stupid because it doesn't suit the way YOU want to plan. Shoot, make it a year out. If you can book a hotel room, you should be able to book restaurants. However, Disney needs to do two things...
1) Up the "no show" fee and have it for ALL reservations. What is it now? $10pp? Make it $25pp.
2) You must cancel at least 72 hours in advance. After that, the booking is firm, and you're subject to the no show fee.

Just like people thought FP- was stupid because it didn't suit the way THEY wanted to plan right? See how that works.

 

[sam_gordon]

It's a perk for staying onsite and booking LONG trips. If I book the Yacht Club for a 5 day trip and you book the All Stars for a 10 day trip, you have an ADR advantage over me even though I'm spending about 4x what you are.

Please explain. Let's say you have the YC booked for 5 days starting on 6/1/18. I have All Stars booked for 10 days starting on 6/1/18. How do I have an advantage over you? Doesn't our 180 days start the same day (December 2, 2017)?

And what about locals? To hell with them?

umm, if everyone can book 180 days out, why can't locals?

Just like people thought FP- was stupid because it didn't suit the way THEY wanted to plan right? See how that works.

To quote my parents... and if everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you? Why does it matter what other people think of some different planning item?

 

[Hikergirl]

Its not like you are going to starve there, if you can't make your ADR's pick another place to eat.
Ok maybe you want a specific restaurant for a specific day, but so do the other 30K people going that day. There is no way to make it fair for everyone, so Disney has the system they have. If you dont like it, then don't use it, or find a way to beat it like others do.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Please explain. Let's say you have the YC booked for 5 days starting on 6/1/18. I have All Stars booked for 10 days starting on 6/1/18. How do I have an advantage over you? Doesn't our 180 days start the same day (December 2, 2017)?

Ah ha, yes you and I do in your example. However, there were undoubtedly people who called in the day before I was able to who had really long trips and they were able to scoop up BOG dinner ADR's before I even got a chance. So unless I have a 10 day trip, I'm getting the short end.

umm, if everyone can book 180 days out, why can't locals?

Calling at 180 doesn't mean you get everything you want? You'll get almost everything but not everything. Additionally, in your city of residence, do you book your dinners 6 months out?

To quote my parents... and if everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you? Why does it matter what other people think of some different planning item?

Because it's natural for people to say things suck when it doesn't suit their planning. I'm telling you why I think it's stupid to book dinners 180 days out and you're telling me I think it sucks because it doesn't suit my planning. You're right that it doesn't but please give me one ONE example of any other place in the world (short of a 3 star Michelin restaurant) that requires patrons to book dinners 6 months out?

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Its not like you are going to starve there, if you can't make your ADR's pick another place to eat.
Ok maybe you want a specific restaurant for a specific day, but so do the other 30K people going that day. There is no way to make it fair for everyone, so Disney has the system they have. If you dont like it, then don't use it, or find a way to beat it like others do.

Sure but this is a message board to discuss things relevant to Disney World. If people didn't come to share their thoughts, wouldn't be much of a discussion would it? Or we could all just start threads about how awesome everything is!

 

[Hikergirl]

Sure but this is a message board to discuss things relevant to Disney World. If people didn't come to share their thoughts, wouldn't be much of a discussion would it? Or we could all just start threads about how awesome everything is!

You must have my post confused with someone elses, I didn't tell you you couldn't share your thoughts.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

You must have my post confused with someone elses, I didn't tell you you couldn't share your thoughts.

I didn't get you confused. You said if I didn't like Disney's ADR system then not to use it. That's silly. I will still use it but I don't have to like it, and I'm explaining why I don't like it.

I do fully understand that if I get fed up with it at some point that I am no longer required to use it.

 

[Hikergirl]

I didn't get you confused. You said if I didn't like Disney's ADR system then not to use it. That's silly. I will still use it but I don't have to like it, and I'm explaining why I don't like it.

I do fully understand that if I get fed up with it at some point that I am no longer required to use it.

Yes that is what I said, and somehow you took that to mean I am telling you not to discuss things? That is OK I get it, you don't want to hear someone elses thoughts on the subject, its only OK if they agree with you, otherwise if we don't we are shutting down your attempt to share your thoughts.

 

[Disneylover99]

It's a perk for staying onsite and booking LONG trips. If I book the Yacht Club for a 5 day trip and you book the All Stars for a 10 day trip, you have an ADR advantage over me even though I'm spending about 4x what you are.

The bottom line is that we are both spending our money at Disney. We're not staying offsite. There are so many variables. I could be paying rack rate on a Suite at Music. You could have got an almost 50% discount on your YC room. Our spending might be more equal than you think.

And what about locals? To hell with them?

There is availability at lots of great restaurants day of/night before....0pen table at DS. I would imagine most locals aren't interested booking more than a few days in advance. Do you really think they will be up 90 days (as you suggested) in advance to book?

 

[Pacolovestacos]

There is availability at lots of great restaurants day of/night before....0pen table at DS. I would imagine most locals aren't interested booking more than a few days in advance. Do you really think they will be up 90 days (as you suggested) in advance to book?

I keep hearing that from people defending the current system yet when I suggest reducing 180 to 90 or 30 or simply doing away with ADR's altogether, those same posters say "WOAH NOW WAIT A MINUTE." lol

 

[Hikergirl]

I keep hearing that from people defending the current system yet when I suggest reducing 180 to 90 or 30 or simply doing away with ADR's altogether, those same posters say "WOAH NOW WAIT A MINUTE." lol

I wouldn't care if they changed it to 90 or 30, I think its ridiculous to pick your dinner spots 6 months before you go away. I don't even know what I am having for dinner tonight so picking a place that far ahead is crazy to me.
The fact is that it doesn't matter what Disney does, someone will always complain because Disney's way doesn't suit their way of planning. You have to go with what they have in place, or not and deal with it. Which IMO isn't a big deal, you have so many food choices in the parks and the resorts that you are not going to be hungry on your vacation.