"Future World" Reservations

[LAS321]

Does anyone remember when you could make your dining reservations in Epcot in, I think, one of the innoventions buildings? They had TV screens that you walked up to and were connected to a CM, who you could see on the screen, and they would make any of your reservations. At that time it was considered "high tech". What ever happened to that?

 

[bradk]

the present caught up with the future and CMs in way many places can access the dining reservation system.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Ah yes, the good old days. They also had the monitors in section close to Germany. I remember we went there and picked up the handset and made a ressie for Italy. DH laughed at me because we could have just walked next door to Italy and made it!

 

[skifast22]

Yep, I remember those. Was it in an innoventions building though? I thought it was in the exit area of spaceship earth? It went along with the whole "future of communications" theme. Personally, I wish it was still done that way. By making ADRs so far in advance I feel as though I'm tied down to a certain schedule. I don't necessarily have the freedom to wake up in the morning and say "I think i'll go to the AK today". Instead, it's "my ADR is at coral reef, guess I'm going to Epcot". I know you can park hop, but I'd rather save my $40/ticket for that option, plus save all the travel time to get from one park to the next. I'm more the person to pick a park in the morning, and take in all it has to offer thoughout the day. hmmm...looks like this turned into a bit of a ramble...

 

[PatsMom]

I remember making ressies for the Coral Reef at Epcot using one of those screens. It was years ago, back in the mid-80's. You could still get ressies for the same day back then.

 

[solferino]

I remember those from the trip in 93. I was expecting a computer screen of some sort- touchscreen maybe. Freaked me right out when a person showed up.

 

[tfc3rid]

I totally remember this... It was so much fun... Obviously, this would no longer be possible as a lot of the sought after ADR's are long gone...

It was a fun and futuristic way to make ressies...

 

[mrmagicmph]

I thought it was in the exit area of spaceship earth? It went along with the whole "future of communications" theme.

Yes, you're right. It was located in the postshow area of Spaceship Earth, though there were a few other stations located in other parts of the park. They were called the WorldKey Information stations.

Enjoy the Magic!

 

[Snow_White]

That was so fun! I used to love making ressies that way! Ah, the good old days.

 

[WildGrits]

That's so funny. i am the only one in my family who remembers these. I remember them like 4 or more sided Kiosks. It was hard to see the Cm on the TV because it was so bright out.

 

[tinkandpan]

Those were great- i kind of have memories of running to them though. Was there a time you couldn't make advance ressies?

 

[MissFitt]

I remember running to them too. I was on a high school trip in the mid 80s (I'm dating myself) and as soon as our group got to Epcot we ran to make ressies at the hot restaurant at the time -- Alfredos.

The high school trip was to study the "future" technology so we had seminars to go to throughout Epcot. They even filmed us for the Disney Channel which wasn't as fun as it sounds for a bunch of teenagers who were up all night and hardly able to stay awake at the seminars.

 

[kpk89]

I remember them ... and passing right by because my parents would not spend the money to buy food in the parks.

 

[crisi]

I remember making ressies for the Coral Reef at Epcot using one of those screens. It was years ago, back in the mid-80's. You could still get ressies for the same day back then.

As I recall from our trip back then, if you were staying onsite in one of the few onsite hotels - Poly, CR, the Golf Resort, campgrounds - you could make your reservations in advance. Everyone else was required to make their reservations the day they showed up - except for a few special events like HoopDeDo and the Luau (which booked up in advance). It was an onsite perk for a long time to be able to make reservations earlier.

 

[FirstMagic]

Reading this thread brought back wonderful memories of making our first-ever WDW dining reservation at the Worldkey Information System at the exit to Spaceship Earth!

That was waaaaaay back when I didn't need to think what I might want to eat at WDW....six months in advance.

 

[momomonster]

Love this thread. I, too, made ressies for the evening in one of the Innoventions buildings for Coral Reef restaurant- must have been the late 80s. It took a few minutes and we were on our way! Perfect system, IMO.

BTW, Our meal experience was fantastic, especially the Mickey-shaped butter and the view of the tank.

 

[tinkerbell60]

I remember just walking in to La Cellier in the mid 80s and being seated - those were the days!!!!