Updated Summary: The lowdown so far...
(mostly a copy and paste from my post a few pages back, updating some language and adding things that were missed or unknown)
#1 - The ADR system has been upgraded to v2 as a beta test. This version offers several new features and things we simply couldn't do before:
a) ADRs linked to your login - This gives you the ability to automatically pull up each of your ADRs that you have made under your login. Note: for ADRs made previous to this update, some may not show up. It's normal
b) Streamlined Restaurant Search parameters - Instead of the old find a restaurant in the "mega list", choose it, and then click the "Book Reservations" button, there is now a UI dedicated to searching for ADRs itself. It allows you to select parameters from dropdowns (Experience, Location), gives you a "Show only dining plan restaurants" checkbox, or lets you search directly by name.
c) Streamlined "Personal" parameters - The selection for party size has now become a simple 1-10 guests rather than separating out adults and children, then forcing the ages of the children. Time is also streamlined and it has options for "Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner" along with the standard time searching.
d) Expanded search window - Search window has increased from 1hr on either end to 2hrs.
e) Improved Results - Instead of just a couple of times and a couple of suggestions, the system will now display up to 3 available times and any other results matching your parameters. It will even show locations which do not have availability. This means that, you can actually search based on a meal (say, "Breakfast") and it will return all results which have availability for breakfast.
#2 - ADRs are currently being accepted up to 190 days out. This is available to all guests no matter your check-in date. To access it, you simply make ADRs as you normally would and then enter in the last available date when you link the resort to the ADRs. Due to the nature of these ADRs, you must make ADRs each day of your stay if using the maximum 190days. We are unsure at this time if this (190 day ADRs) is intended behavior. Some items suggest it is and the check-in date calendar is bugged, other items suggest that the 180+10 should be the case
a) Phrasing of the message regarding why you should link reservations is vague, but appears to support the 190 day theory. (Discovered by Tricia and later, myself)
b) The simpler format of a flat 190 days vs 180+10 would also be a valid reason for moving to this type of system. Coupled with fairness issues that are present in 180+10, this would also be a valid reason for moving to this system.
c) Through testing (by myself), it appears as though the resort linking has no validation right now. You can enter anything into the boxes and any date. This suggests that 190 days is not intended as it's just passing any resort confirmation through.
d) Pre-pay ADRs (CRT, HDDR, SoA) are still at 180+10. They do use the v1 (old) system though, so unsure how this affects them.
e) Other recreation remains at 180+10 suggesting that, for consistency, the ADRs are intended to remain at 180+10
f) Either way, we simply do not know yet which way it was intended to be.
#3 - Known Issues: There are a few known issues with the website beyond the 190 day thing above. Note: I have not included old known issues that still exist (e.g. The "Odd Number" issue), only issues that we have first noticed with the release of v2.
a)
Issue - Page believes user is using Internet Explorer 6 when they are using 8. This is caused by the HTTP Headers that the browser sends to every webpage including a line about MSIE6.0. The website is seeing this line and kicking back the error, even if the user is actually using MSIE8.0 (located in another line of the Header).
Solution - Use Firefox or Google Chrome. There is no client-side fix for this at this time.
b)
Issue - UK and other international users are unable to get to the reservation retrieval page. This is caused by inner code that tells the site which localization to use. The UK portion (which you would only know by looking at the contact numbers!) does not have the link to the system.
Solution - From andrewilley:
andrewilley said:
If you're on the UK version of the site (and annoyingly that is no longer indicated in the address bar, which just shows
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/) you can get to the Dining Reservations page, but
not some of the other stuff on the US site, such as the "My Disney Vacation" link.
The easiest ways to tell which site you're one are (a) the phone number is listed as 0870... in the UK, rather than 407... and (b) the top bar will list "FREE Holiday Planning DVD" (UK) as opposed to "FREE Vacation Planning DVD" (US). The search bar right at the top is another clue.
I've just checked though, and the link
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/res...-reservations/ will still work even if you are currently in the UK site - there's just nothing on the site which you can click to take you there (as far as I can tell).
c)
Issue - Some reservations do not show up. This is due to the way that the site was ordered before the change to v2. You did not have to log in to make reservations, so some reservations may not be tied to your log-in.
Solution - You will have to use the "Retrieve reservation from confirmation number" link on the right hand side.
d)
Issue - Searching by restaurant name is not working properly (
Note: I haven't seen this one myself, so I don't know if there's an error or something along those lines). I am unsure of what actually causes this, but it's most likely not on the client-side. (Or at least directly, it could be a configuration/localization issue between the client and the website).
Solution - Search by other parameters and pick the correct restaurant from the list.
That's about all I can think of for now. I'll try and keep this list updated as we continue.
I've gotten everything I want to far.... lots of thanks to the Dis for the valuable infomation about the "glitch" or the new 190 out for guest staying on site!
Lots of Pixie dust to you too for getting your ADR's
Thanks! April
