Hoarding ADR

[GoingSince1990]

I've noticed that I was able to make ADRs within an hour of each other lately. In the past it would ask you to cancel one before securing the other. Is that normal? It doesn't seem right.

Yes, it always used to be that when I made a new ADR for a time close to when I already had one, the system would ask me which I wanted to keep, and if I made the new one the old one would be canceled. Recently I have noticed that sometimes this still works, but most of the time it does not. For example I had an 8:10 PM ADR for BOG and a 7:55 PM became available (on a paid ADR finder that I use) and I rushed to make the 7:55 PM reservation. Normally I would expect the 8:10 PM to be canceled automatically but it was not, so after successfully making the 7:55 PM ADR I had two BOG ADRs, one for 7:55 PM and one for 8:10 PM, sitting next to each other in my MDE plans page. (Of course not being a "hoarder" I then canceled the 8:10 PM one myself to free it up).

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

Just to play devil’s advocate, I know for our June trip DH and I had a plan the night before of what we wanted and approximately what time. At 5 am, I could not get LTT on the day or even close to the time I wanted. I ended up changing our park days on the fly because I found a reservation in another day, but it was no where near the time we wanted. Then I managed to grab a lunch reservation for the same day, and I waited until he and I had a chance to discuss whether we wanted the decent lunch time ADR vs the dinner really early dinner ADR. Of course, I did let the extra one go within 24 hrs. But at 5 an when you are suddenly changing park days (hopper) and stuff to accommodate what’s available, I needed a little bit of time to look objectively at the new plans to make sure they made sense when I was as wide awake.

 

[g3pak]

Just to play devil’s advocate, I know for our June trip DH and I had a plan the night before of what we wanted and approximately what time. At 5 am, I could not get LTT on the day or even close to the time I wanted. I ended up changing our park days on the fly because I found a reservation in another day, but it was no where near the time we wanted. Then I managed to grab a lunch reservation for the same day, and I waited until he and I had a chance to discuss whether we wanted the decent lunch time ADR vs the dinner really early dinner ADR. Of course, I did let the extra one go within 24 hrs. But at 5 an when you are suddenly changing park days (hopper) and stuff to accommodate what’s available, I needed a little bit of time to look objectively at the new plans to make sure they made sense when I was as wide awake.

my 2 cents, and this is all it's worth, is that it is the intent of the person, not so much the action. Did you gobble up a bunch of ADRs to use them as leverage or to give yourself 5 options per day? Then yeah, that's selfish. Did you get a couple ADRs knowing you would not use one, but you did it so you could figure out your plan and then you released one soon after you grabbed them? I personally do not see anything wrong with that. Another family could have grabbed it when you got it, but instead a family grabbed it hours or maybe a day or two later.

 

[kevgraub]

Just to play devil’s advocate, I know for our June trip DH and I had a plan the night before of what we wanted and approximately what time. At 5 am, I could not get LTT on the day or even close to the time I wanted. I ended up changing our park days on the fly because I found a reservation in another day, but it was no where near the time we wanted. Then I managed to grab a lunch reservation for the same day, and I waited until he and I had a chance to discuss whether we wanted the decent lunch time ADR vs the dinner really early dinner ADR. Of course, I did let the extra one go within 24 hrs. But at 5 an when you are suddenly changing park days (hopper) and stuff to accommodate what’s available, I needed a little bit of time to look objectively at the new plans to make sure they made sense when I was as wide awake.

I really see no issue with this type of planning, and I do not think most do either. It is one thing to snag a couple of options on certain days, and then check with your travel group to see what you want to keep and cancel the other quickly, especially if the really desired ADR is at an off time. It is another thing to book multiple ADRs on the same day, knowing you have no intention of using most of them, and then hold them hostage as some sort of trade bait. Book a couple of options if necessary, make up your mind on what you want, and let the others go other people have a chance to reserve them and make trip plans. I think almost everyone is on board with that.

I did the same thing recently. I was able to grab a Sci-Fi for our party of 8, but only at 3:00 pm. I was not sure if everyone would want to eat lunch that late (or dinner that early), so I also grabbed a Mama Melrose for 6:15. As soon as everyone agreed on Sci-Fi, I sent Mama Melrose back into the hopper.

 

[browneyedgirl1683]

People who hold ADRs hostage? I just have to shake my head and say that their punishment in life is that they have to live like that. Ugh.

 

[NJlauren]

I really see no issue with this type of planning, and I do not think most do either. It is one thing to snag a couple of options on certain days, and then check with your travel group to see what you want to keep and cancel the other quickly, especially if the really desired ADR is at an off time. It is another thing to book multiple ADRs on the same day, knowing you have no intention of using most of them, and then hold them hostage as some sort of trade bait. Book a couple of options if necessary, make up your mind on what you want, and let the others go other people have a chance to reserve them and make trip plans. I think almost everyone is on board with that.

I did the same thing recently. I was able to grab a Sci-Fi for our party of 8, but only at 3:00 pm. I was not sure if everyone would want to eat lunch that late (or dinner that early), so I also grabbed a Mama Melrose for 6:15. As soon as everyone agreed on Sci-Fi, I sent Mama Melrose back into the hopper.

I agree with this, it is also how long do you hold them or do you drop when you decided you don't need them, do you hold till the day before, or drop as soon as you decide?

For Thanksgiving this year we were supposed to be a party of 10, and I was able to get LTT, but I had to book as an 8 and a 2 top, then about 3 weeks prior my sister and her husband decided they didn't feel comfortable coming. So I had a VERY coveted reservation available. Someone in a FB group posted about 3/4 days prior looking for this same reservation, I messaged her and did the unthinkable, made her my friend on my Disney experience and added her to the reservation. I could have been out 20 if she didn't show, sure, but she was so appreciative. Do I feel like I hoarded no, do I wish my sister decided earlier also no, we were so hopefully she could come, did it suck I made it harder for someone else, yes, but I also didn't have 20 LTT reservations I didn't plan on using.

I believe having an extra reservation is different then 20 or even 5 extra reservations, that just rude. Plus the reason also makes a difference to me.