I'm going to get flamed....

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I agree that Walt Disney World and Orlando are different. While they maybe in the same city, they are different when it comes to eating at various restaurants. How many restaurants in Orlando with the expection for major holidays suggest to make reservations at 180 days out? Also what about restaurants at Universal Orlando. Do they suggest making ADR's at 180 days out like WDW? I am including them because like WDW they have their own area of Orlando and attract many locals and tourists, but I have never heard anyone complain about trying to eat at a restaurant in City Walk.

 

[pilferk]

There's virtually nowhere midtown in the Broadway area that I can't get a reservation a week/2 weeks in advance especially if it's a weeknight. The OP isn't asking for same day reservations. She's asking for a normal lead time for a restaurant excluding the exceptions I posted a few pages back.

And midtown Broadway/theater district area restaurants is the ACCURATE comparison to WDW which is what the discussion is all about.

I'm calling YOU then, next time we come to town. Usually, if I don't call by the 2-3 month mark, I'm shut out of the places we typically go.

And that's my point: ORLANDO to NYC, WDW to Broadway.

 

[gina2000]

And midtown Broadway/theater district area restaurants is the ACCURATE comparison to WDW which is what the discussion is all about.

This is the accurate comparison.

Boy, I love quoting myself!

 

[gina2000]

Feel free to call me! I can't imagine where you're eating in that area that has such cache.....

 

[pilferk]

Feel free to call me! I can't imagine where you're eating in that area that has such cache.....

Adding you to my buddy list.

I'll PM rather than call....

 

[islandmum]

Hi neighbour! I live about 100 miles north-east of you! Your flag emblem reminds me of Mickey ears!

!

well hi there! we'll hopefully be moving "there" within the next 18 - 24 months or so - cant wait!

back to the topic though ... with my job (pre kids) I ran golf clubs - same problem. Members and visitors both wanting to play and use the facilities. Members were our "bread and butter" the sort of covered most expenses, Socities and visitors meant that we could improve the course and clubhouse, keep the members annual fees down etc etc.

If I am told my favourite local restaurant is booked (which where we used to live had a 9 month waiting list!!!) it was frustrating but I didnt get humpty about my business keeping it afloat .... it was quite obvious they had more than enough business to go round.

point is - yes it would be frustrating, but then living so far away from WDW is frustrating, Disney not building a WDW near me is frustrating, not getting the resort we wanted is frustrating ....

but thats life, no one owes you anything, it may piss you off but their business will continue with or without you whether you like it or not - its got too big a following to have any real problems in that area. numbers may rise and fall but WDW is not going to go to the dogs for sure.

On my little island we have no real shops, no hot water in our house and cant get things like fresh milk .... it kind of puts things into perspective somewhat! we may earn enough money to travel many times but our home life, due to the islands infrastructure and location, is very rural and basic.

theres more things in life to stress about, to everyone!

 

[islandmum]

so why should we be outcast. Come on people. Get a grip

please take your own advice - in a calm cool kinda way

you're not being "outcast" - residents get deals when Disney wants to give them deals .... thats cool. Just because people live in Florida they dont have the "right" to get Disney deals ... its a nice perk.

Our Adr bookings we've had to be flexible, late night sittings of the restaurants we wanted - no can do with 2 small ones, so we tried somewhere else and got earlier.

We are flexible because all we really want to do is experience "the World" in whatever restaurant will seat us!

this is the face of commercial property and what it has to do to maximise its profits - whether it be residents getting deals, offering Free DDP, or whatever. Its life, get over it and move on.

I'd kill to have the options for dining and nightlife that you do living in Florida, so empathetic .... no I'm not. But it doesnt mean I dont respect your view ... I just see it from a different aspect.

we missed DDP by a few days - but I havent asked anyone for sympathy or empathy yet .... thats the way it goes.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Why has it come down to insuiating that I must be lying about my difficulty because your mom the CM can get them?

My mom is a CM, my dad is in Management at WDW and we all have problems with it.... Perhaps they just have my name on some master list at disney booking stating "Do not book Jezebella".

If you're allowing your charming husband to call for ADRs, I can see why they'd limit their availability to Tony's. Name calling is a little beneath us, even for the British. I don't doubt that he enjoys arguing, but his arguments are entirely unpersuasive.

Carry on... and good luck with making ADRs.

 

[Mr Brit]

You are correct, i am frustrated and very rude, and i would suggest perhaps you look back over the first few pages of this thread before i felt the need to stand our ground to the people who were basically mocking using the poor little hard done by girl routine, you have nothing to complain about you live next to Disney. well you know if that is the best they can say and not say anything constructive, then yes they are idiots and i stand by my statement. I hasten to add the dis boards are meant for fun friendly chat not always about topics such as i love the cruise or have you seen the new ride, but also genuine questions and problems we feel should be addressed, as has been stated before not only by myself and im not going to get into it again after this messagebut the whole NYC and Orlando comparrison is ridiculous, it would be like me saying a mouse can kill an elephant in a fight, but it is your opinion and i respect that, just as i respect everyones opinion.

Dont mistake me. I think the DPP is a great scheme, but there should be some way to regulate it so that not only DPP guests can get reservations. Everyone on this thread has valid points in various instances including what mr NYC V Orlando says. I will say there are a couple of things i do agre with you on such as it is supply and demand etc, but one must remember and i can put my hand on my heart and say it is atrue addage, you cant please all of the people all of the time, but you can please some of the people most of the time, and i think while this boom is going on and Disney forgets the people who caried it after 9/11, there will come a time as there always does when they need the locals again and the tourists who come down here. Remember they are not only stomping on locals but also others who dont have ADR.

On a final note, this is meant to be a friendly thread, we are all friends here and i do mean that, but if people want to criticise others and mock their gripes because they dont effect them and are rude in the process, expect a little mocking and rudeness.

No seeing as ive chattered for a while now and this is about food in a way, until i feel the urge to write again, in the words of Alton Brown, i bid you all, Good eats

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Dont mistake me. I think the DPP is a great scheme, but there should be some way to regulate it so that not only DPP guests can get reservations.

You do not have to purchase the DDP to make ADR's. They can be made by anyone at 180 days out if they are booked into a room only reservation or purchasing the DDP. Also what about offsite guests who make ADR's. They are obviously not on the DDP, however they can still make ADR's. So you are wrong about your assumption.

 

[jarrdisney]

First of all, this thread is a great read. I am not a local, but I definately do emapthaize and sympathize with the OP. I don't think she's looking for a "solution," just looking to vent frustration. I will say this to the OP. Why not try making some friends at some of the signature restaurants. You may have already done this, but I figured it was worth a shot. I know Le Cellier might be out of reach, but you might be able to have someone "squeeze" you in. I have had many servers/managers offer their help in booking those hard ressies. The alternative is dining offsite. We were down for easter week and actually had no problem booking a lot of same day ressies for the signature restaurants. CA Grill, however, is out of the question.

As for NYC. I eat out atleast 5 times a month and have never had a problem getting a ressie within a couple days time. This includes the ever so popular Batali empire. The only time I can recall having any issues is during restaurant week.

 

[jezebella]

The making friends thing is not an issue. I have a friend who can get me into any WDW restaurant at any time...I just choose not to use that contact because I find it unfair and wouldn't want that person to think I am using him simply for a ressie. Thanks for reading this whole mess of craziness. And you are right in assuming I'm not looking for you all to come up with a solution to my issue...I was simply venting and reflecting on how recent disney changes (ie the dining plan) have effected me directly.

In no way do I discourage what the plan is. I, myself, have purchased it when I was on my honeymoon (yes, I'm obsessed enough that I book at room 10 minutes from my house on property as a honeymoon) and actually thought it was way too much food and felt like I all did was eat. But for value -- heck yeah it was worth it.

 

[jarrdisney]

The making friends thing is not an issue. I have a friend who can get me into any WDW restaurant at any time...I just choose not to use that contact because I find it unfair and wouldn't want that person to think I am using him simply for a ressie.

Hey, it's one of the perks of living there right? I don't begrudge you that at all. If someone has the right to book there ressies 180 days out why can't you call a friend and have him/her get you into a restaurant. Stuff like that happens all the time. In fact, I do it all the time!

 

[islandmum]

i felt the need to stand our ground to the people who were basically mocking using the poor little hard done by girl routine, you have nothing to complain about you live next to Disney. well you know if that is the best they can say and not say anything constructive, then yes they are idiots and i stand by my statement.

you should feel very lucky, millions of people dont get what you have had and to be honest asking for empathy coz you cant get the restaurant you wanted is acting just a tad like a spoilt child.

there are I believe hundreds of restaurant choices you can eat at - because your preferred time and place is booked is tough titty really.

I'm not mocking you, I'm expressing the view that yes. you are lucky to have experienced WDW so often, and eaten repeatedly at their wonderful retaurants. So using words like sympathy and empathy is rather "OTT" really when your situation is hardly a bad one!

In my opinion they should allocate ADR's on people who have never visited before getting priority ..... now that should get some flames!!

and yes - good eats at the Flying Fish, hope you have a cool time.

 

[Mr Brit]

im sorry if i did'nt make myself clear. You are right about the DPP programme, but what i meant was with so many people on it, it makes it difficult for people who are not on the plan to make ADR's. My problem is not with the dpp scheme per se, it is more to do with the execution of it. If you note what i said in earlier messages thats why it not only affects locals but other guests who are not on the dpp scheme, trying to get adr's.

Thankyou for you blogg jarrdisney. This is the sort of feedback that i like to see which is constructive, friendly and offers a little friendly advice. THAT IS NOT TO SAY OTHERS HAVENT LEFT SIMILAR MESSAGES.
(SORRY JARRDISNEY, I FEEL I HAVE TO LEAVE THESE DISCLAIMERS FOR FEAR OF OFFENDING SOMEONE>>>LOL)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

im sorry if i did'nt make myself clear. You are right about the DPP programme, but what i meant was with so many people on it, it makes it difficult for people who are not on the plan to make ADR's.

Actually your wrong again. When making ADR's they don't car if you are staying with a room only reseravtion, on the DDP or staying offsite. They are 1st come 1st serve, so being on the DDP has no effect when someone who is not on the DDP can not get an ADR they want.

 

[MaeDaisy]

but there should be some way to regulate it so that not only DPP guests can get reservations.

Where in the world do you get this idea from? ANYBODY can get a reservation at a WDW restaurant. All you have to do is call before all of the tables are booked up by others who have called before you (and who may or may not be on DDP).

 

[Mr Brit]

well i think everything i have said about these rude people who have nothing constructive or decent to say has just been reinforced by your last comment island.

I guess the moral of the story is if you have nothing nice to say, or even disagree but not be rude then it's best to say nothing at all.

I forget whether it was you who said you live on an island with no running water and only few people. I mean if i was like you i might say something like living the simple life may have affected your socialising skills. But i wouldnt dream of saying something as rude as that.

P.S i hope you enjoy your first visit to Disney

 

[Mr Brit]

goodness.....ok last time now, perhaps ill get it right this time...lol

Because the DPP scheme is so popular and disney is pretty much flooding the market with it there are more people on ddp making bookings than not on the plan. And of course because they have prepaid they want to use it (Doh of course). So are making multiple bookings and the restaurents are struggling to meet the demand of people on dpp and those not but who are trying to make adr's

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

goodness.....ok last time now, perhaps ill get it right this time...lol

Because the DPP scheme is so popular and disney is pretty much flooding the market with it there are more people on ddp making bookings than not on the plan. And of course because they have prepaid they want to use it (Doh of course). So are making multiple bookings and the restaurents are struggling to meet the demand of people on dpp and those not but who are trying to make adr's

I agree with you about people making multiple bookings on the same day if they can't decide where to eat. However I still stand by my earlier comment. The Cast Members from WDW-Dinning do not care if your on the DDP or not on the DDP, because it has 100% no effect of getting the ADR's you want. So no matter how you try to spin your words around you are still wrong with some of your other comments about the DDP, when it comes to actually making ADR's.