Interesting ADR dining changes at WDW

[drag n' fly]

Dining changes coming; ADRs going from 180 to 90 days?
Posted Today at 12:00 AM by Mark Goldhaber at Mouseplanet

While it hasn't been "officially" confirmed, Walt Disney World has made a bunch of interesting dining changes.

First off, from August 24 - September 27, Disney will increase the opportunities for the crowds with free dining to use their table service credits.

Chef Mickey's will be open for lunch from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Ohana will be open an extra hour for breakfast, from 7:30 a.m., and open an hour earlier for dinner, now from 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Whispering Canyon Cafe will also open an extra hour for dinner, from 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.

As of October 5, the Garden Grill will only be open for dinner. Lunch will no longer be available

But the biggie appears to foreshadow a major policy change. As of July 16, you will not be able to make any Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) for any dates past January 15, 2009. ADRs needed for January 16, 2009 or later will not be able to be booked until October 15.

There are 3 exceptions: Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Victoria and Albert's.

It looks like Disney is preparing to move the reservations window from 180 days back to 90 days, with the exception of the three most-in-demand. While the days of walk-up, same-day reservations everywhere are probably gone forever, it'll be nice not to have to worry about what you want to eat half a year in advance.

 

[fnkyyellow]

Well, that's interesting. I admit I prefer the 90 day ADR, I found it too frustrating planning what park I was going to be in 6 months in advance.
We decided in March that we were going to WDW this September, then all of a sudden I was in a panic over those ADRs. I didn't know enough about WDW and the online resources at that time to make great park day picks. All I did was search restaurant reviews.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

It makes some sense because people book and then cancel and rebook ADR's because six months ahead is tough to plan. I don't have a problem with this, although the CM's will have busier first window days, I would imagine, because more people will have booked at the three month mark than will have at the six month mark.

 

[jenkh]

Well I do like the sound of it. As much as I love planning, booking ADR's within days if knowing park hours was always such a headache.

Just sucks that my trip is Jan 17, so now I have to wait a few more months. (as much as I want the extra time, I was in planning mode lol)

Do you have a direct link? I can't seem to find it on mousplanet. Hopefully an offical announcement will come soon. But like I said I agree with the change. Makes it a more level playing field for everyone. Gives us uber planners time to really look at park hours and plan accordingly, and gives first timers a better shot of getting into the restuarants they want.

 

[mickeywho?]

I think this will mean busier phone lines at the 90 day mark - likely twice as many people calling in. It certainly helps with those who are going for the first time or have booked a last minute trip - and will help to stop all of us crazy planners from booking at 180 days and then rearranging as the trip gets closer. It really is tough to think of all that Disney food 6 months out!

This will help to solve a problem for us this year - we are out of the country (Ireland) at the 180day mark and was worried that I wouldn't be able to call or would miss the 9am opening time - and of course for this trip I'm booking for 8 people so reservations are a must! I've been watching the calendar and July 29th is coming closer and closer - and now this news! Very timely!

 

[tiggerrr]

The Unofficial Guide's website is reporting that the 90 day window is only a temporary timeframe to make conversion to a new reservations system easier (less data to convert no doubt) and that once WDW is on the new system, the window will grow back to 180 days again.

I haven't seen an official announcement yet, but that is a new piece of information that wasn't part of the Mouseplanet blog.

 

[drag n' fly]

Well I do like the sound of it. As much as I love planning, booking ADR's within days if knowing park hours was always such a headache.

Just sucks that my trip is Jan 17, so now I have to wait a few more months. (as much as I want the extra time, I was in planning mode lol)

Do you have a direct link? I can't seem to find it on mousplanet. Hopefully an offical announcement will come soon. But like I said I agree with the change. Makes it a more level playing field for everyone. Gives us uber planners time to really look at park hours and plan accordingly, and gives first timers a better shot of getting into the restuarants they want.

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/blog.php?b=204

Don't shoot the messenger just read it and thought I would share heehee