Is Disney at fault for disappointment?

[Mkrop]

I am on a Disney FB page and right now there is a poor woman stressing over making her FPs tonight, she isnt even sure what that means and is asking for help. She is going the day after Christmas, did not know it would be that crowded, and cant get in to eat anywhere. She is totally freaking out. I dont know when she booked. I and others are trying to help.

I think is this happens way too often, I see it more than I think should be the case.

 

[GPC0321]

That all may be what it seems like it should be to you, and that's valid. That isn't what my actual experience with it has been. I got every restaurant I wanted at dlr, easily. At wdw, there were a couple I was shut out of even at 180 days when the window opened, and the only way I managed to get them was from.a cancellation thread here on the dis.

For my personal experience, the 60 day window at dlr was easier than the 180 at wdw. There are many reasons for that, and I'm not saying there arent. I'm just saying that the shortened booking window was not in any way a hindrance either.

But WDW isn't DL.
I'm not following the logic that because people can make reservations 60 days out at DL that somehow means it should be just as easy to do that at WDW. Granted, I've never been to DL, but I gather it's a lot smaller and has a lot less people visiting overall plus a larger portion of "day" visitors who aren't residing on property and eating all of their meals there.
If the WDW restaurants are booking up at 180 days out, it's certainly not going to be any easier 60 days out.

I think if nothing else people should go into a vacation at WDW knowing it isn't comparable to any other vacation destination in the world when it comes to the planning required and the experience offered. That includes Disneyland, Universal, Vegas, NYC, and Europe. I'm sure plenty of people prefer other destinations to WDW for that reason, and choose to go elsewhere. But from the reports of increased crowd levels and the lack of availability of good ADRs and FP+ after the windows open for booking, I'd say there are a lot of folks who still think WDW is worth the effort and many who know how to benefit from the systems in place.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'd say there are a lot of folks who still think WDW is worth the effort and many who know how to benefit from the systems in place.

I never said WDW wasn't worth the effort, or that it wasn't possible to benefit from the systems in place.

 

[GPC0321]

I am on a Disney FB page and right now there is a poor woman stressing over making her FPs tonight, she isnt even sure what that means and is asking for help. She is going the day after Christmas, did not know it would be that crowded, and cant get in to eat anywhere. She is totally freaking out. I dont know when she booked. I and others are trying to help.

I think is this happens way too often, I see it more than I think should be the case.

I still say it's not WDW's fault that some people are very uninformed about how to plan. There's a reason for all the books and websites devoted to a WDW vacation. Those who choose not to check out either one of these resources and think they will blissfully float through a vacation will be in for a "live and learn" experience. It cannot be avoided. It's not Disney's job to instill common sense into people.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm not following the logic that because people can make reservations 60 days out at DL that somehow means it should be just as easy to do that at WDW

This also isn't what I said. I was responding to the idea that a shorter booking window would automatically make it more difficult to find ADRs. In my experience - not hypothesis - that has not been the case. And that includes when we have traveled there over spring break. A shorter booking window did not negatively affect our ability to make ADRs. That's all I said.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I still say it's not WDW's fault that some people are very uninformed about how to plan. There's a reason for all the books and websites devoted to a WDW vacation. Those who choose not to check out either one of these resources and think they will blissfully float through a vacation will be in for a "live and learn" experience. It cannot be avoided. It's not Disney's job to instill common sense into people.

See, I'm with you until you get to the bolded. I agree that there are tons of resources out there, and people have ample opportunities to be informed. That said, I have empathy for the ones who think WDW is no different than any other vacation they plan for. THere's no other vacation I've ever planned that needed to be done as far in advance as a WDW vacation. I imagine it's the same for many people in the world. So while I agre they have ample opportunity to become informed, I feel *badly* for them that they aren't. I don't think they are lacking in common sense because they didn't know they needed to choose where to eat 6 months in advance.

 

[GPC0321]

This also isn't what I said. I was responding to the idea that a shorter booking window would automatically make it more difficult to find ADRs. In my experience - not hypothesis - that has not been the case. And that includes when we have traveled there over spring break. A shorter booking window did not negatively affect our ability to make ADRs. That's all I said.

Were you making them at WDW OR DL? I was under the impression that you were talking about DL since you said you got shut out of some WDW places at 180 days.
The shorter window at DL is easier because there is obviously less competition for tables in general.
It's already competitive at 180 days at WDW when a significant portion of folks haven't even booked vacations yet. Cut that window by 120 days and there will be a lot more vacations booked and therefore more people vying for tables.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

Were you making them at WDW OR DL? I was under the impression that you were talking about DL since you said you got shut out of some WDW places at 180 days.
The shorter window at DL is easier because there is obviously less competition for tables in general.
It's already competitive at 180 days at WDW when a significant portion of folks haven't even booked vacations yet. Cut that window by 120 days and there will be a lot more vacations booked and therefore more people vying for tables.

It's competitive because of the 180 day window. People are jumping on and booking more than they plan on using because they are still waiting to see about park hours, FP+ and fireworks/show times. The 180 window creates more problems than it solves.

 

[GPC0321]

See, I'm with you until you get to the bolded. I agree that there are tons of resources out there, and people have ample opportunities to be informed. That said, I have empathy for the ones who think WDW is no different than any other vacation they plan for. THere's no other vacation I've ever planned that needed to be done as far in advance as a WDW vacation. I imagine it's the same for many people in the world. So while I agre they have ample opportunity to become informed, I feel *badly* for them that they aren't. I don't think they are lacking in common sense because they didn't know they needed to choose where to eat 6 months in advance.

The common sense part to me is based on whether they choose to pick up a guide book or browse some websites. To me that's common sense.

I'm just not the kind of person who expects others to spoon feed me information. I go in search of it. And if I'd wound up at WDW this coming Easter with no ADRs and FP+ at all or a clue about how crowded it would be, I would blame no one but myself. That's just how I am. I'd probably still manage to have fun too.

 

[chelynnah]

I guess I'm surprised that so many people live in places that reservations aren't needed. We have a few places here that don't take them, but I try not to eat at them because the wait is upwards of an hour. My city has less than 100K people, so it's not like it's a huge place but I was in Chicago last week and I did not make any dinner reservations because it was a Monday night and I didn't think I'd need them. We just walk to the local pizza/pasta place and was told the wait was 45 min. It ended up being an hour and a half. My kids were miserable. I'd rather know I could get a seat in a timely manner when I'm at Disney, because time is at a premium. That being said, right now I can get ADRs for at least 3 dozen restaurants for tonight all over WDW.

Ok, but if you called the day before would you be able to get in, or would you need to reserve 6 months in advance?

Heck our restaurants who do Christmas big parties don't even start taking reservations that early

 

[GPC0321]

It's competitive because of the 180 day window. People are jumping on and booking more than they plan on using because they are still waiting to see about park hours, FP+ and fireworks/show times. The 180 window creates more problems than it solves.

It sucks if people do that for sure. It's a flaw in the system, but I'm not sure people wouldn't still do it at 60 days out just so they could hold off making the final decision until the last minute. People are always going to do that kind of thing. I wouldn't, but I know others would.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Were you making them at WDW OR DL? I was under the impression that you were talking about DL since you said you got shut out of some WDW places at 180 days.

The experience I was sharing was about my personal experience booking ADRs at *both* WDW and DLR in the last year. Not assumptions, not theories - my actual personal experience.

It's already competitive at 180 days at WDW when a significant portion of folks haven't even booked vacations yet. Cut that window by 120 days and there will be a lot more vacations booked and therefore more people vying for tables.

That's your theory, and that's perfectly fine. I'm not trying to change your mind. Just stating my experience.

According to this, WDW switched to a 180 day window in 2009. I can tell you that we absolutely had an easier time making coveted ADRs at WDW (including CRT) for our honeymoon in July 2006 (aka peak season) - with a shorter booking window - than we did getting BOG for our trip in November 2014.

 

[Planogirl]

It sucks if people do that for sure. It's a flaw in the system, but I'm not sure people wouldn't still do it at 60 days out just so they could hold off making the final decision until the last minute. People are always going to do that kind of thing. I wouldn't, but I know others would.

I couldn't be sure that we could go as long as 180 days out. I suppose that I could have made adr's just in case but it never occurred to me to do so plus I didn't know the exact dates so it felt wrong. Of course when I decided that I could go ahead many of the top places were unavailable. This I see as a weakness.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The common sense part to me is based on whether they choose to pick up a guide book or browse some websites. To me that's common sense.

I'm just not the kind of person who expects others to spoon feed me information. I go in search of it. And if I'd wound up at WDW this coming Easter with no ADRs and FP+ at all or a clue about how crowded it would be, I would blame no one but myself. That's just how I am. I'd probably still manage to have fun too.

I know plenty of people who have read the books or seen the sites and just did not believe that they needed to book 6 months out. They are going out and seeking information, just like you. They just think the 6 month thing is exaggerated, or something that just uber Disney planners do, not something they absolutely *have* to do (even if they want a coveted place). It was just not fathomable to them that it was *necessary* to book ADRs for certain places at 6 months out, because it is so entirely out of the scope of anything they've had to do for anywhere else.

I just don't think it's necessary to put people down when discussing this.

 

[Mkrop]

I still say it's not WDW's fault that some people are very uninformed about how to plan. There's a reason for all the books and websites devoted to a WDW vacation. Those who choose not to check out either one of these resources and think they will blissfully float through a vacation will be in for a "live and learn" experience. It cannot be avoided. It's not Disney's job to instill common sense into people.

If WDW informed their guests there would be no need for guide books, it should be all of their website, not having to go to multiple sources.

And this poor lady did go somewhere, she went to a Disney Facebook of fans, just like you get here, looking for advice and help

 

[larryz]

I don't think it a good idea to do day of.. But 60 days out would be fine..
This way people can set FP+ with there ADR and not have to worry about needing to change them..

I think it would also slove the horriding problem, as people would know there schedule better.
All WDW would have to do is get the data from DL.. To see how it would affect WDW

All of Epcot's restaurants used to be "day of" reservations. You used a video phone to talk to a CM who would make a reservation for you...

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's competitive because of the 180 day window. People are jumping on and booking more than they plan on using because they are still waiting to see about park hours, FP+ and fireworks/show times. The 180 window creates more problems than it solves.

Yes, this. The 180 day ADR window is causing more hoarding now.

It doesn't make sense with the other timelines. I think 90 days would make much more sense.

 

[Andtototoo]

I DO think it is largely Disney's fault due to their advertising. The current commercial shows a family checking in and the front desk clerk promises to get them a meal with the princesses, this that and everything and fit everything in before fireworks. The CM is shown with her big pencil waving pixie dust around like she's a fairy godmother who grants all wishes.

That commercial DOES make it seem that all you have to do is show up and you will get in to a princess meal, etc. No one can show up and get a princess meal the next day. Period. (Unless of course, you're Suri Cruise). Yet that is the vacation idea Disney is selling. They are selling that because if they told the truth, it would discourage huge numbers of people from visiting.

So it's very easy to see that someone with no prior experience at WDW thinks it's entirely reasonable to show up and get into those activities and accomplish so much in one day. Because Disney tells them to expect to do that.

 

[ThistleMae]

I guess I don't get why the mantra seems to be that huge amounts of planning are required for Disney just because it's Disney and should be expected. I'm heading to DLR next month, and ADRs don't even open there until 60 days out. ADRs at 180 is not a *necessary* thing...Disney did it for their own reasons at WDW...to better order food, staffing, etc, I'm sure...but DLR shows that it isn't *necessary* to have them so far in advance. It's something Disney wants the public to do, and the public obliges.

Heck, even just back in 2007, booking at 180 days wasn't necessary for nearly as many restaurants as it is today. I planned a trip then in less than 2 months, and got in to eat everywhere we wanted without difficulty at all, and without having to call back or check online continuously (and this included CA Grill and Le Cellier).

I guess I just feel it's very dismissive and borderline rude to tell someone that Disney just isn't for them if they don't like planning meals 180 days out. The poster that was quoted says she has prebooked ADRs, she just doesn't like doing so. I'm the same way. I do it because I know it's necessary at WDW, but that doesn't mean I like it. And yes, Disney is very much "for me" or I wouldn't be going.

LOL! I did not intend to be "borderline rude". Sorry. Planning that far in advance has just become the reality of today's Disney. I'm glad you still love Disney!

 

[ThistleMae]

I am on a Disney FB page and right now there is a poor woman stressing over making her FPs tonight, she isnt even sure what that means and is asking for help. She is going the day after Christmas, did not know it would be that crowded, and cant get in to eat anywhere. She is totally freaking out. I dont know when she booked. I and others are trying to help.

I think is this happens way too often, I see it more than I think should be the case.

Awe...that's so great that folks are trying to help. And yes...it can be very daunting for newbies. I had my daughter's help the first time I went...she is a veteran and Thank Goodness for Her. I would have been completely flummoxed!