Is Disney Unfair Towards Smaller Parties Re: Dining Reservations?

[james_k_p]

Ahh good to know, my window opened yesterday morning and I was surprised how little offerings there were for dinner times at BOG and Garden Grill for a party of 2. I still got it an hour earlier than I wanted, so I'm definitely not complaining. I didn't think to try to look for a party of 3 or 4.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I can't say Disney's unfair-not when DH and I have shown up at several restaurants and asked about stand-by seating and when we're asked "How many?" and we tell them 2, we get seated. The hostess then tells us that for larger parties, they would have had no availability. I remember one time, at Crystal Palace, we stood in line at the hostess desk as everyone asked for same day seating. She told everyone in line that they had nothing available. When we got there, fully expecting nothing available, we were told "Oh, just 2-we can seat you!"

 

[Just Peachy]

On the flip side of OP's question. I typically travel with 7-9 in our family, travel peak seasons (Christmas week, 4th July, Spring Break, etc.) and start booking at 04:00 at 180 days out and have never been able to directly book a table for my party size. After some pretty intense frustration two years ago, I learned how to play the system (with the help of Disney CM's). What I do now, is book a table for 4 (I can always book that size table within 15 minutes of my desired time). After I have all my reservations for the day, I call Disney Dining (once they are open for the day), explain my predicament and they will book a second table at the same time (the automated system will not let you do this under the same name). Sometimes the second table can only be booked at 15 minutes later.

Now that I have multiple tables of 4 or two 4's and a 2, all within 15 minutes, I have been pretty lucking in getting the restaurant to pull the tables together or seat my party in separate tables that are adjacent. I have been lucky in stopping by the reception desk of the restaurant earlier in the day and describing my plight and I show up with the full party at the first reservation time and end up getting us all seated together. Not ideal, but workable.

Now, contrasting this planning system to our family's current trip to Disneyland this August.... I stuck with on-line booking as soon as the 60 day window opened up (60 day planning is much more stable than 180 days with my group) and was able to book every dinner and dinner/show package for our party of 7 directly. No calling CM's or maneuvering separate tables together. Much nicer. I do not believe that there is unfair treatment but the system really is set for table sizes of 4 and there is no logic in the system to make trade-offs or extrapolations. Fortunately the CM's can make some changes for you.

 

[JessRose]

On the flip side of OP's question. I typically travel with 7-9 in our family, travel peak seasons (Christmas week, 4th July, Spring Break, etc.) and start booking at 04:00 at 180 days out and have never been able to directly book a table for my party size. After some pretty intense frustration two years ago, I learned how to play the system (with the help of Disney CM's). What I do now, is book a table for 4 (I can always book that size table within 15 minutes of my desired time). After I have all my reservations for the day, I call Disney Dining (once they are open for the day), explain my predicament and they will book a second table at the same time (the automated system will not let you do this under the same name). Sometimes the second table can only be booked at 15 minutes later.

Now that I have multiple tables of 4 or two 4's and a 2, all within 15 minutes, I have been pretty lucking in getting the restaurant to pull the tables together or seat my party in separate tables that are adjacent. I have been lucky in stopping by the reception desk of the restaurant earlier in the day and describing my plight and I show up with the full party at the first reservation time and end up getting us all seated together. Not ideal, but workable.

Now, contrasting this planning system to our family's current trip to Disneyland this August.... I stuck with on-line booking as soon as the 60 day window opened up (60 day planning is much more stable than 180 days with my group) and was able to book every dinner and dinner/show package for our party of 7 directly. No calling CM's or maneuvering separate tables together. Much nicer. I do not believe that there is unfair treatment but the system really is set for table sizes of 4 and there is no logic in the system to make trade-offs or extrapolations. Fortunately the CM's can make some changes for you.

That definitely is another flaw I hadn't thought about. As another person mentioned - its just not the same as calling a restaurant directly and having a human realize they have 2 tables of 4 available. Glad to hear you've had good luck though - even if it does seem like a lot of extra work.

 

[JessRose]

my dining option opened up this am , and I was up and ready to start the search , thankfully I was able to get the dinner reservations for all ten nights I wanted including lunch and dinner at BOG ( would have been happy just getting a lunch lol but when dinner option popped up another day I grabbed it also ) and we are a party of 2 didn't have to use the book and modify option so there is hope

Thanks - we were able to get all other tables we wanted, including a BOG dinner reservation at 6:00 - it was only the pre-park opening breakfasts that I couldn't snag unless I changed the numbers to 3 or 4. Just odd - I've never run into this at all in the past.

 

[megveg]

Just a heads up, I've noticed any restaurants that offer Candlelight processional packages have screwy availability first week of December. Definitely call

 

[IrishNYC]

I am a family of 4 and haven't really found it very easy this go Round myself OP. I had to get some really not great times. Or settle for lunch when I wanted dinner.

To the person I quoted I didn't say it was unfair.

But if some people know loopholes and some don't it certainly isn't an even playing field. Since you know the loophole and have used it and always get what you want I can't believe that you can be sympathetic to the OP who did not know the loophole at the time of her ADR dropping.

It's not a "loophole" and it's not an uneven playing field. It's common sense. Can't get 3? Let me see if 4 is available. Applies to Disney, applies to life in general. I "always get what I want" because I'm flexible - nothing at Disney is a "must do or I'm going to complain about it and my trip will be miserable" both for times and restaurants. I don't know where you got that I was unsympathetic to OP for not getting what ADRs s/he wanted, I just disagreed that it's "unfair."

 

[JessRose]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their input on the situation. I certainly wasn't looking for a pity party but clearly, just wasn't aware of some changes in the ADR system as this truly hasn't effected us in the past.

This was a special trip for us and there were certain experiences we felt were a "must do" on this one versus other trips this year, so I was up bright and early to make it happen. Being a special trip and our first time at during the holidays- I wasn't willing to chance it and leave the ADRs up to fate. Everyone's planning style is different and pre-planning is what works best for us.

I was able to secure the ADR times I needed and now know I can adjust the number of people on the reservation to what is appropriate for our group.

I had no idea this was just computer design issues (which now makes complete sense having had it explained).

Not knowing I could easily modify our party number and assuming it was the "old school way" where we had to rebook the entire reservation, and not knowing if less people than reserved showed up we wouldn't have to pay a penalty, I just assumed that tables that could hold our party size were being withheld in an effort to secure more revenue.

Well...as the old adage says, When I assume things...

Again thanks all for the help-ultimately we have what we wanted even though we had to go a round-about way of getting there!

 

[LucyBC80]

Thanks to this thread I was able to secure a 8:10am for Garden Grill. I've looked all day yesterday (my 180 mark) and today and couldn't find a reservation for 2 at GG. I went back now and looked for 3 people with no luck and then for 4 and voilà, got it. I already modified it for to 2 people and now we'll be able to have a quick breakfast before heading to Soarin'.

 

[KimBean]

It's not a "loophole" and it's not an uneven playing field. It's common sense. Can't get 3? Let me see if 4 is available. Applies to Disney, applies to life in general. I "always get what I want" because I'm flexible - nothing at Disney is a "must do or I'm going to complain about it and my trip will be miserable" both for times and restaurants. I don't know where you got that I was unsympathetic to OP for not getting what ADRs s/he wanted, I just disagreed that it's "unfair."

I'm sorry but if I am a family of 3 and I call someone that takes reservations over the phone and they say no I'm sorry we are completely booked for that evening, there isn't any common sense about then asking that person if there is room for 4. They would think you are a little batty. If there isn't room for 3, why would there be room for 4?

Now let's take that online. I am trying to get 3 tickets to a broadway show. Broadway show on ticketmaster says 3 tickets not available. I might try to get 2, but common sense would never dictate to me to try to get 4 tickets if 3 was not available.

 

[TiffanyA]

I'm sorry but if I am a family of 3 and I call someone that takes reservations over the phone and they say no I'm sorry we are completely booked for that evening, there isn't any common sense about then asking that person if there is room for 4. They would think you are a little batty. If there isn't room for 3, why would there be room for 4?

Now let's take that online. I am trying to get 3 tickets to a broadway show. Broadway show on ticketmaster says 3 tickets not available. I might try to get 2, but common sense would never dictate to me to try to get 4 tickets if 3 was not available.

Totally agreed. I think the responses to this thread from the people who just realized they can do this show that it is definitely NOT common sense.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

No I do not believe Disney is "punishing" smaller groups.

I'd probably never want a PPO anyways because often times Disney extends openinghours and that PPO becomes a RD ADR.

BTW you won't be paying a no show fee as long as at least one person shows up.

 

[karrit2000]

I personally have found that it is almost impossible to secure a reservation for 1 person at certain restaurants at WDW. If I change the search to 2 people I will often find availability. The one exception seems to be BOG for lunch or breakfast where I usually can always find an ADR for 1 when you can't find it for 2. I've never been able to book a table for 1 at O'Hana breakfast, Akershus for any meal, Trattoria al Forno Bon Voyage breakfast, BOG dinner and a few others. It's a pain for sure because it takes twice as long to try to book anything. I've heard that others have problems with the MK fireworks Dessert Party for parties of 2 because the system doesn't allow for less than 4. I've even had issues when calling WDW dining for small party reservations because some CM's don't know how to be creative when booking.

 

[IamAnniM]

I had a terrible experience when I travel to WDW, particularly when I travel alone. Sometimes I do find I cannot book a seat for one so I wing it and hope to do a walk up when the restaurants open. One time in Epcot LeCellier I did a walk up for lunch for one and they sat me at a table and then told me That that table was meant for two and that they did not have accommodations for me. I was already sitting and told I would have to relinquish the table. I requested if I could purchase a cup or bowl of Cheddar soup and bread to go as I was staying at the Villas, after speaking with a manager, I was allowed to purchase the soup!

 

[MyrddinEmrys]

This is us as well, if I book an ADR in advance it's for tea at the GF, otherwise we book day of or night before if we know what park we are definitely going to the next day (we rarely do, we decide when we wake up or get to the bus stop if we are riding a bus). We eat at TS just about every day but we just never know if we are going to want to until it happens.

Is afternoon tea at the GF usually hard to get?

 

[MyrddinEmrys]

I had a terrible experience when I travel to WDW, particularly when I travel alone. Sometimes I do find I cannot book a seat for one so I wing it and hope to do a walk up when the restaurants open. One time in Epcot LeCellier I did a walk up for lunch for one and they sat me at a table and then told me That that table was meant for two and that they did not have accommodations for me. I was already sitting and told I would have to relinquish the table. I requested if I could purchase a cup or bowl of Cheddar soup and bread to go as I was staying at the Villas, after speaking with a manager, I was allowed to purchase the soup!

That's terrible! I don't understand why they would even bother leading you to a table in the first place if they weren't intending to let you stay. So rude. That's definitely something I would have made a formal complaint about, and I'm not usually one to do that because it sends my anxiety through the roof so it's just not worth it unless it's something major. This was a matter of respect, in my opinion. Your money is just as good as the next person's and your time is just as precious regardless of how many is in your party. They should either not take walk ups, or if they choose to do so then definitely don't bump them once they're already seated.

 

[melanielll]

It's not a "loophole" and it's not an uneven playing field. It's common sense. Can't get 3? Let me see if 4 is available. Applies to Disney, applies to life in general. I "always get what I want" because I'm flexible - nothing at Disney is a "must do or I'm going to complain about it and my trip will be miserable" both for times and restaurants. I don't know where you got that I was unsympathetic to OP for not getting what ADRs s/he wanted, I just disagreed that it's "unfair."

I will go one further in agreeing with you. When no time comes up for the party size you have chosen, the site recommends you change either the time or the party size and try again. When I first tried different party sizes successfully, it wasn't because of something I had read on a site like this - it was at the recommendation of the Disney reservation site.

 

[loves to dive]

Is afternoon tea at the GF usually hard to get?

Yep, it's the only ADR I've not been able to get once I get there. It's a small space and very popular.

 

[MyrddinEmrys]

Yep, it's the only ADR I've not been able to get once I get there. It's a small space and very popular.

Wow. There were so many times available when I booked mine yesterday morning that I just assumed it must not be that popular. I'm still a newbie so always learning, but now I feel a little bit like a got a golden ticket or something.