Is everything harder this Xmas? (ADRs, discounts, CP reservations)

[ps17]

I posted a similar query on another board:

We go to WDW every year for Christmas/Holidays. Never before have we encountered so many problems with respect to getting the AP discount we want, the accomodations we want, the ADRs we want, the Candlelight processional package (shut out this year), the fantasmic package (way too early), Xmas dinner (9:40 - way too late) etc. etc.

Anyone else getting the same feeling this year? Or are we just having bad luck? Is it going to be more crowded this year? Have the rest of the world or "they" as TGM would call them caught up in the planning department? Or has Disney reservations changed the way they do things?

 

[Becky521]

Sorry that you had such a bad time. We will be there on Saturday for ten days, our second Holiday trip, and we didn't really have these problems. We did get all the Ressies we wanted at acceptable times and we were able to get the CP for the second show with a 3:30 meal time. Our Christmas dinner at LTT is a little early, 2:45p but we usually eat Holiday meals between 3 and 4 when at home so this didn't seem strange to us. I do know that the change to 180 days as opposed to 90 days ahead did surprise us but the up side was I was able to schedule the entire trips ADR on one call instead of making a call each day as I have done in the past. Hope your trip is Magical!

 

[mickaholic4077]

With regard to Candlelight Processional packages,this year Disney doesn't require you to pay up front for the package,so I would bet that many locals(myself included)made multiple reservations for different celebrity narrators and then cancelled late in the game(but before the 48 hour deadline)when it became clear what narrators it was they wanted to see. With so many last-minute substitutions this year,next year,if they allow a person to make ressies without paying,I will make ressies for every narrator as soon as they become available.

 

[TinksMagic54]

I have to admit that thinking about ADR's in June and July for our Christmas trip seemed a bit strange....but we made our ADR's at 180 days out and were able to get all the restaurants and times we first requested. I never had to go to "time B" on anything.

This will be our first holiday season at WDW and I hope is it Magical!

 

[jamimb]

With regard to Candlelight Processional packages,this year Disney doesn't require you to pay up front for the package,so I would bet that many locals(myself included)made multiple reservations for different celebrity narrators and then cancelled late in the game(but before the 48 hour deadline)when it became clear what narrators it was they wanted to see. With so many last-minute substitutions this year,next year,if they allow a person to make ressies without paying,I will make ressies for every narrator as soon as they become available.

I have to say this seems pretty inconsiderate of other guests. I myself have tried to get cp ressies fro our upcoming trip and there is nothing available anywhere and then I realize that there might be ressies out there that people are going to cancel at the last moment. I think they should make you pay upfront. Why should others not get to get seats to cp just beacause people are indecisive. I say choose one and stick with it.

 

[lindseesmom]

I agree with this and considering how many people want the ressies, this person was just downright rude! Decide what you want and do it!!

 

[Scottish-Helen]

I think it is a general trend today and not just with Disney. More and more people are finding things out via the internet and are reading about other people booking for things which in turn makes them think "I better book or I might miss out". ADR's for all times of the year also seem to be getting harder to get with the Dining Plan proving to be so popular.

Just my thoughts.