Is it just me or has the 2008 DDP chased guests out of the TS places?

[global_mom]

OK, here is the scenario: I have always "preached" to friends etc. that you should make your TS ADRs as far in advance as possible as some places can be impossible to get. I do tell them that there is always the chance that you can get into a restuarant at the last minute but to avoid dissapointment you should book early and then call and cancel if your plans should change. I cant discuss my profession on the board but I can say that I make ADRs on a regular basis and this advice has held true for the past several years, especially since the DDP became popular.

So lately, I have been helping a few friends with their spring break plans and I have had no problem getting ADRs at every restaurant that I have requested. I am also getting choices of dining times and usually getting 4-5 choices of "normal" time slots. Just yesterday I booked Narcoosees for DH and I for next Friday at 8pm. I had a choice of 6 time slots. I also booked Kona with a few days notice and had the choice of 5 time slots. The list goes on and on and I had no problems getting everything that I wanted in the months of Feb (president's week), March and July. This should be a good thing, right?

Here is another point of my confusion....I called 2 weeks ago to make an ADR at WCC and could only get 9pm or later for the whole week that I was checking. That was weird b/c I was having such great luck at other places but WCC is very popular. A friend made a big deal of the fact that I was completely incorrect to say that ADRs should be made in advance as she had walked right into WCC 4 years ago with no wait (friend might not be the right word for her ). I rechecked with Dining and was again told that there was no availability before 9pm. So this "friend" gets back and promptly emails me that she walked right into WCC and she can not understand why I would say that they were going to be full when they were not full at all. I felt completely stupid! So what gives, were they full or not?

I made more ADRs today with no problems and lots of choices. Dont get me wrong, it is great to get what I want but where have all the people gone? Has the new DDP scared guests away from the TS places due to the changes and the confusion? Why was I told that a popular restaurant was full when it was not acutally full? I dont beleive that 100 people all canceled on the same night. Were they blocking off ressies to make it easier to accomodate walk-ins who presumably would not be on the DDP? I ask that b/c the vast majority of DDP guests make ADRs so that they dont lose credits.

So what so ya'll think? Its good for ressies to be easier to get but is it being caused by the 2008 DDP? ( I hope that all made sense, my brain thinks faster than my fingers can type )

 

[Tricia1972]

I'll agree with you on the fact that reservations are easier to get this year.

Last year, around the time they were announcing the change in the plan I had a hard time getting my ADR's for this March.

We went in October on the DDP. We came back and had a different opinion of Disney Dining so I knew my plans would change. Then the announced the surcharges and my plans changed further. As a result I reworked almost all of my reservations in the past 2-3 weeks.

I have secured Jiko, Tony's and Crystal Palace for prime dining times for a large group. Jiko Dinner Party of 5 at 5:45, Tony's Dinner Party of 7 at 5:30 and Crystal Palace Lunch party of 7 at 11:45.

Makes me wonder if I should call in and try to sneak in another LeCellier

Whatever the reason, I think this rocks!!

 

[daisy112878]

My parents are going April 26th-May3rd. I just made all their ADRs with many time chocies. Granted there is only 2 of them but still last year I had to try for 3 weeks to get them into Le Cellier. This time got the day and time they wanted for Le Cellier plus got Flying Fish, Brown Derby, Jiko, and Citricos all for the days and times they wanted.

Now the next thing is I have to make adrs for a cpa conference we're going to in June. There will be 7 of us including one employees 2 kids. If those are easy to get then I'll be wondering if people are staying away from TS now.

 

[pooh17]

I agree that ADRs seem easier to come by now than in the past.

We're leaving for the World on 2/22, and I decided yesterday to rip apart my agenda to fit in a trip to <gasp> Universal for a couple of days. We're really interested in the Mardi Gras party, and its only on Saturday nights. So, I thought I'd have to give up my Cali Grill reservation. Wrong!

I was able to re-book Cali Grill @6pm on the night I wanted. I couldn't believe it! I also moved around my Biergarten, Rose & Crown, and Le Celleir dinner ADRs. Got my first choice on all of them!

Very strange for those of us who remember how it used to be.

 

[aubriee]

I agree. I have a friend who is going to WDW for the first time with her sister and three kids in July. She asked me for advice and I told her to immediately get on the phone and make ADRs, as she would be lucky to get anything that week. Lo and behold, she came in the next day and looked at me like I was crazy. She told me they got everything they asked for at the times they wanted with no problem. This is for the week after July 4th.

 

[stagemomto3]

I don't know if it's the DDP people shying away from TS restaurants, or just less people buying the DDP to begin with. For our family, I did all the calculations, and decided that it really wasn't worth it this year, based on the places we wanted to eat. With the old plan, it really was a 'no-brainer', but now you have to do the math.

None of our friends who are going this spring are doing the DDP, where most people had used it in the past - so maybe that's one of the reasons that ADRs are more available.

Just a thought.

 

[global_mom]

I agree. I have a friend who is going to WDW for the first time with her sister and three kids in July. She asked me for advice and I told her to immediately get on the phone and make ADRs, as she would be lucky to get anything that week. Lo and behold, she came in the next day and looked at me like I was crazy. She told me they got everything they asked for at the times they wanted with no problem. This is for the week after July 4th.

Exactly! I have people staring at me like I have gone nuts after they are able to make their ADRs with no probs when I have said that you need to make them right away. Geez...

 

[global_mom]

I don't know if it's the DDP people shying away from TS restaurants, or just less people buying the DDP to begin with. For our family, I did all the calculations, and decided that it really wasn't worth it this year, based on the places we wanted to eat. With the old plan, it really was a 'no-brainer', but now you have to do the math.

None of our friends who are going this spring are doing the DDP, where most people had used it in the past - so maybe that's one of the reasons that ADRs are more available.

Just a thought.

Your thoughts are what I am thinking as well. So many people did TS b/c the DDP was a great deal. Now that the value is not as extreme there seems to be a huge decline in the number of folks buying the DDP and thus the TS places are seeing less volume.

The BIG question then becomes: Will Disney take note of this decline in TS restaurants and re-adjust the DDP to bring folks back into TS places?

I cant help but think that the changes to DDP, and the sudden ease of getting TS ressies, are connected.

 

[carone0318]

It could also be that since the DDP eliminated the appetizer that this is now shortening the overall meal and is opening up more TS slots - quicker table turnover.

Just a thought.

 

[irene_dsc]

Your thoughts are what I am thinking as well. So many people did TS b/c the DDP was a great deal. Now that the value is not as extreme there seems to be a huge decline in the number of folks buying the DDP and thus the TS places are seeing less volume.

The BIG question then becomes: Will Disney take note of this decline in TS restaurants and re-adjust the DDP to bring folks back into TS places?

I cant help but think that the changes to DDP, and the sudden ease of getting TS ressies, are connected.

I suspect you are right - but the question is, will the TS restaurants still fill up, including with walk-ins, or will you end up eating in restaurants with lots of empty tables? If there are lots of empty tables, I bet you'll see a change - but if it just means that people can walk in and get a table, you may not see a change.

 

[minniekissedme]

Just returned (family of five) from 2/2-2/9 trip. Reservations were made in December and the only place I couldn't get was LeCellier. Times were not an issue either. Most of our reservations were between 5-6 with a 730 downtown at Wolfgangs and a 730 at Narcoossee's for the fireworks.
There were two restaurants where I heard walkups being turned away because there was no room (don't recall which two) and the restaurants seemed filled except for the earliest part of dinner service.
I would also guess it's an adjustment period and you'll see things change even more until everyone gets it figured out for themselves. We used the plan for our dinners specifically and really couldn't be happier with how it worked out for us.

 

[TDC Nala]

My guess is that people who are on the DDP would be going to table service restaurants. They wouldn't want to waste the TS credits. So if this is attributable to the DDP I think it's:

1) decline in the number of guests who are purchasing DDP because of the 2008 changes, or because they want to tour without being constrained by having to make it to table service dining reservations every day

2) decline in the number of guests at WDW in total, possibly due to national economic concerns

3) faster turnover in the restaurants due to elimination of the appetizer from the basic dining plan

At any rate I must confess that I'd be glad if the restaurants were no longer TOO busy. If they're that busy all the time, the food and service suffers.

 

[Tricia1972]

At any rate I must confess that I'd be glad if the restaurants were no longer TOO busy. If they're that busy all the time, the food and service suffers.

I agree!

 

[global_mom]

My guess is that people who are on the DDP would be going to table service restaurants. They wouldn't want to waste the TS credits. So if this is attributable to the DDP I think it's:

1) decline in the number of guests who are purchasing DDP because of the 2008 changes, or because they want to tour without being constrained by having to make it to table service dining reservations every day

2) decline in the number of guests at WDW in total, possibly due to national economic concerns

3) faster turnover in the restaurants due to elimination of the appetizer from the basic dining plan

At any rate I must confess that I'd be glad if the restaurants were no longer TOO busy. If they're that busy all the time, the food and service suffers.

I would bet that all 3 of these can be to blame.

On the flip side, the DxDDP is proving to be VERY popular. Its attractive to those who were loyal to the "old" DDP, it undermines the theory of economic concern ($69.99 per adult), and allows appetizers thus keeping the guests at the restaurant for a longer period of time. However, the DxDDP guests cant possibly be a majority. That kind of expenditure for food is not what most guests can/will do.

Dont get me wrong, we are a huge fans of TS and of the DDP, but this dramatic change in restaurant capacity is just so odd.

Its a fine line that may need to be drawn in the sand.....re-structure the DDP to get more guests back into the TS restaurants but dont make is so attractive that the restaurants return to the craziness of the past 3 years.

Doesn't Disney pay some upper level managers the really big bucks to figure out all this stuff!

 

[n2mm]

I'm a huge advocate for ADRs, but agree, they are easier to get:

I just made some ADRs for my trip in late April/early May for a table for 6 -- no problem.

We were at WDW 2 weeks ago and got right in at the 50s Prime Time (on two different days). Got right in at Beaches and Cream (on two different evenings).

My daughter just returned on Tuesday and was there over the weekend. She got right into .....LECELLIER. Yes that is correct. She walked up to the podium on Saturday evening and asked if they had anything open and they said yes and were seated immediately, a table for 2. She had no problem eating at Maya Grill with no ADR either. They were staying at the CRS for a conference Friday to Tuesday and made no ADRs (yes we are related). She said she got seated right away for Rainforest cafe at DTD too.

I will still continue to make my ADRs (I just made mine for my August trip this week). But keep in mine there might be some flexibility to make some last minute adjustments while you're there as we often do. We no longer use the DDP and are now only using our DDE discount.

 

[Tricia1972]

She walked into LeCellier! That's awesome!!!!

 

[global_mom]

She walked into LeCellier! That's awesome!!!!

That is a really dramatic change in less than 2 months! Lecellier has been the 'crown jewel' of ADRs for quite some time. In 2007 it would have been impossible to walk in. That is really cool that she was able to get in!

 

[n2mm]

I agree, I just couldn't believe it when she called and told me. She said she went to the podium and asked if there were any opennings and the CM said, well you guys look like a nice couple, let me see what we can do for you and said "follow me". Since she didn't have a clue of how hard it is to get in, she didn't realize what a big deal this would be to me. I'm sure this doesn't happen often, but it did happen just this past weekend (Saturday night) to my daughter!

 

[global_mom]

I agree, I just couldn't believe it when she called and told me. She said she went to the podium and asked if there were any opennings and the CM said, well you guys look like a nice couple, let me see what we can do for you and said "follow me". Since she didn't have a clue of how hard it is to get in, she didn't realize what a big deal this would be to me. I'm sure this doesn't happen often, but it did happen just this past weekend (Saturday night) to my daughter!

That sounds like a bonafide pixie dust moment!

 

[dkhillerud]

We used to do the DDP, thus eating TS everyday of our trip...with the new changes we figured we could cut some costs. We really don't want to be tied down with reservations everyday. Kind of want to fly by the seat of our pants a few days at least!! We are only making 3 ADR's for our trip in August where we would have orginally made 6-7. That could be true for a lot of people.