Is it me or is 180 days ridiculous?

[JEANMR1]

Now mind you that the 180 day window works in my favor because I'm an obsessive planner but I do feel bad for the (majority of the) people that haven't even booked a trip this far out.
I mean, come on, I woke up at 5:20 this morning so I could book my 180 days plus 10. Even at 180+ days out I couldn't get Le Cellier or Coral Reef at the times I wanted them. I couldn't even get Le Cellier for lunch until I was at about 185 days out. Just seems kind of odd when I think about it.
My sister and I were joking that we think we might want italian food around 6pm on October 5th and perhaps African food around 630pm on October 4th sounds spectacular.
I do love the +10 perk for resort guests but couldn't the reservation window be more like 30 or 45 days out?

 

[MissionMouse]

There was a time when you entered Epcot you entered and went to the far side of Space Ship Earth and there were multiple very large screens displaying a live connection to a cast member. This is where you made your dining plans for the day. Disney is one of few vacation plans-destinations where you are almost forced to select when and where you will dine 6 months in advance. Various marketing plans coupled with DDPs make TS dining less than magical these days...especially when you compare it to other vacation options.

 

[RMulieri]

It is, but it is a neccessary evil thanks to the popularity of the dining plan etc .

 

[eliza61]

I think it borders on insane. What's worse, I know tons of people who do what I use to do. Make an whole bunch of reservations knowing they probably won't keep the majority of them simply so they won't get left out of a dinner.

I have a family reunion in August and I have family members who made 2 and 3 adr's simply because they can't decide where they want to eat. I mean seriously we have 10 family units going and most of them have double and triple book (and yes it can be done, we've got the confirmation #'s) and you know, what I use to get a bit upset abut it but now I have absolutely no problem with it.

It's like some rendition of the TV show "survivor" but instead of getting to live another episode you fight to get the chance to eat at a restaurant. LOL.

Bon Apetite

 

[CathieArms]

I don't know if it's crazy or not, but I'm actually shocked that you could get Le Cellier for the times you wanted in October. I booked my June trip at 180-odd days out, and I could still find tons of Le Cellier openings at about 110ish days out. What in the world is going on in October that isn't going on in June?

 

[scjo68]

I know that there are many who agree with you.
I, respectfully, disagree with this opinion.

You are allowed to make an ADR 180 days in advance, Disney does not require it. If restaurants are full 180 months out it is due to guest behavior not Disney policy.

I agree with the popular remark "I don't know what I will be in the mood to eat in 6 months!" Of course I don't know that- I don't know what I'll be "in the mood for" tomorrow. So a 30-45 day booking window won't help that. I know what I'm in the mood for at meal time. Waiting until then requires me to walk up and wait in the stand-by line. Great, if there is availability, but if I am having to wait for hours to be seated, my mood will have changed by then.

When the ADR window was shorter, it was even more difficult to make ADRs as more people tried to make them on a single day. Making ADR's available earlier gives the advantage to guests who plan earlier. Guests who do not plan as far in advance can still get ADR's, just not necessarily at the most popular restaurants.

Getting reservations for anything popular often requires you to plan earlier rather than later. This is the same for local popular restaurant, too. I once tried to make reservations for Mother's Day brunch here in my hometown just a couple of weeks in advance. Almost everything was booked up. We ended up somewhere not so nice. This was my fault for late planning. The restaurants were not at fault for letting other customers make reservations before I got around to it. It was my fault for waiting too long, and you can bet I learned from it.

Now, if Disney wants to hold some tables to be released later for walk-ups or locals I have no problem with that. For all I know, maybe they already do that, I don't know. If so, that would explain not being able to get an ADR even when calling at 180+10 days.

So I don't think it's the 180 day policy that's at fault. There are just a lot more guests eating in Disney restaurants. If this is due to the Dining plan and/or free dining, then that is the problem. When people recall making Dining reservations in the park on the same day, that sounds nice, but now you would have a stampede, and you would be waiting in line for an ADR in the park, when you should be enjoying your vacation.

 

[JEANMR1]

There was a time when you entered Epcot you entered and went to the far side of Space Ship Earth and there were multiple very large screens displaying a live connection to a cast member. This is where you made your dining plans for the day. Disney is one of few vacation plans-destinations where you are almost forced to select when and where you will dine 6 months in advance. Various marketing plans coupled with DDPs make TS dining less than magical these days...especially when you compare it to other vacation options.

Wow I vaguely remember that. I went with my mom when I was in the 8th grade (somwhere around 83 or 84 I believe). I think we went to the Biergarten. I thought the 'video chat' was totally cool!

 

[JEANMR1]

I don't know if it's crazy or not, but I'm actually shocked that you could get Le Cellier for the times you wanted in October. I booked my June trip at 180-odd days out, and I could still find tons of Le Cellier openings at about 110ish days out. What in the world is going on in October that isn't going on in June?

My thought it is because of 9/29/11. That was the last day of the free dining offered until last December. So people 'in the know' knew that they could book it on that day and into October and still get the free dining. This lets you go during the Food and Wine Fest and still have free dining during your stay.
If people know this, then they probably also know to book at the 180 day mark.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This 180 + 10 booking rule is one of the main reasons my family and I never purchase the Disney Dining Plan or Free Dining, because we are the type that might change our minds at the last minute and eat somewhere else. We have even done that in the past when driving to the restaurant we planned to eat at. Plus there are some offsite restaurants we like to eat at like Bonefish Grill, Cheesecake Factory and Sweet Tomatoes which we never need reservations for.

 

[princess aleya]

I know that there are many who agree with you.
I, respectfully, disagree with this opinion.

You are allowed to make an ADR 180 days in advance, Disney does not require it. If restaurants are full 180 months out it is due to guest behavior not Disney policy.

I agree with the popular remark "I don't know what I will be in the mood to eat in 6 months!" Of course I don't know that- I don't know what I'll be "in the mood for" tomorrow. So a 30-45 day booking window won't help that. I know what I'm in the mood for at meal time. Waiting until then requires me to walk up and wait in the stand-by line. Great, if there is availability, but if I am having to wait for hours to be seated, my mood will have changed by then.

When the ADR window was shorter, it was even more difficult to make ADRs as more people tried to make them on a single day. Making ADR's available earlier gives the advantage to guests who plan earlier. Guests who do not plan as far in advance can still get ADR's, just not necessarily at the most popular restaurants.

Getting reservations for anything popular often requires you to plan earlier rather than later. This is the same for local popular restaurant, too. I once tried to make reservations for Mother's Day brunch here in my hometown just a couple of weeks in advance. Almost everything was booked up. We ended up somewhere not so nice. This was my fault for late planning. The restaurants were not at fault for letting other customers make reservations before I got around to it. It was my fault for waiting too long, and you can bet I learned from it.

Now, if Disney wants to hold some tables to be released later for walk-ups or locals I have no problem with that. For all I know, maybe they already do that, I don't know. If so, that would explain not being able to get an ADR even when calling at 180+10 days.

So I don't think it's the 180 day policy that's at fault. There are just a lot more guests eating in Disney restaurants. If this is due to the Dining plan and/or free dining, then that is the problem. When people recall making Dining reservations in the park on the same day, that sounds nice, but now you would have a stampede, and you would be waiting in line for an ADR in the park, when you should be enjoying your vacation.

I totally agree with you

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Now, if Disney wants to hold some tables to be released later for walk-ups or locals I have no problem with that. For all I know, maybe they already do that, I don't know. If so, that would explain not being able to get an ADR even when calling at 180+10 days.

Well if you want to get a last minute ADR at a restaurant in the resort you are staying at while your at WDW, usually that can be done without any problems. For example I was told when Club Level Cast Members log onto the ADR system it see's they are doing that from a Club Level lounge, so that makes it easier getting ADR's for restaurants at that specific resort. Now if the system still says the restaurant is sold out they can usually call the restaurant directly, say where they are calling from and a table will open up for those guests.

 

[Tricia1972]

Whether we like it or not, we're at the mercy of Disney's policy. I'll make our reservations whenever they say we can and be done with it. I do a lot of tweaking and canceling once we're there if our mood doesn't suit that night's reservation, but at least with a reservation, I know we can sit down someplace if we want.

Our January 2010 vacation was when Disney had the 90 day window and we had no problem getting every reservation we wanted at 90 days out. I also had no problem getting through on the phones to make those reservations. Admittedly I didn't have a problem getting my ADRs when we went in January 2011, but i didn't notice a big difference on the phone.

 

[MomRN]

For me, the process has been nerve-wracking because this is a first for me, but kind of exciting also. The thought of these different restaurants and different food and vacation seems so exciting... even if 180 days away. On Tuesday.

 

[britfish]

It doesn't really bother me but I love planning! We don't do park hoppers so once I settle on what park for the day the restaurant picking is pretty easy. Like I said I'm a little OCD so I'm a-ok with planning and I second the PP on the exciting factor of doing it ahead of time!

 

[rachel09985]

I don't know if it's crazy or not, but I'm actually shocked that you could get Le Cellier for the times you wanted in October. I booked my June trip at 180-odd days out, and I could still find tons of Le Cellier openings at about 110ish days out. What in the world is going on in October that isn't going on in June?

Is it because of dinner converting to signature? Was it a dinner that you booked or lunch?

 

[rachel09985]

Two years ago it was the 90 day policy. We went for free dining. Why did they switch it to 180 days out? It doesn't bother me either but I do feel bad for the people who don't realize the necessity of the 180 day bookings!

And for being in the mood or not, I'll always be in the mood for the restaurant because I will have spent the past 6 months dreaming about it!

 

[N&B'smom]

Well if you want to get a last minute ADR at a restaurant in the resort you are staying at while your at WDW, usually that can be done without any problems. For example I was told when Club Level Cast Members log onto the ADR system it see's they are doing that from a Club Level lounge, so that makes it easier getting ADR's for restaurants at that specific resort. Now if the system still says the restaurant is sold out they can usually call the restaurant directly, say where they are calling from and a table will open up for those guests.

Definitely true! On our last trip we didn't have anything planned for one evening so we decided to check and see if Artist Point had any availability. They got us in within 20 min.

I also know someone that makes 3 ADR's per night because they don't know what they'll be in the mood for when they are there. If I make an ADR and am not in the mood to go to that park/restaurant, I will cancel it and make other arrangements. I will not however make two ADR's I have no intention of using, taking those tables away from other people that DO want them.

I'll be getting up bright and early tomorrow to make mine! Wish me luck!!

 

[traylorc]

I know that there are many who agree with you.
I, respectfully, disagree with this opinion.

You are allowed to make an ADR 180 days in advance, Disney does not require it. If restaurants are full 180 months out it is due to guest behavior not Disney policy.

I agree with the popular remark "I don't know what I will be in the mood to eat in 6 months!" Of course I don't know that- I don't know what I'll be "in the mood for" tomorrow. So a 30-45 day booking window won't help that. I know what I'm in the mood for at meal time. Waiting until then requires me to walk up and wait in the stand-by line. Great, if there is availability, but if I am having to wait for hours to be seated, my mood will have changed by then.

When the ADR window was shorter, it was even more difficult to make ADRs as more people tried to make them on a single day. Making ADR's available earlier gives the advantage to guests who plan earlier. Guests who do not plan as far in advance can still get ADR's, just not necessarily at the most popular restaurants.

Getting reservations for anything popular often requires you to plan earlier rather than later. This is the same for local popular restaurant, too. I once tried to make reservations for Mother's Day brunch here in my hometown just a couple of weeks in advance. Almost everything was booked up. We ended up somewhere not so nice. This was my fault for late planning. The restaurants were not at fault for letting other customers make reservations before I got around to it. It was my fault for waiting too long, and you can bet I learned from it.

Now, if Disney wants to hold some tables to be released later for walk-ups or locals I have no problem with that. For all I know, maybe they already do that, I don't know. If so, that would explain not being able to get an ADR even when calling at 180+10 days.

So I don't think it's the 180 day policy that's at fault. There are just a lot more guests eating in Disney restaurants. If this is due to the Dining plan and/or free dining, then that is the problem. When people recall making Dining reservations in the park on the same day, that sounds nice, but now you would have a stampede, and you would be waiting in line for an ADR in the park, when you should be enjoying your vacation.

Exactly!!!

I have to ask the OP this...why do you think that moving the ADR window to 30-45 days is somehow going to make things better? I would respectfully argue that such a short window would make things worse, and you would have tons of folks complaining. I'm convinced that one of the reasons scrapped the 90 day window and re-implemented the 180 day window is because folks were complaining of the difficulties they were having securing ADRs via a 90 day window.

The Disney Dining Plan, Free Dining, and Disney's ongoing popularity in the face of the worst economic cycle in our lifetimes is why securing ADRs can occasionally be challenging.

 

[britfish]

I think its pretty rotten that some people make multiple reservations for the same night. Kinda runins it for others trying to plan. But then again I am a rule follower and don't tend to understand people that don't do the same.

 

[kungaloosh22]

why do you think that moving the ADR window to 30-45 days is somehow going to make things better?

Not the OP, but I personally think it would be better because some of Disney's own plans for my October trip won't be firmed up until sometime this summer. Food & Wine schedules will probably affect my dining plans, and possibly influence which park I want to be in on any given day.

Disney doesn't know their own plans 6 months out, but they expect me to figure out mine.