just need to vent - holding multiple ADR's

[maryj11]

When I was making ADR's for my last trip I couldn't get one for Ohana online for any of the days of my trip. I called and the CM I spoke with was super nice and found one for me. She let me know that I should always call even if nothing is available online because they can do a more thorough check than booking it yourself. Don't know how true that is but she did find one for me so it can't hurt for you to try calling AND still look yourself online.

I agree it's frustrating when people double book all the way up to the day of or day before. I've double booked for an hour at most while I'm getting them tweaked--- just in case A isn't available, but B is available that day, and C is only available that day but not this day causing me to rearrange A or B, etc. Making ADR's can be exhausting! I always cancel the extras right away so they are available to others. My mama taught me to share.

I would try by calling because I was trying to book a fantasmic package online and there were none available except a day we didnt want. I called and got the one with the restaurant and exact time we wanted. So it is worth a try to call and see what they can do. I have been trying to get Ohana's also but I have only gotten a 9:40pm. I havent called Disney yet to see if they had anything for Ohana, but I may call and see if they can one earlier. I dont really want to eat that late

 

[2Tiggies]

I think Disney needs to consider increasing the window of conflicting ADRs to 3 hours. Nobody is seriously, with any intention of keeping both, going to book 2 TS meals within 3 hours of each other. I think they are on the right track with the auto cancel system, but they need to up the pressure a bit to enable the system to work for those guests who make their ADRs, with every intention of showing up and checking in for their meal at the time of booking.

 

[kerplop]

I think Disney needs to consider increasing the window of conflicting ADRs to 3 hours. Nobody is seriously, with any intention of keeping both, going to book 2 TS meals within 3 hours of each other. I think they are on the right track with the auto cancel system, but they need to up the pressure a bit to enable the system to work for those guests who make their ADRs, with every intention of showing up and checking in for their meal at the time of booking.

Honestly the only thing I could think of like that is a TS meal and then maybe the Wishes dessert party. But otherwise I totally agree with you.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

I think it is also very inconsiderate. I have held 2 reservations once. I got a California Grill ressie for one night and then 180 days out from 3rd July I tried again. I got one for that night so cancelled the first one as that was my preferred date. I think holding them until the day concerned is very selfish. I cancelled my first ressie while booking the new one.


Yes noone knows what time they will want to eat in 180 days time but thats the system and you just have to suck it up.

 

[Bellamouse]

Hang in there OP. We were in the same boat and couldn't find anything at 'Ohana's for dinner (except for 9 pm!). I kept checking everyday, multiple times a day and lo and behold I was able to get a 5:20pm reservation today for one of the days of our October trip! Don't give up!

Me too!! We got 7 pm, EXACTLY the time I wanted!! I am BEYOND excited!!!! Today must be a big cancelling day......

But don't give up hope! Just keep trying

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I never double book because I think it's rude.


OP, just because you can't get an ADR for the place that you want, don't give up. I keep the Disney dining phone number in my cell just in case, and while we were at Disney on the past two trips I called and made a change.

I know how hard it is to get into LeCellier and when we were there two months ago, during free dining, I watched them check in two different groups who walked up and asked for a table. This was right when they opened too. I think that they hold some tables for walk ups.

 

[2Tiggies]

Honestly the only thing I could think of like that is a TS meal and then maybe the Wishes dessert party. But otherwise I totally agree with you.

I hadn't actually thought of the Dessert Party and yes, that is a fair point. I do think that the Dessert Party is, and should therefore be seen, as falling into a slightly different category to your regular TS meals though and I'm sure an exception could be made with that one.

 

[WantToGoNow]

We actually have two reservations on the same day for lunch because we can't agree which one to go to - I want the 11:35 am at LeCellier and dd27 wants the 1:50 at Chefs de France. We will cancel the one we don't use as soon as a decision is made.

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

I've double booked at the 180 day mark before . . . but I always cancel as we finalize and have never waited until the trip itself to do it. I think that my first experience on the DxDP for our trip next month caused me to double book a little more than normal (in addition to 1 out-of-park evening that we needed to wait and find out a time on b/c it switched around our whole touring plan). So I've only got a couple left that I have to cancel and will do so by this weekend, so I'm a month out and done.

I wish the 180 day window would shorten too . . . it's so tough to plan - and then when they change park hours as the dates draw nearer - it kills me!!!

 

[daraddg]

It is frustrating,but just keep going back and checking everyday.I couldnt find an Ohana dinner either then after 4 days of trying one at 8p popped up yesturday ,with free dining extended there probably going to be lots of changes here and there

 

[Sammie]

Hopefully those that double book and don't cancel, will get crappy service and indigestion.

 

[pigletto]

Ok I just need to vent for a minute. I have been trying since my 180-day mark to book an Ohana breakfast and dinner for my family during our 8-day stay in September. It has been a very frustrating process as the only dinner reservation I have seen was for 9:50 pm (I did book it, it was literally the only one I have seen). A friend of mine used a travel agent and has THREE dinners reserved at Ohana, two of which are on the same day (about 2 hours apart so they can decide which time is better for them). I told her how hard it is to get an ADR for Ohana and she laughed & said that was why she was paying a travel agent to do it for her. She further told me that she does not plan to cancel her two same-day ADR's at Ohana until the day of, and she will just go with "whichever one is more convenient at the time." That is extremely frustrating to me being someone who can't even get a reservation until past my kids' normal bedtime. What do you think?

You see it all the time. And Disney not allowing people to double book is no deterrent and people just find away around it.
It's called entitlement and it's nothing new. You see it every day. People who "deserve more!", "need it more!", or "have a good reason!!".
It doesn't matter that we all are paying for a vacation in this case.. the pea sized brains of the entitled don't allow them to see the wants and needs of others.
So.. like with anything else I find abhorrent behaivor, all I can do is refuse to partake, and refuse to live that way.
I understand your frustration..but really, if someone wants to be that selfish there isn't a lot you can do.

 

[WJD2011]

I know several people who do this and it is super frustrating.

We really want breakfast at Tusker House or Chef Mickeys (any meal). I have tried all 5 days of our stay, for every hour increment and no luck. My guess is there will be plenty of empty tables though...there always is when we go to character meals.

I agree with you. It is really frustrating system that currently allows people to book more than one reservation for the same dining period and then they either don't cancel or cancel the same day as the reservation. This would not be accepted for non-Disney restaurants and should not be accepted for Disney restaurants. There should be some type of financial penalty imposed (say at least $ 75) for non-shows. It is frustrating for people who legitimately are looking to book reservations and must be costing Disney money.

 

[focusondisney]

I agree with you. It is really frustrating system that currently allows people to book more than one reservation for the same dining period and then they either don't cancel or cancel the same day as the reservation. This would not be accepted for non-Disney restaurants and should not be accepted for Disney restaurants. There should be some type of financial penalty imposed (say at least $ 75) for non-shows. It is frustrating for people who legitimately are looking to book reservations and must be costing Disney money.

The problem with that is at Disney, you are in a theme park, a place where you need flexability. You might be delayed in a line or on an attraction, someone might have a melt down or just not be up to the planned meal. You may be at the mercy of Disney trasnportation & not able to get to the restaurant. Even leaving YC well over an hour ahead, we have been late to ADRs at MK or MK resorts. None of these are excuses for not cancelling, just reasons why a financial penalty would not work.

My DH & I book deluxe dining at about $150 per day. I would never book that option if I thought I would face an additional monetary fee if I couldn't make a planned meal. I would also probably downgrade my resort from deluxe to moderate so I could eat at a food court instead of sit down places. Pretty sure lots of people would skip pre booking ADRs too. How much money would Disney & servers lose then? Yes, they might get more walk ups, but those would be iffy, too.



I think a better solution is to divide the bookings into thirds: 1/3 for booking early (90 or 180 days out); 1/3 for prebooking (maybe 7 days ahead) & 1/3 for day of & walk ups. I absolutely think it's crazy that theme park restaurants are fully booked before the park is even open for the day. Paying customers should have some chance to get a sit down meal without having to commit 6 months in advance.

 

[angierae]

You can do two ressies for approximately the same time if your party is splitting up though; right? DD17 and BFF16 are going to be eating some meals without DH & I (we want signatures and they are picky eaters) and so there'll be a lot of days we'll have one TS for lunch for 4, and then two TS for 2 for dinner.

Or so I'm hoping....

 

[mcd2745]

You can do two ressies for approximately the same time if your party is splitting up though; right? DD17 and BFF16 are going to be eating some meals without DH & I (we want signatures and they are picky eaters) and so there'll be a lot of days we'll have one TS for lunch for 4, and then two TS for 2 for dinner.

Or so I'm hoping....

They will have to made under separate names. Which, to me at least, makes sense. If you have a ressie in your name for 2 at, say,Cali Grill that you will personally be at...and a second ressie at the same time for, say, Tony's that you will not be at - that second ressie should not have your name on it.

 

[angierae]

They will have to made under separate names. Which, to me at least, makes sense. If you have a ressie in your name for 2 at, say,Cali Grill that you will personally be at...and a second ressie at the same time for, say, Tony's that you will not be at - that second ressie should not have your name on it.

Okay, that makes total sense. We didn't do this last time - we went in May 10 and we had ADR's for dinner and we did CS or walk up TS for lunch. (We're going the week before Easter this time, so I am making ADR's for lunches as well.)

 

[WJD2011]

The problem with that is at Disney, you are in a theme park, a place where you need flexability. You might be delayed in a line or on an attraction, someone might have a melt down or just not be up to the planned meal. You may be at the mercy of Disney trasnportation & not able to get to the restaurant. Even leaving YC well over an hour ahead, we have been late to ADRs at MK or MK resorts. None of these are excuses for not cancelling, just reasons why a financial penalty would not work.

My DH & I book deluxe dining at about $150 per day. I would never book that option if I thought I would face an additional monetary fee if I couldn't make a planned meal. I would also probably downgrade my resort from deluxe to moderate so I could eat at a food court instead of sit down places. Pretty sure lots of people would skip pre booking ADRs too. How much money would Disney & servers lose then? Yes, they might get more walk ups, but those would be iffy, too.



I think a better solution is to divide the bookings into thirds: 1/3 for booking early (90 or 180 days out); 1/3 for prebooking (maybe 7 days ahead) & 1/3 for day of & walk ups. I absolutely think it's crazy that theme park restaurants are fully booked before the park is even open for the day. Paying customers should have some chance to get a sit down meal without having to commit 6 months in advance.

Your last paragraph could help, but there has to be some financial penalty for people who don't cancel reservations within 48 hours of the reservation or the problem of non-shows will persist and people seeking legitimate dining oportunities will have their options limited.

There appears to be at least two problem groups...

People who are clogging up the ADR with multiple reservations for the same dining period. Easy fix, allow only one ADR for guests every three hour period. If you try to book another reservation within the same dining period, you lose your initial reservation during the same dining period.

People who don't show up for the ADRs. Require a deposit for people to make ADRs. If they don't show up, then they are charged the deposit or their meal plan is reduced by the deposit amount.

 

[mcd2745]

Your last paragraph could help, but there has to be some financial penalty for people who don't cancel reservations within 48 hours of the reservation or the problem of non-shows will persist and people seeking legitimate dining oportunities will have their options limited.

There appears to be at least two problem groups...

People who are clogging up the ADR with multiple reservations for the same dining period. Easy fix, allow only one ADR for guests every three hour period. If you try to book another reservation within the same dining period, you lose your initial reservation during the same dining period.

People who don't show up for the ADRs. Require a deposit for people to make ADRs. If they don't show up, then they are charged the deposit or their meal plan is reduced by the deposit amount.

Well actually...most people who fall into the first group also are part of the second group. They can only physically show up at one place. So they no-show at the other ADRs they have.

 

[lecellierfan]

Unfortunately, any system to try and alleviate this issue would only penalize people trying to make valid ADRs. Rule breakers usually find ways around systems.