Lie about dates to get ADRs?

[centurythree]

I don't think it's "crafty" or some sort of moral offense. It's just plain silly. I called several days after the 180 day point for September of this year and still got all of the restaurants and times I wanted (Le Cellier and CRT included.)

Even if you honestly believe that it's that difficult to get into a given restaurant at whatever time of year you're going (and it really can be during major holidays), do you really spend that much time worrying about how to get into a restaurant? Seriously, it's just a restaurant, and it's just food. With the possible exception of a few signatures or a character buffet, I'm sure you have similar and better restaurants in your hometown.

 

[Iri920]

I have never tried this but I did encounter something a little different when I made my reservations a few days ago.

I needed a reservation for 2 for LeCellier and Coral Reef for our December trip. They did not have anything available for a party of 2 at either of these on the nights that I wanted. The cast member that I spoke with said she would just trick the system a little so that we could get a reservation. She put in the system that we were a party of 3 and we were able to get basically any night of our stay. She told me to just tell them when we arrive that 1 of our party was not able to make it.

Don't know that this is really the correct thing to do but it was not my suggestion, it was hers.

We did this last year and now this year also. We're a party of 5 and they'll be giving us a table that seats 6. The only way I was able to get CRT was by saying we were a party of 6 instead of 5.

 

[Maxie86]

I have never tried this but I did encounter something a little different when I made my reservations a few days ago.

I needed a reservation for 2 for LeCellier and Coral Reef for our December trip. They did not have anything available for a party of 2 at either of these on the nights that I wanted. The cast member that I spoke with said she would just trick the system a little so that we could get a reservation. She put in the system that we were a party of 3 and we were able to get basically any night of our stay. She told me to just tell them when we arrive that 1 of our party was not able to make it.

Don't know that this is really the correct thing to do but it was not my suggestion, it was hers.

These are the things that make people crazy. This happened to us in April. We had the concierge CM make us a ressie for the Yak and Yeti for lunch on the morning we were going to AK. She checked and they could only get us in at 3:30. I said that wouldn't work since I wasn't planning to be there that long. There were 4 of us and she said we could get 2 tables for 2, we wouldn't be able to sit together, but we had our pick of times. Our confirmation paper said party of 4. Then we get there and there were very few tables for 2, most of the tables are for 4, so of course, we were seated together. On top of that there were quite a few empty tables. Why couldn't we just make a ressie for 4?

 

[asmit4]

I'm not worried, it's just an annoyance to me that LeCellier and others are booked at the 180 day mark...and I was wondering a few things- like how it can be booked at 180 days, and how people manage to get a ressie at a 'hot spot'....it seems the 180 days doesn't always work either which seems ridiculous to me. It got me to thinking that others are attempting to cheat the system into giving them ressies before they actually can.

You would be surprised at how many DISers spend hours and hours picking their ADRs...switching them around, attempting to get the perfect day, the perfect time. I'm not 1 of them, but I do read the boards frequently and it seems that many people complain about not getting what they want, even at 180 days out.

We want to go during the free DDP 2009 (provided they offer it) and I will follow the rules, and book at 180. I just really hope that for once, I can get a couple of restaurants that seem to be notoriously booked up.

I agree with annie that I'd be jinxed on the trip...I just know it. I can't lie like that or 'be crafty'.

However, I also agree that people like Lisa are in a pickle...it's Christmas dinner and most likely, she will be stuck with 'what's left'....which won't be much by the time she can get into the ressie system. Christmas dinner at a place like Sci-Fi dining doesn't appeal to me! If I were her, I don't know what I would do.

 

[lisa3383]

However, I also agree that people like Lisa are in a pickle...it's Christmas dinner and most likely, she will be stuck with 'what's left'....which won't be much by the time she can get into the ressie system. Christmas dinner at a place like Sci-Fi dining doesn't appeal to me! If I were her, I don't know what I would do.

Thanks for understanding

I have always been honest and followed 'the rules' in the past and got what I got for reservations, but given that its Christmas and its a gift to my family (a very expensive one at that) even though its only FOOD its still important to me that everything be as perfect as it can be.

I think a lot of the added difficulty in getting reservation these days is in part due to the addition of the dining plans - more people feel they can afford to eat at the park's nicer places...and who can blame them

 

[PrincessAli]

I'm on the couch with my diet coke and popcorn--can't wait to see where this one goes!!

 

[Tigger2]

As much as I love Le Cellier, it sounds like too much work for me...

 

[tinknsnow]

Oh my. I've been so focused on our recent Disneyland/DCL trip that I haven't been around these boards for months. It seems I've missed something new with the ADRs. Can someone explain what it is, what the OP means about calling >180 days out and longer stays having an advantage? I would be very grateful!

We always stay 7-10 days and I've always gotten what I wanted (CRT every trip, for example) by calling at the 180-day mark. BTW, when we did try Le Cellier, I found it to be simply "meh" in terms of food and service, compared to California Grill and Jiko, for example. I'm not sure I would ever go through the trouble mentioned in the original post for a Disney meal (ethics aside), but I can understand the urgency of getting ADRs for Christmas supper.

Good luck with your decision, OP! I hope your vacation is great.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

We did this last year and now this year also. We're a party of 5 and they'll be giving us a table that seats 6. The only way I was able to get CRT was by saying we were a party of 6 instead of 5.

Did the same thing for sept ressies at CRT. Called and nope, no tables for 5. Called right back and got my choice of times for table for 6. . It felt strange, since I never did this before. We will just tell them our 6th person did not show.

 

[cds28025]

Can you tell me what/where/who is CP? Thanks

I don't think it is all reservations just the few very popular places, of which Le Cellier is one. I think the recent problem with Le Cellier (and one I encountered myself when I made ressies last week) and other Epcot locations is that tables are being held back for CP. I would expect when CP opens up there should be movement in ressies.

Again I ask........can you please tell me what CP is? thanks

 

[lisa3383]

Again I ask........can you please tell me what CP is? thanks

Good question, I don't know (but I'd like to)!

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

CP is CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL.

 

[keishashadow]

im thinking w/changes to DP this year, things will opening up a bit more @ the TS venues

i've had no problem booking (& switching ) ADRs for October this year, which 2 years ago just wasn't possible @ what i consider to be popular offerings

DP is just not the deal it used to be, think more people will elect to limit themselves to paying OOP for a few meals & either eat offsite or plan days with just CSs

as for OP, until the original ressie is modified technically, within her rights i suppose...another one of those things if it becomes rampant might result in all ADRs being cancelled

 

[cassmat]

We are starting our stay on December 16/08, so I thought I could try the ADR's on June 20, but if its 180plus10 I should start today??

 

[Microcell]

It seems like a lot of trouble just to eat at Le Cellier. I would just try to get a table with your dates. I have been to Le Cellier for every trip. I had to do some waffling with times but I got a table.

Good luck to you!

We are eating at 8:45 PM but we got in at around 120 days out.. Is it that OP cant get anything or just not "the perfect time"?

If it is the latter, then no, I consider it bad form.

 

[Microcell]

We are starting our stay on December 16/08, so I thought I could try the ADR's on June 20, but if its 180plus10 I should start today??

Nope wrong on both counts! It is June 19th, and you can make adrs at that time from 12/16 to 12/26 (at the 180 day mark+next ten days).

Here is a link to the calculator that I used to figure it out..

http://pscalculator.net/allearsnet/pscalcae.php

 

[SarahInMN]

This is, honestly, bizarre. I can't imagine booking a hotel room and then changing the reservation just to get a dining reservation. It's not right, and it takes away the chance to get that ADR for people who legitimately will be checking in on a given date. One of the whole points of the 180+10 rule is to giving guests staying on property an advantage or an extra perk.

So what if I don't get the ADR I want on the day and time I want? I can usually get it on another day or at a different time. That's just how it works.

Lying to get an ADR seems really wrong, and it penalizes everyone else who is playing by the rules.

 

[asmit4]

We are starting our stay on December 16/08, so I thought I could try the ADR's on June 20, but if its 180plus10 I should start today??

This is a popular misconception. It's not 190 days early. You can call at 180 days and book for up to 10 days PAST that...so if you call on June 20th, and want to book your ENTIRE trip... then you would be booking ressies for the 181st day, 182nd day, 183rd day, 184th day and so on. Hence SOME of your ressies will be MORE than 180 days away but they allow you to call on the 180th day and book the following 10 days of your trip.

This is why those with longer stays can be seen as having a better chance at getting ressies.

SAY you book a 10 night trip for December 16th arrival. On June 20th you can book for CHRISTMAS dinner....IF someone has a December 23rd arrival, they can't book for Christmas dinner til June 27th...meaning that you get to book your Christmas dinner BEFORE a person that will be there for the same day b/c your trip is longer.

That's why even on the 180th day, sometimes restaurants are booked...it's b/c someone that has a 10 night trip could have booked 9 days before you.

 

[Tink888]

To me that just seems like a huge amount of work for a steak dinner. I've been to Le Cellier and it was very good but I've had just as good steak dinners at both Coral Reef and Raglan Road. My DH wanted to go to Le Cellier again this year but they were the only ADR's we couldn't get so we just opted to try someplace new.

To each their own and best of luck to you. If you do have to go through all of that to get the ADR, I hope Le Cellier lives up to your expectations. What a massive disappointment it would be to do all that for the ADR and not be wowed.

 

[RMulieri]

Truthfully,I can not see lying and going thru all of that for Le Cellier.It is good ,but not worth it imho.