Mark your Calendars for ADRs

[Starr W.]

I believe the gap only covers Wednesday through Sunday...and we are flying in the Saturday before...so it will affect us.

I think they had some Disney Free Dining last year that ran out just before Thanksgiving. Didn't have a problem getting what we wanted.

Just know when your booking window opens, have your list ready and be online or on the phone ASAP.

We're flying in Friday night!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks for this heads up! I'll be away for awhile, including my 90 day window and I've asked my DSis to help out. She says, "no problemo" but I think she may be in for a long phone wait, and I've given her many choices of what to book. I appreciate my DSis

Bobbi

 

[n2mm]

You don't have to do a dining package to see the CP. We stopped doing the packages a couple of years ago. If you can go during the week, the stand by line is usually much shorter than on weekends. The stand by line can also be longer depending on who the narrator is.

We will be cruising during the week. We arrive Fri/Sat and cruise on Sunday. Return on Thurs/Fri/Sat we go home. Since we only have weekends to choose from, plus the first week of December and while Pop Warner is there, we now have to deal with free dining folks too. Ugh. I guess we can hope for a lunch CP package.

 

[Slakk]

Disney is reported by reliable sources going to extend free dining to the general public until December 17 so be sure and get ready to call for ADRs during that time period or plan to dine off property or eat in.

And everyone if this upsets you please do not kill the messenger.

I just know many of you don't read the other forums and you will need to make the necessary adjustments for this if you are going to be making ADRs.

I am waiting for DVC members line to open up since the regular line REFUSED to make my reservations. I have never heard of that but the guy said they cannot take DVC ressies now. Gus I need to pay better attention.

I cannot even fathom the amount of suck it is going to be to get reservations now since we planned to eat at Epcot. Of course during Food and Wine. Not a happy camper at all.

 

[Slakk]

I'm not sure how that's even relevant.

By my calculations it would cost over $300,000 per day to give the DDP "free" to DVC members. That's taking every WDW two bedroom villa and assuming a reasonable occupancy level (which would probably rise if every guest ate for free) at the current DDP fees.

As you pointed out, there's a financial incentive to the free dining credits given to cash guests. I don't care who is in charge of DVC or what they are "all about." DVC didn't give out $10 million worth free meals per month before Jim Lewis came on board and they aren't about to start today.

BTW, I made my ADRs this morning and got my first choice of time at every restaurant. So at least the Disney Visa people didn't have any impact on us. And I think there is hope that a general public announcement won't have an immediate negative impact. I think people have come to expect the free dining promotions in August and September (one reason I'm surprised Disney kept it up so long) and are prepared to call as soon as its offered. How readily they will jump at the offer for Oct - Dec remains to be seen. Could be more of a slow burn.

My window opens tomorrow and I can tell you EVERY restaurant I wanted is booked solid for the day before our trip starts so yeah I am seriously pissed. It was going to be hard enough to get ressies during F&W but now it is about impossible.

Add to the fact that WDW-DINE told me as a DVC member I cannot make reservations through them I am TWO HOURS behind everyone else - wonder if I will get either place. Going to assume a big NO on that.

I guess I am going to call the regular number at 7 tomorrow and be one of those nasty DVC people and try to force the issue... Really unhappy. I guess I am happier with my decision to sell our AKV points. We bought another EOY Marriott and decided to sell those points to offset. We will still have BLT and HH...

I am becoming disillusioned with WDW. I know it is just the economy but come on...

All I know is MVCI seems to value me more. When they do their room assignments they go in priority, Resort owner, MVCI owner, Others...so I ended up with one of the best rooms on the resort. I am sure - I will get the MK view room that you need to be 7 feet tall and double jointed to see the tip of Cinderella's Castle if you stand on your left toe and crane your neck to the right.

I will get over it - but not right now.

 

[Starr W.]

I am waiting for DVC members line to open up since the regular line REFUSED to make my reservations. I have never heard of that but the guy said they cannot take DVC ressies now. Gus I need to pay better attention.

I cannot even fathom the amount of suck it is going to be to get reservations now since we planned to eat at Epcot. Of course during Food and Wine. Not a happy camper at all.

I called the regular WDW Dine line for my October trip. Was able to book tea at the GF, Breakfast character meal at the GF and got the Wave, which was my last choice. If you wanted Character breakfasts, it was pretty wide open including Cindy's table!


Nice guy told me to keep calling and see if something else opens up. It's just me and I'm not that picky, but DH told me to book at least one nice dinner.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wonder now if the free dining will push DVC'rs more to the DxDDP? I would think there would be alot more availability at the signature restaraunts.....of course giving Disney just that much more money than I had to in the past.....

No, the signatures get really busy with free dining. It's a way for folks who wouldn't normally spend the money on those places to try them out. I HATE free dining. In fact, I hate the dining plan altoghether! It puts families with screaming kids in those white table cloth restaurants, depriving the rest of us from enjoying a peaceful meal in a nice restaurant. We don't do the dining plan, but twice last trip I had my meal spoiled at a a signature because of people bringing small children who don't want and shouldn't be expected to eat in a place like Jiko or Artist Point. Our experience at Jiko almost made us walk out. That means that they would have lost a PAYING customer to a reduced price dining plan customer....Sorry, but I don't go to places like the signatures to have my meal interupted by so much screaming that I can't carry on a conversation with my spouse over a nice meal. It totally ruins the meal for me.

 

[jpolak]

I wonder if this will have any impact on getting the candle light processional dinner packages? From what I understand they go pretty quick to begin with now you might have to compete with people who can cash in 2 TS?

 

[gkrykewy]

I am waiting for DVC members line to open up since the regular line REFUSED to make my reservations. I have never heard of that but the guy said they cannot take DVC ressies now. Gus I need to pay better attention.

I cannot even fathom the amount of suck it is going to be to get reservations now since we planned to eat at Epcot. Of course during Food and Wine. Not a happy camper at all.

This is the first time I've heard that DVC reservations aren't valid on WDW-DINE for 90+10 -- maybe you just got a bad rep. I would have called back.

 

[Slakk]

This is the first time I've heard that DVC reservations aren't valid on WDW-DINE for 90+10 -- maybe you just got a bad rep. I would have called back.

I know. But I am calling back tomorrow at 9 am - my DS only like Le Cellier and Teppanyaki which are popular so I am not waiting until 9 a.m. to call.

 

[Slakk]

Just got off the phone with our ADRs, the system was down this morning and i was my CSRs first real call. Le Cellier was booked solid unless I wanted to eat after 8 pm or at 4. Every day of our trip.

We called at exactly 90 days and it was gone. We did get our other two choices but not the times we wanted but close enough.

I am so disillusioned by WDW and DVC at this point. We have stopped our summer trips because I am tired of neurotic planning and zigging and zagging to try and not have the raging hordes.

Now October is over-run. You know I love Disney, but I am tired of having to do all this planning and crap - I just want to vacation. When the restaurants are picked over before your trip it is really annoying - especially when you are the FIRST CALL at 90 days.

If you cannot even have an enjoyable time in the off-time what is the point? I hate this 90 days plus 10 - it really really sucks - I wish they would go back to day by day. I know it is harder on them but they are going to lose people like me. I used to spend 14 days a year at WDW - we are now down to 4.

Maybe they do not care but I just want to vacation like a normal person - not have to plan to the second. Grrrrrrrrrrr

 

[BarrerasFamily]

We don't arrive until the 17th. We are expecting HUGE crowds but I was crossing my fingers there would be no free dining, and it looks like i got my wish.

 

[thelionqueen]

I'm sorry but I just have to chime in here.

In reading Diane's post
"It puts families with screaming kids in those white table cloth restaurants, depriving the rest of us from enjoying a peaceful meal in a nice restaurant. We don't do the dining plan, but twice last trip I had my meal spoiled at a a signature because of people bringing small children who don't want and shouldn't be expected to eat in a place like Jiko or Artist Point."
I just have to ask..are you serious?

Just so I understand, are you implying that there is any restaurant @ WDW that doesn't (or shouldn't) have small children (some screaming, some not) in it? And since you are not on the dining plan you are a "paying" customer and therefore should have entitlements "the rest of us" shouldn't?

So by that comment, if you use a discount card or any type of discount you should be entitled to less than someone who is paying menu price? Or, since you and your spouse would like a quiet, peaceful dinner, everyone else should want the same thing, or if not, at least make it quiet for you?

I'm sorry if I'm understanding this post wrong, but the sense of entitlement I felt from reading it was really unbelievable.

Let's not forget that everyone @ WDW is paying an arm and a leg to be there, regardless at what level (value, mod, deluxe, DDP, Free DDP, TIW card, etc) and EVERYONE deserves EQUAL treatment wherever they choose to dine or choose to take their children. No one should ever feel entitled to have a restaurant or dining experience that suits their needs, and ESPECIALLY @ WDW, that's just unreasonable and unrealistic. Although many of us adults go to WDW with or without kids, it really is a place where FAMILIES (that do include some screaming children sometimes) are always WELCOME!! Just my .02

 

[Sammie]

I wonder if this will have any impact on getting the candle light processional dinner packages? From what I understand they go pretty quick to begin with now you might have to compete with people who can cash in 2 TS?

yes it will make a difference. This is going to be a very difficult booking.

I respectfully ask that this thread not turn into a debate about the pros and cons of free dining. I posted the info because many DVCers do not keep up with the Restaurant forums and might not realize that the months of Oct. Nov. and early Dec are going to be affected by this. Especially since Disney has never offered free dining during those months and DVCers plan many trips then.

Also the plan being offered is counter service only for value resort guests unless they pay the upgrade fee and regular plan for moderates and deluxes, so the bookings will reflect that.

Hard to get reservations and Candlelight will be affected, so please let's not get this thread locked. Thanks and everyone have a great weekend.

 

[n2mm]

This is the first time I've heard that DVC reservations aren't valid on WDW-DINE for 90+10 -- maybe you just got a bad rep. I would have called back.

DVC members here and we just made our October ADRs last week using the 90+10 and it was easy and effortless using the online system at 6:00AM. The kicker was I was on vacation in WDW and got up to make my ADRs for October while in the room at WLV. I think the online system works very well.

 

[wildernessDad]

I can make mine on 9/11. I'll never forget that date.

 

[Sammie]

DVC members can use the online, call WDW-DINE or Member services.

 

[alldiz]

Ok....I didn't mind the free dining so much when it was a 1000 degrees out....I figured Hey.....you walk around in WDW and spend money in that heat......god bless em for getting free food....it's to hot anyways....

BUT NOW.....Free Dining when I am going
Totally not right
I mean......AND they changed from 180 days to 90 days for ADR....Are they trying me to get me to up my xanax dose

WAAAAAA.....No fair......Waaaaaa
DH tolerates WDW....and he says....Honey....Yahoo....free dining when we go....Ahem honey....that dosen't apply to DVC....##****dangit.....

I'll repeat....Aaargh
Kerri

 

[bsusanmb]

Can someone help me understand when I should call and where, or should I do this on line?

We arrive on 12/11 but we are staying one night in a studio and then 12/12 to 12/18 we are in same resort, but in a 2 bedroom.

So, would it be best for me to call MS? Will they link the reservations together for me? And what time do I call?

If I call Disney Dining, I live in the east...so what time does that start?

On line dining, what time does that start?

And if someone would be so kind as to tell me the exact date to call as I am confused with 90 days...how do I count backwards? What is my date for 12/11 and what is it for 12/12?

Oh, I wouldn't care at all, but taking our two grandchildren with us and they want character dining...so I will have to work on that...and I will be in WDW when I am supposed to make the reservations on my vacation in Sept. I think it is 9/12 I call, or is it? Thanks for any help you can give to me...
I thought on line dining was 24 hours a day....

Susan

 

[Sammie]

Can someone help me understand when I should call and where, or should I do this on line?

We arrive on 12/11 but we are staying one night in a studio and then 12/12 to 12/18 we are in same resort, but in a 2 bedroom.

So, would it be best for me to call MS? Will they link the reservations together for me? And what time do I call?

If I call Disney Dining, I live in the east...so what time does that start?

On line dining, what time does that start?

And if someone would be so kind as to tell me the exact date to call as I am confused with 90 days...how do I count backwards? What is my date for 12/11 and what is it for 12/12?

Oh, I wouldn't care at all, but taking our two grandchildren with us and they want character dining...so I will have to work on that...and I will be in WDW when I am supposed to make the reservations on my vacation in Sept. I think it is 9/12 I call, or is it? Thanks for any help you can give to me...
I thought on line dining was 24 hours a day....

Susan

Ok first they won't link the reservations. So if you want to make an ADR for that first night your earliest is 90 days prior to that day and that is the only day you can make on that reservation.

Then you will have to call again for the second reservation and then because you are staying you can make it for up to 10 days.

WDW-Dine opens at 6am Eastern as does the online booking. Online is available 24 hours but not when you want to book 90 days out. After your days you can book at any time but when you want to use the 90 days plus 10, you have to wait till 6am Eastern.

Member Services will open at their regular times. So if you need something that is hard to get best to try online or call WDW-DINE.

As to when to call, what date, go to the dining link above and use the dining calculator.