Multiple ADR cr@p mentioned on show

[pinkerbell]

I just called for a CRT reservation and got it. I was told that because I am on the diningplan, I needed to leave a CC # in case I do not show, but since I am on the dining paln, no charge will appear, provided we show up. She also said IF I WERE NOT on the dining plan, that it is a "PREPAY" resturant, and my card would have been charged??

I don't recall hearing that before, but don't really know, they may have.

I can't say we have ever not been able to get our ressies...
Last year I called about 5 months out for CRT and couldn't get anything, by the time 2 or 3 months rolled around, I had my pick of times

Maybe those resturants should just serve straight through instread of "closing" for the hour or so between meals, that would add a few more seating's, but no matter where you go, there are always locations that have more desirability than others. I have never walked right up to CRT and been seated, even with an ADR, there is always a line and never an opening.

Even during free dining, we have walked up to many other resturants and been able to get a table, so I really think if you want something specific you have to plan, otherwise, you can get seatings, just maybe not your first choice.

 

[Disney8704]

For the fact that Disney wouldnt accept Gift Cards. Only Visa, Master or American Express. That simple. They dont accept gift cards, people cant try to use them. Personally I do think that Disney should take your card number and have it on file for your ADRs. Dont cancel your ADR and do a no show, charge your card say $10 per person. They already do this for Princess Storybook Dinning (except for the fee, I dont know how much they charge to your card if you do a no show and dont cancel your ADR). And personally I think they should do away with the ADR system, but not altogether. Make it to where you can only make your ADRs for the day of, either by calling Disney dinning or making them at guest relations or at the TS place itself. I cant recall how many times I have read on these boards, I hate making ADRs because I dont know where we are gonna be or feel like eating 180 days from now. Guess what, same thing applies even if they change it to 60 or even 30 days in advance. People are still not gonna know what they are gonna feel like eating 30 days later. Do you even know what your gonna feel like eating tomorrow? Prob not. If not the day of, then they should make it at least when you check-in into your resort, you can make your ADRs then for your full trip.

But what would stop people from using a gift card that has no value? I don't know if post penalty charging would work.

 

[Disney8704]

Simple. If you are running late, just call the restraunt and let them know you are running late. Or they could always make it to where, if you dont show up to your ADR at all, all day, then the next business day, they could charge your card. They know people arrive late for their ADRs for several reasons. But they could just simply, make it to where if you dont show up to your ADR at any time on the day of your ADR, then the next day, they charge your card. That simple.

Another thing with the deposit thing is there are SO many things that could happen to make you miss an ADR. I mean, legitimate things that happen so that you miss an ADR that you had every intention of going to.

Say you have an ADR at Crystal Palace and you just can't get on a bus? This has happened to me. We gave ourselves plenty of time, but bus after bus went by the stop because they were already full. Or what if you are on a bus to your ADR and the bus breaks down? Not your fault, nothing you can about it and you lose the deposit?

Or you have an ADR after a BBB appointment and they are late getting you into your BBB appointment and then the appointment runs long? What do you do? Yank your child out of the chair at BBB so you don't lose your ADR deposit?

What if you get stuck on a ride and miss your ADR? (true this doesn't happen often, but it happens)

There are a ton of things that could happen that are out of your control and Disney would HAVE to have a plan in place to handle these situations before they think about taking deposits.

 

[Markstudy]

Disney only has one simple problem with its ADR system, when it comes to multiplies or double bookings

Disney needs to tie the ADR to your resort number.

This joke of a system where each person can give their name and phone number and make ADR's allows two people in your party to give two different phone numbers and names and make two sets of ADR's.

One trip, One reservation number...and that is the only way to set-up your ADR's.

 

[Disney8704]

Yes Disney does charge your card for CRT. They charged mine for CRT. They also charged my card for Hoop-Dee-Doo and also took my card number for PSD. For PSD, they wont charge it unless we do a no show.

I just called for a CRT reservation and got it. I was told that because I am on the diningplan, I needed to leave a CC # in case I do not show, but since I am on the dining paln, no charge will appear, provided we show up. She also said IF I WERE NOT on the dining plan, that it is a "PREPAY" resturant, and my card would have been charged??

I don't recall hearing that before, but don't really know, they may have.

I can't say we have ever not been able to get our ressies...
Last year I called about 5 months out for CRT and couldn't get anything, by the time 2 or 3 months rolled around, I had my pick of times

Maybe those resturants should just serve straight through instread of "closing" for the hour or so between meals, that would add a few more seating's, but no matter where you go, there are always locations that have more desirability than others. I have never walked right up to CRT and been seated, even with an ADR, there is always a line and never an opening.

Even during free dining, we have walked up to many other resturants and been able to get a table, so I really think if you want something specific you have to plan, otherwise, you can get seatings, just maybe not your first choice.

 

[pinkerbell]

Disney only has one simple problem with its ADR system, when it comes to multiplies or double bookings

Disney needs to tie the ADR to your resort number.

This joke of a system where each person can give their name and phone number and make ADR's allows two people in your party to give two different phone numbers and names and make two sets of ADR's.

One trip, One reservation number...and that is the only way to set-up your ADR's.

Excellent idea!!
But that would be for guests staying at a disney resort, what do you suggest if they are not staying on property or claim not to be staying on property??

 

[Disney8704]

That would work IF you are staying on-site. If you arent staying on-site then that wouldnt work. And what about people who live near Disney. Obviously they arent gonna have a resort reservation #, cuz Im sure most people go to the parks for the day and go back home. Disney already is asking for your resort conformation #. At least they did ask me each time I made ADRs.

Disney only has one simple problem with its ADR system, when it comes to multiplies or double bookings

Disney needs to tie the ADR to your resort number.

This joke of a system where each person can give their name and phone number and make ADR's allows two people in your party to give two different phone numbers and names and make two sets of ADR's.

One trip, One reservation number...and that is the only way to set-up your ADR's.

 

[jeanigor]

I would hate to have to wait until 60 days out to make my ADR's... image how difficult it would be to get through... there would be an extra 120 days worth of callers all trying to get through at the same time... this way it is spread out and there is very little wait time.

I'm not quite sure how you get an extra 120 days worth of callers. Such an occurance would be when the time frame was shifted from 180 down to 60 days. After that, it would be the same call volume as it is currenty.

 

[Disney8704]

One way to get around making mulitple ADRs for the same time frame, is they could take all your info, Name, Resort #, phone number, and address. If your phone number and/or address pops up and shows that you already made an ADR for that time frame, oh well, time to pick and choose where you wanna eat.

 

[Disney8704]

Very little wait? Yeah right!! Every single time I have called, Im ALWAYS on hold for at least 10 minutes. No what Disney needs to do is either have an ADR website or hire more people to take more calls.

I think there are a few seperate problems that are being lumped together as one...but are in fact seperate problems that need seperate solutions..

People who double book

People who are no shows

People who plan last minute trips


We have done the DDP the past two yrs we have made over a weeks worth of ressies for each and only swithced one ressie on the first trip and cancelled one ressie on the second.

We will be going for 19 day this trip and I am glad to know my ressies are made and that Disney is giving me the opportunity to plan them in advance since I have commited to them by booking my vacation early

I would hate to have to wait until 60 days out to make my ADR's... image how difficult it would be to get through... there would be an extra 120 days worth of callers all trying to get through at the same time... this way it is spread out and there is very little wait time.

I do think that doublebooking and missing ressies for no good reason is wrong, but I also don't want to be the part of the majority that gets penalized because of the minority of those who do wrong.

 

[Chrissie-riel]

Maybe those resturants should just serve straight through instread of "closing" for the hour or so between meals, that would add a few more seating's, but no matter where you go, there are always locations that have more desirability than others. I have never walked right up to CRT and been seated, even with an ADR, there is always a line and never an opening.

In regards to CRT and other face character meals, they have to close for an hour to change out their cast member characters. Last time I ate there, we were the VERY LAST lunch reservation. It was nice because we got lots of time downstairs with Cinderella; she even gave my DD some private princess lessons! We then came upstairs and ate. We were ushered out of the restaurant very efficiently at the end. However, DS forgot something at the table and sent me up to get it. When I came downstairs again, they had begun herding in the first dinner guests for their pictures with Cinderella. And guess what? She was a different Cindy! I noticed but understood and didn't care - but my DS & DD would have been heartbroken had they seen her! She wasn't the "same" Cinderella!! GASP!!

 

[GinnyFavers]

I booked Hoop de Doo, Ohana, Sci Fi Dine In, Chef Mickey's and Donald's Safari Breakfast last week for a guest, and had any choice of times I asked for, no problem, in early September.

Maybe le Cellier is booked up, but there was plenty available elsewhere.

 

[pinkerbell]

I'm not quite sure how you get an extra 120 days worth of callers. Such an occurance would be when the time frame was shifted from 180 down to 60 days. After that, it would be the same call volume as it is currenty.

I mean only on the 60th day out... everyone who would have booked between 61 and 180 (plus 10) will be calling at the same time... does that make more sense?? but every day is the 60th day for someone..

In regards to CRT and other face character meals, they have to close for an hour to change out their cast member characters. Last time I ate there, we were the VERY LAST lunch reservation. It was nice because we got lots of time downstairs with Cinderella; she even gave my DD some private princess lessons! We then came upstairs and ate. We were ushered out of the restaurant very efficiently at the end. However, DS forgot something at the table and sent me up to get it. When I came downstairs again, they had begun herding in the first dinner guests for their pictures with Cinderella. And guess what? She was a different Cindy! I noticed but understood and didn't care - but my DS & DD would have been heartbroken had they seen her! She wasn't the "same" Cinderella!! GASP!!

AHhh I see! at first I thought Chef Mickey's goes straight through... but your example was great! Thanks for the enlightenment I now understand the need to close for so many of these special experiences.

Very little wait? Yeah right!! Every single time I have called, Im ALWAYS on hold for at least 10 minutes. No what Disney needs to do is either have an ADR website or hire more people to take more calls.

I have been calling daily for a week now and have only had one wait time, this past sunday for about 10 minutes.... right around 7:00 a.m. we are going during part of free dining so I am sure to make adr's.. I realize for us going at that time, there is a trade off, if you want it free, you must prepare and plan... cant' have it all.. although I try I don't know what to suggest other than wishing you better luck .... I do like the idea of an ADR website... I'd really like to make and view my reservations online.. viewing would be great since once you make them there is no way to see them until you arrive!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Sorry...didn't read the whole thread, but my suggestion would be to change the system to start taking advance reservations at 90 days instead of 180, and only allow people with an onsite reservation number to book in advance. Because there are locals and offsite guests that also use the restaurants, there should be a percentage of tables set aside for same day reservations. Any tables not reserved through these two methods could probably be filled by walkups.

Right now the system is too flawed -- there are people making ADRs using multiple phone numbers as well as reservation numbers, and even though a few of them get caught, most of them never do.

 

[dpuck1998]

Sorry...didn't read the whole thread, but my suggestion would be to change the system to start taking advance reservations at 90 days instead of 180, and only allow people with an onsite reservation number to book in advance. Because there are locals and offsite guests that also use the restaurants, there should be a percentage of tables set aside for same day reservations. Any tables not reserved through these two methods could probably be filled by walkups.

Right now the system is too flawed -- there are people making ADRs using multiple phone numbers as well as reservation numbers, and even though a few of them get caught, most of them never do.

I still don't grasp how changing from 180 to 90 days will really help. I for one think the 180 days helps us obsessive planners get ressies easier. If I'm prepared and okay with making my ressie that far out I can almost always get them. I haven't had a single ressie I couldn't get at the 180 mark even during xmas season.

I really think just putting a CC hold on ressies, like they do for several already, will make the difference. Be flexible and allow cancellations with notification or a valid reason. Or even have a "call-ahead" reservation available for certain places.

 

[MenashaCorp]

Not trying to hijack, but dpuck1998, I just *love* the captain mcguffin tag. I'd ask what it's about, but by definition it would be about nothing... my brain hurts!

Just wondering how one of my favorite obscure terms got tagged on you...

 

[dpuck1998]

Not trying to hijack, but dpuck1998, I just *love* the captain mcguffin tag. I'd ask what it's about, but by definition it would be about nothing... my brain hurts!

Just wondering how one of my favorite obscure terms got tagged on you...

Its all Dirty Bunny's Fault, he called me that and it was a long conversation about what it was, it involved google and wikipedia...of course it screamed "tag me"

 

[GinnyFavers]

Sorry...didn't read the whole thread, but my suggestion would be to change the system to start taking advance reservations at 90 days instead of 180, and only allow people with an onsite reservation number to book in advance. Because there are locals and offsite guests that also use the restaurants, there should be a percentage of tables set aside for same day reservations. Any tables not reserved through these two methods could probably be filled by walkups.

Right now the system is too flawed -- there are people making ADRs using multiple phone numbers as well as reservation numbers, and even though a few of them get caught, most of them never do.

Your plan makes the best sense of anything I've seen. Even better, push the advance reservation window to 45 days, so you know people with valid reservation #'s are past the cancellation/change penalty window on their packages.

 

[mickeywatch33]

Sorry...didn't read the whole thread, but my suggestion would be to change the system to start taking advance reservations at 90 days instead of 180, and only allow people with an onsite reservation number to book in advance. Because there are locals and offsite guests that also use the restaurants, there should be a percentage of tables set aside for same day reservations. Any tables not reserved through these two methods could probably be filled by walkups.

Right now the system is too flawed -- there are people making ADRs using multiple phone numbers as well as reservation numbers, and even though a few of them get caught, most of them never do.

Not trying to steal the spotlight, but I read through this thread to make sure I didn't post a similar idea. Right at the end I stumble across yours!! I concurr!! This is exactly what I was thinking. Not too sure about the 90 days or 180 days. But keeping advance reservations for only those on property requiring resort ressies would def. help with double booking. It would also benefit Disney for guests staying on property - onsite benefit. Restaurants would keep an analized % of tables for locals on offsite guests who would have a shorter booking window, but the piece-of-mind of getting the ADR's they want. Holiday bookings...mother's day, vday, christmas...etc...may take on different booking windows b/c of it's popularity. I still feel that offsite guests, and don't shoot me, but maybe locals too, should have to give name, phone number, home address etc. to limit "fraudulent" bookings.

These are my thoughts mixed w/ calypso*a*go-go's. What do you all think of these ideas??

 

[WaltD4Me]

Sorry...didn't read the whole thread, but my suggestion would be to change the system to start taking advance reservations at 90 days instead of 180, and only allow people with an onsite reservation number to book in advance. Because there are locals and offsite guests that also use the restaurants, there should be a percentage of tables set aside for same day reservations. Any tables not reserved through these two methods could probably be filled by walkups.

Right now the system is too flawed -- there are people making ADRs using multiple phone numbers as well as reservation numbers, and even though a few of them get caught, most of them never do.

First of all....I don't think Kevin will appreciate this suggestion too much! He might rebel and stop doing dining reviews!!!

Second, I don't think it's fair to penalize guests staying off site. I know they could bill it as a perk for people staying on site, but really should the family who just can't afford an onsite hotel not be able to make dining reservations ahead of time because of it? I would go for the CC hold idea before this.