Multiple ADR's

[Regan117]

I can see it from both sides. Unfortunately the system is set up this way and someone is going to lose out. I just chalk it up to "life's not fair" and don't let it bother me.

That being said, I've planned trips at 30 days out and always been able to get the ADRs I wanted, even at the toughest places.

 

[jkh36619]

Well I think this needs to be addressed by Disney then. They are making a difficult situation even harder. I don't know the solution. Lower time frame for reservations maybe so people will have a better idea of where they want to be that night. But for me during Christmas, it doesn't matter which park as EMH's are usually 12am-2am or something like that. That shouldn't affect anyone's plans so why all multiple ADR's.

Planning a Disney vacation is becoming a pain. But I'll still go

 

[speeb]

I've been making and canceling ADRs since my 180 days (so for over a month now), sometimes I do have multiple reservations. A couple reasons I do it:

I might have 2-3 dinner reservations one night because I grab them when they come up so that I run plans by my family later or one might be dependent on me being able to get another a different day;

More importantly... On our first MK day, I made a 10:30a for Crystal Palace with 8a park opening. Just in case, I also made an 8a CP as well. Lo and behold, last week, Disney updated the park hours and MK will be opening at 9a now. Since there's still a few months before our trip, I'm certainly not canceling either of those until I'm confident they won't change the hours again.

Disney has really created the issue themselves. By expecting people to start making their plans 6 months in advance, but not be able to reliable information about the parks that far in advance, people have to make multiple plans. It stinks.

 

[Lisa F]

I can't tell you how much time I put into figuring out my plan in advance of the 180+10. hours and hours and spreadsheets and figuring out DDP? DxDDP? OOP? this, that or the other thing and how to fit in everything we want to do (still missing a few lol). and still throughout my +10 period I was making changes and probably called 6 or 7 times. At one point yes, I was holding a 5:05 BoG dinner on a party night and then when ohana became available I booked the 3:30 for the same night. I spent a couple of days going over my schedule with a fine tooth comb wondering how to fit both in (obviously one or another would be on a different day!) and eventually I gave up the BoG choosing instead to make a lunch ADR on another day just to see the place even if we just get soup and cupcakes.

It is just the nature of the planning beast and just how long it takes to get everything to fall into place in a comfortable way. Also the fact that Disney does not release their schedules in a timely manner does NOT help at all. I think if super planners had ALL of the info at 210 days that the 180+10 window would go a lot smoother and there would be a lot less double bookings.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can't tell you how much time I put into figuring out my plan in advance of the 180+10. hours and hours and spreadsheets and figuring out DDP? DxDDP? OOP? this, that or the other thing and how to fit in everything we want to do (still missing a few lol). and still throughout my +10 period I was making changes and probably called 6 or 7 times. At one point yes, I was holding a 5:05 BoG dinner on a party night and then when ohana became available I booked the 3:30 for the same night. I spent a couple of days going over my schedule with a fine tooth comb wondering how to fit both in (obviously one or another would be on a different day!) and eventually I gave up the BoG choosing instead to make a lunch ADR on another day just to see the place even if we just get soup and cupcakes.

It is just the nature of the planning beast and just how long it takes to get everything to fall into place in a comfortable way. Also the fact that Disney does not release their schedules in a timely manner does NOT help at all. I think if super planners had ALL of the info at 210 days that the 180+10 window would go a lot smoother and there would be a lot less double bookings.

I don't think the OP is upset about the occasional one off short term double booking. Plenty of people do that, and I see no issue. I think the complaint is about people holding multiple reservations for multiple meals on multiple days, then holding them for most of the 6 months until their trip and letting them go a week, or even a few days out. It's a matter of degree.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't think the OP is upset about the occasional one off short term double booking. Plenty of people do that, and I see no issue. I think the complaint is about people holding multiple reservations for multiple meals on multiple days, then holding them for most of the 6 months until their trip and letting them go a week, or even a few days out. It's a matter of degree.

I honestly do not believe that this practice is as rampant as it used to be prior to CC's as a guarantee for the ADR. I know that there are some people have the ability to keep that mess straight, but I do not think there are as many as that CM led the OP to believe.

 

[mom2rtk]

I honestly do not believe that this practice is as rampant as it used to be prior to CC's as a guarantee for the ADR. I know that there are some people have the ability to keep that mess straight, but I do not think there are as many as that CM led the OP to believe.

No doubt. But honestly, it shouldn't happen at all. And I can see how frustrating hearing about stories like that can be when you're hunting for an elusive ADR. I've seen the cancellation threads and know it does happen. I figure if a few people are doing it and posting the cancellations, there are probably more doing it and not reporting the cancellations. Heck, if I did that I would just quietly cancel in the dark of night........

 

[jkh36619]

I don't think the OP is upset about the occasional one off short term double booking. Plenty of people do that, and I see no issue. I think the complaint is about people holding multiple reservations for multiple meals on multiple days, then holding them for most of the 6 months until their trip and letting them go a week, or even a few days out. It's a matter of degree.

All I can say is the CM told me she is seeing where some people are holding up to 7 or 8 reservations. I can only assume that is for dinner. Maybe its per day. Either way it causing me a headache.

 

[brian95]

I just did my adrs for christmas . I got most of what I wanted except hddr and pre rd akershus. I did not book extras but I can understand those who do. if Disney would just give us their final hours people wouldn't need to do this, I mean come on they already know it is the busiest week of the year yet mk hours are 9am to 10 pm

 

[mom2rtk]

All I can say is the CM told me she is seeing where some people are holding up to 7 or 8 reservations. I can only assume that is for dinner. Maybe its per day. Either way it causing me a headache.

No doubt.

 

[jkh36619]

I just did my adrs for christmas . I got most of what I wanted except hddr and pre rd akershus. I did not book extras but I can understand those who do. if Disney would just give us their final hours people wouldn't need to do this, I mean come on they already know it is the busiest week of the year yet mk hours are 9am to 10 pm

Last year for Christmas week MK opened at 7am every day through new years.

 

[my3qutees]

Party of 4....that is hilarious!
I'm not new to the boards (been stalking for years now), but have been to Disney quite a few times and feel like your description fits the madness of not being able to secure ressies and feeling like this is what people are doing!

 

[Nancyg56]

No doubt. But honestly, it shouldn't happen at all. And I can see how frustrating hearing about stories like that can be when you're hunting for an elusive ADR. I've seen the cancellation threads and know it does happen. I figure if a few people are doing it and posting the cancellations, there are probably more doing it and not reporting the cancellations. Heck, if I did that I would just quietly cancel in the dark of night........

Me too! I would not want to hear about it! LOL!

 

[KrazeeK120]

Whether or not this practice is ethical will be forever debatable (and I can completely see both sides), but Disney could easily fix this by finalizing park operating hours/EMH/special events before opening the window for ADRs. If they want to keep the ADR booking window opening at 180 days, fine, but finalize the park schedules 181 days out. More logically, the ADR booking window should open much less than 180 days out.

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip next year - the first for my son, who will be 18 months old at the time of our trip. We are only planning to do 1 TS meal - lunch at Garden Grille. The food looks like stuff an 18 month old would eat, and he loves Mickey Mouse, so I think he'd have a lot of fun meeting Mickey at lunch time. I'll probably make a reservation on a couple of different days and then drop the ones I don't want when the park hours are released and I can figure out which day we'll be at Epcot.

 

[celina14]

Whether or not this practice is ethical will be forever debatable (and I can completely see both sides), but Disney could easily fix this by finalizing park operating hours/EMH/special events before opening the window for ADRs. If they want to keep the ADR booking window opening at 180 days, fine, but finalize the park schedules 181 days out. More logically, the ADR booking window should open much less than 180 days out.

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip next year - the first for my son, who will be 18 months old at the time of our trip. We are only planning to do 1 TS meal - lunch at Garden Grille. The food looks like stuff an 18 month old would eat, and he loves Mickey Mouse, so I think he'd have a lot of fun meeting Mickey at lunch time. I'll probably make a reservation on a couple of different days and then drop the ones I don't want when the park hours are released and I can figure out which day we'll be at Epcot.

I completely agree with this. I think it's ridiculous that Disney expects you to know your exact eating plans 6 months ahead of time and then constantly changes their schedules and such. It makes it really hard for you to think you have everything planned out just to have them change it on you. So you kind of have to have a plan B if there's certain reservations that are important to you. I would say to use the ADR finding on Touring Plans, it has been so helpful for me and then I don't have to spend my time stalking Disney's site.

 

[Lisa F]

All I can say is the CM told me she is seeing where some people are holding up to 7 or 8 reservations. I can only assume that is for dinner. Maybe its per day. Either way it causing me a headache.

I don't know what exactly the CM was referring to... for some reason my 180+10 didn't work online so I had to call and I continued to tweak things over several phone calls, maybe 6 or 7. I would check availability and then when i got the paws message call to make the change. I would say at least 4 CMs commented in a sort of "raised eyebrow" tone "oh my, you have SO many reservations!" Right now for 7 full days plus a later arrival (dinner) and early departure (breakfast) I am holding 18 ADRs including prepaid things like HDDR and a wishes dessert party, all of which I am intending to use. it is 2 meals a day except for one day that adds a BoG lunch. I just kept saying "we are doing the deluxe DDP and going all out" but I will admit after the 3rd time someone said something I started to feel a little bit judged. So maybe I am one of those people your CM was talking about.

Think about it this way - to have 7 or 8 ADRs in one day you'd have to have an ADR for every hour of the day, some of them at odd (ie non prime) eating times. OR you'd have to have multiple IDs which the CM won't see. Or maybe they are looking at their entire trip and judging. I'm sorry if the fact that I have a long list of places that I want to eat at means people who book later than me can't eat at those places, but pretty much as long as I am willing to pay for it, it is no one's place to judge.

So I would not put that much credence in what the CM said. 7 or 8 ADRs over the course of a week is not excessive by any means.

 

[Regan117]

I don't know what exactly the CM was referring to... for some reason my 180+10 didn't work online so I had to call and I continued to tweak things over several phone calls, maybe 6 or 7. I would check availability and then when i got the paws message call to make the change. I would say at least 4 CMs commented in a sort of "raised eyebrow" tone "oh my, you have SO many reservations!" Right now for 7 full days plus a later arrival (dinner) and early departure (breakfast) I am holding 18 ADRs including prepaid things like HDDR and a wishes dessert party, all of which I am intending to use. it is 2 meals a day except for one day that adds a BoG lunch. I just kept saying "we are doing the deluxe DDP and going all out" but I will admit after the 3rd time someone said something I started to feel a little bit judged. So maybe I am one of those people your CM was talking about.

Think about it this way - to have 7 or 8 ADRs in one day you'd have to have an ADR for every hour of the day, some of them at odd (ie non prime) eating times. OR you'd have to have multiple IDs which the CM won't see. Or maybe they are looking at their entire trip and judging. I'm sorry if the fact that I have a long list of places that I want to eat at means people who book later than me can't eat at those places, but pretty much as long as I am willing to pay for it, it is no one's place to judge.

So I would not put that much credence in what the CM said. 7 or 8 ADRs over the course of a week is not excessive by any means.

I'd guess the CM meant that people are booking 8-10 ADRs when they call in, but they aren't all for the same day. I don't think that many ADRs is too many...especially if people are on the dining plan. With or without that, we still book at least two ADRs for each day of our trips...usually a breakfast and a dinner, and then there's the dessert parties and things like Early Morning Magic. Currently, for our September trip, I am holding 19 ADRs for our trip that is 8 days long, and I don't feel bad about it. We aren't on the dining plan, and we still intend to use them all.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Good to see I'm not alone on any side of the ADR conundrum.
Confessions of a Ressie "Hoarder": I made my DDP plans, checked park hours, knew exactly which parks and restaurants I wanted and when for our Dec 10-20 trip. Finally my June 13 180+10 day rolled around, and I was up at 6am rarin' to go. Only to find that I wasted a lot of effort planning and designing a trip for things that I either cannot get or won't get until much closer to the trip when others start canceling. Namely, for me it is PPO character meals at each park. I know from our DLR experiences, such early mornings--ESP when you WDW vets have warned that we'll have to leave our resort at 7am to make an 8am ADR--should come at the front of the trip when we're fresh. As the trip wears on, we tend to need to sleep later. So I wanted to front load the character breakfasts, which would also knock out a lot of Must Do M&Gs for our party, easing our park plans.
Silly, silly me.
By my 180 days out, all the people arriving the week before me had grabbed all the good times. So instead of getting Akershus on our first day at Epcot, I got a reservation for our second-to-last and last full days. Too bad I had not planned on either of those days being Epcot days. So the original ADR plans got shuffled fr Akershus, but I'm not convinced they'll "gel" properly. Then I started reading how park hours and morning EMH times might change as we approach December. (Just a few posts someone said MK might open as early as 7am toward the end of our trip?!) So "PPO" ressies might instead be happening at RD. Then I realized they still to this day have not opened up DHS F! dinner packages for mid-December, one of our Must Do's. But I might not get one when they do become available, and we'll still need dinner that night. So I started making contingency plans, which domino.
And so it went on until now, instead of 10 TS reservations for our 10 days, plus one BOG lunch ADR, I now hold around 20 reservations--and half of them are not what I want or planned. *I* am sure of my plans, but Disney is not OR I am trying to reconfigure plans based on one highly desirable ADR (Akershus) that I can't get at any time on any of the three days I would want it but do hold multiple times for it at the end of my vacation as I try to decide which day/time is less unattractive to me, less disruptive to other plans.
And all this before my FP+ window opens and I might find myself having to decide between, say, a hard-to-get FEA FP and a dinner reservation, causing spreadsheet turmoil all over again.
I don't want to have this many reservations. I don't want to have a number of cancelations to make to avoid getting charged for being a no-show. I don't want all this uncertainty over which park we'll be visiting as park hours and ADRs become available. I was told to plan ahead, and I did. But the plans have not held up under real-world constraints.

(BTW, if you're interested in a breakfast at Akershus Dec 18 or 19, PM me. Otherwise, I will post on the Dec cancelation thread before I throw some ADRs back in the system.)

 

[AnnaKat]

I'd guess the CM meant that people are booking 8-10 ADRs when they call in, but they aren't all for the same day. I don't think that many ADRs is too many...especially if people are on the dining plan. With or without that, we still book at least two ADRs for each day of our trips...usually a breakfast and a dinner, and then there's the dessert parties and things like Early Morning Magic. Currently, for our September trip, I am holding 19 ADRs for our trip that is 8 days long, and I don't feel bad about it. We aren't on the dining plan, and we still intend to use them all.

First, I don't think that the CMs should be bothering Lisa F about too many ADRs. She goes with the Deluxe DP,
& it's the TS ADRs where you can make the plan work!
Secondly, we originally had 53 ADRs for our 17 day stay in Nov./Dec. 15. This included breakfast almost every day,
3 CP packages, 2 Osborne Lights Dessert Parties, BOG lunch for every MK day, & 2 Beaches & Cream ADRs.
I eventually cancelled ALL the breakfast ADRs, plus Ohana & others. ALL my ressies were spread out; I need to eat every 4 hours, ideally, so I wanted to be covered, even if it cost a lot.
IF you are booking a single breakfast, lunch or dinner ADR for any given day, they should NOT be telling you that you have TOO MANY ADRs! It was a lot of work to plan & book our ADRs.
I have a lot of dietary restrictions, & the ADRs were essential!

THIS making multiple ADRs for multiple times in one evening @ BOG or whatever should NOT be allowed, EVEN IF
they were NEVER cancelled in time, & the guest was charged the $10 on cc.

 

[Momof2Singers]

Maybe I've been living under a rock for the last decade. Maybe its something new. I generally go to DW between Christmas and New Years. Its our tradition. I deal with the crowds no problem. Im a planner. I make it work for us. But I learned something new today. I was gauging the ADRs because I was seeing not much online for up to the 23rd because I have to make mine on Jul 1. So I called a CM to ask if there was any issues with the online system and maybe I need to call and make my reservations.

She told me everything is working fine but what she is seeing is people are calling in and making up to 7 or 8 reservations PER A NIGHT!!! They make them then drop them as their plans change. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!!?! No offense to anyone doing this but how is this allowed? People try and plan an evening meal but they cant because some 150 families have all of DW restaurants locked down.

Come on, thats ridiculous on every level. There should be some flag to not allow this. But thats just me and maybe I'm in the minority.

Oh well..

I cannot see how they can make that many per evening. That being said, they can make multiple ones if they are 1 hour apart. They could make one at different locations 1 hr apart, but I cannot see them doing that more than 3 per night or you would have times you really do not want. I know you can do this because I had 2 on one of our nights. When I made a new reservation, I assumed it would say "do you want to replace so and so" or "cancel" your reservation at so and so before continuing. One time it let me make the reservation without cancelling the other one. I looked and they were 65 minutes apart. So I do know this is possible, but the 7 or 8 doesn't seem probable, unless they are making 2 of each meal, if that is the case, they could have 6 minimum.