Multiple Ar Rant!

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Good rant! I agree.
Some people are inconsiderate and think of only themselves. They must be able to have what they want, when they want it. Even at the expense of others.
Disney should be able to control this to some degree. For example, I can call Disney and give either my phone number or my resort confirmation number, and they can tell me every ADR that I have for my upcoming trip. If they can keep track of the ADRs, they should be able to prevent me from say booking at Crystal Palace at MK at 5pm on Monday and booking 50's Prime Time at 5pm on that Monday also.

Anyway, I was up early all last week making my ADRs and I am pretty happy with the times I was able to get.
Best of luck for those who are still trying!

Dave the problem with that is this. That control is easily gotten around. They give you a confirmation #. That's all you really need. and you could easily get around that control.
Ressie #1. Bob Smith on a cell phone.
Ressie #2. Robert Smith on the land line.
Ressie #3. Elizabeth Smith on her cell phone.
The Smiths indeed have ID's for those names (Bob being a common nick for Robert). Sure, you won't get em in list form at the hotel but all you need when you walk up to the podium is the confirmation number and an ID.
Bob isn't going to question the lack of ressies on his list because he knows exactly why the rest aren't showing up.

 

[Fast Pass]

I wish Disney would somehow get a software that would catch this practice.

If the program caught someone doing multiple reservations then it would cancel all the reservations for that place for the group.

 

[ziggystardust]

I have to agree with the OP. It is really unfair to the people that are just trying to eat.

I think WDW should get some kind of better plan in place. I have never made 2 PSs intentionally, but recently I made 2 PSs at Sci-Fi for the same exact time on the same exact day b/c I had forgotten I made the intial ressies. I immediately called and cancelled when I realized but I think that it should have come up in some computer system that I was making 2 of the same exact PSs. It would have saved both parties time as well as allowing some other family the opportunity to get the dinner.

 

[gigi1313]

I would not be too happy to have to waste a good TS credit on a cheaper CS meal just because restaurants were overbooked and people were no-shows if their itinerary changed.

even if you wanted to use a TS credit at a CS meal you would not be permitted! TS is TS and CS is CS and nary the two shall meet!

 

[cseca]

If all else fails (ADR, walk-up, begging, grovelling), just try to remember one or 2 meals shouldn't ruin your whole vacations... ...
doesn't matter where we are, we will always have inconsiderate people... unfortunately.

Just think about it this way, if you don't get to eat there now... that means you HAVE to go back again right?

 

[unixadm]

Disney has an easy way to resolve this, if they wanted to.

ALL in park dining require that you have a park ticket. They should require either a reservation number from your Disney resort, an AP number, or a number provided by your travel agent if you booked a package for off site accomodations, but including park tickets.

If you don't have a park ticket, or Disney resort ressie, you can't make ADR......simple as that. Their system can track your reservations and not allow multiple ressies for the same meal.

Sure, people will find ways to get aroun the system, but that will be much less people since it will require multiple AP's, or multiple vacation ressies, etc.

I know people have said that they should take a Credit Card to hold ressies, but I can't see that being practical. How many times do people with little ones have to change their plans? I know that when we went last year, my youngest who has allergies had a reaction and we had to leave the park after a massive diaper explosion . This past May we had issues with him being scared and not wanting to go into places, or just plain tired and wanting to go back to the resort. Although I am considerate and call from my cell phone to cancel ADR's that I cannot make, not everyone is and I can't see them requiring that....too many issues to think off.....their CM will be on the phone 24/7 when people get their CC statements!

 

[InnerStrength]

even if you wanted to use a TS credit at a CS meal you would not be permitted! TS is TS and CS is CS and nary the two shall meet!

Gigi,
I am a pretty good planner and will be planning our TS choices for our upcoming vacation in order to plan AR's, HOWEVER if I was not "in the know" about AR's and was not able to "walk-in" (with a wait if that was the case) to have dinner somewhere in WDW in order to be able to use a paid-for TS, you can bet that the "two would meet" and I would be speaking to someone in order to be able to change a TS to a CS! No rules are written in stone and I believe if there was a issue securing a table in several WDW sit down restaurants, a TS could be used for a CS place. It would not nearly be the same as trying to use a CS credit for a TS meal - now I can certainly understand why that would be frowned upon (hint, common sense)! I guess that is my rant du jour.



That being said...
I do not care to micromanage my vacation time, however I refuse to monopolize more AR's than my family will use in a given day = if we will eat at one TS establishment a day, I will schedule 1 AR a day for a sit down meal. IMO, this is fair to everyone - whether another guest trying to secure an AR or a family desiring walk-in service.

 

[Lewisc]

Several people have posted using TS credits for a CS meal. Usually the last day of their trip.

AFAIK most restaurants will book 100% ADRs.

Disney overbooks to compensate for no-shows. One of the reasons guests sometimes have to wait an hour even with an ADR.

Disney could just go back to limiting advance ADR's to guests who're staying onsite. Link your ADR to your resort reservation. They could keep some spots open for same day ADRs.

 

[CarolB]

During our June trip I noticed many folks in MGM and Epcot particularly walking into Full service places and being turned away - and in most cases they were folks on the dining plan who didn't understand they needed a ADR...their complaint of course was they "didn't know"...While waiting for our table at the SciFi (where they had no available ADR at 2 for the rest of the day and were turning away walk-ins until at least 8 and then no guarantee since it wasn't ADR) the CM's were calling around for some guests to see what they could get for them.

 

[freakylick]

While I agree that it is inconsiderate to make multiple ADR's for same time slots...I don't know that charging penalties via credit cards is the solution. You can't make the penalty too high because families do have issues that come up which prevent them from making their meal time. So if you penalize too much, it will discourage many from making ADR's for fear of gross penalties for things out of their control. So the other option is to make them a small charge...well, will that really curtail people?? Many people will simply look at that as a fee for a luxury. I know plenty of people that would make 4 ADR's (one at each park) for the same time slot and gladly pay the $15 in cancellation fees for not showing up for their other ADR's.

I agree that something needs to be done, but I am not sure what. There is no good scenario that I can come up with. But hopefully some WDW genius could come up with something


(I just realized...double digits! )

 

[DawnCt1]

I suspect that curtailing multiple ARs won't have any impact on AR availability, because the restaurants will likely decide to allocate the comparable number of slots for walk-ups. I don't believe any of the restaurants want to go to an all-AR scheme (though I'd sure like it if they did).

I have heard conflicting reports on AR vs. walk ups. Previously, only 30 to 40% of the restaurant was allocated for AR. This seemed to be the actual case because while I may have had to wait or secure a same day reservation, it was always do able. I really hate planning so far ahead, particularly when we are on repeat trips. This year however, I have heard differently. I called and spoke to one CM when I was making reservations and he told me that they are booking all tables for all time slots in each restaurant where they can. They also said that the no show rate was down around 10 to 15 % due to the "meal plans". Another CM told me however on another occasion that he has had no trouble walking up and being seated at certain restaurants. That was back in May. I have also heard about the machinations that so many go through to secure CRT. I called to book another meal as an after thought well within the 90 days and I jokingly said, "at least I am not calling for CRT". The CM laughed and said, "Let me see if I can get it for you". I got it for 9 of us on a Saturday. I would like to see no more than 40% of a restaurant reserved. I like being flexible. If some ones' double ARs enable more people to walk up and sit down, I don't think its a big crime.

 

[Lewisc]

Might make some sense for a few of the signature restaurants in the resorts but otherwise I agree. Guests in a park may find a line longer than advertised or might even take more time in the gift shop than planned. Overbooking or accomodating walk ups can compensate.

Multiple ADR's is, IMHO, rude. I think Disney should just link them to your resort reservation so you can't double book.

While I agree that it is inconsiderate to make multiple ADR's for same time slots...I don't know that charging penalties via credit cards is the solution. You can't make the penalty too high because families do have issues that come up which prevent them from making their meal time.

 

[DawnCt1]

MGM is weird when it comes to late AR's. We tried last year to get a Fantasmic package and nothing was available after 5:00pm. I know you need to finish your meal and get across the park, but 2.5 hours? I wonder if the dinner package contributes to the unavailability of the MGM restaurants? We ended up eating at 3:30 at MM and then going back to the hotel for awhile to cool off and change, and then went back for the show.

I discovered when I first tried to book The Fantasmic package that I could get nothing after 4:20 pm. I told the CM that I wouldn't consider eating dinner that early. She told me to call back closer to the trip. Evidently what they try to do is sell the Fantasmic package for the early slots. They are harder to book for guests who just want to eat dinner and they have your deposit. Sure enough, I called last week, (within 30 days) and I was able to get 5:45pm. I took two tables (2 and 3).

 

[DawnCt1]

If you don't have a park ticket, or Disney resort ressie, you can't make ADR......simple as that. Their system can track your reservations and not allow multiple ressies for the same meal.

!

That's an impractical solution that penalizes guests who stay off site. We stay at SoG. We are not able to secure park tickets from SoG except in person. That would also exclude locals, people within a day's drive, etc.

 

[Lewisc]

I would like to see no more than 40% of a restaurant reserved. I like being flexible. If some ones' double ARs enable more people to walk up and sit down, I don't think its a big crime.

I don't think I'd like to see the mad dash in the am if CRT or even CM set aside a % for walk ups. Otherwise I agree, keep part of the restaurant open for walk ups or at least for short notice ADR's. Many of us have noticed that many restaurants in the parks only take early ADRs at the 90 day mark and open up later times within 30 days.

If MYW Dining increases in popularity Disney may have to consider opening more restaurants. EPCOT has Odyssey, BC still has Ariel's and I suspect there are other locations that could be used.

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't think I'd like to see the mad dash in the am if CRT or even CM set aside a % for walk ups. Otherwise I agree, keep part of the restaurant open for walk ups or at least for short notice ADR's. Many of us have noticed that many restaurants in the parks only take early ADRs at the 90 day mark and open up later times within 30 days.

If MYW Dining increases in popularity Disney may have to consider opening more restaurants. EPCOT has Odyssey, BC still has Ariel's and I suspect there are other locations that could be used.

Yes, it could get nasty at CRT. I have found that for most of the resort character breakfasts, I have never had to have an AR as long as you arrive before 8:15 am. I have booked it this year however because we are going with another family. It wouldn't be the end of the world if we didn't have breakfast with Mary Poppins but it might matter to the kids who have never been there yet.

 

[skiwee1]

I agree it is rude, but there are a FEW (and I do mean a FEW) who do eat twice at a restaurant. We are doing this at two, but that is it. Now I know some people do do it to leave options open, which I do disagree on.

So you eat twice at the same time? I eat at a few restaurants a couple times but they are on different days. I think the OP is saying that some folks are making PS times for the same time but at different restaurants. They do this so they have some place to eat depending on where they are at. I thought Disney had stopped this practice but apparently not. I wish they would.

 

[ceecee]

That is very selfish in my opinion. Maybe they should only allow one per day??? Actually when I called to make Lecellier AR and I already had LTT AR for the same day, she asked if I wanted to cancel LTT and I said yes.

 

[IwannaseeMickey]

I agree it does make it difficult, and I don't think you should be able to make multiple AR's for the same time. I do think you should be able to make one for each meal time of the day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) if you want. I do remember another poster fairly recently saying she made several AR's for the same meal b/c at 90 days out she just doesnt' know if she'll want mexican, Italian, chinese or whatever on that day. I do get her point, but it sure does make it hard when everything gets booked up so quickly!

 

[LoveWDW]

That is very selfish in my opinion. Maybe they should only allow one per day??? Actually when I called to make Lecellier AR and I already had LTT AR for the same day, she asked if I wanted to cancel LTT and I said yes.

The only thing wrong with this is what somebody posted above, a person can use another name and phone number and get around the screening. Even if it could be linked to a WDW admission ticket, somebody could use a wife's or child's ticket for the extra ressie.