New 90 Day Dining Reservation-Bad for DVC Members

[Pennyguy23]

I personally thought 180 days was too long. I don't know where I want to eat 6 months in advance. They are no longer releasing park hours 180 days ahead so it would be difficult to plan that far ahead (May has not been released yet). It's the same for everyone, I don't see how it penalizes DVC members. I frequently made reservations within 90 days and got what I wanted.

I agree, I just made our plans for our up coming trip like 3 or 4 weeks ago. And we leave Tuesday morning. And this is the one of the busiest times of the year. I have NO idea where I am going to eat 6 months inadvance
I love the change

 

[n2mm]

I don't mind the 90 days, but we all realized that we will need to call WDWDine and not MS to make our dining reservations. Since the WDWDine line opens at 7:00AM and MS opens at 9:00AM, that 2 hour difference will make a difference. Just a thought!!

 

[dcfromva]

I agree, I just made our plans for our up coming trip like 3 or 4 weeks ago. And we leave Tuesday morning. And this is the one of the busiest times of the year. I have NO idea where I am going to eat 6 months inadvance
I love the change

We did the same thing--added the DP in and made reservations about a month ago. We also leave Tuesday morning. Did you get anything good?

 

[MissMet]

If the system is set up to take reservations only at 90 days, how will grand gatherings get to make their reservations at 180?

I believe Disneyland ADRs can't be made until 60 or 90 days in advance. I guess if it works there it will probably work at WDW, too.

That's what the sticky over on the dining boards says about the changes.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Personally I prefer 90 days out. If I can't get the ADR I want, I'll just switch to a different restaurant. No big deal. We usually only eat 2-3 TS meals anyway during a week long trip.

 

[rbuzzotta]

90 days or 180 days doesn't really matter much to me at this point in my DVC membership. I feel that I have taken advantage of just about all the restaurants and things to do at WDW that when we go now, we tend to take things day by day. Being DVC members for so long and with quite a few points and trips to WDW, I enjoy my relaxed vacations now.................the days of commando style are long gone!!

I do have to book at party of 8 in June for the DP!! I was calling 180 days out but did not realize the change to 90 days now. So, I can sit back and relax for another 3 months before I start calling again!!

 

[patsal]

I think the increaesed prices, lower quality and all will make it easier to get reservations. Last summer I called while there and made changes, additions & dropped reservations with no issue. I always got what I wanted within a few minutes of what I was thinking--lunch reservation for 4 at 12:30--I have nothing there but I do have one for 12:40. Hmmm I don't know I was counting on 12:30

SInce you are not competing with others who booked at 180, except grand gatherings, I dont' think it will be an issue getting what you want.

 

[grimgrinnin]

I would always get my reservations that I wanted since most people other than DVC'ers would not be planning so far ahead yet.

You are mistaken. Go take a gander at the resorts and dining boards to see how far in advance the unwashed non-DVC masses are planning their trips.

 

[Starr W.]

You are mistaken. Go take a gander at the resorts and dining boards to see how far in advance the unwashed non-DVC masses are planning their trips.

on the non-DVC masses. Do not find the forum where the Free Dining people post! I bet they already have there 2009 FD thread already up and running, wondering when, what resorts and how many double-triple bookings of ADR's they are going to make.

You should have seen the non-DVC crowd waiting for the 4/3 to come out, they overloaded the phones and website of CRO when it was announced. Of course they are posting the ongoing events on the resort board while furiously dialling CRO.

 

[Laurabearz]

You are mistaken. Go take a gander at the resorts and dining boards to see how far in advance the unwashed non-DVC masses are planning their trips.

Heck somewhere on the CB there are people planning their weddings and they dont even have boyfriends yet (they were kicked off the wedding planning board)

Face it some people like to plan way far ahead....

 

[Tozzie]

I personally am glad that it is back at 90 and would like to see it go to 60 days out. I remember when you could only make reservations on the day of dinning at Epcot at the computer screens in the Park.

 

[december14disney]

Being very new to DVC I was one that stalked all the codes, free dining, Oct-Nov room rate, etc. The catch with free dining is you pay rack room rate. Many people just book free dining and apply the code without doing their research. In MANY cases (small families, etc) a code for a discounted room rate is better. Either way, Disney will only run these promotions until the economy/ park touring picks back up again. It is fun when they do them--but they are short lived and few are available. I personally; 180 days, 90 days, codes, free dining or not am happy I am at AKV in a lovely Savanna view room rather than sitting in my office with the door shut trying for 2 hours to apply the "TXW" code or whatever to my exsisting reservation.

In summary--90 days will be fine!

 

[DebbieB]

If the system is set up to take reservations only at 90 days, how will grand gatherings get to make their reservations at 180?

I believe Disneyland ADRs can't be made until 60 or 90 days in advance. I guess if it works there it will probably work at WDW, too.

From what I read, it's not all dining for grand gatherings but the special grand gatherings experiences.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage

 

[hakepb]

I personally am glad that it is back at 90 and would like to see it go to 60 days out. I remember when you could only make reservations on the day of dinning at Epcot at the computer screens in the Park.

I wish they still had those screens.. (even if the advanced policy was different)


I suppose it may be technically possible to reserve a % of seats for DVC members booking through DVC MS.. They should increase that # during "free dining" so cash DVC dining gets more of a preference...

I, too, thought 180 was too far in advance. glad it is shorter..

 

[TLinden16]

I don't think the 90 day window is an issue. Everyone still has the same advantage. I agree with others who have said that 180 days just seemed to long.

 

[Inkmahm]

From what I read, it's not all dining for grand gatherings but the special grand gatherings experiences.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage

Okay, that makes a lot more sense. Thanks!

 

[CarolA]

I just was informed about the new 90 day dining reservation system and as a DVC member, I find this disturbing. When I book, I usually book at the 11 month window, so I know that I am going unless something major arises. I always purchase and enjoy the meal plan so at the 180 day window I would phone for my reservations. I would always get my reservations that I wanted since most people other than DVC'ers would not be planning so far ahead yet.
So Now, the way Disney is giving away the meal plan free to people, chances are that I may not get the places that I would like to eat at. I have a hard time thinking that I pay for my meal package and someone who is getting a free meal package beats me to the reservation system by 10 minutes or so and gets the better reservations. This is not a good way for Disney to treat the DVC members

Hmmm..

Have you ever read the Resturant Board on here? Sorry, but at 180 days you were NOT really along in "planning so far ahead"
You were right there with the pack!

 

[MissMet]

Hmmm..

Have you ever read the Resturant Board on here? Sorry, but at 180 days you were NOT really along in "planning so far ahead"
You were right there with the pack!

No, the op was not alone at the 180 day window, however the DIS forums only make up a very small portion of WDW visitors at any given time. Most WDW vacationers who do not frequent the DIS boards most likely have no idea that people like the op & myself book all their restaurants 180 days in advanced, 'cause anywhere else in the world- that's unheard of.

Everyone want to act like it's not hard to get ADRs at wdw, but if it was so easy than how come the dining boards have monthly ADR exchanges & "adr wishlists"?

I think it really depends on the time of year you are visiting, the restaurant you are choosing & the dining time. There are a lot of restaurants that you could probably walk up & get a table that day, but not the popular ones especially during free dining or a time when many DVC members enjoy visiting.

I do think going to 90 days out, at times, will not benefit us, but I like that I will now be able to at least know the park hours for the adrs I'm trying to make. It has pros & cons & it really is all subjective opinion really.

 

[SunnieRN]

Heck somewhere on the CB there are people planning their weddings and they dont even have boyfriends yet (they were kicked off the wedding planning board)

Face it some people like to plan way far ahead....

I'm not sure if this is sad or funny, but they didn't even have boyfriends? And sadder yet that they got kicked off.

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

It was 90 days forever, then they changed it to 180.. at first it was like woot woot, but really, Disney changes park hours, sometimes park hours were not even up when you had to make ADR's.

I am happy it's back to 90 days

I totally agree. 90 days is more than enough time to decide where you want to eat. Look how many people on the Restaurant board change their minds and keep calling and changing their reservations.