New ADR sytem rolling out: 90-day ADR's for a while starting late summer.

[nikjd68]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1876776

I posted originally on the Dining Board but thought this was a newsworthy item.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I think it's great that ADRs will go back to 90 days for awhile.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I agree, I like 90 days out better...but I wonder what the thinking is? I thought 180 days out was silly to begin with, but now they are going back to 90 and then supposedly back to 180 in Fall of 2009? Sort of weird. Why go back? I wonder if this is "officially" announced by Disney.

 

[Aliceacc]

Wow, I can only imagine the phones at 7 am at the 90 day mark!!!

 

[nikjd68]

The change, apparently, is to implement a new software system. the 90-days is probably to roll it out incrementally.

John did IT for Disney (although I think he has mentioned that Disney now outsources IT). Maybe he has some insight on what is going on.

 

[Minnie Lor]

I'd be interested to know what's up as well. I've always thought 90 days was more reasonable. Too hard to plan your days 6 months in advance.

 

[Renysmom]

Too bad they won't stay at 90 days. It would be so much easier for everyone if they would.

Wonder if the new software will indicate if you have ADR's at more than one place at the same time. Wouldn't that screw up lots of plans for those who book all over the place.

 

[andrewilley]

I'm wondering if they're putting in a system which will be able to integrate online bookings too - maybe not immediately, but to have the option for later. If I was putting in a new system now, I'd certainly be allowing for that facility.

I agree that sticking to the 90 days would be a lot better than going back to 180, six months to far too long for people to be forced to plan meal times.

Andre

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

They said something to me about having a system that will allow them to look at an entire week vs day-by-day. I think it will also allow them to just enter the guest's info just once instead of having to enter it for each ADR. I don't think any of it involved guests being able to do their own bookings online.

 

[drakethib]

I don't understand why people think this is a big deal.

Too me if doesn't matter if the make it at 30 days or 300 days, the phones will be ringing at whatever time period they make it.

Maybe I am looking at this wrong.

 

[nikjd68]

I don't understand why people think this is a big deal.

Too me if doesn't matter if the make it at 30 days or 300 days, the phones will be ringing at whatever time period they make it.

Maybe I am looking at this wrong.

Well, to put it in your terms above, at 300 days, you wouldn't know the park schedules so you wouldn't know things like extra magic hours or when things like parades, fireworks, fantasmic, etc. are scheduled to occur. So you will be making your ADR's blind.

At 30 days, you probably know which park(s) you will visit which day and can plan your ADR's accordingly. However, if the ADR window is set at 300 days and you call 30 days before your trip...

 

[Jubilee]

I have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, 90 days seems ample time....on the other, I'm so used to 180 that it would seem like not enough time!

 

[Mozart]

I'm wondering if they're putting in a system which will be able to integrate online bookings too - maybe not immediately, but to have the option for later. If I was putting in a new system now, I'd certainly be allowing for that facility.
Andre

DING! DING! DING! We HAVE A WINNER!

That's exactly what they're doing.

 

[WaltD4Me]

DING! DING! DING! We HAVE A WINNER!

That's exactly what they're doing.

Ummmmmmm, reservations barely works now on Disney's site and they are going to add doing ADR's to it?

 

[DisneyKevin]

Please keep in that this is currently must be considered a rumor.

After numerous calls Disney has not confirmed this information.

This doesnt mean it's not true. It means it's currently unconfirmed.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

They didn't say one work to me about online ADRs -- just that the new system would make it easier for CMs to make the reservations without putting the same info in over and over again.

 

[ADP]

Could you imagine an online ADR system. I wonder if a server could handle it. The number of hits to the web server...YIKES! The middleware, the back-end database...OUCH! I'm sure it could be done, but is Disney really ready for that type of financial commitment? I'd be surprised.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

That's exactly what I'm thinking...you would have people changing their ADRs on a daily basis -- some would do it several times a day. That poor system would be toast in no time!

 

[WaltD4Me]

That's exactly what I'm thinking...you would have people changing their ADRs on a daily basis -- some would do it several times a day. That poor system would be toast in no time!

 

[Mozart]

Could you imagine an online ADR system. I wonder if a server could handle it. The number of hits to the web server...YIKES! The middleware, the back-end database...OUCH! I'm sure it could be done, but is Disney really ready for that type of financial commitment? I'd be surprised.

I'll have to say that I did error in being quite so certain about it. I feel comfortable with where I heard it from, but we've all been wrong before. (DCL in Alaska, anyone )

The story I got at the time was that IT does not feel as though it's going to work for the exact reasons mentioned in the quote above. They don't think they have a server that can handle it. Execs are pushing for it, though.

Take it for what it's worth. This information came from an IT CM who had a few too many drinks and started talking about stuff one night. They were not working directly on the project, but had many conversations with people who were.

Edited to add: My conversation with this particular CM took place back in September.