New credit card guarantees. Restaurant list, policy & common questions in 1st post

[mom2rtk]

I think the point is to help WDW fill the tables, & help all guests that are definitely interested in dining in the restaurant. If I owned a business, I wouldn't be too concerned about keeping those who abused my system happy. Those who operate within the system would be the ones I'd try to make things easier for. That's just me.



Many people make & keep all their ADRs. We do, & I don't spend my vacation worrying. We plan to assure we're where we're supposed to be. If I wanted flexibility, I wouldn't make ADRs. It's just that simple to me. There's not need to worry.

But there you go making that assumption again that only the abusers dislike this policy. I look forward to each ADR I make and keep them all as well. But I don't like the idea that I'm locked into certain things. I think unfortunately this is the direction fastpasses will be going as well when the NextGen system gets rolled out. I like to plan as much as the next person. But I don't like having to worry that there might be a financial penalty if I don't tow the line each and every time.

And it's just too easy to say "then don't make ADR's." To be honest, the wide variety of dining options is what keeps me going back to WDW instead of heading west to DLR. Because I enjoy that portion of my trip doesn't mean that I have to like an inflexible system with financial penalties.

Last year at DHS, they asked my daughter if she would come to the 12:30 Beauty & the Beast show. Well, we had an ADR at the Brown Derby. But she wanted to take them up on the offer for a little magic. So we went. I suppose under this new system we could still take them up on it, but it would now cost us $10 a head. I just find that to be a little extreme.

 

[Cafeen]

I think a read (maybe in this thread) that these are not reservations, but priority seating for the next available table.
Can someone tell me exactly what calling ahead entitles one to?
I know I get an email saying "WDW Dining Reservation Confirmed" And it lists my rights and responsibilities. I am sure this will be updated to include the fee, but what about when they DO NOT meet their responsibility. As posters have mentioned, some have (myself included) had VERY long waits even when arriving 20 minutes prior for check-in. I think many people just find themselves shaking their head thinking "what next?"
When a vaction feels more like a chore than a respite.people start making other choices.
No smaller destinations in our area have such complicated ticket or reservation system's. Have they gotten too big for themselves?

The priority seating was mentioned here.

It's as one sided as you're thinking.

 

[Colleen27]

Many people make & keep all their ADRs. We do, & I don't spend my vacation worrying. We plan to assure we're where we're supposed to be. If I wanted flexibility, I wouldn't make ADRs. It's just that simple to me. There's not need to worry.

Sure there is, because there's now potential for significant financial loss if something unexpected does happen. We don't want flexibility; I'm a planner and I have no problem sticking to the ADRs and park plans that I have made before leaving home. But I also don't want to get hit with financial penalties on top of losing out on the value of our dining plan credits if someone does get ill while we're on vacation. Since we've had someone get ill on three of our past trips that is something I'm going to worry about, no matter how unlikely other people think sickness on vacation is.

 

[Colleen27]

But there you go making that assumption again that only the abusers dislike this policy. I look forward to each ADR I make and keep them all as well. But I don't like the idea that I'm locked into certain things. I think unfortunately this is the direction fastpasses will be going as well when the NextGen system gets rolled out. I like to plan as much as the next person. But I don't like having to worry that there might be a financial penalty if I don't tow the line each and every time.

I think it is interesting that this is being implemented as the rumors and "a CM saids" about a start to enforcing FP windows are multiplying like bunnies. There's potential for a seriously guest-unfriendly combination there - can't choose your FP times and will be fined if you decide to reschedule lunch rather than skipping TSM. But I'm sure on the DIS there would be no shortage of people applauding Disney and saying that folks who plan on TS meals should just stick to standby lines.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I think a read (maybe in this thread) that these are not reservations, but priority seating for the next available table.
Can someone tell me exactly what calling ahead entitles one to?
I know I get an email saying "WDW Dining Reservation Confirmed" And it lists my rights and responsibilities. I am sure this will be updated to include the fee, but what about when they DO NOT meet their responsibility. As posters have mentioned, some have (myself included) had VERY long waits even when arriving 20 minutes prior for check-in. I think many people just find themselves shaking their head thinking "what next?"
When a vaction feels more like a chore than a respite.people start making other choices.
No smaller destinations in our area have such complicated ticket or reservation system's. Have they gotten too big for themselves?

Unfortunately, WDW has become a vacation destination that has to be planned thoroughly to fully enjoy it. It used to not be that way. I think the 180 day ADR window is a bit ridiculous, but that's what we have to work with. Some people like planning far in advance. The further out they plan the further out we have to. Like you, I don't know any vacation destination that requires the amount of advance planning that WDW does. I'm sure they get a lot of complaints about this & are trying to do things to somewhat level the playing field for those who don't plan months in advance. I think this policy is a step in the right direction, but that is just my opinion.

Totally agree with the bolded... just not in the same way

And totally agree with the inverse of the 2nd bolded.

I'm getting pretty disillusioned right now, between this and other recent debacles. Disney is losing its luster in my eyes, and it seems to only be a shell of what it once was. The CMs on the ground are not part of this, as most of them do their best with what's given them, I feel that the company is giving them far, far less to spread around though, and that's being seen by the guests. I do feel that they're on the wrong path, and this is just another step forward along it. I could be wrong, and, in fact, I hope I am. I just don't think so.

When a service driven company, who always prides itself on the highest level of guest service and satisfaction, starts implementing policies that are only halfway thought out and seem to have no real logic behind them, I start to question whether or not they have lost touch with their base. I don't begrudge them the ability to make money, after all, without it there'd be no parks. I do begrudge them making more money by offering less, at lower quality, with less satisfaction.

This is a little long and a bit off scope for the thread, but this policy is just another in a longer chain. The policies and decisions that are not fully thought out, especially in the realm of guest reaction. Just slapping "to improve guest experience" on it doesn't mean it will actually improve guest experience.

As we all know, I think this is a good policy. That said, I've been going to WDW for 36 years. There has been a steady decline in CS, during that time. They know people grow up dreaming of going to Disney, & taking their kids there. They will continue to do so. People buy into the Disney name not necessarily the product they deliver. The fact that the restaurants are packed, when the price is totally out of proportion with the quality is just one example to prove this. The ticket prices are out of control compared to other theme parks. Sadly, a move in that direction is nothing new. Those who've been going for years have seen it happening for quite some time. I do still enjoy going to WDW. It truly allows me to once again feel like a kid. Plus, I can get there in an hour & stay a week, w/o needing to move my car. The decline is something I've learned to accept. The alternative would be not to go at all, which I'm not willing to stop doing at this point. I probably never will be, & I'm not alone. They know that, which is why they're probably not that upset about losing customers that could end up costing them money.

But there you go making that assumption again that only the abusers dislike this policy. I look forward to each ADR I make and keep them all as well. But I don't like the idea that I'm locked into certain things. I think unfortunately this is the direction fastpasses will be going as well when the NextGen system gets rolled out. I like to plan as much as the next person. But I don't like having to worry that there might be a financial penalty if I don't tow the line each and every time.

And it's just too easy to say "then don't make ADR's." To be honest, the wide variety of dining options is what keeps me going back to WDW instead of heading west to DLR. Because I enjoy that portion of my trip doesn't mean that I have to like an inflexible system with financial penalties.

Last year at DHS, they asked my daughter if she would come to the 12:30 Beauty & the Beast show. Well, we had an ADR at the Brown Derby. But she wanted to take them up on the offer for a little magic. So we went. I suppose under this new system we could still take them up on it, but it would now cost us $10 a head. I just find that to be a little extreme.

You're right, I don't see why those who don't abuse the system would be upset over the change. Maybe we have a different definition of ADR abuse. I can see why those who always book at 180 wouldn't see a need for a change, but I don't understand why they would be upset, if they always plan around their ADRs anyway. It really wouldn't affect them. People need to decide whether securing the restaurants they want in advance or having flexibility is more important to them. As I've said, there are people who go all the time who make sure they keep their ADRs. There's also those who go who never make an ADR, so they can maintain flexibility. It's those who want it all that need to make a choice. Some being able to have it all isn't fair to those who are left out of the most desired restaurants, because they couldn't book 180 days in advance. Every ADR that someone doesn't show up for could be booked by someone who definitely wants it.

 

[SmallWorld71]

You're right, I don't see why those who don't abuse the system would be upset over the change.

LOL Have you not read any of the posts explaining over and over and over and over..... why some people who don't abuse the system are indeed upset about these changes.

Just go back a few pages and read one of mine if you've really forgotten.

 

[pinkerbell]

LOL Have you not read any of the posts explaining over and over and over and over..... why some people who don't abuse the system are indeed upset about these changes.

Just go back a few pages and read one of mine if you've really forgotten.

or one of mine

 

[MELSMICE]

LOL Have you not read any of the posts explaining over and over and over and over..... why some people who don't abuse the system are indeed upset about these changes.

Just go back a few pages and read one of mine if you've really forgotten.

A lot of the posts I've read about people that don't abuse the system seem to include a lot of speculation about what might happen. (not saying yours did)

You certainly can't plan for everything in life, so I think it's a case of you either continue to travel as you have and then pay the fee if you decide to cancel because someone is cold, sick, cranky, too full, etc. or you alter your plans and hopefully, not be stuck in a position where you might have to pay a fee for not showing up.

I believe it's more a change in the way people will have to vacation at WDW. No one likes change. It's isn't comfortable and sometimes isn't easy. You make the best of it & move on.

 

[mom2rtk]

LOL Have you not read any of the posts explaining over and over and over and over..... why some people who don't abuse the system are indeed upset about these changes.

Just go back a few pages and read one of mine if you've really forgotten.

I think the issue is that the poster defines anyone who doesn't show up for a single ADR is an abuser of the system. They don't seem to differentiate between someone who misses one ADR and the person who books one in each park for each day of the week...... for each meal.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

LOL Have you not read any of the posts explaining over and over and over and over..... why some people who don't abuse the system are indeed upset about these changes.

Just go back a few pages and read one of mine if you've really forgotten.

I've read all the reasons/excuses, but I still don't see why those who truly plan their day around the commitment they've made would be that upset. Odds are very small that these people would be affected. Those who book with good intentions, but don't see the ADR as set in stone, would be.

A lot of the posts I've read about people that don't abuse the system seem to include a lot of speculation about what might happen. (not saying yours did)

You certainly can't plan for everything in life, so I think it's a case of you either continue to travel as you have and then pay the fee if you decide to cancel because someone is cold, sick, cranky, too full, etc. or you alter your plans and hopefully, not be stuck in a position where you might have to pay a fee for not showing up.

I believe it's more a change in the way people will have to vacation at WDW. No one likes change. It's isn't comfortable and sometimes isn't easy. You make the best of it & move on.

Exactly! I can't imagine planning my vacations worrying ahead of time that we're going to get sick. If that were the case, we'd stay home all the time. Reasons, other than sickness, are just excuses to me.

I think the issue is that the poster defines anyone who doesn't show up for a single ADR is an abuser of the system. They don't seem to differentiate between someone who misses one ADR and the person who books one in each park for each day of the week...... for each meal.

Sorry, to those who disagree, but this is exactly how I see it. It's nothing personal, it's just my perception. To me, not showing up or cancelling last minute ends in the same result, regardless of how many ADRs someone makes. Those having to deal with someone getting too sick to go out, even to the parks, are a totally different thing. I really feel sorry for anyone who has to deal with that on vacation. Unfortunately, they also have to suffer, due to all the other excuses people make.

Those who can foresee many reasons why they may not make it to their ADR should benefit from this policy. Now they can wait, until they know for sure that they'll definitely be wanting that meal to make an ADR. This should open up a lot of options for those who are worried about committing ahead of time, especially if they have a true 24 hrs. to book for the day in question.

 

[NLD]

Maybe, they're trying to improve all guests experience not just those who book up the most popular restaurants far in advance. I really don't understand why people think it's okay to book ADRs they'll go to, if nothing else comes up. They're taking that restaurant & time away from someone else who definitely wants it.

People need to decide whether securing the restaurants they want in advance or having flexibility is more important to them. As I've said, there are people who go all the time who make sure they keep their ADRs. There's also those who go who never make an ADR, so they can maintain flexibility. It's those who want it all that need to make a choice. Some being able to have it all isn't fair to those who are left out of the most desired restaurants, because they couldn't book 180 days in advance. Every ADR that someone doesn't show up for could be booked by someone who definitely wants it.

How about this?

People need to decide whether securing the restaurant they want or booking a vacation less than 6 months out is more important to them. As I've said, there are people who go all the time who plan to keep every ADR. There are people who don't make any ADRs because they didn't plan ahead. They get irritated when they realize it's hard to get into certain restaurants. However, if they had made ADRs at 180 days, they'd have the same ability as others to get into those restaurants. It's those who want it all--to be able to plan a last-minute vacation and get into the best restaurants--who need to make a choice. Every single person has the same ability to make an ADR at 180 days out.

See, I think this is the thing.... quite a bit of support for this policy comes from people who (a) think this will benefit them in terms of getting last-minute reservations or (b) get irritated when they see empty tables at a hard-to-get restaurant, especially if it's a restaurant they tried to book themselves and couldn't get.

Here's the thing, though: you have no way of knowing WHY a table is empty. If I don't show up for a reservation, you have no way of knowing whether it's because I double-booked and just blew off an ADR at Le Cellier, of it's because I'm vomiting three times an hour in my hotel room and in no shape to go out. Sure, you can choose to assume some people just didn't show-up, and it's probably a safe assumption. But if those people HAD shown up, you STILL would not have gotten a walk-up at Le Cellier.

Likewise, if you can't get a last-minute (or even one-month-out) reservation to Le Cellier, you have no way of knowing whether it's because some people double-booked or it it's because every single person who booked really wants it and just booked earlier than you. Again, sure, you can assume some people double-booked, and it's probably a safe assumption. But even if those people HADN'T double-booked, other people may have gotten an ADR for Le Cellier simply by booking before you, in which case you STILL wouldn't get an ADR for Le Cellier.

So let's be really, really clear here: It is not people who book reasonable amounts of ADRs who miss a couple due to unexpected vacation events that are the problem. Yet these people will get hit with fees.

Maybe some people feel like they SHOULD get hit with fees, because afterall they "took away" a table from someone who "really wanted it" and "would have shown up." But you know what? All those other people who "really wanted it" and "would have shown up" (regardless of being tired, sick, overstimulated, freezing cold, or whatever) had the SAME OPPORTUNITY AS ME to book that ADR. And charging me $10/pp doesn't suddenly mean the people who "really wanted" the ADR and "would have shown up no matter what" will actually get the ADR. It might in fact mean that someone who has no idea of Le Cellier's reputation but happened to be wandering by gets it... it MIGHT mean that.

The thing is, this same result (allowing more tables for walk-ups, and keeping tables filled) could be accomplished without the fee. How? you only hold ADRs for 5 minutes past the reservation time, and you advertise throughout the World which restaurants have walk-up seating available. AND if you want to make locals happy, you can do that ALSO by holding some tables back from the 180-day ADR system!

The argument that I "took" a reservation from someone who "really wanted it" at Sci-Fi in 2009 is a specious argument. I didn't "take" anything from anyone--I woke up on our 180-day mark and made the reservations I wanted that were available. Everyone else who was in WDW that week of September had the same opportunity to do so. I didn't "take" anything from another guest. And when I didn't make it to that Sci-Fi reservation, it wasn't because I "didn't really want it," it was because I decided that I wanted my daughter to recover from exhaustion MORE than I wanted to eat at Sci-Fi.

By that point, my showing or not had no effect on any other guests who tried to make a Sci-Fi reservation one week or three weeks or two months earlier. Whether I showed or not, those people STILL wouldn't have gotten my reservation, because it was gone--because I reserved it at 180 days.

But here's what WOULD have made a difference: if Sci-Fi advertised, when I called a couple hours out, that a walk-up was available.

 

[aribelle]

They want to keep you confined to property and plan everything in great detail

Add to this the plans to have something similiar to FP that you book online ahead of your trip for rides.....eventually every single minute of your day is going to have to be planned 6 months in advance....rides, meals.....just wait until you have to plan out your potty breaks!

I would hope that this turns out like many of Disney's "official" policies....they allow for a bit of flexibility. I would think the main ones they're looking to stop are not those that have Grandma decide to go back to the room to rest instead of sitting through a noisy character meal, but instead they're looking to stop the people who make two or more reservations for dinner so they can choose when they're ready to eat and don't ever bother to cancel the others. That means the "losing" restaurant has to keep a seat ready for them and turn away walk ups.

Thankfully we won't be going until 2013, so I can sit back and watch how it goes.

In my perfect world though, it would be more of a method to stop the abuse of those that make more than one reservation and plan is to pick and choose when they're hungry and where they are at that moment. While I dislike the method, I do understand it....but I also think that if those people would have had the courtesy to call and cancel, even 30 minutes before, those extra reservations, it wouldn't have come to this. Disney needs to fill tables with eating guests, not holding seats for no-shows while they turn away walk ups. But if it opens up ADRs so some of us can actually get a table that we want, I'm all for it. A big part of me wishes they'd just stop taking reservations altogether....stand in line and wait for a table just like at Olive Garden and Red Lobster in my town, lol. (Of course, that's part of the reason I rarely eat at OG or RL, lol). Then those of us that eat off hours could decide where to go on the fly. Wouldn't that be grand?

 

[Mkrop]

You're not being punished for anything unless you cancel or no-show. Why are people already predicting the end of the known universe occurring within the 24 hours of their ADR? If you don't think you can make it to a particular ADR, don't make the ADR. It's that simple. Disney isn't taking anything from you unless you re-neg on your promise to show up. Nobody spoiled anything for anyone and Disney is not being greedy. In fact, it appears to be the other way around.

Then I need to make sure to dust off my crystal ball and see if I can make that Le Cellier ADR on 12/8 or will one of us get sick. How would I know 6 months from now that someone could be sick or have an asthma flare up, or get drenched in the rain etc.

I think the point is to help WDW fill the tables, & help all guests that are definitely interested in dining in the restaurant. If I owned a business, I wouldn't be too concerned about keeping those who abused my system happy. Those who operate within the system would be the ones I'd try to make things easier for. That's just me.



Many people make & keep all their ADRs. We do, & I don't spend my vacation worrying. We plan to assure we're where we're supposed to be. If I wanted flexibility, I wouldn't make ADRs. It's just that simple to me. There's not need to worry.

And all the posters I have seen here with the exception of one who admitted to abusing the system, have operated within the system, and yet now WDW ha s made it more difficult.

I want a reasonable timeframe so we can still plan yet maintain some flexibilty if someone gets sick.

 

[aribelle]

It's possible that they would not accept pre-paid cards (I'm pretty sure such cards can easily be identified by the number). Or that the "hold" they place, freezes up that amount on the card and as such you would not be able to spend the amount of the hold until the hold is released. Also, I wonder if they would accept cards whose expiration date is prior to the ADR date.

I would like to think Disney thought of all the ways the "cheaters" would try to get around this policy and put safeguards in place to prevent them.

Yes, the prepaid VISAs start with a different set of 4 digits than with an actual "credit" card. So that would be easy to program the computer to reject, but what about the millions of people who do not use credit cards....and considering the recent economy, there are even more who either can't get approved or just choose to not have a card. These same people have trouble renting cars too. Now they potentially can't make reservations in Disney.

But...Disney can't place a hold on your card 180 days out....all holds expire in 7-10 days (depending on the credit card issuer). And even if they didn't expire....think about the amount of your credit card that would be on hold for 6 months.....an average of 4 people in a family x 10 days of reservations x $10 per person, that would be $400 in limbo for 6 months. So many people max out their cards that could get really messy.

The expiration date.....many vendors who have your card for regular monthly payments, etc, know to reset your expiration date, and just because your expiration date passes doesn't mean that they can't still charge on it if the account is open. Plus, Disney wouldn't want to turn away all those folks with cards that will renew before they arrive.

Disney has to walk a very fine line....obviously they want to fill those dining seats with paying customers, and right now the abuse is no-shows and double bookers. But if they get too hard about this 24 hour window then you know that some people are just going to stop making reservations, and if they can't a walk up they'll leave and go spend much much less at a CS...or for those staying off property, leave and go eat on the local ecomony instead. So they could potentially drive away some people just as easily as they "catch" the double bookers.

Again, my perfect little world would have them not penalizing people who actually call and cancel reservations ahead of time, whether it be 24 hours or 24 minutes. That frees up tables for walkups and keeps their guest who cancelled happy because they didn't have to pay $10 a head just because they decided that rope drop to 4pm was all they could handle today and they're going back to the room to nap or swim and skipping their 6pm dinner.


I still remember our first reservation at CRT...it was prepaid. We had done the GF tea for "lunch" thinking it was a light meal....we were still stuffed by the time our CRT reservation came around. I explained the situation to the CM and asked if we could move to a later meal...she didn't bat an eye just gave us a choice of times. They could easily have said we're booked solid, eat now or lose your prepaid. We'd have probably have gone ahead because it was as much about the experience as the food, but we wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much as we did 2 hours later when we were hungry enough to enjoy.

 

[miprender]

You're not being punished for anything unless you cancel or no-show. Why are people already predicting the end of the known universe occurring within the 24 hours of their ADR? If you don't think you can make it to a particular ADR, don't make the ADR. It's that simple. Disney isn't taking anything from you unless you re-neg on your promise to show up. Nobody spoiled anything for anyone and Disney is not being greedy. In fact, it appears to be the other way around.

See the problem is I leave my Crystal Ball at home when I vacation therefor I can not see that 24 hours prior to my reservation I will need to change it

 

[tarheelmjfan]

How about this?

People need to decide whether securing the restaurant they want or booking a vacation less than 6 months out is more important to them. As I've said, there are people who go all the time who plan to keep every ADR. There are people who don't make any ADRs because they didn't plan ahead. They get irritated when they realize it's hard to get into certain restaurants. However, if they had made ADRs at 180 days, they'd have the same ability as others to get into those restaurants. It's those who want it all--to be able to plan a last-minute vacation and get into the best restaurants--who need to make a choice. Every single person has the same ability to make an ADR at 180 days out.

See, I think this is the thing.... quite a bit of support for this policy comes from people who (a) think this will benefit them in terms of getting last-minute reservations or (b) get irritated when they see empty tables at a hard-to-get restaurant, especially if it's a restaurant they tried to book themselves and couldn't get.

Here's the thing, though: you have no way of knowing WHY a table is empty. If I don't show up for a reservation, you have no way of knowing whether it's because I double-booked and just blew off an ADR at Le Cellier, of it's because I'm vomiting three times an hour in my hotel room and in no shape to go out. Sure, you can choose to assume some people just didn't show-up, and it's probably a safe assumption. But if those people HAD shown up, you STILL would not have gotten a walk-up at Le Cellier.

Likewise, if you can't get a last-minute (or even one-month-out) reservation to Le Cellier, you have no way of knowing whether it's because some people double-booked or it it's because every single person who booked really wants it and just booked earlier than you. Again, sure, you can assume some people double-booked, and it's probably a safe assumption. But even if those people HADN'T double-booked, other people may have gotten an ADR for Le Cellier simply by booking before you, in which case you STILL wouldn't get an ADR for Le Cellier.

So let's be really, really clear here: It is not people who book reasonable amounts of ADRs who miss a couple due to unexpected vacation events that are the problem. Yet these people will get hit with fees.

Maybe some people feel like they SHOULD get hit with fees, because afterall they "took away" a table from someone who "really wanted it" and "would have shown up." But you know what? All those other people who "really wanted it" and "would have shown up" (regardless of being tired, sick, overstimulated, freezing cold, or whatever) had the SAME OPPORTUNITY AS ME to book that ADR. And charging me $10/pp doesn't suddenly mean the people who "really wanted" the ADR and "would have shown up no matter what" will actually get the ADR. It might in fact mean that someone who has no idea of Le Cellier's reputation but happened to be wandering by gets it... it MIGHT mean that.

The thing is, this same result (allowing more tables for walk-ups, and keeping tables filled) could be accomplished without the fee. How? you only hold ADRs for 5 minutes past the reservation time, and you advertise throughout the World which restaurants have walk-up seating available. AND if you want to make locals happy, you can do that ALSO by holding some tables back from the 180-day ADR system!

The argument that I "took" a reservation from someone who "really wanted it" at Sci-Fi in 2009 is a specious argument. I didn't "take" anything from anyone--I woke up on our 180-day mark and made the reservations I wanted that were available. Everyone else who was in WDW that week of September had the same opportunity to do so. I didn't "take" anything from another guest. And when I didn't make it to that Sci-Fi reservation, it wasn't because I "didn't really want it," it was because I decided that I wanted my daughter to recover from exhaustion MORE than I wanted to eat at Sci-Fi.

By that point, my showing or not had no effect on any other guests who tried to make a Sci-Fi reservation one week or three weeks or two months earlier. Whether I showed or not, those people STILL wouldn't have gotten my reservation, because it was gone--because I reserved it at 180 days.

But here's what WOULD have made a difference: if Sci-Fi advertised, when I called a couple hours out, that a walk-up was available.

Some people have work or other obligations that prevent them from booking vacations 6 months or more in advance. I wouldn't think too many would make a reservation & book ADRs, just in case they're able to go.

 

[mcd2745]

Unfortunately, WDW has become a vacation destination that has to be planned thoroughly to fully enjoy it. It used to not be that way. I think the 180 day ADR window is a bit ridiculous, but that's what we have to work with. Some people like planning far in advance. The further out they plan the further out we have to. Like you, I don't know any vacation destination that requires the amount of advance planning that WDW does. I'm sure they get a lot of complaints about this & are trying to do things to somewhat level the playing field for those who don't plan months in advance. I think this policy is a step in the right direction, but that is just my opinion.

I couldn't agree more. I absolutely abhor the 180 day policy, but if I want to get ADRs at places like 'Ohana and others, I make my ADRs at 180 days. But I guess that's where I differ from those up in arms about the new policy. I find the 180 day thing eliminates flexibility a million times more than the new policy does. To me when you make those ADRs, that's when flexibility pretty much goes out the window - not the day of the ADR (or even the day before). But apparently, so many other people did not feel that way and instead they felt that there was no real obligation for them to fulfill their ADRs - until now I guess.

You're right, I don't see why those who don't abuse the system would be upset over the change. Maybe we have a different definition of ADR abuse. People need to decide whether securing the restaurants they want in advance or having flexibility is more important to them. As I've said, there are people who go all the time who make sure they keep their ADRs. There's also those who go who never make an ADR, so they can maintain flexibility. It's those who want it all that need to make a choice. Some being able to have it all isn't fair to those who are left out of the most desired restaurants, because they couldn't book 180 days in advance. Every ADR that someone doesn't show up for could be booked by someone who definitely wants it.

That's everything in a nutshell right there. I guess too many people want to have their cake and eat it too...or possibly let the cake go to waste simply because they got a little tired even though hundreds of other people could have had that cake.

 

[pinkerbell]

Some have stated that if you are a no sow, your table is being held with an ADR and cannot be given away. I am not sure this is correct. Believe me,I like Disney and want to support them, BUT, if they only hold a ressie for 20 minutes then the next walkup should be able to get my "NO SHOW" ressie. The luck of the draw for those w/out an ADR, maybe someone 20 min previously didnt get in, but at that time, there were no available table and since there was a NoShow, now there is. If there are so many of these NoShows that this policy needs to be implimented, then even if that "no Show" is late, another table should open up quickly when the next "NO SHOW" doesn't arrive.
Also If Disney want's to charge me $10 per person for, then they better not give that table to anyone else, after all, I paid for it! They put a value on it and charged me, so now it is mine. So if we have freinds in the park that day, and they see all the tables are filled during me ressie time, they shoudlnt charge me or they are profiting twice from one table.
hmmm, there is something rotten in the Disney Dining reservation system and it's their PolicyMakers! :

 

[Mkrop]

Some people have work or other obligations that prevent them from booking vacations 6 months or more in advance. I wouldn't think too many would make a reservation & book ADRs, just in case they're able to go.

DVCers book stays all the time just in case...I can see people doing it with ADRS.

I couldn't agree more. I absolutely abhor the 180 day policy, but if I want to get ADRs at places like 'Ohana and others, I make my ADRs at 180 days. But I guess that's where I differ from those up in arms about the new policy. I find the 180 day thing eliminates flexibility a million times more than the new policy does. To me when you make those ADRs, that's when flexibility pretty much goes out the window - not the day of the ADR (or even the day before). But apparently, so many other people did not feel that way and instead they felt that there was no real obligation for them to fulfill their ADRs - until now I guess.






That's everything in a nutshell right there. I guess too many people want to have their cake and eat it too...or possibly let the cake go to waste simply because they got a little tired even though hundreds of other people could have had that cake.

And hundreds of other people can have MY cake....it is called a walkup! If I call and say I cant have MY cake then give it to another party...so simple! You make it seem that we are selfish bc we might not want or cant have a MEAL....I will say it again it is a meal folks not World Series tickets.

 

[NLD]

Some people have work or other obligations that prevent them from booking vacations 6 months or more in advance. I wouldn't think too many would make a reservation & book ADRs, just in case they're able to go.

Right, I get that. But my point is why does the fact that these people can't plan a vacation 6-months out trump my point that I can't foresee if my kid is going to get sick 6-months out?

People who are in favor of this policy like it because they see it benefiting them. People who are opposed don't like it because they see it hurting them.
My GUESS is Disney likes this policy because it makes them money.

It seems to me there's a way to make ALL parties happy.... don't charge people who call to cancel, but go ahead and charge the no-shows who don't cancel; advertise walk-ups; and don't release all tables to the 180-day window.