NEW Dining Rules

[zulaya]

Got this off the Restaurants Board and it apparently came from wdwig.com

New Dining Rules
New dining rules start on August 4th. If you have a package booked with the Walt Disney Travel Company with a PAID deposit, then you can make a PS for MOST locations 180 days in advance. If not, then you can make your PS 90 days out. This is a HUGE change. It now means that AP reservations, FL resident reservations, Cast reservations, AAA reservations or room only booking in Central Reservations can only make PS after WDTC guests have made theirs. To be clear, there will no longer be a 120/60 days out policy. It's now a 180/90 days out policy depending on what kind of reservation you have booked. Disney will now have a two tiered dining schedule it would seem. Where you fall in the tiers depends on how much money you spend (ie. book a package).

My question is how do DVC members fit into this scenario since if we stay on points, there's no "deposit" to be made?

 

[Lisa F]

IMO this is a PRIME opportunity to give DVC members a perk and make them feel "special" without it costing Disney a DIME to do it (like discounts would). If they don't do that, I think it would really suck. I'm not normally one to whine about lack of discounts or perks etc compared to other guests but to treat DVC guests as somewhat less worthy of such a "perk" would be a big mistake IMO.

To answer your question, booking with DVC is not a package. It's never treated like a package, even if you get whatever they are calling the length of stay pass nowadays (ie you aren't able to book some of the package add ons), so my guess is that staying with DVC doesn't count. Unless I am reading incorrectly, it's not an "onsite" vs. an "offsite" thing but a "package" vs "everyone else" thing. If it were a perk given to all who are staying "onsite" and dvc were included, I think it would be great.

LIsa

 

[PamOKW]

Hopefully, we will get the full consideration. I will be extremely disappointed in DVC if we do not.

I'm looking forward to this month's E-mail newsletter from DVC. Seems like there is lots of info to share with us, the beginning of SSR sales and now this change in PS policy.

 

[jel0511]

I just sent an e-mail to MS regarding my displeasure to what looks like DVC members getting the shaft again. If you feel the same way, please e-mail MS. Maybe if enough of us bombard them, we might gets something heard!!!! Here is the text of my e-mail.

I just read on an internet website which caters to WDW fans that there is going to be a change in the way WDW accepts Priority Seatings. It seems that if you book a pavckage through WDW, you now receive access to book Priority Seatings 180 days in advance. If you don't, and I'm assuming DVC reservations made with points doesn't count, you can't make any priority seatings until 90 days prior. I feel this is unacceptable to DVC members. We are owners of part of the Disney Magic, but yet keep getting shut out of some of the "perks" of regular visitors to WDW. I'd appreciate some feedback as to why DVC members are excluded from this new Priority Seating system, and possible some action in trying to get us included.

 

[westjones]

I would like to know what DVC says about this too. If we are included in the 180 days when we book on points, that is great. If not, then I too am VERY uphappy about this! If anyone gets a response back from Disney, please let me know.

BOY, I am sure glad I got my Cinderella Breakfast PS for September already. We have never been there, and at least we can get in this time. If we are not included in the 180 days, I doubt that we will ever get into this character breakfast again.

DJ

 

[zulaya]

I called WDW Dine and as usual they don't know what I am talking about.

I am planning on sending an e-mail to MS as well and calling them to see if they know what the heck is going on.

 

[DebbieB]

It will be really sad if DVC members are treated the same as off-site guests. They should make it anyone staying at any WDW resort, that way AP holders would be included too. Didn't it used to be that way? You had to be staying onsite to get an advance PS?

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

Just sent an email to MS will wait and see what they come back with.

scot

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm pretty disappointed in this new 'rumor'. I hope it isn't true. It's very unfair to AP holders and DVC members.

I was all set to make PS this Saturday for Chef Mickey's and next Tuesday, August 5 for the Princess Storybook...sounds like I can't anymore.

I sent an email to WDW company and maybe I'll send one to MS too. Do I find their email address at the DVC website????

 

[westjones]

It sounds like this Saturday, you can still make your reservations, and if I were you, I would call on Monday too and give it a try.

Actually, can't you make Chef Mickey's on Saturday too? I thought the resorts could be reserved 120 days in advance. Maybe I am wrong. Check out this site, it has been very helpful to me in making PS:

http://www.pscalculator.net/pscalc.shtml

DJ

 

[zulaya]

Actually, Scottwdw, the PS Calculator Master has posted on the thread on the Restaurant board. He said he couldn't confirm "until this morning" that this new policy was going into effect. But it sounds like it is as he says he is updating the PS Calculator website this weekend to reflect the changes.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by westjones
It sounds like this Saturday, you can still make your reservations, and if I were you, I would call on Monday too and give it a try.

Actually, can't you make Chef Mickey's on Saturday too? I thought the resorts could be reserved 120 days in advance. Maybe I am wrong. Check out this site, it has been very helpful to me in making PS:

http://www.pscalculator.net/pscalc.shtml

DJ

Yes, I should be all set for Chef Mickey's as I can call on Saturday for that; before the changes to the policy BUT it will affect the Princess Storybook PS as I won't be booking that one until August 5 for our trip in December. It will definitely affect CRT and Fantasmic! package that I was going to call for in October...

How do I find the MS email address??

 

[spiceycat]

anyone else remember when DVC members who made a PS reservation at 6 months to anything - you just called MS - oh those days....

members@disneyvacationclub.com

 

[Eeyore2U]

This is what DW sent to MS. She's not a happy DVCer!

Dear DVC:

I just read about the new policy beginning 8/4/03 for booking dining reservations. It states that only people booking their entire package through Disney Travel will be allowed to book dining reservations at 120 days out. The rest of us will have to wait until 90 days. I would like to know what DVC is doing to protect their members regarding this change. Basically, we have invested in Disney and we are the regulars who keep coming back and spending our money year after year. We are very familiar with how these reservations work and we ALWAYS make our reservations VERY early to ensure we get to eat where we want. Part of the reason we bought DVC is that there are so many great places to go at night with all your restaurants and nightclubs. Their new policy could potentially keep us from eating at the establishments we want, and could force us to move our business offsite to other places, like City Walk. I'm sure City Walk would love our business, however, I happen to like many of the Disney restaurants and would rather stay on property. We spend a lot of money each year at the Disney restaurants as we tend to eat at the better establishments.

If I owned a restaurant, I would never want to restrict my regular customers whose income I can count on, however, that is exactly what Disney is doing. I, for one, am extremely angry about this change and want to know if you are going to do anything to represent your members on this. I also understand that people on the Disney boards are furious. If you are not going to represent us, please let me know as soon as possible, and I will be happy to write to Michael Eisner directly. My husband and I are taking our second trip this year to Disney in December, this one to celebrate our 20th Anniversary and we really wanted to celebrate it a certain Disney restaurant. I would hate for it to be ruined because we may not be able to eat where we wanted to.

She's going to send this to Eisner directly as well.

 

[alsipd]

You go GIRL!!!!!

Give it to them good!

I don't use PS, but I am all for those that do, getting the best benefits available. I will be sending my email as well as a written letter this evening.

 

[DebbieB]

Actually package guests will be able to book 180 days not 120. 6 months ahead!

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

I figured that this would be the Hot Topic for the day. Anybody heard back from MS as of yet? If this offered, I need to get on the phone next week to book some PS.

 

[zulaya]

Talked with a not so cheerful person at MS this AM. He basically said that unless it's on the official Disney website that it's not true. Yeah, and I'm gonna swallow that one.

MS knows just as little as the Dining folks...which is nothing.

 

[jennymouse]

Trying to be sarcasticly optimistic here: First DVC trip = bad bus transportation experience = renting a car for the first time next trip = Transportation to offsite restaurants & US & IOA!

Not exactly how I imagined my DVC trips before I joined, but.....

 

[InstImpres]

Just spoke with dining. They told me this info is obviously on a "non Disney operated site" but the phones are flooded. She called the supervising desk for the person before me and was told next week there will be clarification of who is and isn't eligible. So it sounds like a done deal without all the details.

I have also just called my guide, who is processsing my add on and left a message that I was surprisewd by this news and hope for the thousands I (as well as many others) pay for DVC we hope to be include. I also asked her to give us direction for who to contact.

Thanks
Sandy