NEW Dining Rules

[ErinC]

Just a note:
Last year when I was trying to book the coveted CRT ps for DS
's 6th Birthday, I read everything I could on how to obtain a PS for breakfast. One of the things I read was that if you were not successful at 60 days out, to call back and check 2 days before the dining date you would like. Supposedly, some of these coveted reservations were being held back for package purchasers, and GF guests that paid big money. They would be released back into the dining system 2 days before the dining date. So it seems like this policy has somewhat been in effect for CRT for awhile. I will be really aggravated if this becomes reality for all WDW restaurants. I'm starting to feel like the proverbial DVC redheaded stepchild!

 

[psharrock]

I have emailed my guide regarding the PS issue, asking that my comments are passed to the management of DVD.

I recevied a short reply confirming my comments will be passed on, so I suppose all we can do is wait, if enough members complain, something must be done about it.

Paul

 

[crisi]

I get the feeling that this was cooked up by WDTC and Dining - and they just forgot about DVC members. I do expect that "rules" will clarify that your DVC confirmation number will work for making ressies.

If not, I'll write.

 

[Dean]

Remember DVC has no control over this. I would agree with letting MS know how you feel but not blasting them. I'm sure they are just as excited about it as the members, especially after all the above discussion. And I would bet a steak dinner that DVC members WILL get left out if it's limited to packages for the first round of reservations.

 

[RobDoc]

The rumor I have access to states that the 180 day PS priority is valid for anyone with a confirmation number with a paid deposit- package or room only.

My personal interpretation is that DVC confirmations ARE paid and will have the same priority. Until some official announcement is made, we'll all be in the dark with this, but the concern may be unwarranted at this time.

Stay Tuned!

 

[skelooch]

Just added my 2 cents by sending the following e-mail to MS.



I would like to state my extreme displeasure with Disney' s new Dining Policy, I thought being a DVC Member was something special, but obliviously Disney doesn't consider us any better than the general public, It seems that once they got our money up front they could just ignore us.
I purchased in 2002 and have added-on twice to the tune of over $45,000, I have made a commitment to Disney for the next 40 years, and they can't make a commitment to allow us to make our Dining reservations at the maximum allowable booking window, guess that says alot about how Disney feels about us. Perhaps in the future they will be able to save some money by eliminating the printing of the Perks Pages, because there won't be any, and they can add "SUCKER" to the Welcome Home folder we receive at check-in.

Please tell me this was an oversight on Disney's part and will be Corrected.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
The rumor I have access to states that the 180 day PS priority is valid for anyone with a confirmation number with a paid deposit- package or room only.

My personal interpretation is that DVC confirmations ARE paid and will have the same priority. Until some official announcement is made, we'll all be in the dark with this, but the concern may be unwarranted at this time.

Stay Tuned!

Wasn't it the policy up until a few years ago for non WDW reserved guests to be able to make dining reservations same day only. To make advance reservations I seem to remember you had to be reserved at a Disney resort.

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by Dean
Wasn't it the policy up until a few years ago for non WDW reserved guests to be able to make dining reservations same day only. To make advance reservations I seem to remember you had to be reserved at a Disney resort.

Yes- As recently as a few years ago, Priority Seatings could be made 3 days in advance from any WDW resort phone- otherwise, they had to be made on the day of the reservation. (Remember when EPCOT had those interactive video kiosks at the end of Spaceship Earth and in a couple of other locations around World Showcase?)

These policies have been evolving for a long time and this upcoming change is consistent with prior modifications. I personally think it's premature to be writing to MS to complain about a program that hasn't yet begun- especially when the complaints are based solely on internet rumors and not on any policy yet issued by Disney.

Stay Tuned!

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
The rumor I have access to states that the 180 day PS priority is valid for anyone with a confirmation number with a paid deposit- package or room only.

My personal interpretation is that DVC confirmations ARE paid and will have the same priority. Until some official announcement is made, we'll all be in the dark with this, but the concern may be unwarranted at this time.

Stay Tuned!

Oh, I hope that rumor is more accurate. I agree with your interpretation.

Dean, I too remember that those with on-site confirmed WDW reservations were the only people that could make PSs early...although in my memory it was quite a few years ago now and the lead time was perhaps 90 days?

 

[JVL1018]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
The rumor I have access to states that the 180 day PS priority is valid for anyone with a confirmation number with a paid deposit- package or room only.

My personal interpretation is that DVC confirmations ARE paid and will have the same priority. Until some official announcement is made, we'll all be in the dark with this, but the concern may be unwarranted at this time.

Stay Tuned!

I'm leaning this way too..and supposedly CRO will be no more as of 2004, so everyone who books through Disney, will go through the WTDC. Even if you have room only, I think they consider it a package(correct me if I'm wrong, I think the WTDC calls all ressies packages and the reason people don't like to use them is b/c of ther deposit rules, not because you can't book a vacation without passes ).
After thinking it over, I'm leaning towards this being something where we are going bcak to Disney resort guests in general(inc DVC) get first crack at at PS, which I wouldn't mind seeing.:

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by JVL1018
I'.... Even if you have room only, I think they consider it a package(correct me if I'm wrong, I think the WTDC calls all ressies packages and the reason people don't like to use them is b/c of ther deposit rules, ...

I was told they do room only and call it package. When asking for clarification why people wouldn't book through them instead of CR I was told WDWT only does "rack rate". He was very c;lear, no disocunts or AP's to room only.\

Edited for clarification - the no discounts he said is for "room only" they obviously do packags which they claim are significantly disocunted like fairytale etc.

 

[DebbieB]

They do have discounts, the FTP amounted to 43% off. There is also a current Visa Code with a discount on a package. I think this is just another way to push packages, which I bet make more money for them. I sure wouldn't have wanted to be a customer service cm today at either CRO or DVC! I agree with Dean that DVC probably didn't have anything to do with this, I don't think the departments at WDW all work together. WDTC and dining probably got together on this to increase WDTC's profits. But it's up to DVC to stand up for the members. Hopefully with better results than they have gotten with pass discounts.

I personally don't make that many PS's. One thing I'm concerned about is our traditional Mother's Day Dinner at CRT. I call right at 7:00 60 days before. With this new system, they could be gone by 90 days when I can call.

 

[TDC Nala]

WDTC doesn't only do rack rate. Right now you can book Disney Club rates through them for the rest of this year (assuming they're still available) and the Fairytale Package was also done through them.

The reason most of us use CRO is for the cancellation policy. Through CRO you can cancel up to 5 days out without penalty. WDTC lets you cancel up to 45 days out. After that, there are varying cancellation charges.

DVC actually has a better cancellation policy, I think.

 

[joepoe]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
...These policies have been evolving for a long time and this upcoming change is consistent with prior modifications. I personally think it's premature to be writing to MS to complain about a program that hasn't yet begun- especially when the complaints are based solely on internet rumors and not on any policy yet issued by Disney.

Stay Tuned!

Thanks, Doc. As usual, the voice of reason. I don't think any of us wants to have to stand in line behind other Disney vacationers. It's not so much a matter of needing extra perks as much as being treated fairly with a little respect for 40 years of loyalty. That's why folks are getting so hinky over these types of rumors.

 

[erikthewise]

Originally posted by WebmasterDoc
The rumor I have access to states that the 180 day PS priority is valid for anyone with a confirmation number with a paid deposit- package or room only.

My personal interpretation is that DVC confirmations ARE paid and will have the same priority. Until some official announcement is made, we'll all be in the dark with this, but the concern may be unwarranted at this time.

Stay Tuned!

I hope you are right, Doc!
But my impression is that the whole point of this change is to encourage the use of UHP-inclusive packages, and that only such packages will receive the 180-day window. If so, your interpretation seems unlikely to hold up. Just speculation of course.

 

[MJS]

I called Member Services this morning, and while they do not have any new information for us, they did say that they are receiving calls and emails from the members. Keep calling and emailing!

 

[CK1]

Well, for an obsessive planner such as myself (who has already decided on the exact dates and every PS needed for a trip over a year away!!), I have to say that an ealier PS date would truly thrill me!

So.... I'm just going to believe in the magic my owner$hip plus add-on have gotten me thus far until I hear otherwise.

(But if I DO hear otherwise... yes indeedy they shall rue the day...........)

Until then. think +, think +, think +......

CIndy

(I kinda liked that crazy "mad dash" to the interactive PS kiosks at EPcot...but I'd like 180 days PS even better!)

 

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

I am writing about the proposed changes to the Dining PS Reservation system rumored to take effect August 4, 2003.

Each member of my family has an annual pass. I spend approximately $1500 per year on these passes. We visit Walt Disney World a minimum of twice a year. Last year, I made six trips to WDW. When I renewed my annual pass this year, I had 31 park entrances on my expired my pass - and I live in Virginia!!! Needless to say, we come to WDW a lot.

In addition, we are Disney Vacation Club owners. We have spent over $15,000 ensuring we have the best accomdations available for our WDW vacations.

Finally, we eat 100% of our meals on property. Once we arrive on WDW property, we do not leave until it's time to go home. Disney Dining is a significant portion of our vacation budget.

The point I'm trying to make is our lifetime value to WDW is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next 40 years. I find it incomprehensible that given our value to WDW, under this new policy we will be excluded from such choice reservations as Cinderalla's breakfasts and the Speciality Cruises.

Please make some accomadations to your most valuable customers when this new PS Reservation policy is designed and implemented. I am not asking for preferred treatment, but I truly don't believe your most valuable customers should be penalized either.

If this new policy is instituted as rumored, will we still vacation at WDW? - Yes. Will we still eat 100% of our meals on-site? - No. Will our lifetime value to WDW decrease? - Most definitely.

Sincerely,



I'll let you know if I hear anything.

 

[PammyK]

Well, I'm trying not to be alarmist about this, but I also felt the need to write to member services for clarification about this situation. Here is my email which I also copied to guest communications.

Dear Member Services:

I am writing to request clarification of the rumored change to the Priority Seating (PS) policy that has been reported on various internet discussion groups. Of course, I am referring to the news that effective August 4, 2003, guests booking "packages" via Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC) will have a 180 window for making PS requests while all others are limited to 90 days.

From a casual reading of the information that has been posted, it appears that Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members will be part of the group in the 90-day PS window. After all, although we usually make our reservations well before 180 days prior to our arrival (at our home resort 11 months out and at other DVC resorts 7 months out) we certainly do not book a "package" through WDTC.

If the above interpretation is correct, then I am quite concerned about the perception of DVC members held by Walt Disney World. After all, we have committed to 40 years worth of vacations at Walt Disney World. And although there are other options for using our points, lets face it, most DVC members stay within the Disney realm when using their vacation points. That means 40 years of visiting a Disney property, dining at Disney restaurants, buying souvenirs at Disney gift shops and paying for Disney recreation. In my opinion, this is not a segment of guests that should be relegated to "red-headed stepchild status."

Perhaps my interpretation of the rumored change is incorrect, and DVC members will be considered in the same class as guests who book packages through WDTC. If so, then I appreciate your response in clarifying the policy and confirming that DVC members will be able to make PS at the 180-day window. If not, I hope that Member Services will take a long hard look at how this change negatively impacts DVC members (even if only from a perception standpoint) and work to come up with a way to show more consideration for their loyal members. I recognize that this change was not made by DVC and in fact, I would not be surprised if I learned that DVC had no knowledge of this change until after it was announced within the corporate structure. However, I am hoping that member services will communicate with the appropriate areas to ensure that DVC members are afforded the consideration that should be due them given their brand loyalty and significant investment.

 

[DVCDAVE]

First, Like most of you on this Board, I am a certifiable WDW nut, AND an obsessive planner. DVC lends itself to us obsessive planners.

Given that, I am deeply concerned about any policy change, and how it will affect my planning.especialy PS.

I hope DOC is correct, and we'll all wait and see what gets handed down to us in the near future. My thanks go to all who have taken of their time to email the parties to be, I promise to so too before nightfall toady. I will try to expalin my position in a polite and reasonable manner.

Let's stay in touch !