NEW Dining Rules

[zulaya]

If you haven't been keeping track, the latest with this soap opera is that most places will now be 90 days. No mention of WDTC or onsite/offsite.

Who knows? This policy seems to change on a whim.

I agree with one poster on the thread on the Restaurants Board who said something along the lines that Disney should say something about it before August 4th if only so their phone system doesn't crash from all the people calling in.

 

[gazeborob]

Just got off the phone with PS, and she said that it will be 90 days for all restaurants. The 180 day part is now gone. Like I said, for what it's worth! But, this could change as well.

Rob

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Originally posted by zulaya
Donalds_best_pal, I might believe you if haven't quoted your same story word for word in every post you have about this issue. If you truly have a friend that is higher up, that's great, but time will tell.

I didn't feel like retyping it in every singal post and I wanted post in the different threads so people would hear about it. It seems like a lot of people don't even think anything of it and don't believe it. I hope for the people who believe it that they can sleep better tonight LOL Well talk to you guys later
Matt

 

[Sammie]

Actually time will tell. There is going to be some changes made to the PS system and with CRO, but nothing is final at this time.

It is a wait and see right now.

 

[Eeyore2U]

Originally posted by gazeborob
Just got off the phone with PS, and she said that it will be 90 days for all restaurants. The 180 day part is now gone. Like I said, for what it's worth! But, this could change as well.

Rob

Is this 90 days for all onsite resorts or all comers?

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Its offical! My senior vice president friend emailed me. All PS except dinner shows will be 90 days starting august 4
Matt

 

[Terry S]

I am glad that they re-thought this, but I don't understand why they just didn't make it 180 days for ALL on-site guests and 90 days for everyone else?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally posted by Terry S
I am glad that they re-thought this, but I don't understand why they just didn't make it 180 days for ALL on-site guests and 90 days for everyone else?

I agree Terry, years ago, there used to be perks to staying onsite, now, I really think the only difference between staying onsite or off site is the money you pay, IMHO.

 

[crisi]

My guess is that they will, and that this was their first stab at it. But it backfired because they didn't think things through properly - I still think whoever is in charge of WDTC (and with the rumored merging of that and CRO) cooked this one up - completely forgetting that DVC was out there - or underestimating it. In another six months, I'd expect a similar dining policy to be released - this time allowing for DVC members and other people who shouldn't get the short end of the stick.

PS Preference should be a pretty easy inexpensive perk to give on site guests and encourage on site bookings.... If they can manage to do it without muddling it. There are really nice hotels out there, not far from the gates, for really cheap - Disney has to give you something other than "Great Disney Theming and Service" when some of these hotels have grabbed that model and offer it at a cheaper price. (and they do - EE, which a lot of people don't want to use, E-ride nights, which you pay more for, but that isn't yet inticement enough to keep all those hotel rooms full without big disounts like the FTP.)

 

[Terry S]

Crisi, I agree with you. I think they might eventually annouce a revised PS plan. Especially after reading this statement on Scott's site:

"This approach also began to create some confusion, so we have decided to further study the policy.

Therefore, due to Guest and Cast feedback we will hold off on implementing this new policy until further notice."

I think the whole further study and further notice thing in that statement says it all.

 

[DebbieB]

I think 180 days is too long, that's 6 months! I could see for limited seating like V & A, but other places no. They will end up with so many people making changes when it gets closer to their date, especially since they only release hours 2 months in advance. 90 days is long enough.

 

[DVCDAVE]

I disagree that 180 days is too long. Many of us DVC-ers make plenty of plans out 11 months or 7 months , as our DVC resorts allow. Some of us DVCer's are obsessive planners, and make many, many plans far in advance. Personaly I think 180 days lends itself to DVC.

So what if changes are made...it doesn't cost anyone anything. Disney has people making bookings and changes weather we call to make changes or not. It isn't as if they need to hire, or lay anyone off weather the policy is 90 days or 180 days.

Just my opinion though.

 

[lenshanem]

I think 180 and 90 is far out. Maybe 60 for ALL on site guests and 30 for off site. It is so hard to plan dinner PSs when you don't know the parks hours. Even 60 is far out to me. In May the prak hours weren't announced until a couple wekks before our trip. I had to move some ressies around. Even this past trip a week ago the hours were chnaged days before we arrived! I think making PSs are hardest in the shorter hour months cause you never know just how early you need to make that ressie, despite even worrying about Spectro or the fireworks times if you are so lucky.

 

[Terry S]

I also agree that 180 days goes really well with DVC. I always make my resort reserations at 11 months and start to figure out my Priority Seatings right after that. I think it would be nicer if they would announce park hours sooner and stick with them though, but I guess they can't do that because they base it on occupancy.

 

[Figment&Piglet]

In your collective opinions, is it still worth writing an e-mail to MS and WDW Guest Comm.? I finally found some time, and since I was still steaming was getting ready to craft something, when I revisited this thread -- now it seems the consensus is that the policy change is not going to go into effect after all (at least, the 180/90 version). Do we know that to be true? Should I still write, just in case?

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by Figment&Piglet
In your collective opinions, is it still worth writing an e-mail to MS and WDW Guest Comm.? I finally found some time, and since I was still steaming was getting ready to craft something, when I revisited this thread -- now it seems the consensus is that the policy change is not going to go into effect after all (at least, the 180/90 version). Do we know that to be true? Should I still write, just in case?

I would still write if I were you. You could also mention the newest rumor and say you are happy they listened if it's true.

You never know; since they the new policy says "until further notice" they could still do something that might upset people again.

 

[timC]

A 180 day window might actually work in a DVCer's favor. I'm guessing that DVC members book travel plans farther ahead than your average WDTC guest.

At 180s out, there many be more DVC members than WDTC members with firm travel plans to make PS arrangements against.

 

[BCV23]

I plan way ahead too including our PSs but I personally like 90 days for all dining. It used to like that some years ago and it was a great benchmark to reach. The excitement would really start to build after that call. Half a year is a little too far out to get really excited for me. I'll still plan ahead though. Definetly part of the fun.

Although I liked it when WDW guests were able to book ahead and off-site guests weren't I remember someone telling me that they were forced to stop that practice? Don't remember who anymore? I suppose WDW dining though.

 

[crisi]

I agree it should be good for the majority of DVCers if they went to 180 days.

A lot of people on this board have gotten to the point with the parks that the parks happen on their schedule. If they need to leave the parks before close to get dinner, that would be fine. Since many of us don't do commando, many of us plan our vacations around "next time, Flying Fish and Boma for sure!"

But I like the consistancy. We are also caught in the "waiting for 60 days" to make the final PS of our October trip. Since most of our meals are resort meals or Epcot meals - it was nice to make one phone call.

 

[BCV23]

We've always vacationed that way Crisi and you bet our resort and Epcot dinners are the beginning of our planning rather than an afterthought. I just used to like 90 days out. Who knows, maybe 10 years from now I'll be fondly remembering "the good old 120 mark."