New Way To Make ADRs Coming

[KerryCM]

I just returned from a wonderful trip. Before I left I received a phone call asking me to participate in a marketing and research interview. It was 1 hour long and I was nicely compensated for the time.

I was seated at a computer with a CM next to me. There were also about 8 other CMs there with computers. They are working on guests being able to make ADRs on line at the WDw website. I went through different steps and gave my opinion on each step. It was very interesting and extremely user friendly for the most part. The CM explained it is a work in progress and are getting guest feedback. All the CMs asked me questions at the end of the session.
It was a fun hour and was held at the BW Convention Center. We stay at the BWI, so it was easy for me to do it.

They are hoping to have everything in place sometime in 2008.

 

[Puncek]

This would be great, thanks for the news! And it is great that they compensated you for your time!

 

[MissionMouse]

Sounds like Disney is using guest to perform a part of their user testing which is part of the application development process. If it has made it this far there is a good chance they might even launch it, but management and system stress factors will be the deciding factor.

 

[petrymom]

What a GREAT idea. I would definitely use it!!!!

 

[Ilovestitch]

That will be really nice-- especially if after making your ADRs you can print out a list of all of them with the confirmation numbers.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Oh, yes please!!!!!! I would love to have an online system!

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I see a potential for this system being abused, unless Disney has already considered that and put something in place to avoid it. But what's to stop one person from making reservations at multiple places for dinner on the same day?

 

[peel]

I'm sure you'd have to log in to the site to be able to make your ADRs so they can set parameters that will only allow one TS meal per time of day (breakfast, lunch or dinner) each day per user. I suppose you can set up multiple accounts to get around it but I doubt many people would go to all that trouble.

I'm all for this system, it would be a great time saver.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Hmm..making your own adr's online, well then you have probably just put another person out of work etc. I just see lots of problems with it. What will the starting point be, just anyone, anyone staying on property who has paid for their trip in full already etc? Wow, hope they think of everything before they launch it etc.

 

[pilferk]

I see a potential for this system being abused, unless Disney has already considered that and put something in place to avoid it. But what's to stop one person from making reservations at multiple places for dinner on the same day?

My guess (and it's only that) would be that the system will only be available to WDW guests staying on property, with a valid confirmation number.

You book your ADR's bsed on that confirmation number. I'm assuming the system will have the same sorts of checks/balances it has now...not allowing more than the number in your party to have ADR's at the same time. Programatically, it's not that complex a limitation to put on the system/data architecture.

 

[shellybaxter]

I see a potential for this system being abused, unless Disney has already considered that and put something in place to avoid it. But what's to stop one person from making reservations at multiple places for dinner on the same day?

What's to stop that now. People will be able to "fool" the computer just like they can fool the phone CM. If someone really wants to make two reservations at the same time right now they simply have to use another name and phone number.

 

[rosiep]

Question:

I have booked my trip through AAA and am paying in installments. Will I have a valid Disney Reservation number before I finish paying for my trip? Or will I need to be paid in full before I can make ADR's?

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

What's to stop that now. People will be able to "fool" the computer just like they can fool the phone CM. If someone really wants to make two reservations at the same time right now they simply have to use another name and phone number.

I have double booked many times, for many reasons and right with the same CM, using the same name, phone number. There is no fooling anyone needed!

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

I have double booked many times, for many reasons and right with the same CM, using the same name, phone number. There is no fooling anyone needed!

 

[pilferk]

I have double booked many times, for many reasons and right with the same CM, using the same name, phone number. There is no fooling anyone needed!

Double booking is different. I've done it too...with the full intent to use both bookings: One for business, with co-workers, and one for the rest of my family, who were tagging along for the conference (because nothing beats a "free" room to justify a trip to WDW!!!)

The thing is...try to book 6 or 7 ADR's that way with a CM and you'll likely get a different response. And that's what the on-line system, left unchecked, would allow.

I'd guess it will allow only the number on your reservation to be booked in ADR's at a given time. If you have 3 people in your party, maybe you could book 3 ADR's for one person each. Or perhaps it will only allow one ressie, per time period, per confirmation number. But something like that.....

If you need something else, beyond what the system allows, that's when you'd have to go to the phone lines, so there would be some "common sense" checks and balances at the CM level to prevent abuse.

 

[pilferk]

Question:

I have booked my trip through AAA and am paying in installments. Will I have a valid Disney Reservation number before I finish paying for my trip? Or will I need to be paid in full before I can make ADR's?

I think you get a confirmation from AAA before you pay, right? Mailed to you? I know with WDW travel you do. Ditto with DVC bookings. I assume AAA is the same.

 

[dizplanner]

I don't see the system requiring a resort confirmation number to make ADR. You can make ADR if you are staying off site or if you are local. So a resort confirmation number will not be required (although it might be asked for so that your ADRs are linked to your reservation to make it easy for the resort to print them for you if you ask and for marketing purposes).

There are two ways I see they can go -
1. don't put any limits on it - although I can see it warning about double booking during a session - I had this case on the phone - I wasn't really double booking, one of my reservations was done on the wrong night - I probably said the date wrong (or the CM typed it wrong) but her warning me about the double booking allowed us to fix it immediately.
2. Require you to login and then not allow double bookings within a time period.

Frankly, you can double book right now. For people that have had ADR cancelled due to double booking, it appears that it happened right before the trip. In other words, you are allowed to double book early on when plans are still vague, but you can't keep them up until the day. In otherwords, make up your mind at least a week out.

I will confess I have some ADR double booked for early May. I am waiting to find out if the P&P party will really be happening and if I will be able to get a DVC discount. So I have two plans - one with the party and one without. When I know for sure what is happening, I'll make up my mind and cancel the others. It will be done in plenty of time for others to book the ADR.

 

[LilyWDW]

They are working on guests being able to make ADRs on line at the WDw website

To be honest, it's not 100% the idea of booking online that worries me, it's the idea of doing it on WDW's website. That has to be one of the most unstable, slow, and annoying websites I have ever visited. If the same people do the coding...

*shivers in horror*

 

[KerryCM]

I told the CM that I don't make my own ADRs, I have the IPO do it for me. As we were going through the booking process for a variety of different ADRs it never once asked what resort you were staying at. The places that need a CC# to hold the reservation, you were able to put in your number. You could also book the Candlelight Dinner package. You need to pick the time of the show you want to see first and then it allows you to pick where to eat. It will automatically tell you if it is lunch or dinner you are booking.
One of my main concerns was the website being slow and being down. I asked how they are going to handle the number of guests trying to book at the 180 day mark. They assured me it would be worked out before being put into use.
You are able to save the confirmation numbers to My Disney Vacations and also print them out so you have a hard copy. I did think it would be a good idea, if it works.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

I have booked my trip through AAA and am paying in installments. Will I have a valid Disney Reservation number before I finish paying for my trip? Or will I need to be paid in full before I can make ADR's?

Have you gotten an itinerary on AAA letterhead from your agent yet? If so, it should be on there. Otherwise, just ask the agent for it. They can give it to you.