New WDW dining reservation system creating a caste system?

[schoen]

No one has mentioned that people who aren't staying on property also make plenty of reservations. I called today to see if there was any difference and they asked for my hotel confirmation number, which they never have before, and I asked why. They said it opens up different entitlements... I don't know what that means, but I told him I was staying at BCV on points. There were still no le cellier reservations to be had.

 

[Mickey_Man]

So it's just another reason I will forgo a trip- not the only one. does that make sense?

It doesn't make sense to me. If you like WDW, go there. If you don't, then don't go. If you think free dining isn't worth it, don't take it. I don't mean to come off as harsh - i just don't understand posting that you won't go there when you really want to go there. It sounds contradictory to me. Am I disappointed in some of the things Disney has done? Of course - Fantasmic cut being a good example of one. I just think there are way too many unanswered questions and loopholes for this to be a real policy.

 

[rsbuxt]

I don't believe that this is the case. I'm staying at Pop with free dining and I got all of my reservations at the times I wanted and I have many hard to get restaurants ( LeCellier, Ohanas, CRT, and Teppen Edo)

Hi. Exactly my experience almost to the letter. Daughter & friend staying at Pop, got all ressies wanted for free dining (ohana, Chef Mickeys, Teppen Edo....) and no hold when making them. Service was as good as ever.

Rich

 

[Halbleib1]

I think it is possible that some people are not getting what they are calling for or waiting on hold longer because of bugs in the new adr system. It is probably taking the CMs time to figure out the new system. Heck it took me some time to learn their new website design and I still do not know where everything is. But if you take the time to look you eventually do find it. LOL Also maybe they let some people go and do not have enough CMs for the free dining demand.

 

[dpic]

The Cleveland Indians have a section of seats called club seating. For the price of the ticket you get service at your seat, you don't have to wait in line. The food is included in the price of the seat and is all you can eat. You also have choices like prime rib and custom made pizzas that the rest of the stadium doesn't have so for paying more you get a bunch of added perks.

When you pay for a first class ticket on an airline you not only get the nicer seat in the front of the plane but (depending on the airline) you get food that no one else gets. You get drinks that others pay extra for. You may even get your own steward/stewardess so you don't have to wait as long as the passangers in coach.

I have no problem with allowing those that are willing to pay extra get added perks. If anyone wants the earlier dinning they can upgrade to a resort that offers it. If you don't want to or can't afford to then don't.

Isn't this all speculation at this point anyways, seems a bit silly to worry about something that may or may not happen.

And people in a Deluxe can get room service while those in mods and budgets can't. But when the club seat people hobnob with the mere mortals, they gotta wait in line just like everyone else.

Again, I stay in a Deluxe, and I don't like it. There are some people who simply can't afford it, and unlike season tickets at a sporting event, a trip to Disney may be a once in a lifetime event. Why make them feel less important before they even step foot in the park?

 

[jrgutknecht]

.... I called today to see if there was any difference and they asked for my hotel confirmation number, which they never have before, and I asked why. They said it opens up different entitlements... .....

Okay, THIS I can believe.

It does not make sense to restrict available reservations based on hotel, dining plan or TIW because all you do is pretend you're paying cash and you get around this restriction.

HOWEVER... if they are holding back a certain number of reservations for people who are on the dining plan, or using TIW, or staying at a deluxe, that I can understand.

This becomes a benefit to those using TIW or staying at a resort, as opposed to a penalty.

Everyone still has the same opportunity to get the available reservations, but a certain number are held back for those who get an entitlement. However once the entitlements are used up, there are no more. I suspect the reason we're not seeing anyone say "Hey, I was able to get a reservation just because I was staying at a deluxe" is because most people making ADR's at 90 days are staying on property and therefore these entitlements are used up right away.

Every resturant I've ever worked in always does this anyway, they hold back a certain number of reservations for VIP's, owners etc.. As the actual date approaches they release some of these reservations for general use. If we look at these changes as entitlements rather than restrictions, then this is exactly the same thing.

I may be wrong, but I find it easier to believe Disney is adding benefits for certain guests, rather than restricting opportunitites for others. I guess it could depend on how you look at it, and if you're a "glass is half empty" person, I guess adding benefits for some is like taking them away from others. ?

Additionally, although several cast members have offered opinions on this and I have no reason to doubt them, I'm not going to believe it until either Disney announces it or Pete does so on the podcast.

There is only one source more "official" than Disney and that's Pete