New WDW dining reservation system creating a caste system?

[Nom]

Wow, have you guys heard this? I would be curious the feedback from the podcast team. It seems that the new Dining Reservation system is not only resulting in increased hold times, but it also has a built in algorithm that determines priority based on if you are concierge, deluxe, mod, value, TIW, and lastly, at the bottom of the totem pole, free ddp.

WOW. I am stunned that disney would be doing this- but it explains why dining reservations have been so hard to get at 90+10.

Read post 74 in the link before for more details.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2193916&page=5

What do you all think? It's another reason I'll be vacationing less at WDW, even though I am a disney-phile, if this is really true.

 

[sanapunk]

I'm going during free dining, but also am a TiW card carrier, too bad I can't just tell them i'll be using TiW but they can see the free dining when they pull up my ressie.

 

[LilGMom]

Where are DVC members on that totem pole?

 

[BriarRosie]

I don't believe this for one minute.

If you're booking at a deluxe resort but have free dining, would the free dining override the deluxe resort status?

I've seen this as pure conjecture on the restaurant boards. Travel agents who are posting there and using the new online system that TA's can use have reported that there have been no such tiers when they've made ADRs for their clients.

I think the ADRs are more difficult to get because the restaurants that are the most popular "bang for the buck" table service places have fewer tables for the demand. Character meals are also high demand, same thing.

While it may be difficult to get the ADRs at 90+10, there are sometimes openings last minute. MickeyNicki is doing a live food report, and she was able to get an ADR for 50's Prime Time for last night that she made at the last minute the night prior to that.

I am just astounded that people will forego a trip to WDW because of the restaurant situation. It just boggles my mind. I wish this rumor will die a quick death.

 

[Nom]

Where are DVC members on that totem pole?

According to the CMs who took the training, they are at the top.

I am just astounded that people will forego a trip to WDW because of the restaurant situation. It just boggles my mind.

For me, it's just another way that WDW is 'declining by degrees' (to borrow a word from Kevin Yee). Restaurants used to be a big part of my family trips to WDW, and the dumbing down of the menus was one of the reasons that I now go to wdw less. Others include:

1. elimination of E nights
2. reduction in park hours in favor of the parties
3. reduction in showing times for things like fantasmic
4. homogenization of merchandise around the property; less unique items in themed lands

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

 

[dalt01]

well......im not much for unsubstantiated rumor....but....there really is no reason to call at 90+10 and have to fight for a spot to sit and take times you dont want which is what i had to do and i called right away on the first morning. i can remember thinking that it was not POSSIBLE for all of those times to be gone and for no availability at Sci-Fi and no Fantasmic dinner packages left within one hour of the window opening. i am afraid i am going to have to believe this one.

 

[Schrute Farms]

Tiw?

nevermind I found it- Tables in Wonderland

 

[katscradle]

Where would this put us on the list for getting dining on out Dec. trip.
We will be staying DVC, however DH has a TIW card.
Does that put us at the bottom of the list for ADR'S?
What if I book the ressies in my name as I don't have the TIW card.
Will they still be able to pick up on this?
Will I have to resort to lying like I did back in 2006 on the dining plan?
DH and I had the dining plan in 2006 our first visit, we found that if we told them we were on the dining plan we got awful service.
So for most of the trip we lied till the bill came. Then it was like oh we are on the dining plan.

 

[jodiey]

How is it fair that someone who maybe can't afford to stay at a deluxe or moderate resort be put at the back of the line for dining reservations??

 

[miss missy]

I made my FD ressies a month ago. HOLD was forever!!! It took forever to get through the call. The CM wasn't a true Disney style either I remember the days when they were so nice and all. Nope, not fun at all.

 

[dbmarie]

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)

 

[robinbutterfly]

I can't believe they haven't gone to an online system yet.

 

[jodiey]

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)

How long did it take you to get through?

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

When I last made ADRs, I know with 100% certainty they did not ask if I was a TiW member.

 

[irunnoft]

I made my FD ressies a month ago. HOLD was forever!!! It took forever to get through the call. The CM wasn't a true Disney style either I remember the days when they were so nice and all. Nope, not fun at all.

Welcome to outsourcing with regards to Dining Reservations.

 

[irunnoft]

I called yesterday and made some last minute changes to dining and had no problems. I was able to add Teppan Edo, 'Ohana and Whispering Canyon Cafe for my trip that's 5 days away. I wasn't asked if I was a DVC member or whether I was using TiW card. I don't know if that info is stored somewhere or not, but I am a DVC member and we are using the TiW for this trip.

I mentioned this to the CM who was helping me with reservations and she laughed. She wanted to know if they also believed the rumor that Walt was cyrogenically frozen and buried somewhere in the MK.

 

[FireDancer]

I wouldn't be all that surprised if they implemented something like this. For those who care about ADRs it might be an incentive for upgrading to a higher tier. I am usually a value resort person but the only ADR I make is BOMA every trip so I would probably be fine. I don't really care about the restaurants on my trips and I'll just grab something quickly when I'm hungry.

What I would really like to see is an online system to allow you to do it yourself along with an integrated guest reservation system to allow guests to do more themselves online. Input a date, time, and number in your party and see every restaurant with available seats. Of course disney's online implementations leave a bit to be desired but a company their size should be able to figure it out.

 

[flyingcat2003]

Please Don't flame just stating my opinion .... I'm a little bias since I am a DVC member, but I think DVC owners should get priority when making Adr's. I think it makes a great incentive for people to buy into the DVC inventory. Call me crazy but I think DVC resorts should also have dedicated buses. Like I said I'm a little bias.

 

[maroo]

I booked a non-preferred room at the POP for 9 nights in September (a very inexpensive vacation for two adults! Food and lodging for $42 a person a day is not bad!). I do have an AP, but I booked a package, so I am not sure if they put two and two together on that.

When I called at 7AM, I waited for about 3 minutes on hold and then was able to get ALL of the reservations I asked for...

Including Crystal Palace at 8:05, Chef Mickey's, Teppan Edo, California Grill on Labor Day, etc...to name a few.

This whole rumor that there is a caste system is just a rumor. They have instituted a system that they COULD use to make it a caste system, but they are not currently doing it that way. It is just a rumor. I think the TA's on this board could confirm this, as they are using the online system already to do ADR's...is that correct?

 

[ead79]

Initially I thought it was a totally unsubstantiated rumor until I saw a poster's email from the itinerary planning office at AKL. Here's the post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32189470&postcount=77

And here's my response to this info:
Wow, this email really changes my opinion of this rumor. To me it really substantiates it. The concierge has no reason to tell folks this unless they had really seen the TIW discount affect availability.

All I can say is that if Disney does continue this, they will be getting some strongly worded letters from me. I am livid at the very idea of this! I had to PAY for the TIW card in the first place. We typically eat 2 table service meals per day, so even with a 20% discount, we're still making Disney more money than a guest on the dining plan. If this is confirmed by Guest Relations, then I'm sending a letter. This infuriates me! What really blows my mind is all the lengths that Disney seems to be willing to go to in order to make dining more profitable. If offering the DDP at the current price isn't profitable enough, then increase the price for it. Don't take it out on folks that aren't using the DDP!

Until this is hopefully straightened out, I won't offer up info about my TIW membership. I'll have DH call to make our ADRs since he doesn't have a TIW card.