October 27th dining question

[LeahA]

Do you think that the Disney Dining Website will be able to handle the high volume of reservations that will be made on that day?

 

[pooh2001]

I hope so. I would assume there will extra CM's available at 7:01 AM EST - or the best rated CM's they have on 10/27/09.

The website may crash with so many hits - or you may think you have the ADR - to find out later the website crashed and your ADR was erased.

The way a database works - 'entires' are entered into the correct 'slot - by a key, such as Guest name, phone #, reservation #, park, restaurant, & time. Entries can be made during a time period as in 6 AM to midnight (day 1). Then at midnight the full database is updated and a backup file (full copy) of the database is created. The ADR database would then be brought back up at 6 AM EST (day 2).
If the ADR database crashes on day 2 (lets say 10/27/09) - when the database is 'fixed' and is available it will come up with the lastest ADR backup file created on day1.
(I was a systems programmer for 21 years before resizing)

We are in the same boat - calling on 10/27/09 for our Easter week ADR's.
I think calling will be more secure - by talking to a CM, they may have an old fashioned way of doing a backup, paper and pencil.

I wish everyone some pixie dust and may everyone's magic ADR dreams come true

 

[LeahA]

What do you think about the online system? Online, I was told you'd be able to do it at midnight. Disney dining reservations by phone will open in the morning.

 

[disdad70]

Based on the history of Disney's system I would say that a crash is all but guaranteed and that phone hold time will be hours long. no kidding.

 

[LeahA]

What time does the phone line open?

 

[bicker]

I don't think that there is any reason to think that there will be more dining reservationists on duty on that date. Dining reservations is not a revenue-generating activity, like hotel reservations, so it is not reasonable to expect it to be treated in the same manner as hotel reservations. The reality is that people who are persistent will obtain the reservations that they wish, and what happens on October 27 will have practically no real impact on patronage of the restaurants themselves, or patronage of Disney overall. Folks who fixate on that date and on getting the perfect reservations will set themselves up for disappointment, yes, but they won't amount to such a significant number of guests so as to constitute a major concern.

I'll be online and/or calling in that day, with my eye on some very popular princess meals, as a matter of fact. If I (when I) encounter troubles, I'll think, "oh darn it," and do the best I can, and then move on.

 

[DCDisney]

I think it will be crazy at first but there are different opinions on if they are really doing 180 days freee for all or if they are only doing 90 day or closer (like usual) and then 180 day reservations starting for dates 180 days out in April. If so many people between 90-180 days who think they can book won't be able to and will be getting off quickly. When you read the released info in detail it's not clear if it's just a full switch to 180 days or it's phased in over time. So in actuality it may only be the normal plus some 180 days people booking and honestly many don't even know they are going yet for 180 days. It will just be the initial confusion bogging down the system if it is the phased in 180 days and if not it will be pretty over loaded. We'll be down there then so I'm guessing we won't end up being able to cancel any meals we end up not needing unless we can do it at a podium.

 

[jaurban]

My TA will be doing the ADRs that day. (Online requires me to be on and ready at 5 am and calling is at 6 am for me of course.) She offered and said no reason for me to get stressed over it on that day. We have an Easter week vacation - so my inference is that everyone who is between 90 - 180 days can book Oct. 27, not just those 180 days out from that day.

 

[DisneyGrampa]

If Disney does not stage the 90-180 day group, then they are doing a great disservice to the guests who are stuck with 10/27 as their 90 day date.
Unfortunately, based upon my observation of their behavior regarding the whole ADR system, over the last several months, whoever is in charge of this area for Disney doesn't seem to be sensitive to the problems created for the guests. For example, if your 90 day date falls close to the end of a month, or beginning of the following month, you find yourself having to make reservations without the benefit of the park schedules, because Disney has been releasing them several days into the month, instead of 90 days, or even better, 90 days plus a week before .