On-line ADR Strangeness

[wbl2745]

We've booked AKV for 12/1 through 12/7 and I was looking at making ADRs. Now the 180 day window opens on 6/4, but I am able to make some ADRs now! I called this morning to see about the Hoop-De-Do Review and the CM confirmed that I can't make that reservation until 6/4, yet I was able to make on-line reservations for Le Cellier, Boma, 50s Prime Time Cafe, and Sci Fi Diner for various dates from 12/2 to 12/5. This seems to be inconsistent. Is the on-line system jumping the gun?

 

[Tiger926]

We've booked AKV for 12/1 through 12/7 and I was looking at making ADRs. Now the 180 day window opens on 6/4, but I am able to make some ADRs now! I called this morning to see about the Hoop-De-Do Review and the CM confirmed that I can't make that reservation until 6/4, yet I was able to make on-line reservations for Le Cellier, Boma, 50s Prime Time Cafe, and Sci Fi Diner for various dates from 12/2 to 12/5. This seems to be inconsistent. Is the on-line system jumping the gun?

The new system just went online this week - it's currently in BETA testing, and is showing some glitches like missing ADRs and early ADRs.

If you know it's not time to make your ADR yet, then why did you make it? Should they do a software correction, you may possibly lose those ADRs and have to start over again.

I'm not sure why you called, got the right answer, and then went ahead and booked anyway? I supposed it's because you wanted to cheat the system glitch, which is not right at all.

Tiger

 

[Inkmahm]

I just checked for our Dec 3 arrival date and I am NOT able to book online yet. The system only shows booking for dates through Nov 25th for me. I agree the base calendar shows booking through Dec 5 but when I tried to book a dummy reservation for Dec 5th, it told me to pick a day within the 180 day timeframe.

If the OP was able to book early, it has to be a system error. I would hope such reservations would be wiped out when the glitsch is fixed.

 

[wbl2745]

To respond to the previous poster.

The new system just went online this week - it's currently in BETA testing, and is showing some glitches like missing ADRs and early ADRs.

I didn't see anything that said it was in Beta test, although that may well be the case.

If you know it's not time to make your ADR yet, then why did you make it? Should they do a software correction, you may possibly lose those ADRs and have to start over again.

I'm not sure why you called, got the right answer, and then went ahead and booked anyway? I supposed it's because you wanted to cheat the system glitch, which is not right at all.

Tiger

As to why I tried it, I noticed on several other threads that people who were staying 12/1 through 12/7, like us, were talking about the reservations they were making. That seemed odd to me since the 180 day window for 12/1 is on 6/4, so I decided to try it.

Actually, I don't think it is a glitch. I think they've changed the policy. If you use the on-line dining and select a date beyond 180 days in the future, a small box opens up and asks you to logon. Then another screen comes up asking for your reservation confirmation number and arrival date. On the same screen is the notice.

Why you should confirm

Guests who have a Resort hotel reservation can book dining reservations more than 180 days before their stay.​

Hmmm... That seems to fly in the face of the 180 day policy. As of today the system will let me book dining reservations through 12/5 which is 190 days. It would not surprise me if Disney has decided that resort guests who use the on-line system get a jump on those who call in. The on-line system, if it works, has a lower overhead than a person on the phone.

An exception to this seems to be the dinner shows. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Review only shows reservations through 180 days from now.

Maybe when the Beta test period is through they will make an official announcement.

 

[Inkmahm]

Actually, I don't think it is a glitch. I think they've changed the policy. If you use the on-line dining and select a date beyond 180 days in the future, a small box opens up and asks you to logon. Then another screen comes up asking for your reservation confirmation number and arrival date. On the same screen is the notice.

Why you should confirm

Guests who have a Resort hotel reservation can book dining reservations more than 180 days before their stay.​

Hmmm... That seems to fly in the face of the 180 day policy. As of today the system will let me book dining reservations through 12/5 which is 190 days. It would not surprise me if Disney has decided that resort guests who use the on-line system get a jump on those who call in. The on-line system, if it works, has a lower overhead than a person on the phone.

An exception to this seems to be the dinner shows. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Review only shows reservations through 180 days from now.

Maybe when the Beta test period is through they will make an official announcement.

I still think it is an error. I tried it again because I DO have a reservation number for arriving 12/3 and it will NOT let me enter it into the "confirm your reservation" section to start booking yet.

Guests staying on Disney property CAN book (and have been able to book) more than 180 days in advance for a long time now. It's just that you can't start your booking until your arrival date is 180 days away. Then you can book for your first day and an additional 9 (180 before, 181 before, 182 before, etc.) But you should not be able to book for 190 days before your arrival, only 180 days +10.

Edit: According to a thread on the restaurant board, some people have been able to book early in the new system as the OP did. Many others can't get their reservations to pull up early (me). Who knows what Disney intends? Once again, IT seems to have royally screwed it up.

 

[wbl2745]

Refer to this posting for another update. It looks like the ADR window is at 190 days using the beta site. You need to confirm your on-site reservation.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

The new system just went online this week - it's currently in BETA testing, and is showing some glitches like missing ADRs and early ADRs.

If you know it's not time to make your ADR yet, then why did you make it? Should they do a software correction, you may possibly lose those ADRs and have to start over again.

I'm not sure why you called, got the right answer, and then went ahead and booked anyway? I supposed it's because you wanted to cheat the system glitch, which is not right at all.

Tiger

Oh, please...You've got to be kidding me?

 

[wbl2745]

No, I'm not kidding. We're arriving on 12/1 for which the 180 day window is on Friday, 6/4. I already have all of my ADRs and have had them for a couple of days already. The only things I don't have are the dinner shows and tours.

The URL for the on-line dining is http://disneyword.com/dining. Select a date using the little calendar icon and note that as of today you can book ADRs through 12/8, which is 190 days. When you select a date beyond the 180 day window a small yellow box will open up underneath the date with the text:

"We noticed that you requested a day more than 180 days in advance. Only resort guests have the benefit of reserving dining reservations that far in advance. If you have a resort reservation, please confirm it now."​

Click on "confirm it now". It may ask you to logon at this point with some type of ID. I used my DVC member email address and password. In any case it will always ask for a confirmation number and an arrival date. Oddly, I type in my arrival date (12/1/2010) and it changes it, but that doesn't seem to matter.

Now you jump back to the dining reservation page. Note that your reservation date has been lost. Be sure to type in everything again and make sure that it is correct. Also confirm that the time is correct. It keeps changing on me, even after I select it. In any case just make sure that all of the fields are accurate before you hit "Search for a Table".

Good luck!

 

[Inkmahm]

No, I'm not kidding.

Pssssst... it wasn't you that she was asking if you were kidding or not..

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

No, I'm not kidding. We're arriving on 12/1 for which the 180 day window is on Friday, 6/4. I already have all of my ADRs and have had them for a couple of days already. The only things I don't have are the dinner shows and tours.



I didn't mean the "you must be kidding me?" remark for you. I meant it for the "Disney morality" police. If the system lets you do it, GOOD FOR YOU!!!! Enjoy your planning

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

Pssssst... it wasn't you that she was asking if you were kidding or not..

 

[wbl2745]

Pssssst... it wasn't you that she was asking if you were kidding or not..

Ohhh.... I wasn't paying attention.... I'm so embarrassed.....

Don't you love on-line conversations and how they can go off in unintended directions?

 

[ToddyLu]

I would like to join the evil "booking before it's time club"!! Maybe it would help me get my ADRs three days before its time. I am very jealous of the posters that are able to get theirs done...it won't let me.

 

[Tricia1972]

You should be able to book once you sign on with your email address and a confirmation number.

There's a pretty long thread on the Dining Reservation board about it. HERE

It may be a glitch on Disney's end, but if you can get your reservations now you may as well go for it!

 

[Tiger926]

Oh, please...You've got to be kidding me?

I'm not sure why you have a problem with my post?

So, if there are glitches and OP's ADRs are cancelled, then what?

What if the system overbooks, then what?

What if everyone were to book outside the window, and then you are the guest who actually waited, and there are no ADRs left for you?

Lots of potential problems with this one...If it's 180 days, then that's what it is. Just because a computer system lets you book outside the booking window, doesn't mean one should do so. I did see up above that it may be 190 days, so perhaps that is the case?

Disney's computer systems aren't the greatest, so I definitely wouldn't trust it with bookings outside of the window.

Tiger

 

[Pumbaa_]

as henny penny said, what if the sky is falling

I say go for it. Disney should have a better IT department and better testers. This is what happens when you don't

No harm, no foul, take it as a gift from Disney

 

[Inkmahm]

After figuring out how to get into the new booking system, I was able to book all of our ADRs for our Dec 3-10 trip.

 

[sleepydog25]

Congrats to those who got the ADRs!

 

[ToddyLu]

I was able to get mine in as well for 12/02-12/08. Will work on 12/09 this evening. Tomorrow I will have to call about Hoop De Doo for 12/01 ( they will only let me do that on 6/04). It was difficult getting in for some reason but once there went OK. I have all of my email confirmations, too.

 

[goofy4tink]

I arrive on Dec 6...I have ADRs for each day up to the 9th. I can book the 10th today. If you can plug in your resort reservation number, the system should allow you to book, day by day, each day from 190 days out. I much prefer it this way. When you combine the ability to see all restaurants that are available and the times, with being able to book each day, from the 190 day window..it makes it so much easier. It levels the playing field quite a bit.