Online ADRs Thread (Updated FAQ 9/9/9)

[maiapapaya]

I just got (finally!) a reply from my AAA TA who basically told I was on my own with adr's. "It would just be easier that way"....ya, for her!
She also said that the online adr's are only a trial thing. Whatever that is suppose to mean. Oh well, Monday I will be up and on hold!

Um, isn't making travel arrangements a TA's job?! Wow, wouldn't be using her again ...
I can't see that Disney would go to the headache of setting up the online reservation system (and having to work out all of the bugs), changing their website and rolling it all out publicly if it's "only a trial thing." Why bother?!

 

[heathere3]

Um, isn't making travel arrangements a TA's job?! Wow, wouldn't be using her again ...
I can't see that Disney would go to the headache of setting up the online reservation system (and having to work out all of the bugs), changing their website and rolling it all out publicly if it's "only a trial thing." Why bother?!

I agree, that TA would be getting the boot from me! That's why you use a TA, so they take care of the details for you. Otherwise you might as well do it all yourself and save the commission!

 

[amamax2]

Um, isn't making travel arrangements a TA's job?! Wow, wouldn't be using her again ...
I can't see that Disney would go to the headache of setting up the online reservation system (and having to work out all of the bugs), changing their website and rolling it all out publicly if it's "only a trial thing." Why bother?!

I am using AAA TA for the first time...normally I make all my own plans/reservations, but this time thought it would be sooo nice to have someone else do all the work....I even told her that when I first met with her. She kept emphasizing that it was so great to use a TA for just that reason. Well, beyond giving me a quote, she has been useless. She couldn't book plane tickets for me because we were using frequent flier miles. Despite being this office's Disney Specialist, she didn't even know about free dining, then insisted it was only for VISA card holders, wasn't in the office the day it came out (after I left a message and waited for her to call me that morning, I finally called back in the afternoon and spoke to a different TA who booked it for me), then informed me later that she doesn't do ADRs! So all she could really do for me is book my resort/ticket package - the easiest part of the whole trip trip - after I researched and figured out which resort, tickets, etc.

I will never use a travel agent again.

 

[sjms71]

You cannot check reservations made by phone with the online reservation system. You still have them, it's just that the system isn't linked that way. It's up to you to keep track of the reservations.

Thanks I wasn't sure since I put my ressie number in if it replaced them or I'd have to call to cancel original ressies.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Question for the travel agents...does the TA system also switch over at 6:01am EST?

Yes it does.

 

[sunny1016]

I am using AAA TA for the first time...normally I make all my own plans/reservations, but this time thought it would be sooo nice to have someone else do all the work....I even told her that when I first met with her. She kept emphasizing that it was so great to use a TA for just that reason. Well, beyond giving me a quote, she has been useless. She couldn't book plane tickets for me because we were using frequent flier miles. Despite being this office's Disney Specialist, she didn't even know about free dining, then insisted it was only for VISA card holders, wasn't in the office the day it came out (after I left a message and waited for her to call me that morning, I finally called back in the afternoon and spoke to a different TA who booked it for me), then informed me later that she doesn't do ADRs! So all she could really do for me is book my resort/ticket package - the easiest part of the whole trip trip - after I researched and figured out which resort, tickets, etc.

I will never use a travel agent again.

This has been our experience as well. She has been much more trouble than help. Heck this is the 3rd email I have sent in 2 months, and this was her only reply! She also booked us a rental and gave us no info at all. We asked if she had any info on one and she sent us an invoice that had a new price list for our trip with the money added on for a car.
What rental agency, what car, what times???....anyone's guess! We would ask for another ta but at our office there are only 2 and although it is truly hard to believe, the other one is worse!
I am trying not to be upset about the whole online adr's, I just hope our ressies work out. We aren't really trying for anything too difficult anyway.
Now I just need to get everything written down!

 

[PotteryGal]

I am using AAA TA for the first time...normally I make all my own plans/reservations, but this time thought it would be sooo nice to have someone else do all the work....I even told her that when I first met with her. She kept emphasizing that it was so great to use a TA for just that reason. Well, beyond giving me a quote, she has been useless. She couldn't book plane tickets for me because we were using frequent flier miles. Despite being this office's Disney Specialist, she didn't even know about free dining, then insisted it was only for VISA card holders, wasn't in the office the day it came out (after I left a message and waited for her to call me that morning, I finally called back in the afternoon and spoke to a different TA who booked it for me), then informed me later that she doesn't do ADRs! So all she could really do for me is book my resort/ticket package - the easiest part of the whole trip trip - after I researched and figured out which resort, tickets, etc.

I will never use a travel agent again.

Omigosh this sounds like my AAA TA - she's nice enough, but I know more about what's going on at Disney than she does. I think the only way I can book my dining ressies is myself doing it by phone - I hate to say this but I wouldn't trust my TA to do it correctly. She acted like she had never done this before - and she probably hasn't. Ugh.

 

[lovinwdw]

I am having a problem with Disney Dining online. I put in the date that I want to check availability, 9/22/09, and it keeps switching back to 9/20/09 and saying they have no availability for that date. Is this happening to anyone else? Even if I do a search for the entire week, it goes in at 9/20/09!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

You can make your 90 Day Advanced Reservations on 06/24/2009 FOR 9/22
http://www.pscalculator.net/pscalc.php

 

[tiggspring]

Sunny I worked with caylie at small world vacations and she was great. Got up every am to make resv. I even got illuminations cruise and there is only 6 slots per day! Call small world if u want ask for caylie and see if they can rebook you at this late date. Aaa is a joke!!!!good luck with ressies and trip!.

 

[ga9497]

I am using AAA TA for the first time...normally I make all my own plans/reservations, but this time thought it would be sooo nice to have someone else do all the work....I even told her that when I first met with her. She kept emphasizing that it was so great to use a TA for just that reason. Well, beyond giving me a quote, she has been useless. She couldn't book plane tickets for me because we were using frequent flier miles. Despite being this office's Disney Specialist, she didn't even know about free dining, then insisted it was only for VISA card holders, wasn't in the office the day it came out (after I left a message and waited for her to call me that morning, I finally called back in the afternoon and spoke to a different TA who booked it for me), then informed me later that she doesn't do ADRs! So all she could really do for me is book my resort/ticket package - the easiest part of the whole trip trip - after I researched and figured out which resort, tickets, etc.

I will never use a travel agent again.

I am sorry you had a bad experience but I can tell you that not all TA's are that way. With AAA you have to make sure the agent really knows their Disney stuff and is willing to go the extra mile. I have heard of a few through these boards but the majority do not.

You really need a Disney planner (Travel agents that specialize in Disney destinations) There are many that are mentioned on the boards. I always make ADR's for the people that reserve through me unless they prefer to do it themselves. I always offer and it is up to the person what they decide to do.

I hope you have a great time when your time arrives for your stay at Disney World.

 

[letstalkboutdisney]

QUestions:

1) Has anyone made the 90+10 work? Or is it strictly at 90 right now.

2) IF you've gotten the 90+10 to work, I'm assuming you have your resort reservation retrieved. Any DVC members manage to get THEIR reservation # to work. Mine definitely won't.

Hi,

Can someone please explain the 90 +10 to me?

Thanks

 

[Smithfam7]

I also have a friend that is arriving on the same day. She got the same results. Although it finds her reservation (9/20-9/30), the latest day that is selectable (including date range) is 9/20.

Has anyone gotten this to work when trying it on their 90 day mark??

I had the exact same trouble this morning. It found my reservation from 9/20-9/30 but still didn't unlock the +10. The only date of my vacation I could make ressies online for was 9/20. And what's worse is that we were camping. I made sure our campground had wi-fi available, but we didn't have cell phone service! So after I tried every trick imaginable to get the +10 to come up unsuccessfully, I had to drive 20 miles away to make our ADRs over the phone. And by that time, it was about 6:10am (central), so I was stuck on hold for nearly 45 minutes. It was quite aggravating, but with the exception of not scoring a Fantasmic Dinner pkg., it worked out OK in the end.

 

[ga9497]

Where is your Disney reservation number listed? I'm looking at the fax Disney sent my TA and I don't see any confirmation number on it. Just a client # and agency #.

Thanks!

It is the client number

 

[lesjewel]

is anyone else having problems with the website? when i try to do ADR online it will not come up

 

[kadee_29]

For those using a AAA TA, I understand. During my last planning process I assumed that all AAA TA's knew all about Disney and how to plan a vacation correctly. I was wrong. Very wrong. I knew all about Visa things before her and it took her days to call me back. When I started talking to a friend of mine about planning it myself she talked me into using the AAA TA that she has used. She has been on top of everything and even though I didn't have her make my ADR's (I was procrastinating so it was my own fault) she called me today to make sure that I had them made and see if I needed her to do anything. On her day off!!! I have a feeling she is one in a million though. At least as far as AAA is concerned.

All that just to say that I understand.

 

[siskaren]

Hi,

Can someone please explain the 90 +10 to me?

Thanks

90 + 10 means that you can call to make ADRs 90 days before your arrival date and for up to 10 days after that date. So for instance, if your trip starts Sep 20 you can call today (Jun 22) and make reservations for any date of your trip up through Sep 30.

 

[JERME81]

Ok, I'll probably get flamed for this but here goes anyway.......

I'm not all that jazzed up about the new online ADR system. The problem I have with it is that I think people will be making multiple reservations and not stick to them. For example: Le Cellier, lets say that a person can't decide which day they want to go, so they book Le Cellier for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. When they are on their vacation they decide to go on Friday and not cancel the other dates. But...the ADR system still has them in their computer for Monday and Wednesday for whatever time they set. So when you have thousands of other people doing the same thing, it makes it nearly impossible to get reservations there because the system thinks the place is booked. I know people probably did this before when you could just phone in ADR's but I think it is probably worse since you can now do them online.

I ran into this yesterday. My 90 day window was to book my ADR's was up. I tried online and on the phone and was told that Le Cellier was totally booked for lunch and dinner from Sept 20th thru the 25th. How could that possibly happen? The cast member told me that since other guests will be checking in several days prior to my checkin date that they have the +10 rule to make ADR's. I asked to speak to a manager and they gave me the speech that I need to email guest communications and they will add it to their log and so on. I plan on doing that but don't expect much out of it. I also ran into this for Sci-Fi, only time available on the day I requested was 8:30 P.M.

I understand Le Celler is a popular place, but I have never had any problems getting a reservation at the end of September. I know that free dining is bringing in more people but I have been during free dining before and never had any problems. Am I the only one who feels this way?

 

[lovinwdw]

I figured out the problem I was having. Even though my TA was able to book all my ADR's for me (our 90 day mark is today), I can't go past the 90 day mark on the website. I have to wait until later in the week to check availability.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

So apparently if you book with a travel agent you can not pull your reservation # on teh online adr system so you can't get the 90+10 days.
How overly fustrating is that?
If I had know I would not book through an agent and would book directly through Disney.
I am very annoyed especially since my adr time is this week and I was hoping to book online