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

[minniebeth]

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.

I made my ADRs by phone (my +10 window won't open up) but I just retrieved my ADRs on-line, no problem...just make sure to add the ADR conf. #, not the resort conf. #...

 

[posh*tots* resale]

AMEN!!

I was up this morning at 4:45 a.m. (Chicago time) so I was all ready, computer warmed up, etc. Here I was thinking that at 5 a.m. I would have a 1 hour head start on my online ADR's than those people who called in at 6 a.m. to phone in their ADR's. I thought FOR SURE I'd get a LeCellier dinner. NOPE!! NA DA!! NUTHIN the entire week of 9/20-9/27. Just not fair! I couldn't even pick up a decent CRT at MK for lunch until the VERY last day of our vacation. I thought that I would get CRT, at the very least on either the 1st or 2nd day we had planned for MK. Very disheartening! Back in 2007 we had free dining & went in Sept and had NO problems getting ADR's. DISNEY needs to bring back the 180 day ressie window!!!!

 

[vicki_c]

It's frustrating, but the online system doesn't work any differently than calling on the phone for what you described. You could still call on the phone and make ADRs for the same place on Mon, Weds, Fri. and they wouldn't question it. I don't see how the online thing plays into it at all.

As for the Le Cellier thing, you are hampered by the fact that you are only going for 5 days in a sense. Anyone arriving 5 days or less before you has already had the chance to book all of the dates of your trip. If you were going for 10 days, you would have a better chance of getting a Le Cellier towards the end of your trip. It is the most popular restaurant at WDW right now, I believe - or equal to CRT - I'm not even sure CRT is as popular as it once was - Le Cellier is the "it" place for 2008 and 2009. It was good, but not that good!

 

[ga9497]

It is an known issue that Disney is woking on. DVC members are having the same issue and they don't have the option of booking through a TA

It isn't the fault of your TA and no one knew this was going to be an issue ahead of time. So why should your TA be punished and lose the booking for something they have no control over.

Many people that had the same issue didn't have any problems calling in at 7am to make their ADR's. Others had their TA's make them at 6am when the TA site is available. If the online dining hadn't become available last week you would have still had to either call in or have your TA do them for you.

See sticky thready above - page 1 has information

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Be careful for what you wish.
2) Many, many people wanted online ADR's.
3) Now they have it.
4) Minds might start to change.
5) Especailly since there are other hidden priorities.

 

[mollygirl13]

I called at 7AM (90 days out) on the dot and got through within 10 minutes. Couldn't get 'OHana dinner during my trip (we're only going for 5 days). They had nothing and I was flexible with my dates and times.

However, the online system came through for me!! I checked everyday for a week and something opened up. (Maybe you could do the same-keep calling or checking online for a cancellation)

Now, I truly see your point about people taking advantage of the system & double booking themselves. I'm sure it happens and its very dishonest. But hopefully there are more honest folks out there who will cancel the ADR's they do not want or need.

 

[ga9497]

I personally love the new ADR system and hope it is around to stay. Just because you weren't able to get the restaurant you wanted isn't the issue of the online ADR's. It has to do with people checking in before you and having had access to book that same restaurant before you were able to call in. That is how the system works.

Last year during free dining Le Cellier was just as hard to get and there wasn't an option of online dining at that time. It is just luck of the draw.


Rusty - I hope you pass along that there are MANY of us that LOVE the online dining system.

 

[JERME81]

It has to do with people checking in before you and having had access to book that same restaurant before you were able to call in. That is how the system works.

But then that person who checked in before me could have lost out as well because the person who checked in before them, and before them, and so on could have booked up the ADR's. So, may I ask, what is your solution?

 

[tami82]

I think the system is great. I booked almost a month ago and got everything i wanted but some times werent that great. Since last week i have been able to get two things that i really wanted. For example a few mornings ago there was a whole block of dates & times which had opened up for SciFi when days before that they were totally booked. I remember a CM telling me sometimes they open up blocks of time little by little so this must have been what happened here, i dont know why they do that. This morning i was lucky enough to get Ohana at 5:05 instead of 8:10 which i originally had probably someone had cancelled on this one and i just got lucky. I agree im sure some people are booking more than they need because they dont know as of now which isnt very nice for everyone else. I do have to say that even when i make a change and have another thing within hours of each other, i make sure i cancel one of them within the end of the day as i dont want to hold anyone up. i think there should be some kind of system that if you do have two things around the same time one gets bumped off during a certain period of time if the other isnt cancelled.

 

[ga9497]

But then that person who checked in before me could have lost out as well because the person who checked in before them, and before them, and so on could have booked up the ADR's. So, may I ask, what is your solution?

I wish I knew but this has happened to me too and it is luck of the draw as far as what is available at any given time. Le Cellier is a very small restaurant compared to the % of people that try and make a reservation there.

My solution would be to make the restaurant larger but I don't know if that is a possibility

 

[JERME81]

I wish I knew but this has happened to me too and it is luck of the draw as far as what is available at any given time. Le Cellier is a very small restaurant compared to the % of people that try and make a reservation there.

My solution would be to make the restaurant larger but I don't know if that is a possibility

Sorry for your bad luck. It would be nice if they made the restaurant bigger, but then it would probably take away the charm of it. I think I will keep calling every day and maybe something will open up.

 

[sjms71]

I made my ADRs by phone (my +10 window won't open up) but I just retrieved my ADRs on-line, no problem...just make sure to add the ADR conf. #, not the resort conf. #...

I tried this and it didn't work for me? I'm going to try again.

 

[Dreaming~of~Disney]

I'm sorry you didn't get the restaurants you wanted but I don't think it has anything to do with online booking vs. call in booking. I used both when making my reservations on Saturday. I lucked out and was able to get every restaurant I wanted but that is what is is - luck. People can double book by calling in too so really doing it online or calling in doesn't make a difference. Just keep trying and something may open up. When we went in 2007 I wanted Le Cellier so bad and couldn't get it but a ressie at Coral Reef opened up and it was really good. I hope it all works out for you!

 

[letstalkboutdisney]

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.

Thank you!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I agree that most likely people are over booking for themselves.

I also think that part of the problem is that with the FD promo a lot more people are going and will fully utilize the DDP. Myself included. We are only going again this year because of FD. My hubby doesn't love WDW the way I do but he loves to eat so he was all in when I mentioned the DDP.

I did OK with my ADR's. I had to call in because it was the week before the online system started up. On the first call I got 6 of my first choice's and 2 of my second choice's out of 8 total and all are within 10-20 minutes of my desired time. I had to call back 5 more time to get my last one. They did have some major computer issues over those 4-5 days. They kept telling me they couldn't book any dinner shows for that one day. I got that story for 4 days and then on day 5 the shows were all sold out. Then on my last call everything was available, all shows and all categories.

 

[steve76]

Disney assumes a certain number of no-shows each night, which I understand they adjust seasonally. Therefore, if as a result of the online ADR system, many more people book reservations that they don't use, they will simply allow for that and make more slots available. So, once the system has had time to settle in, I don't think that there should be an appreciable difference. (I know that doesn't help in the short term though)

[To be absolutely clear - I am not in any way condoning making reservations and not using them. It's very naughty. ]

I'm not jazzed up about the ADR system as it doesn't let us Johnny foreigners make reservations online in the "+10" window, so I'm still lumbered with making expensive international calls. But that's a whole other rant. Grrr.

 

[kadee_29]

I made my ADRs by phone (my +10 window won't open up) but I just retrieved my ADRs on-line, no problem...just make sure to add the ADR conf. #, not the resort conf. #...

I tried this and it didn't work for me? I'm going to try again.

Can someone explain to me how to do this?? I have tried to figure it out and it won't pull anything up for me.


ETA~~ Nevermind. I figured it out.

 

[UK Princess]

I'm not jazzed up about the ADR system as it doesn't let us Johnny foreigners make reservations online in the "+10" window, so I'm still lumbered with making expensive international calls. But that's a whole other rant. Grrr.

Yeah me too!!!!

I rang Disney UK today asking about online ADRs and they told me that they are only for the US customers plus she offered to put me through to dining even tho I had told her I'm not 90 days out until Weds AND she told me online ADRs start at 7 EST which we all know they don't

so grrrrrrrrrrr from me too!!!!

 

[JERME81]

I almost wonder if I selected the wrong travel dates. I'll be there 9/19-9/26. It seems like its going to be busy since all the restaurants are booking up fast. I can only hope that the lines will be low because all the free diners will be in restaurants and not in line.

I'm at least happy with some of the other ADR's I did get. I'm going to Yachtsman Steakhouse, Teppan Edo, Tutto Itialia, Sci-Fi (although its 8:30 pm), and Captains Grill.

 

[LimoFam5]

HELP.....at what time on the 90th day will you be able to start making your dining reservations online....if my 90th day is July 19th can I go online at 12am that day and start making reservations?
Please also advise what time zone?