Overbooking ADR's without cancelling

[jjarman]

I also agree that one way to stop people from hogging ADR's is to have a credit card to hold with a cancellation fee. Do people that make multiple ADR's realize that they are creating the problem and that is why we have to make our meal plans so far in advance in hopes to have a decent time for a sit down dinner? If you only book what you want and will use, and cancel as far in advance as possible when you decide you do not want the ADR, then you wouldn't need to make multiple ADR's. There would be enough to go around and it could mean (gasp!) being able to wait until the day of to make the necessary ADR.

Part of planning to me is trying to figure out what park we want to go to each day and what restaurants we want to eat at that day. But, I actually would enjoy it as much, if not more, if we could have just a general idea of what we want to do and be able to wait until we actually are down there to decide and make changes if we want. Not being tied to a schedule sometimes would be nice because then you don't have to worry about if the line for a particular ride is going to be to long for you to fit in one more thing before you have to leave to get to your ADR in time.

Okay, I'll get off my soup box now!

I don't believe a few people, relatively speaking, getting more than one ADR at a time is making it that hard for everyone to get their ADRs. I remember on several occasions when we were at WDW at springbreak in 2005 when they had the meal plan (don't remember if it was free or not) we had some ADRs but then plans would change, I would cancel, and have no trouble booking another ADR for a couple of hours away. Either lots of people were cancelliing ADRs or they were not taken at all.

 

[bdklein]

I did it last month for dinners, and I will do it again for our next trip. We were staying at the Poly. I made one ADR for a monorail hotel, and 1 for a Theme park. I didn't know where we would be when I made the ADR's months in advance, and with 2 young kids I needed the options. However, I did call each afternoon and cancelled the one reservation we would not be using. To not cancel is wrong.

 

[Mickey1122]

brerrabbit-Please don't tell me that I have to grow up when the majority of the posters here are having a cow about a few extra ADRs. They need to grow up. Also, what motive would I have for lying about my family making extra ADRs? We choose retaurants together as a family. I hope that you believe me, because if you think that people my age are liars, I can't help you. What matters is that, as a family, we make some extra ADRs, and at this point, it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks of it. And lots of nice restaurants do have lots of availability just before trips. Maybe you should try before your next trip. You might not get the best time, but you will get the restaurants you want. I am not lying.

 

[Mariposa]

I did it last month for dinners, and I will do it again for our next trip. We were staying at the Poly. I made one ADR for a monorail hotel, and 1 for a Theme park. I didn't know where we would be when I made the ADR's months in advance, and with 2 young kids I needed the options. However, I did call each afternoon and cancelled the one reservation we would not be using. To not cancel is wrong.

Oh yeah, that's just fine. I mean, you told both restuarants you'd be there, locked another family out of an ADR and then canceled at the last minute- yeah, sure, a walk up got the table (maybe).. but there were people trying to get into both the restaurants when you made the ADRs in the first place- one of which you KNEW BEFOREHAND you would break. I mean, if the family you may have LOCKED OUT by making more than one ADR for a SINGLE MEAL can decide where they want to eat at 180 days, that doesn't mean YOU should have to.

(And that's not just for you, sorry- that's for the entire rash of new posters who think it's okay.)

 

[Mariposa]

brerrabbit-Please don't tell me that I have to grow up when the majority of the posters here are having a cow about a few extra ADRs. They need to grow up. Also, what motive would I have for lying about my family making extra ADRs? We choose retaurants together as a family. I hope that you believe me, because if you think that people my age are liars, I can't help you. What matters is that, as a family, we make some extra ADRs, and at this point, it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks of it. And lots of nice restaurants do have lots of availability just before trips. Maybe you should try before your next trip. You might not get the best time, but you will get the restaurants you want. I am not lying.

Of course it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of what you do. The very fact that you would deny other people access to a restaurant just because you don't want to have to plan PROVES you're not going to care in the least about anyone else's wishes or opinions.

Oh, and the people here annoyed with your "logic" do not need to grow up, and are not having cows over a "few extra ADRs." What we are is flabbergasted that your family would think they're entitled to do things Disney Dining says is wrong, that put a damper on the plans of others, SIMPLY because they don't want to have to make the same decisions EVERY SINGLE OTHER GUEST THAT MAKES ADRs IS EXPECTED TO MAKE. I mean, it's common courtesy.. The fact that other people don't make multiple bookings is why your family CAN overbook- how would you like it if everyone thought like you about this issue?

 

[hockeymomoftwo]

maybe I'm going about this whole adr thing wrong. I was planning on being at my restaurant instead of in line or wherever else. I was planning on having my 2 small children at that restaurant also which meant going to the hotel in the afternoon for a rest so that they would be decent to take to a restaurant. So I should just book several things and just do what the mood strikes me heck with other peoples needs. Sounds good. Off to check out restaurant board so I can start making some other adr's because now I'm really feeling indecisive.

 

[Sammie]

I just read through this entire thread for the first time.

I didn't read a single post where anyone defending or justifying making multiple ADR's had an argument that held even a thimblefull of water... other than "I want my way to the detrement of someone else."

*sigh* I sure do miss civility.

yep, that about sums it up.

 

[english rose 47]

This ties right into another thread about making ADR's online or rather not being able to. Can you imagine what these doble , triple ADR people would do if that was available. Disney really needs to look into this practise. It's not fair to others!

 

[CelestriaSky]

We are taking our first Disney vacation August 31 - September 6 (yay!). That being said, I researched a lot of restaurants on here as well as allearsnet.com and talked to friends about my choices. I wanted to make sure I had them all squared away. I'm still nervous about where we are going to be parkwise and where our ADR's are going to be, but oh well - right? We can make it work. It *never* entered my mind to make multiple reservations. I think that is horribly rude, not to mention selfish.

Has anyone thought that if the system continues to be abused, maybe Disney will stop taking ADR's all together. Make it a first-come, first-served type of thing. Then they won't have to worry about double reservations, credit card holds, empty tables, and major headaches. As the saying goes "a few bad apples usually spoil the bunch". Sad but true

 

[ajksmom]

Wow....

For the record I had never made an ADR at WDW before this upcoming trip came about with free dining.

Couldn't get started with the planning, came to the DIS - asked how others went about planning where to eat months in advance. Printed out the park hours, checked the menus out at allearsnet.com and in eight days I had booked one ADR per day for my family. I wasn't able to secure everything that I wanted. But I've got a list going for next time

Programmed wdw dining's phone number into my cell phone in case any issues come up when I'm there and I'm running late or need to cancel and I'm not near "guest services" in a park or resort when/if this happens.

I didn't make it inconvenient for someone else to keep calling and trying to get my cancellations because I booked everywhere/anytime that seemed like it might work for my family. I have put a plan into place to make sure that IF I should need to cancel someone else can be seated in my place ASAP.

Perhaps some others may want to give my plan a try.

 

[bsmcneil]

Mickey 1122, just some observations:

If you are in fact 15 years old then most likely your parents are making the ADR's, not you, secondly -you do sound like a 15 year old because as was the case with my kids when they were 15, they make a contriversial statement and then when they get called on it they back up and start giving a lot of reasons to back up said preivious statement. Third, I would really like to know if in fact your parents do make multiple ADR's or you just thimk they do. Lastly, since literally thousands of people go to WDW each day without any knowledge of the ADR system and would like to just walk up to a TS resturant or potentially make a same day ADR then how could you ever say that if you make them two weeks in advance then they are "up for grabs"

Saying you are 15 does make sense now. Your immaturity shines through in your last post.

By the way I am not slamming you, sending you hate mail or wishing bad thoughts upon you. I am merely pointing out the fact that you have some growing up to do.

Maturity is a two way street...maybe there could be a more productive way of getting your point across?

 

[disneykid4ever]

I had never even thought about making multiple adrs, at multiple restaurants, for simutaneous/overlapping times. I wouldn't have even imagined that others do it, until reading this thread. I admit I plan extensively for our Disney vacations, sometimes to a fault, but it's all part of the anticipation for me. Many people don't have any clue that this board exists and so don't have the benefit of all the great info that can be garnered here, but WE all do. With that said, I would have thought that those of us who peruse these boards would take better care in handling ressies, adrs, planning, etc . . . Generally I think the practice of making multiple adrs is inconsiderate and quite frankly, I would expect more of those of us who are full of Disney knowledge . . . and Disney spirit.

 

[melomouse]

Amazing this thread is STILL open! I posted way back on the early pages....

I am still amazed at the several who double and triple book and are filled with defiance and playground mentality when it comes to living by the rules of civilized society.

I think I have a problem. It's my own expectations. In my Fantasyland, NO ONE on the DIS is selfish, demanding or entitled to more than the next DIS-er!!!

Widowed mom here, solo trips with one DD and one socially impaired DS. Yup, we've had family and friends join us. Yup, we've had changes of plans. Yup, kiddos can be unpredictable in mood on vacation. Yup, lots of places I want to try. This trip or next trip or the one after that. No one foots my bill.

I would never dream of double-booking at any restaurant, and especially not at WDW. My DD9 knows that's not courteous or respectful. How do folks not understand this simple concept? Just because you CAN (get "over") doesn't mean you SHOULD!

But then, I don't go shopping, pick up six outfits, then return most of them when I "decide" what I really want.

Thanks to those who have make practical suggestions in trip-planning. To those who have tried to "explain" the simple concept of fairness, which is a skill learned by age 7.... well, meet me in Fantasyland!!! Let's have a meal. Anywhere. You make the ADR's. My heart doesn't break if I don't get into my chosen WDW restaurant on THIS trip. We'll have an great time!!!!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Amazing this thread is STILL open! I posted way back on the early pages....

I am still amazed at the several who double and triple book and are filled with defiance and playground mentality when it comes to living by the rules of civilized society.

I think I have a problem. It's my own expectations. In my Fantasyland, NO ONE on the DIS is selfish, demanding or entitled to more than the next DIS-er!!!

Widowed mom here, solo trips with one DD and one socially impaired DS. Yup, we've had family and friends join us. Yup, we've had changes of plans. Yup, kiddos can be unpredictable in mood on vacation. Yup, lots of places I want to try. This trip or next trip or the one after that. No one foots my bill.

I would never dream of double-booking at any restaurant, and especially not at WDW. My DD9 knows that's not courteous or respectful. How do folks not understand this simple concept? Just because you CAN (get "over") doesn't mean you SHOULD!

But then, I don't go shopping, pick up six outfits, then return most of them when I "decide" what I really want.

Thanks to those who have make practical suggestions in trip-planning. To those who have tried to "explain" the simple concept of fairness, which is a skill learned by age 7.... well, meet me in Fantasyland!!! Let's have a meal. Anywhere. You make the ADR's. My heart doesn't break if I don't get into my chosen WDW restaurant on THIS trip. We'll have an great time!!!!

I can only say Amen to all you said and you said it beautifully !

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i didnt read all of this but i dont book more than one place per night
adrs are tighter now with the dining plan and i would feel bad taking an adrs that i most likely wasnt gonna use

 

[Alicnwondrln]

guess i am the thread killer

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's a vacation people! If I was as compulsive as some people here about planning my ADR's then I could never enjoy my vacation because it would drive me up a tree.

But that's you. Speaking for only myself, I've been to Walt Disney World over two dozen times; there's little I haven't done/seen, unless by choice (Expedition Everest being the exception since it opened after my last visit); so yes, since I have the opportunity to try different restaurants, both popular and familiar, having the ADRs I want at or aound the times I wants IS important to me.

Since you get a TS meal everyday people using the plan feel like they are leaving money on the table if they don't have an ADR for everyday of their trip.

Not so much with the free dining promotion, but Guests who pay for the Dining Plan ARE 'leaving money on the table' if they don't use all their credits.

One of the realities of having ADR's is that you have made a commitment to be at a certain place at a certain time and due to the size and transportation options at WDW you sometimes have to not get in line for that one last ride before your scheduled ADR

EXCELLENT point!

Personally, I dont see the need, but with ADRs being available 180 days out, it is first come, first served.

Another excellent point! If most of us can determine four to six months in advance where we intend to eat and plan to be at that location at the designated time, there's really no reasonable excuse for not being able to make the same determination two weeks before you arrive.

I mean, it's common courtesy..

Have you noticed lately? Common courtesy isn't so common any more...

maybe I'm going about this whole adr thing wrong. I was planning on being at my restaurant instead of in line or wherever else. I was planning on having my 2 small children at that restaurant also which meant going to the hotel in the afternoon for a rest so that they would be decent to take to a restaurant. So I should just book several things and just do what the mood strikes me heck with other peoples needs. Sounds good. Off to check out restaurant board so I can start making some other adr's because now I'm really feeling indecisive.

Yeah, sure. Just wear t-shirts saying "Hi, my name is ___ " (fill in name of any poster here who does make multiple ADRs )

Couldn't get started with the planning, came to the DIS - asked how others went about planning where to eat months in advance. Printed out the park hours, checked the menus out at allearsnet.com and in eight days I had booked one ADR per day for my family. I wasn't able to secure everything that I wanted. But I've got a list going for next time

Seriously, keep trying. It's always possible something might open up at one or more of the places you wanted.

But then, I don't go shopping, pick up six outfits, then return most of them when I "decide" what I really want.

Oh. Oops. I did used to do this at the Filene's Basement Annual Dress Sale - but only so I could get to work on time, and I'd try everything on after work and return my mistakes the same day...

 

[brerrabbit]

kaytieeldr,

I don't have a problem with people like yourself that makes a lot of ADR's and enjoy a TS meal everyday, I say more power to you. My point was really to some people who get so wrapped up in it that they start making multiple ADR's for the same time or day knowing full well they won't make all of them. If you are doing that well in anvance and you cancel all but the one you plan to use then I say go for it. It was more directed at some people that are so overwhelmed by the whole process that they cannot decide and wind up heading to the world still having multiple ADR's. Everyone has their own style when going to WDW and my family's style is to make three or four ADR's and then wing it from there. That way we get a nice mix of days where we have to be a certain place for dinner and days where we can do what ever we want. In otherwords we get the flexabilty that some claim come with multiple ADR's without infringing on other's ability to get them. When a previous poster said they had multiple ones for every day of their trip they are in a way just being selfish. However I won't "slam" them because the system allows it and Disney obviously does'nt see it as a problem because they are not doing anything to change it. I say more power to them. I guess part of me not caring to much is that like yourself we have gone and continue to go to WDW and each time we try different places and have wound up eating at most of the resturants over the years.

 

[Luvchefmic]

We are taking our first Disney vacation August 31 - September 6 (yay!). That being said, I researched a lot of restaurants on here as well as allearsnet.com and talked to friends about my choices. I wanted to make sure I had them all squared away. I'm still nervous about where we are going to be parkwise and where our ADR's are going to be, but oh well - right? We can make it work. It *never* entered my mind to make multiple reservations. I think that is horribly rude, not to mention selfish.

Has anyone thought that if the system continues to be abused, maybe Disney will stop taking ADR's all together. Make it a first-come, first-served type of thing. Then they won't have to worry about double reservations, credit card holds, empty tables, and major headaches. As the saying goes "a few bad apples usually spoil the bunch". Sad but true

First let me say you must be Soooo excited about your first trip! Second you are planning your trip and your ADRs (hey part of the excitement is the planning right?) in a nice way and only good karma will come back to you Have a wonderful trip

 

[wic0721]

I personally think this is so wrong! With all the free dining going on right now....it's becoming impossible to get an ADR anywhere...then you hear that some people are booking 2-3 ADR's at the same time, the people who are legitimately trying to find a place to eat are being denied!!! That's just being inconsiderate and selfish!!!

But that's just my opinion!