Possible changes to 2010 ADR'S

[KAB1]

I had a few issues with ADR's during my recent visit in June and recently spoke to an exec about them. My biggest problem was not being able to eat at the resort at which you stayed because restaurants were filled up and walk-ins were not accepted. She told me that they may be trying something in 2010. You can book dining 90 days out, but if you have a confirmed reservation at a resort than you may be able to book dining at that resort only 120 days out. She told me that they receive many complaints about this exact same issue, so this is a possiblity that they may try. I think it sounds good!

 

[Tiffany]

I had a few issues with ADR's during my recent visit in June and recently spoke to an exec about them. My biggest problem was not being able to eat at the resort at which you stayed because restaurants were filled up and walk-ins were not accepted. She told me that they may be trying something in 2010. You can book dining 90 days out, but if you have a confirmed reservation at a resort than you may be able to book dining at that resort only 120 days out. She told me that they receive many complaints about this exact same issue, so this is a possiblity that they may try. I think it sounds good!

Hi,
That is an interesting idea. I never really thought of that before. Would you be willing to share which resort you were staying at and which table service place you could not get into as a walk in?

 

[KAB1]

We were at GF and three nights could not get into GF Cafe, narcoosee's, citrico's or 1900 park. Dis Exec said they received numerous complaints from people staying at particular hotels, however they could not eat at their hotel.

 

[Colleen27]

I could see that being necessary/beneficial at the monorail and to a lesser extent the Boardwalk area resorts, since those restuarants do book up so quickly. I know that I've had times where I went to change something about my plan and couldn't get an ADR anywhere at the MK or any monorail resort, and I'd imagine that would be very, very frustrating for the people staying in those hotels. If they set aside a number of tables at Kona, GF Cafe, and the Wave for guests of the resorts where they are located, I'll bet they'd fill those tables consistantly and generate a large measure of goodwill among guests staying at their priciest properties.

 

[shellybaxter]

I think they will get far more complaints from non-resort guests when restaurants like Boma, Ohana and Chef Mickeys fill up with resort guest prior to the public having a chance to make ADRs

 

[DisneyKing82]

I think they will get far more complaints from non-resort guests when restaurants like Boma, Ohana and Chef Mickeys fill up with resort guest prior to the public having a chance to make ADRs

Resort guests should have first priority for their respective resort dining options!

 

[Piecey]

Resort guests should have first priority for their respective resort dining options!

I agree, but I also think only a certain number of tables should be set aside that far in advance.

I don't have a problem having some tables open at 120 days for resort guests, but the entire restaurant? That I'd have a problem with.

 

[maiapapaya]

I agree, but I also think only a certain number of tables should be set aside that far in advance.

I don't have a problem having some tables open at 120 days for resort guests, but the entire restaurant? That I'd have a problem with.

Maybe a better way to implement the system would be to designate a certain restaurant at each resort for on site guests to book 120 days out. For example, at Poly designate Kona, at CR the Wave. That way the more popular restaurants like Chef Mickey's & 'Ohana won't be affected for the general public, but there will still be an alternative for resort guests.

 

[KAB1]

I think that disney is just trying to make it fair to guests staying at a particular resort and also making it possible for them to always have a place to eat. I have a three year old who goes to bed early and most nights we just stay at the hotel. This makes it possible for us to be able to eat there.
I also think that it will help sell the dining plan, because people will def. have some places to eat at.

 

[Nikisha421]

I think after awhile all the ideas and new implementations just simply get too confusing!

 

[natalielongstaff]

I have to say i agree with the idea in principle, will be interesting to see how they implement it

 

[Colleen27]

I had a few issues with ADR's during my recent visit in June and recently spoke to an exec about them. My biggest problem was not being able to eat at the resort at which you stayed because restaurants were filled up and walk-ins were not accepted. She told me that they may be trying something in 2010. You can book dining 90 days out, but if you have a confirmed reservation at a resort than you may be able to book dining at that resort only 120 days out. She told me that they receive many complaints about this exact same issue, so this is a possiblity that they may try. I think it sounds good!

Thinking about this a little more, I don't think a longer booking window at one's home resort would really solve the issue. Other than Ohana and Chef Mickey's, and to a lesser degree California Grill, the resort restaurants don't book up that quickly. The issue is people either not making ADRs expecting to be able to walk up to something at their resort or booking last-minute, and changing the booking window does nothing to help those people.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Colleen27 hit the nail on the head.

This doesn't really help at all. How does opening up ADRs at 120 days help walk-ins for people staying at the resort? What they really would need to do, if this is an actual problem, is save 5% (or some number) of each days tables for walk-in guests staying at the resort. Or maybe open them up within three days for guests at a resort.

Personally, I don't think this is that big a deal and doesn't need fixing.

 

[KYMickey]

This entire thread highlights my biggest problem with the ADR system. It takes away any possible spontaneity in dining choices. How can you possibly know 90 days out that you're going to be tired on Wednesday evening and want a low key dining option in your resort, or someplace else in Disney? You don't, you don't make reservations that far in advance at home except for a very special occasion so why should you be forced to do it on vacation? The entire ADR system just adds a huge amount of stress to a vacation that are supposed to be relaxing.

You have to panic to make sure you're awake and on the phone (or computer) at the exact minute reservations open for fear you won't be able to go where you want. In addition every day you're in the Parks you have to worry about your schedule so you can be at the restaurant where you have your ADR at the correct time, god forbid you have a Fast Pass for a ride across the park at the same time!

Is there anyplace else you go on vacation that you make all of your dining reservations this far in advance? My guess would be no, so why should you be forced to do it here?

 

[Rip]

This entire thread highlights my biggest problem with the ADR system. It takes away any possible spontaneity in dining choices. How can you possibly know 90 days out that you're going to be tired on Wednesday evening and want a low key dining option in your resort, or someplace else in Disney? You don't, you don't make reservations that far in advance at home except for a very special occasion so why should you be forced to do it on vacation? The entire ADR system just adds a huge amount of stress to a vacation that are supposed to be relaxing.

You have to panic to make sure you're awake and on the phone (or computer) at the exact minute reservations open for fear you won't be able to go where you want. In addition every day you're in the Parks you have to worry about your schedule so you can be at the restaurant where you have your ADR at the correct time, god forbid you have a Fast Pass for a ride across the park at the same time!

Is there anyplace else you go on vacation that you make all of your dining reservations this far in advance? My guess would be no, so why should you be forced to do it here?

Because of the popularity of the DDP. It wasn't like this before.

 

[Mith]

This entire thread highlights my biggest problem with the ADR system. It takes away any possible spontaneity in dining choices. How can you possibly know 90 days out that you're going to be tired on Wednesday evening and want a low key dining option in your resort, or someplace else in Disney? You don't, you don't make reservations that far in advance at home except for a very special occasion so why should you be forced to do it on vacation? The entire ADR system just adds a huge amount of stress to a vacation that are supposed to be relaxing.

You have to panic to make sure you're awake and on the phone (or computer) at the exact minute reservations open for fear you won't be able to go where you want. In addition every day you're in the Parks you have to worry about your schedule so you can be at the restaurant where you have your ADR at the correct time, god forbid you have a Fast Pass for a ride across the park at the same time!

Is there anyplace else you go on vacation that you make all of your dining reservations this far in advance? My guess would be no, so why should you be forced to do it here?

OK, so let's scrap ADR's altogether. But, I think it would be far more stressful to have to guess what time I need to show up at Le Cellier in hopes of obtaining a table for dinner. Sure, it would be great to just walk up to whatever restaurant suits our fancy and get a table, but that's not realistic. I think the ADR system is a necessary evil, at least for the most popular restauarants.

As far as making the ADR 90 days out, that's never bothered me at all. I guess we're not picky enough people to be at the park one day and say "Gee, I don't feel like seafood tonight. I wish I hadn't made a Coral Reef reservation." And if we're having too much fun at a park or don't feel like dinner, then we can simply cancel the reservation or not show. I just don't see it as being all that restrictive.

 

[Hoyt31]

I'm am having the same problem at GF. I pay to stay at this hotel and can't even eat breakfast there. I tried to book my ressies 90 day out... no luck oh well it is a very flawed system.

 

[MagicMe]

The DDP isn't necessarily the culprit on this. I can remember being in Epcot (during a light rain) and going up mid-afternoon to the old kiosks they used to have to book dinner. We were unable to find anything except the buffet in Norway. they didn't even have the DDP at that time. This was even before the "food and fun" deal they used to have too.

 

[Condorman]

I'm am having the same problem at GF. I pay to stay at this hotel and can't even eat breakfast there. I tried to book my ressies 90 day out... no luck oh well it is a very flawed system.

How is it flawed? You had the same chance/opportunity everyone else had at 90 days out to get that ADR. Why should occupants of a specific resort be afforded better odds of getting a TS at that resort? So the resort withholds 25% of the tables for its own occupants; maybe the occupants book that 25%, maybe not; but if not, then that 25% gets released back into the system only to find out that the people who initially wanted it have moved on to other TS locations? That, too, would be a flawed system.

The only thing that should change from the way it is now is switching back to 180 days. I firmly believe the only reason it ever went to 90 days was to lessen the issues Disney would incur if they ran into trouble while installing the new reservation system. Now that it is up and running, it can, and should, go back to 180. Also, they should hold CC#s for every TS reservation with a 72-hour cancelation policy.

I think people sometimes forget that WDW is the single largest tourist destination in the world -- 50 million visitors a year. All things being equal, for every one of us who gets the ADR of our dreams, there are likely 4 to 5 families out there who didn't. Be grateful.

 

[Hoyt31]

The only thing that should change from the way it is now is switching back to 180 days. I firmly believe the only reason it ever went to 90 days was to lessen the issues Disney would incur if they ran into trouble while installing the new reservation system. Now that it is up and running, it can, and should, go back to 180. Also, they should hold CC#s for every TS reservation with a 72-hour cancelation policy.

Well I guess you agree that the current system is flawed then. Those suggestions would definately be an improvement.