Priority Seating: It has to change.

[lillygator]

I think the reason Disney may allow multiple PS by the same family is because they have no problem filling the restaurants. I am sure if they were losing money due to no shows they may take at look at the number of people with multipe reservations.

Without knowing for sure, I do think they overbook time slots - that is why most of the time there is a wait and they advise you to show up 15 min early. If you don't show up, it may be better for them as they will be able to seat the next guest in PS line.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

On paper. Now I have never in my life made more than one PS, nor would I ever, but like I said in an earlier post, Disney has to be aware it is happening. If they discontinue the process of allowing it, and you were to just miss getting the PS yesterday with people making multi PSs you may just miss getting one today, because for sure Disney would take fewer PSs knowing that the rate of no shows would go down.

You are absolutely right! Disney would take fewer reservartions, but only because they wouldn't have to offer as many. The penalty would prevent one guest/family from making three reservations. If that one family with 3 reservations for the same meal was forced by a financial penalty to do the right thing and only book one reservation, then that would open up tables for two other families at the other restaurants. Disney's current MO of not tracking the number of PS arrangements one family can make creates a glut of unused, bogus reservations.
For Disney, IMO, it would make more sense from an operational standpoint, as each restaurant could look at their list of guarenteed reservations and bring in the appropriate number of servers for each shift. Then, they could set up a true list at the front door, and give acurate seating times for walkups, instead of like now, where the hostess at Chef Mickey's tells all walk up guests at 7:00 pm, "Sorry, no more walk ups". The PS doesn't give them an accurate number, so they guess.

 

[tlbwriter]

I guess this just comes down to the fact that I live close enough to go RIGHT NOW. and others plan their trips every few years, or once a year. So PSR's arent a big deal to me. I see nothing wrong with the system. There is a system in place and I follow the rules. Thats as far as it goes for me. If we miss one... oh well we'll go another time. If something is full oh well we'll go another time.

Well, yes, that's probably part of it. You see nothing wrong with the system because (a) you manipulate it to your own advantage, and (b) the stakes are lower for you, since you are able to go several times a year. But to someone who goes once every two years, or five years, or once in their lifetime, and *really* wants to experience a particular restaurant, the stakes are obviously higher.

But when I went to New York, and tried to be a socialite and get into cool clubs, but I wasnt on the list, I still wasnt upset and it in no way ruined my trip. Is there are NYC board somewhere with people complaining that they cant get into clubs because they arent celebrities?

Without a doubt.

Im sorry if ive come off harsh. I just dont get getting uppity about this stuff. There are so many aspects of WDW to enjoy. Why nit pick your trip apart?

And why do you think it's appropriate for YOU to decide what other people should care about? Some people really care about riding a particular ride, or seeing a particular show. And some care about eating at a particular restaurant.

The bottom line is, your method of keeping multiple PSs prevents others from making them. You cannot argue with that. And even if it doesn't always prevent someone from eating in that restaurant, it does prevent them from being able to plan ahead for what they want to do. You obviously see the benefit of planning ahead, or else you wouldn't bother to make one PS, let alone three. Yet you are quite willing to deny this benefit to others by taking more than you could possibly use. You try to portray yourself as someone skipping happy-go-lucky through the parks, doing everything on a whim, and never concerned about not getting to do what you wanted on that particular day, because it just doesn't matter. And yet you need *three* PSs for one meal? Sounds to me as if it matters very much. You are obviously very concerned about getting to eat where you want, when you want. Or else, again, you wouldn't bother to make a PS at all. If a PS is meaningless, why do YOU need three of them? You can say it doesn't matter, because those without PSs still might get in anyway. And you can say you don't care, because you don't worry about other people's problems. But I find it thoughtless, selfish, and most of all, hypocritical.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I say back to the old way! First come First serve basis.

 

[lillygator]

What kind of penalty would be acceptable? I wouldn't mind paying $10 (not per person) if for some reason I felt the need to make more than one PS.

Aside from changing to one PS per person what other solutions does anyone see working?

I mean even if they limit PS to one per family per meal time you will still have to call ahead of time to make a reservation right? It may free up some spots - I would love to know the actual amount of people who make MULTIPLE reservations...I really don't think it is that many.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

But when I went to New York, and tried to be a socialite and get into cool clubs, but I wasnt on the list, I still wasnt upset and it in no way ruined my trip. Is there are NYC board somewhere with people complaining that they cant get into clubs because they arent celebrities?

Although I'm sorry you weren't admitted into any clubs in NYC, the policies of a trendy NY nightclub and the PS list at a restaurant in Walt Disney World aren't just different situations, they're in two separate universes!

To gain entry to a NYC club, like a PM or Rock Candy, you must pass the subjective opinion of the bouncer/hostess at the door. You must look a certain way, present a certain attitude or offer the room, in the club's opinion, something that the venue wants to project, whatever "look" may be.

At Disney, it's the complete and total opposite. You call, they give you a PS, hopefully, if someone else hasn't made three, with no intentions of keeping two of them, and they put you on the list. When you get to the restaurant, you're seated, regardless of what kind of image you project.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

What kind of penalty would be acceptable? I wouldn't mind paying $10 (not per person) if for some reason I felt the need to make more than one PS.

I don't know. What's your threshold of pain? $50-100 seems to work around here. Of course, the idea behind the penalty is not that WDW is going to get rich on penalizing no-shows. The point is to get the guest to make appropriate reservations for their party, not clog the system with unused PS so others are not able to get them. And if they cannot make the reservation, call and cancel in a timely manner. If you're not sure you can make a time and don't want to pay a penalty, hey, no one's forcing you to reserve a table, walkup and put your name on the list or eat counter service. It's just common courtesy.

I mean even if they limit PS to one per family per meal time you will still have to call ahead of time to make a reservation right?

Yep.

It may free up some spots - I would love to know the actual amount of people who make MULTIPLE reservations...I really don't think it is that many.

Who knows...none of us have the hard numbers so it's all up to speculation. The point is that all guests should extend the same amount of courtesy to their fellow guests as they would want themselves. Is that really too much to ask? I have a real problem with those who feel that society needs to cater to the lowest common denominator.

 

[greenyskp]

I found out some interesting things in this thread.

Im selfish.

Im a hypocrit

I have no compassion for others.


I have plenty of compassion for others, im not selfish and im not a hypocrit. Depending on where I am, there have been plenty of times, where Ive told people around us, about my extra PS's and asked if they would like them. And usually people are very appreciative of that.

I take advantage of all the times im able to go, and bring glowsticks to give to all the kids around me during the fireworks and night parades. I give extra fast passes to people, I advised a couple who was on their honeymoon that the front of the monorail was open and they should go there, the girl was so excited so hugged me, and they got co-pilots liscense's. I gave a little girl who was starting pin trading one of my pins. I always go to the dollor store before I go, and invest in 20 dollars in ponchos, and I hand them all out on the trips. I dont want a medal for these things, nor are they things I brag about, but for this example, im just letting you know. I work for a non-profit that helps economically vulnrable children get a preschool education, and I created a program that takes 10 children to Disney every year fo 4 days. The faces on those children when they meet Mickey for the first time are priceless. Everyone in the office marvels at my disney skills. And when we go for work, i make a few PS's depending on where we end up. And ALWAYS either give away the others, or call and cancel.

Yes, i am concerned about getting a PS so I, like everyone else, can eat where I want. Im sorry you dont seem to agree, and maybe I'm selfish. But I think im a very levelheaded and giving person otherwise in life. Its not my job to walk up to every park patron and make sure they undertstand PS's. Its not my fault if instead of nicely talking with the CM after they tell you their full, you walk away, telling your family its people like me's fault you didnt get a table. Im assertive and I will try anything to something happen.

And once again... If you go June-August, end of December and mid-march through april, you can expect to have issues with Priority seating. Because I RARELY go during these times. So its not me taking up your PS's. Its the rest of the world.

 

[Marseeya]

Who knows...none of us have the hard numbers so it's all up to speculation. The point is that all guests should extend the same amount of courtesy to their fellow guests as they would want themselves. Is that really too much to ask? I have a real problem with those who feel that society needs to cater to the lowest common denominator.

I just don't understand why this is such a difficult concept to comprehend.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

I don't know if anyone has already written this...but when I went last year, I was asked to give a credit card number when I made my PS reservations. It was not to charge me, but to ensure that I kept my reservation. I feel this is a good idea! Some people just make reservations to keep 'on hand'. I don't really think that giving a CC number would be a bad thing ince Disney most likely has it already.

 

[tlbwriter]

Yes, i am concerned about getting a PS so I, like everyone else, can eat where I want. Im sorry you dont seem to agree, and maybe I'm selfish. But I think im a very levelheaded and giving person otherwise in life.

You may be a saint, but you are still being hypocritical when you tell the rest of us that it doesn't matter if we have a PS, and yet you are so concerned about them that you hoard several for yourself, only releasing them when they are of no more use to you, far too late for those who were actually trying to plan their day. That's all.

Honestly, I wouldn't have such a problem with this behavior if you were honest about it; if you said "Yeah, it's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'll do what ever it takes to get the meal I want, to heck with the rest of you." But this whole "I can't imagine why anyone cares, why fret about not having a PS?" business is simply annoying.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

No, you do more than gather ancedotal evidence of an alleged problem through a relatively anonymous Internet message board. It is ridiculous to think that legimate research can be conducted through a web forum like this. But by all means, feel free to use forums like this to whine about Disney's alleged faults and inconsistencies. Some of us go to Disney to enjoy a vacation, not to find fault with every minor inconvenience.

I looked back through my post and I couldn't find anywhere that I posted, or anyone else for that matter, where there was any indication that Disney would change the system completely based on this message board, or even partly based on it. In fact, if they did, I would be a little concerned. As a matter of fact, I did say that when enough people complained to Disney, not to a message board, they will look into the problem to see if it needs changed.

I am 100% sure that I don't set Disney policy. I have never received a paycheck from Disney, so I can say with confidence, that I don't work there.

I also reread the OP and it didn't really seem to me like whining, but stating an opinion. And from my experience, the system does need to be changed. Most things don't bother me when I am at Disney, and this didn't while I was there. But, I do send Disney an email after each trip letting them know the good and the not so good that we experienced during our trip. I don't do this so that they will wave their magic wand and change their procedures. I do it so that they can at least be informed of it. Companies like to know what their customers feel they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. It helps them improve.

A good example of this is the early entry. How do you think Disney knew that their customers were unhappy about that being taken away? Do you suppose the executives stood at the park enterance and thought "gee, that family looks like they are really disappointed that they couldn't get in the park earlier"? No, it started[/B with Disney customers letting Disney know that they wanted early entry back. I bolded the word "started" because that is a key word. It means that they decided to take a look at the issue. It doesn't mean that they completely changed the park policy because someone called them and told them that they thought they should. Now, I could be wrong. Perhaps they read it on this message board and then decided it needed to be changed.

 

[lillygator]

I don't know. What's your threshold of pain? $50-100 seems to work around here. Of course, the idea behind the penalty is not that WDW is going to get rich on penalizing no-shows. The point is to get the guest to make appropriate reservations for their party, not clog the system with unused PS so others are not able to get them. And if they cannot make the reservation, call and cancel in a timely manner. If you're not sure you can make a time and don't want to pay a penalty, hey, no one's forcing you to reserve a table, walkup and put your name on the list or eat counter service. It's just common courtesy.



Yep.



Who knows...none of us have the hard numbers so it's all up to speculation. The point is that all guests should extend the same amount of courtesy to their fellow guests as they would want themselves. Is that really too much to ask? I have a real problem with those who feel that society needs to cater to the lowest common denominator.

I am not one who makes multiple PS and I always call and cancel ahead of time if I know we aren't going to make it.

I am just trying to see what other solutions everyone may have...I realize the point of charging would not be for profit but to make people adhere to one pp....

I've posted this is my trip update but I'm going to pinpoint it.

The priority seating situation at Disney is really bad and needs changing to allow others of us to enjoy our trips.

Right now, other than the Fantasmic! dinner package, you can reserve as many open PS's at the same time as you like with no financial penalty.

Example: During this busy time at WDW over the week of the 4th of July we had a horrible time trying to get PS's at restaurants for ANY time. We had 2 of them made ahead which was nice but as with anything you may want to add another one while there. We finally got in a Mama Melrose, and were told that it was one of the last 2 seating slots available and then it was booked for the day. Once there, we noticed that at NO POINT during our meal did the restaurant reach more than 50% capacity. It was very frustrating as Mama Melrose isn't exactly a prime popular spot and it was obvious people just got a PS to ensure a meal if they didn't find anything else.

I think they either need to start requiring a PS to have a CC reserved for it and inplement a financial penalty to cancel or not show up. Also they need to remove "SOME" restaurants from the PS list so that they are walk in only.

But do you know for a fact it was because people made multiple PS? As others have mentioned it could be half full of patrons because they are short staffed, etc....empty tables are NOT HELD for PS reservations....

and then I wouldn't mind putting a cc down on all PS...but then what would the cancellation policy be 24hrs? So essentially with that route one could still make multiple just have to ensure to cancel a day ahead??

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

You may be a saint, but you are still being hypocritical when you tell the rest of us that it doesn't matter if we have a PS, and yet you are so concerned about them that you hoard several for yourself, only releasing them when they are of no more use to you, far too late for those who were actually trying to plan their day. That's all.

Honestly, I wouldn't have such a problem with this behavior if you were honest about it; if you said "Yeah, it's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'll do what ever it takes to get the meal I want, to heck with the rest of you." But this whole "I can't imagine why anyone cares, why fret about not having a PS?" business is simply annoying.

Great point!
You've got to admit, it is a weird position to take, greenyskp. I'm sure you are a fantastic person, and from the looks of the pics in your signature, you have lots of friends and like to have a great time. Unfortunately, the hypocritical position you insist on defending is whats firing many of your fellow DISers up. I'm sure noone on this thread means anything against you personally, just this opinion.

 

[lillygator]

I guess WDW is damned if they do and damned if they don't.....

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I guess WDW is damned if they do and damned if they don't.....

Because you can please some of the people some of the time, but you'll never please all of the people all of the time. With Disney's ADR (PS) system, there is no way to make everyone happy, especially when a minority of people abuse the system.

 

[lillygator]

Because you can please some of the people some of the time, but you'll never please all of the people all of the time. With Disney's ADR (PS) system, there is no way to make everyone happy, especially when a minority of people abuse the system.

exactly....there will always be those darn apples!!

 

[civileng68]

Who knows...none of us have the hard numbers so it's all up to speculation. The point is that all guests should extend the same amount of courtesy to their fellow guests as they would want themselves. Is that really too much to ask? I have a real problem with those who feel that society needs to cater to the lowest common denominator.

This wins the "quote of the thread" award!


What's funny to me is, just look at today's society compared to 50 years ago. Back then, people were MUCH more considerate "on a whole" (yes there were exceptions). Today you have people making comments that they shouldn't make their decisions based on how it makes others feel.

To me the definition of "considerate" is just that: caring about others when making a decision. So basically that poster that made the comment in relation to that is basically saying they are not considerate, which is EXACTLY the problem with most of society these days.

Nobody cares about anyone anymore except for themselves, which also in turn is called "greed".

 

[civileng68]

But do you know for a fact it was because people made multiple PS? As others have mentioned it could be half full of patrons because they are short staffed, etc....empty tables are NOT HELD for PS reservations....

and then I wouldn't mind putting a cc down on all PS...but then what would the cancellation policy be 24hrs? So essentially with that route one could still make multiple just have to ensure to cancel a day ahead??

C'MON! Why are we playing dumb here? First of all, I don't even need to do the research. Just talk to people on here. Many people you talk to JUST ON THESE BOARDS will ADMIT it to you!

Secondly, I run a business of over 50 people and can tell you that staffing doesn't work like that. This past week was among the busiest of the year for Disney. As with any business, you plan staffing based on known business needs. The business need over the 4th is high. When this happens, Disney increases hiring AND more importantly, they reduce the number of allowed employee vacations. Trust me! If there are staffing issues over the week of the 4th, then maybe Disney is in real trouble. Staffing isn't an issue during THAT week. In fact, with the college programs and the pull of the name, I doubt Disney has a big problem with staffing, especially considering they've been one of the few companies in the last 10 years that have had the benefit of employement applications to have to freeze hiring instead of begging for it.

Also to other posters, regardless of what Disney has said they will do, or what they've done in the past (trust me they've told me they take walk-ins for PS no shows), they DONT or HAVEN'T BEEN taking walk-ins for PS no-shows. They simply tell people they dont take walk-ins. The only way you MAY get in is if you showed up JUST at the time someone else with a PS didn't.

Again, this isn't a big problem with the more popular restaurants as most people show, but it IS a problem as less popular restaurants. However that's where the problem lies, those same people who ARE going to the popular restaurant PS's are the same one's with PS's at the lesser popular one's and NOT showing up keeping us from even being able to go THERE when the popular one's are full.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Nobody cares about anyone anymore except for themselves, which also in turn is called "greed".

That is an incredibly broad generalization that I don't believe holds true. It's probably a small minority that acts in inconsiderate, greedy ways that tends to taint the experience and memory for many.