Really bummed, help me out DIS'ers!

[kstgelais4]

So this AM was my 180 days plus 10. I got all my ressies except the 2 I wanted the most
HDDR was one, and I am not too overly upset about it since the CM basically said that the calendar wasn't up at all, and I see here that everyone is having this problem. What I am really bummed about, is that I couldn't get a ressie at CRT ANY of the 9 days we are there for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
I really wanted it for 11/29 as it is my dd's 4th birthday. We started from there, and proceeded to check every day. How can there be nothing available? We have a party of 8, and I checked on the online ressie system (which I can't use for our plus 10 because the system doesn't recognize our ressie because it is for 2 rooms) for the first day of our trip. There was an availability for a table of 3,4 and 5. I called back and asked if we could make 2 ressies, because we weren't double booking, but because that's really what we needed. She was very helpful (I guess) but basically said because we have 1 ressie number we can't book 2 tables. So we are pretty much out of luck, and won't be eating here it seems. It is really crappy that because there are 8 of us we can't book this ressie.
And before anybody suggest this, we have the DDP, and I really don't want to have my card charged in full for this meal when I have already paid for the DDP. I know we could make 2 ressies using 2 different emails, but it just seems really stinky that this is the only way around it.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I would call back & speak to a different CM. You are a party of 8, you should be able to book 2 tables of 4 if they cannot get you a table for 8. You won't be able to do it online under the new system but that is why you are supposed to call for these situations. I would call again ... and keep calling until you get a CM that can help you. Maybe even ask for a manager.

 

[wild papayas]

I ran into the exact same problem - party of 8 but we are in two rooms, also on the DDP. Today is also our 180 mark and I got all but CRT - which was my most important ressie. DD's bday is the 28th and we planned to spend it eating in the castle. I called to see if we could get two tables of 4 and the cm I spoke to said we can't book two tables. Seems very unfair to me that there are tables of 4 available but my party of 8 can't have two of them? Frustrating!

 

[Reddy]

book one under your name and the other under the name of someone else in the party(along with their cell #)

 

[ktlm]

Definitely do exactly what Goofyson'smom advised. You should be able to book 2 tables on the phone for your party of 8. The quicker you call, the better, as tables do go fast at CRT. If the next person doesn't help you, ask for a manager or try again. It was probably just the CM. I've had an issue before where the CM was not getting it "right", and I just called back and got someone else and everything went smoothly from there.

If you can't get that to work. You may have to wait until exactly 180 days out from the 29th, but just do what Reddy suggested. Book one table in your name, and the other in someone else's name. Once you are 180 days out, anyone can book a table in any name.

 

[kstgelais4]

This post is purely for venting purposes for myself, and informational purposes for everyone else.
This is what I have learned so far today:
Cinderella's Royal Table can not accomodate parties over 6 at one table. If you have ever eaten there as a party over 6 it has been done as a courtesy. You can not book a party over 6 on the online booking system, Nor do they allow it easily via the dining ressie line.
I called back a total of 2 more times this AM, and ended up with 2 ressies for 4 each. My husband and I will most likely have to sit at a table with 3 of our children each. Here is the breakdown of the info I got after I posted and my first initial call.
1st call back: Really sweet CM, who WANTED to be helpful. She actually said "I really want to make this reservation for you, but the system just won't allow it." I told her to start that someone I knew (of course someone on the DIS) had a larger family and couldn't get a ressie for her family until someone mentioned that if she split up the reservation they would be more likely to get one. Of course I mentioned that I understood the new double booking policy and that I really didn't want to get around this rule, just that it was my actual family (just split in half) that would be eating at CRT. She asked me if we booked 2 rooms. I said that we had. She then asked for the ressie #. I gave it to her, and then she said she couldn't help me because both rooms were on one ressie. (duh). She said to keep trying for the 8 top. I specifically asked "If I keep trying back there is definitely a possibility that we could get an 8 top right? I mean CRT DOES in fact accept ressies for parties of 8, correct?" She said "Yes, they have tables for 8."

2nd call back: Got another incredibly funny, helpful CM. I told her what had transpired in the previous phone call, and that I just don't understand why we can't split our party up into 2 ressies. It's not like we are trying to book 2 ressies at the same time in different restaurants for more people than who are on our ressie. She understood and asked if My dh and I are listed in seperate rooms on the ressie. I said that it looked like we were, but when she put the info into the computer it was coming up that both were in DH's name. She told me that we could book one in his name, and then put one in my name and pay for it. I told her I wanted to avoid that. I asked her if I called Resort reservations if they could switch one room to my name, and we could THEN book. She transferred me, but not after telling me that this change has been extremely frustrating for the CM's. In one corner are the people complaining that they can't be flexible, and the other people like myself who just can't get around the computer system. She also told me that CRT does not take reservations over parties of 6. So in my case I technically could NEVER eat there with my family.
Transferred call to resort ressies: She asked why I needed to put my name on the room, I explained the situation. I only chatted with her for a sec. She said hang on. Next thing I know, I'm being transferred again to a Manager at guest services who said she really wanted to make this happen for my family. She was the one who ended up booking the 2 reservations for us, and reiterated about a million times that we most likely wouldn't be sitting together (fine), and confirmed that CRT DOES NOT accept reservations over parties of 6.
So in closing, if you followed this far, be prepared to fight for a ressie at CRT if you have a party over 6 and one resort reservation. The new double booking policy has made it very hard to do this!!

 

[kstgelais4]

I meant to say, thank you all for your suggestions. I may not have called back (twice. ).

 

[Miss Ang]

So happy that it worked out and that you were able to get it booked!

 

[wild papayas]

Okay, I called and talked to a different CM. She said they could book two tables of four for us at CRT but the first table would be listed as DDP and the second table would have to be charged to a credit card. Then when we check in we show them our dining plan cards and they will refund the credit card charge for the second table....

 

[kstgelais4]

Okay, I called and talked to a different CM. She said they could book two tables of four for us at CRT but the first table would be listed as DDP and the second table would have to be charged to a credit card. Then when we check in we show them our dining plan cards and they will refund the credit card charge for the second table....

This is what they offered me the last time I called back, and when I told her that I preffered not to tie that money up, that is when i was transferred and spoke to a Manger. Not that I couldn't have done that, but it defeats the purpose of the dining plan, and why should you have to?
BTW, I hope your DD has a fabulous Birthday! My DD's birthday is the following day, which is the day we also booked CRT!

 

[ktlm]

Good Grief!!! That just seems ridiculous! They can see on your resort reservation how many people you have in those rooms, and that you have 2 rooms, so it makes ZERO sense why they will not let you easily book enough tables to allow everyone staying at the resort to eat! I'm glad you were persistent and got it booked!

 

[wild papayas]

This is what they offered me the last time I called back, and when I told her that I preffered not to tie that money up, that is when i was transferred and spoke to a Manger. Not that I couldn't have done that, but it defeats the purpose of the dining plan, and why should you have to?
BTW, I hope your DD has a fabulous Birthday! My DD's birthday is the following day, which is the day we also booked CRT!

I agree - I do not want to tie up money for the second table. We already paid for our DDP! I may just call the BCV directly and see if the concierge can help me like you were helped. Our room ressies clearly state 8 in our party.

A very happy birthday to your DD as well! CRT is the perfect way to celebrate a bday!

 

[kstgelais4]

I agree - I do not want to tie up money for the second table. We already paid for our DDP! I may just call the BCV directly and see if the concierge can help me like you were helped. Our room ressies clearly state 8 in our party.

A very happy birthday to your DD as well! CRT is the perfect way to celebrate a bday!

Just be persistent! I hope that they can help you too! Sending pixie dust your way!!

 

[wild papayas]

Just be persistent! I hope that they can help you too! Sending pixie dust your way!!

Your pixie dust worked!!! Called for the fourth time (7 hours of trying for this adr between online and the phone ) and finally got a super super nice CM who made the adr for me!

I told her how frustrated I was that because I have 4 children and my parents are with too, I was unable to make an adr at CRT for my dd's bday. She immediately said - no prob, we will just book two tables of four for you. Woo hoo! Sooooo happy that my dd will spend her bday in the castle with the princesses - her dream come true!

 

[mom2elle]

So happy to hear that it worked out in the end for you. Boy am I thankful I have a family of 6! We are eating there 11/27 for my dd's 4th bday!

 

[Princess Roo]

Wow - that is crazy. I had no idea!

Anyone know if they'll do 6 + a high chair for a child <1year at one table?