Reservation Hoarders - You Know Who You Are :)

[21stamps]

I booked CRT on two different days and then went back and looked at which day fit best for our plans and canceled the one that didn't on the same day. I see nothing wrong with "hoarding" reservations anyway. It's just like people who book a "fake" vacation while waiting for FD so they can book ADRs at 180 days. I'm sure a lot of people cancel trips if they can't get free dining, but also don't want to miss out on good ADRs if they can. It's just how it is IMO. I really wanted to book BOG dinner but couldn't and that's okay! It was only three days into our trip so some people had already been booking up to 11 days before that. It's seriously just meals. I get it's an experience but it shouldn't be THAT big of a deal. Use touring plans to get alerts for when they open up if you really want something in particular

I don't understand why someone would do that, like it could backfire on them. Maybe reduce the amount of discounts offered, or rooms included.
Oh well, plenty of things in life that make me a little confused...

 

[Paigevon]

I wanted to add: The hoarding late-droppers could be advantageous. More people are looking to book 180 days out, and if you're not the first to snag, they all go quick. Especially during busy times, free dining season, etc. Only those that are dropped or released will be available closer to the date, and only those with persistence can snatch them up. I've had a lot of luck using the reservation boards, touringplans, and stalking. It can be time-consuming.

Unfortunately I haven't had any luck getting a 1900 PF dinner for 6/1 like I want yet and an 8 AM pre-park open BOG for 5/31, but otherwise I've gotten everything I wanted for a trip planned about a month out.. If it weren't for hoarders or others dropping, I wouldn't even have had a chance for any ADRs.

 

[gmboy95]

I'm convinced that "hoarding" is a myth perpetuated by folks who are upset that they can't get the reservations they want. Every now and then, someone will post a massive list of cancellations (usually because they cancelled their trip), and that will be the "proof" folks use to further the hoarder myth.

it absolutely did not used to be a myth....it was the thing to do back before credit card guarantees...u could make a resize in every park and their was no penalty for not showing up....it absolutely was real

 

[1sttimedisneymama]

I don't understand why someone would do that, like it could backfire on them. Maybe reduce the amount of discounts offered, or rooms included.
Oh well, plenty of things in life that make me a little confused...

I think they do it to get 180+10 when booking dining. I wouldn't book a vacation I didn't intend to keep, but I know many people do. We did switch resorts though for a good deal (we got POFQ for the same as CBR was going to be)

 

[Aliceacc]

I admit to juggling a few ADRS a few minutes ago. They were booked at 7 am on the 180 day mark. (And, yes, we have BOG, but I didn't need to juggle that one.) And we got everything we wanted at that time.

Yesterday was our 60 day mark, and we were able to get the Jungle Book dining package. That meant juggling our park days. And that meant moving some of our ADRs around.

I'm not "hogging" anything. I have one ADR per day. I got them by abiding with the rules. The fact that our plans may change as we get closer to our trip doesn't make me a "hog" or anything else.

We've never NOT been able to get any ADR we wanted at 7 am on the 180 day mark... though I admit we've never had any interest in Cinderella's Castle. But everything else?? Sure. And we go in the middle of the summer, when the parks are very crowded.

But OP, you know that BOG is one of the most highly sought after ADRs. And if you started looking in February for a June trip, then it looks as though you were 4 months out, not 6. You know that the most popular choices are likely to be gone 2 months after the dates opened. That's not hogging, that's supply and demand.

 

[Minniesgal]

I actually don't understand the hype or the hoarding. In my opinion nowhere at Disney is the food good enough to make all this worth while

 

[ElaineB55]

But OP, you know that BOG is one of the most highly sought after ADRs. And if you started looking in February for a June trip, then it looks as though you were 4 months out, not 6. You know that the most popular choices are likely to be gone 2 months after the dates opened. That's not hogging, that's supply and demand.

I do realize that doing ADR's 4 months out is a crap shoot. There were several personal things going on which made us delay our decision to book this trip. We have had to tweak a couple of ADR's ourselves when then changed EMH days on days we had selected to be at those parks as we are staying off property. Changing plans on the fly as you get closer to your trip, I agree, does not make you a hog. You are trying to get the most out of your trip and I get that. It is when people book the same dining experience for 5 days in a row and decide late in the game which one they are going to keep. This keeps 4 families out there from finalizing their plans and having to keep getting on the computer or app to see if something has opened up.
And alas, our coveted BOG did open us for us at a lunch time. And yes, we are happy. But if it hadn't, it sure would not have ruined my trip.
I had a conversation with a co-worker with an autistic daughter who just returned from WDW. He had tried for months to get a reservation to Cinderella's castle. Finally, there was a cancellation and his daughter's dream came true. What struck him was that the room was full of tables with mostly adults. He felt a bit sad that his almost not dinner was because adults want to meet and greet the princesses.
I am just saying to all, be a little more thoughtful. There are those for whom a reservation somewhere in the park would mean so much, and yet you are holding on to it, "just in case".

 

[RachaelA]

I had a conversation with a co-worker with an autistic daughter who just returned from WDW. He had tried for months to get a reservation to Cinderella's castle. Finally, there was a cancellation and his daughter's dream came true. What struck him was that the room was full of tables with mostly adults. He felt a bit sad that his almost not dinner was because adults want to meet and greet the princesses.

Seriously? I missed where Disney is just for kids. This is like the people who shove their kids in front of adults at parades because 'it's for kids.'

(I know it's your coworker not you)

But this is a prime example of your 'being more thoughtful' how does he know the situations of those other people? Who is he to judge a bunch of adults for where they want to eat dinner?

 

[Regan117]

I do realize that doing ADR's 4 months out is a crap shoot. There were several personal things going on which made us delay our decision to book this trip. We have had to tweak a couple of ADR's ourselves when then changed EMH days on days we had selected to be at those parks as we are staying off property. Changing plans on the fly as you get closer to your trip, I agree, does not make you a hog. You are trying to get the most out of your trip and I get that. It is when people book the same dining experience for 5 days in a row and decide late in the game which one they are going to keep. This keeps 4 families out there from finalizing their plans and having to keep getting on the computer or app to see if something has opened up.
And alas, our coveted BOG did open us for us at a lunch time. And yes, we are happy. But if it hadn't, it sure would not have ruined my trip.
I had a conversation with a co-worker with an autistic daughter who just returned from WDW. He had tried for months to get a reservation to Cinderella's castle. Finally, there was a cancellation and his daughter's dream came true. What struck him was that the room was full of tables with mostly adults. He felt a bit sad that his almost not dinner was because adults want to meet and greet the princesses.
I am just saying to all, be a little more thoughtful. There are those for whom a reservation somewhere in the park would mean so much, and yet you are holding on to it, "just in case".

I have an autistic daughter. I'm also an adult who has eaten at Cinderella's more than once, in an all adults group. So what? It doesn't affect her in any way, and I'm going to Disney World too. Adults are just as entitled to eat dinner where they want and meet the characters. And my daughter has a good time whether she eats in the castle or she eats a Mickey pretzel on a bench. She's in Disney World.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

I had a conversation with a co-worker with an autistic daughter who just returned from WDW. He had tried for months to get a reservation to Cinderella's castle. Finally, there was a cancellation and his daughter's dream came true. .

The dream for any child IS JUST BEING THERE. It doesn't matter to them where they eat. I suspect the dream was not the daughter's. It was probably the parents' dream. Or maybe the parents planted a seed in daughter by telling her about CRT and wonderful it will be.

My one and only trip to DW as a child (I was about 10 at the time)was when I actually LIVED in FL. We drove 2 hours to get there, stayed at MK for 6 hours, then 2 hours back home. We never had much disposable income when I was young so this trip was done on a shoe string. My mom packed a cooler with lunch and I don't think we bought anything to eat in the park. I look back on that day as being "magical" because I WAS A KID AT DISNEY WORLD. I shake my head when I read about parents freaking out over ADRs. There's plenty of food for everyone at DW. You will not go hungry if you can't get CRT at 5:45, or BOG at 6:15. There are plenty of other options. I see nothing wrong with trying for the ones you prefer but can't understand what the big deal is when they're not available.

Our last trip (7 days/6nights at POFQ) with DD who was 6yo at the time was booked only 45 days out. We tried for CRT and/or BOG but couldn't get it. We didn't stress over it at all. Our DD (now 8yo) still recalls many specific details about that trip and has nothing but fond memories.

My wife and I both have the same favorite memory from that trip and it happened before we even left home. We were packing the night before we left. DD was folding her clothes to put in her suitcase and asked me if I ever went to DW before she was born. I told her about my 1-day trip as a child and described all the wonderful things I remember from that day. She then looked up at my wife and I with a tear in her eye and began to tell us "how lucky she is to be able to go to DW for 7 whole days in a row". We told her that someday, when she's a grown-up, if she decides to get married and have a family, we hope she will be able to bring her children there for "14 whole days in a row". At 6 years old she already understood that a parent's primary goal in life is to simply give their children a better childhood than they had.

 

[Pumbaa_]

If special dining was just for kids, we would never have any fun.

Adults are just as entitled to see characters. Heck, I think most of the time we appreciate it even more

Anyhow, back to the hoarder topic. Yes, people will plan on more than one coveted ADR when they can. Disney has set it up to the point you almost have to. Dining180 days but fast passes at 60/30, then changing park hours can really screw up your fully planned days

Unless you have 3-5 bog booked per day every day for a week, I won't call you a hoarder, just an uber planner

 

[Aliceacc]

At the end of the day, everyone has equal access to all the FPs, all the ADRs, all the everything.

Or, on the words of a poster in my classroom: "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I am a super planner. I made my ADRs at 180 based on the limited info Disney has provided me, knowing that park hours, EMH, show times, etc will inevitably change. Yes, I have back up reservations so that my plans can change as Disney changes things. It's not my fault they choose to operate like that. I don't feel bad about having back up ADRs. It's part of the planning process.

 

[Disneylover99]

I am a super planner. I made my ADRs at 180 based on the limited info Disney has provided me, knowing that park hours, EMH, show times, etc will inevitably change. Yes, I have back up reservations so that my plans can change as Disney changes things. It's not my fault they choose to operate like that. I don't feel bad about having back up ADRs. It's part of the planning process.

I don't feel bad either. Plus fp's have not been made yet. The ADR's I made at 180 days are often quite different than my ADR's a week out.

Ohana is my one must do. We are going for 17 days, and I currently have 3 Ohana reservations. I learned my lesson when an illness forced us to cancel once at the last minute. If you have a "must do" you should have a back up. I will aim to go to the first Ohana reservation and cancel the other two once we've eaten.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I see people that grab a few ADRs "just in case" the same as people grabbing a bunch of cupcakes at a party and holding them at their table until their family comes back from playing and everyone picks out the best one for them. Then they take the leftover cupcakes back to the dessert table.

No, it isn't "against the rules." But it is rude.

Of course these are the same people that end up with a vacation ruined because they couldn't eat at Ohana or CRT.

Yep, I'll be up at 4:30 to book my reservations. But I have back up plans for any that we can't get. And by back up, I mean a different night or a different place. I don't mean that I plan to book multiple days for the same place and wait to see what strikes our fancy.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

At the end of the day, everyone has equal access to all the FPs, all the ADRs, all the everything.

Or, on the words of a poster in my classroom: "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."

I LOVE that quote !!

I have several BOG ADR's for our Sept 19-28 trip....and I do not feel guilty about it. I was pro-active and made them before Free Dining was released. However, I will also release them back into the pool when my plans are firmed up closer to our trip.....and I will even post on the Sept Cancelled ADR forum to assist my fellow DIS'ers with their plans, but I will not be made to feel guilty that my planning strategy benefits me and my family before yours.

Plans change, weather changes, etc. I search several times per day for better ADR times and revise accordingly....ok so I'm a little OCD. I want some flexibility 6 months before my vacation starts to make changes as we finalize our trip....Disney is not cheap and so if I plan properly and early-on I can reduce my disappoitments at the locations I can eat and enjoy my vacation.

 

[Disneylover99]

I see people that grab a few ADRs "just in case" the same as people grabbing a bunch of cupcakes at a party and holding them at their table until their family comes back from playing and everyone picks out the best one for them. Then they take the leftover cupcakes back to the dessert table.

No, it isn't "against the rules." But it is rude.

Of course these are the same people that end up with a vacation ruined because they couldn't eat at Ohana or CRT.

Yep, I'll be up at 4:30 to book my reservations. But I have back up plans for any that we can't get. And by back up, I mean a different night or a different place. I don't mean that I plan to book multiple days for the same place and wait to see what strikes our fancy.

Gross. Who does this? Not the same thing IMO.
You're really comparing people who have more then one ADR to people who return food to a buffet table?
I'd rather be called a hoarder.

 

[JimmyBean42]

I just don't get the rants on this thread. How does any one person get a BOG booking every single day for a week and just hold them? It's a popular spot, I find it difficult to believe that one person can get and hold that many BOG reservations. As one poster said, the one person releasing that many was a TA booking for multiple people in their job.

As for it being "for kids only", well that is just ridiculous. If something is a top priority for one of my children, I make sure I work on getting that reservation or event first. Not blaming adults and others who do get the reservation and also want to have a great time and memories.

We can say people are ridiculously selfish for things they do, but you know what is also ridiculously selfish is saying "Please cancel all your plans so I can grab a reservation for myself because I'm more important".

 

[21stamps]

I wanted to add: The hoarding late-droppers could be advantageous. More people are looking to book 180 days out, and if you're not the first to snag, they all go quick. Especially during busy times, free dining season, etc. Only those that are dropped or released will be available closer to the date, and only those with persistence can snatch them up. I've had a lot of luck using the reservation boards, touringplans, and stalking. It can be time-consuming.

Unfortunately I haven't had any luck getting a 1900 PF dinner for 6/1 like I want yet and an 8 AM pre-park open BOG for 5/31, but otherwise I've gotten everything I wanted for a trip planned about a month out.. If it weren't for hoarders or others dropping, I wouldn't even have had a chance for any ADRs.

This is a good point. I probably wouldn't have been able to get all of mine without the "hoarders" cancelling so many.lol

 

[mousefan73]

Well I hoard,,, had multiple BOMA ADRS and released them ( 4) over the Weekend as Disney finally got their act together about AK and ROL / JUngle Book.. Got a Tusker Dinner Show package and took that over BOMA..we will miss BOMA but not worth leaviing the park and coming back later... So Tusker for us....


you can all now throw eggs at me.. but I made 2 of These dinner ADRS 3 days apart.. Why because for the 5000 I am spending on this vacation ( and I know I am not the only one) I really want to see this Show and I am not taking chances on the weather.. so I will check weather and cancel the second one if the first one is succesfful. I will be wihtin my 24 hr cancellation time.

I assume like Fantasmic, the Show can be cancelled if it's stormiing.