Rumor on Restaurant board: ADR priority for DVC members?

[wulfekamp]

When I made our ADR's I was really surprised with it being the new system. I got every place I wanted at the times I wanted. That has never happened before. But I like It.

 

[d-r]

Yes, but if you're in Ann Arbor that's hardly your typical "little college town"--I would call it a cosmopolitan small city. After living in Manhattan for years I spent a summer in Ann Arbor and was very impressed by the quality, diversity and pricing of its dining opportunities. There were several restaurants that had me thinking "Why isn't there one like this in Manhattan?"

whoops beat me to that one

 

[Brian Noble]

A little OT, but I'm surprised at all the Ann Arbor love. Where are the Ohio State fans to set you all straight?

(PS: lest you think I'm a food snob, I'm also partial to The Varsity just outside of Georgia Tech's campus, in Atlanta. The fried fish sandwiches at the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern in Pittsburgh are pretty good too.)

Edited to add: but my original point remains. I won't be too broken up if there's any particular Disney restaurant I can't eat in, and---so far---I've never had trouble getting a last-minute ADR somewhere. I used to be one of those 90 (or 180) day-on-the-nose kind of people, but those days are behind me.

 

[Mich Mouse]

Does anyone actually say when they make ADRs that they are a TIW member? I don't recall being asked. I am asked about the dining plan, but TIW is not a dining plan.

I've never mentioned it nor been asked.....I definitely think this whole thing is shady though I am not sure which side I am on.

Are these posters with the inside information even CM's? Or just pot stirrers? Or are they both!

Is WDW really aware that I am a TIW and AP holder when they can't even keep our families names and addresses in their system correctly? Our names and extended family names are always mixed up....(My 7 year old niece got a pin code mailed to her at my house!)

I am not sure they are this sophisticated.

 

[DebbieB]

I've never mentioned it nor been asked.....I definitely think this whole thing is shady though I am not sure which side I am on.

Are these posters with the inside information even CM's? Or just pot stirrers? Or are they both!

Definitely pot stirrers. Not only did they post the information (which would be in violation of their cm confidentiality agreement), they keep coming back to add fuel to the fire.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I think it can be generally agreed that if you took any of Disney's "better" restaurants, and put them most anywhere in the "outside world" at the same price points, they'd mostly fail miserably. Even here in my little college town, I have better places in many categories than the best Disney alternatives.

I get the captive audience thing---especially at the theme parks---and I do value the 'experience' meals highly. But, those aren't about the food so much as they are the view (California Grill), the setting (50s Prime Time) or the characters. Overall, the quality of Disney's restaurants as restaurants has fallen every year I've gone. If I can't get a table at Le Cellier, I'm not going to be heartbroken. I'd rather eat at my local alternative (which, I will grant you, is about the same in terms of price.)

I respectfully disagree (except Le Cellier. That place is the most over rated place on the planet).

Anyway, for the most part I find Disney dining very good. Yes, a bit on the pricey side, but with TIW it falls into line.
Plus... Don't forget about those health department ratings a few years back.. Disney was not perfect, but obviously better than the competition.

MG

 

[JimMIA]

Are these posters with the inside information even CM's? Or just pot stirrers? Or are they both!

I think they are both. I know one of them actually is a CM, don't know about the other.

Of course, if they are pot-stirring CMs, that doesn't mean their info is inaccurate. You have to keep in mind that a lot of CMs refer to the Mouse as the Rat.

 

[culli]

I've never mentioned it nor been asked.....I definitely think this whole thing is shady though I am not sure which side I am on.

Are these posters with the inside information even CM's? Or just pot stirrers? Or are they both!

Is WDW really aware that I am a TIW and AP holder when they can't even keep our families names and addresses in their system correctly? Our names and extended family names are always mixed up....(My 7 year old niece got a pin code mailed to her at my house!)

I am not sure they are this sophisticated.

I think is a bunch of bull#%#, I posted this at the dinning forum boy people get all fired up over some crazy things with no proof. I can think of many things going thru the forums that people went nuts over and where going to boycott Disney, sell pts or whatever. Even things that came out to occur and I don't want to start another flame thread but I think we all know what those items are, anyway here is my $1.50 worth on the subject:

An easier way to do this, and yes even from a programing perspective would be to give the people with these supposed "tiers" a larger ADR window. This would be sooooooooooo much easier than trying to block off certain times or whatever the "Disney black ops" backers think is going on.

Come on really???????? Disney can't even make a working website what in the world makes you think they could pull this off

Stop reading people trying to push your buttons go to WDW have a blast and forget about it

They are giving away (not really, you are paying for it) free dinning and suprises you ADRs are hard to get

For our family the DDP is a huge pain in the butt so I have no horse in this race. Just go enjoy the magic and have fun with your family

 

[kerickson]

Maybe this is in preparation for the Online ADR system that's been rumored?

I think it makes sense. Most airline rewards seats are limited per flight or not at all for certain high demand flights. When booking a Reward voucher I know I will have a limited selection and have to book far in advance to get what I want. Free dining at WDW is a little different but you could see how it could relate...

 

[gkrykewy]

I respectfully disagree (except Le Cellier. That place is the most over rated place on the planet).

Maybe if you go for the steak, but dear lord - that cheese soup and those pretzel breads... and the beer selection.

 

[Tara]

Maybe if you go for the steak, but dear lord - that cheese soup and those pretzel breads... and the beer selection.

Actually, I had a filet there a few weeks ago that was superb - cooked to medium rare perfection.

 

[Tara]

I think they are both. I know one of them actually is a CM, don't know about the other.

Of course, if they are pot-stirring CMs, that doesn't mean their info is inaccurate. You have to keep in mind that a lot of CMs refer to the Mouse as the Rat.

Hmm...rat...that's how I'd refer to people who sign a confidentiality agreement as part of their employment and then violate that agreement...

I don't know if the information is true or not - there certainly seems to be no evidence that DVC members are getting any preference.

 

[JimMIA]

Hmm...rat...that's how I'd refer to people who sign a confidentiality agreement as part of their employment and then violate that agreement...

Me too, but I was just using that example to illustrate that there are quite a few disgruntled Disney employees. Probably not a lot as a percentage of the overall employee base, but 1% of 65,000 is 650 and that's a lot of folks.

I don't know if the information is true or not - there certainly seems to be no evidence that DVC members are getting any preference.

Right, I posted over on the other thread that there is a big difference in the CMs being able to capture data like DVC membership and that information being used to automatically give preference (or less preference) to any particular group. The CM posters over there make that assumption, but it could be nothing more than collecting marketing information.

 

[Brian Noble]

the beer selection.

I may not be a food snob, but I am a beer snob. Maybe I should give this place another chance....

The CM posters over there make that assumption, but it could be nothing more than collecting marketing information.

I suspect this is what's going on too. A few CMs "notice" that they can't book something for someone who happens to be offsite. The next day they can book that restaurant on that day for someone in the Poly. "A ha! A conspriacy!" When, really, it was nothing more complicated than someone else cancelling a meal.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I think part of it is that the new dining ressie system is just weird.

We were going to do 2 nights at Universal (I know, evil). But we decided not to. So that left me with 2 nights without ADRs. I called Member services to see if we could stay at Kidani for some of the nights, and also to see about dinner availability. We were about 65 days out.

I asked for Cali Grill, and she offered me 5:30 PM. Nope, way too early for us, so I asked for Citrico's around 7 PM. Lo and behold, there was Cali Grill for 7:30! It was weird.

There is NO TELLING what the CMs are entering when they look for ADRs, so there is no way to know if there really is no availability or if they simply aren't looking for it the way they need to.

 

[DebbieB]

Hmm...rat...that's how I'd refer to people who sign a confidentiality agreement as part of their employment and then violate that agreement...

I don't know if the information is true or not - there certainly seems to be no evidence that DVC members are getting any preference.

This cm is claiming that she did not sign a confidentiality agreement. I thought all Disney employees signed one.

 

[dvcdisney]

I think we'd have to wait and see if this is true. If they started when the new system was put in place and then I don't think it's true. Since quite a few of us had some difficulty getting the ADRs that we want.

However, if it is to begin when online ADRs are offered to the general public, then we'll just have to wait and see.

I just don't see this happening. (As I have said in my other posts) I still feel that DVC members should have an ADRs perk involving an earlier booking window. And all it would require is booking through MS. (But, granted, this is controversial as well.) I believe anything more, ie this tier for dining would be too difficult for the current system to handle.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Both of my siblings are CM's...one is in entertainment another is a food and beverage manager. From what I have been told, only the one in entertainment has signed a confidentiality agreement.

 

[Starr W.]

I think is a bunch of bull#%#, I posted this at the dinning forum boy people get all fired up over some crazy things with no proof. I can think of many things going thru the forums that people went nuts over and where going to boycott Disney, sell pts or whatever. Even things that came out to occur and I don't want to start another flame thread but I think we all know what those items are, anyway here is my $1.50 worth on the subject:

An easier way to do this, and yes even from a programing perspective would be to give the people with these supposed "tiers" a larger ADR window. This would be sooooooooooo much easier than trying to block off certain times or whatever the "Disney black ops" backers think is going on.

Come on really???????? Disney can't even make a working website what in the world makes you think they could pull this off

Stop reading people trying to push your buttons go to WDW have a blast and forget about it

They are giving away (not really, you are paying for it) free dinning and suprises you ADRs are hard to get

For our family the DDP is a huge pain in the butt so I have no horse in this race. Just go enjoy the magic and have fun with your family

"Disney Black Ops"

 

[ead79]

I'm pretty skeptical of this whole thing myself...

1) Right now people are very frustrated with the lack of ADRs--a combination of free dining difficulties and the hard to use new ADR system. This seems like the perfect time for some pot stirring since people are already upset by the lack of ADRs.

2) How on earth would Disney handle people who fall into multiple categories? For instance, I'm a DVC member and AP holder. But I also have TIW. In October I'm considering a club level stay on cash at the BoardWalk Inn. So what on earth would the system do with me? I'm sure I can't be the only person that would fall into a bunch of different categories.

3) Disney has filed patents that would enable different numbers of Fastpasses based on different levels of resort the guest is staying at. At this point they have chosen not to use that concept and have kept Fastpass as a free service to anyone regardless of what resort level you're staying at or if you're onsite or offsite. So it seems odd to me that they would implement a "caste" system for dining but not for Fastpass.