Same day dining reservations coming to Skipper Canteen..

[MrsHammer]

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ampaign=Feed:+DisneyParks+(Disney+Parks+Blog)

 

[HopperFan]

Okay ..... this really isn't much different than it is now. But I do think it's a nod to ... we have a problem we need to fix.

 

[ajwolfe]

I don't feel like this is going to solve the problem for most families. Maybe same week reservations would be more of a help.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I don't feel like this is going to solve the problem for most families. Maybe same week reservations would be more of a help.

I agree! I don't see how this helps. So you call and . . . sorry, we're booked? Or, no we don't have a reservation at that time. Again, it's winging it, which really doesn't work within the planning structure they've created for all of us, unless you are happy going to a QS if you don't get in.

I love how it says for a limited time you can plan your adventure - otherwise, guess you can't plan!!

Oh, and the dude in the picture needs to take his hat off - he's in a restaurant!!!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Okay ..... this really isn't much different than it is now. But I do think it's a nod to ... we have a problem we need to fix.

What I don't understand is, they obviously felt they had a "problem" or something they needed to "fix" or a niche they needed to fill when they started this test in the first place, but it's obviously not working. If something isn't really working with reservations then why is every single other restaurant (except ESPN and Big River Grille) still on the 180 ADR system? I'm just not getting this at all.

 

[Jetta8300]

This doesn't solve anything. Same day reservations means we'll still be charged a cancellation fee at another reservation if there's an opening. It's basically the same thing they had before...

 

[Disneylover99]

This is silly. What is the point? There should simply be regular ADR's like all the other restaurants.

 

[jrmasm]

Take regular adrs and add booze to the menu, instantly packed house. Easy.

 

[iujen94]

Our trip falls during their "limited time." Any guesses whether "same day" means staying up until 12:01am to try for reservations? Any guesses whether we'll have better luck online or calling? (I realize this calls for pure speculation . . . )

 

[Disneylover99]

Our trip falls during their "limited time." Any guesses whether "same day" means staying up until 12:01am to try for reservations? Any guesses whether we'll have better luck online or calling? (I realize this calls for pure speculation . . . )

I would guess that booking online should be fine.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't feel like this is going to solve the problem for most families. Maybe same week reservations would be more of a help.

I agree! I don't see how this helps.

This doesn't solve anything.

What it does is help the family that does not have an ADR for that day, and whose options were to eat all QS meals for the day, or waste valuable time in a waiting area for a table to open up. I agree that it does not help the people who already have an ADR at LTT or BoG. But that is a small sliver of the park population. It allows the rest of the people to go on line or call the moment the reservations go "live" and book a table knowing that their time slot (or one close to it) will be available. In other words, it will create a virtual Rope Drop for tables at the restaurant. Perhaps not right away. But eventually, as happens to all things at WDW. Once word leaks out, enough people will participate in the virtual Rope Drop to the point where all the prime lunch and dinner slots will be gone in the first 10 minutes. Certainly not a perfect system, but a significant improvement over "Here's a buzzer and we will page you when we have a table for you." If this system is in place when we go, at least I will know with 100% certainty that I will be able to dine there for dinner at a reasonable dinner hour with little wait, because I know that I will be one of the people setting my alarm to get on line or call the moment the reservation lines open. That is better than "we might be able to eat there, but we will just have to wait and see how long the wait times are for a table."

 

[iujen94]

It allows the rest of the people to go on line or call the moment the reservations go "live" and book a table knowing that their time slot (or one close to it) will be available. In other words, it will create a virtual Rope Drop for tables at the restaurant.

What time do online reservations open up? 12:01am? Do phone reservations open up at the same time?

 

[JimmyV]

What time do online reservations open up? 12:01am? Do phone reservations open up at the same time?

I haven't seen that information posted anywhere, but for now I am going to assume that the reservations will go live at the same time as ADRs do, which is 6:00 a.m. (EST) on line and 7:00 a.m. by phone. Disney could always adjust that to, say, the hour that the MK opens each day. But that would just make a complicated problem even more complicated. The "easier" solution (besides just giving in and making this restaurant bookable the same way every other restaurant is bookable), would be to just add Skipper Canteen to the main grid each day and that would mean 6:00/7:00. But that is purely a guess and comes from no published information whatsoever.

 

[Disneylover99]

What it does is help the family that does not have an ADR for that day, and whose options were to eat all QS meals for the day, or waste valuable time in a waiting area for a table to open up. I agree that it does not help the people who already have an ADR at LTT or BoG. But that is a small sliver of the park population. It allows the rest of the people to go on line or call the moment the reservations go "live" and book a table knowing that their time slot (or one close to it) will be available. In other words, it will create a virtual Rope Drop for tables at the restaurant. Perhaps not right away. But eventually, as happens to all things at WDW. Once word leaks out, enough people will participate in the virtual Rope Drop to the point where all the prime lunch and dinner slots will be gone in the first 10 minutes. Certainly not a perfect system, but a significant improvement over "Here's a buzzer and we will page you when we have a table for you." If this system is in place when we go, at least I will know with 100% certainty that I will be able to dine there for dinner at a reasonable dinner hour with little wait, because I know that I will be one of the people setting my alarm to get on line or call the moment the reservation lines open. That is better than "we might be able to eat there, but we will just have to wait and see how long the wait times are for a table."

The problem is, there is only a small sliver of people going to the parks each day who will get up at 6am to book a lunch or dinner reservation anywhere for day of. So to me, it doesn't really solve any of Skipper Canteen's problems.

 

[Jetta8300]

What it does is help the family that does not have an ADR for that day, and whose options were to eat all QS meals for the day, or waste valuable time in a waiting area for a table to open up. I agree that it does not help the people who already have an ADR at LTT or BoG. But that is a small sliver of the park population. It allows the rest of the people to go on line or call the moment the reservations go "live" and book a table knowing that their time slot (or one close to it) will be available. In other words, it will create a virtual Rope Drop for tables at the restaurant. Perhaps not right away. But eventually, as happens to all things at WDW. Once word leaks out, enough people will participate in the virtual Rope Drop to the point where all the prime lunch and dinner slots will be gone in the first 10 minutes. Certainly not a perfect system, but a significant improvement over "Here's a buzzer and we will page you when we have a table for you." If this system is in place when we go, at least I will know with 100% certainty that I will be able to dine there for dinner at a reasonable dinner hour with little wait, because I know that I will be one of the people setting my alarm to get on line or call the moment the reservation lines open. That is better than "we might be able to eat there, but we will just have to wait and see how long the wait times are for a table."

I personally do not see it making a difference like you're saying. The thing is...they already have a similar process in place, with little to no wait, and people still aren't interested. Right now, you can check in, get a text message when your table is ready. People can show up at 11 or whatever if they want to eat at noon, and then walk around until they get that text. On top of that, everyone is saying there is like a 5 minute wait anyway. And there's still very little interest.

The people who are even going to be AWARE of the same day reservations, are the exact same people who already made an ADR for elsewhere. Your typical first timer is still going to have no idea that you can make same day reservations. So in my opinion, you're capturing the exact same crowd that is already annoyed about the no ADRs. I'm not going to again, leave a spot available in my plans when i can only make reservations same day. Because it's still same day cancelling on my already booked ADR which would charge me the fee.

I'm actually willing to do a walk up for lunch (not dinner in the MK). But we do a table service meal each day for dinner (1/2 days at least a signature) and this place is too expensive for us for lunch for the most part when we're already spending $80-160 for dinner each night for just the two of us. So they either need to get a cheaper lunch menus and I will save space in my plans for a walk up, or allow ADRs like the rest of them.

In addition, what is the point of having reservations "gone in 10 minutes once the word gets out" in the AM, if the whole point is that there will be walk up space available to people in the parks? It makes zero sense to me.

 

[JimmyV]

The problem is, there is only a small sliver of people going to the parks each day who will get up at 6am to book a lunch or dinner reservation anywhere for day of.

Just like a Rope Drop. The few who make the effort will be rewarded. Many won't. I'm not saying that I am a fan of the new system. I am only saying that it has to make some difference to some percentage of people. The idea that this "won't make any difference to anyone" simply isn't true.

I personally do not see it making a difference like you're saying. The thing is...they already have a similar process in place, with little to no wait, and people still aren't interested. Right now, you can check in, get a text message when your table is ready. People can show up at 11 or whatever if they want to eat at noon, and then walk around until they get that text.

But it will make a difference. As you point out, right now you can walk up to the podium at 11:00, and then walk around the park until you get a text. But that requires two things. 1.) You must be in Adventureland at 11:00; and 2.) You can't really walk too far away. You don't want to be riding Dumbo when you get that text. With the new system, if I go on line at 6:00 a.m. and book a table for 12:15, I can be anywhere in the park that I want at 11:00, and I can be anywhere in the park that I want at 12:05. And when I arrive at 12:15, I am seated without a wait. These may be small differences, but they are absolutely differences.

 

[Jetta8300]

Just like a Rope Drop. The few who make the effort will be rewarded.


But it will make a difference. As you point out, right now you can walk up to the podium at 11:00, and then walk around the park until you get a text. But that requires two things. 1.) You must be in Adventureland at 11:00; and 2.) You can't really walk too far away. You don't want to be riding Dumbo when you get that text. With the new system, if I go on line at 6:00 a.m. and book a table for 12:15, I can be anywhere in the park that I want at 11:00, and I can be anywhere in the park that I want at 12:05. And when I arrive at 12:15, I am seated without a wait. These may be small differences, but they are absolutely differences.

Right, but right now there is zero wait. And people still are not coming. Currently, the wait is not an issue whatsoever.

And im still saying, what is the point in doing same day reservations if the entire point of not allowing ADRs is that there is room for walkups? If you start allowing ADRs, and that becomes popular, then you again have completely undermined the goal of having room for walkups? In your situation, why would you not just book it like a regular ADR if you don't want to have to be in Adventureland early? Your logic of the benefit of same day ADRs is the same logic as why people book regular ADRs.

It just makes things more complicated choosing some places for 180 ADRs and some same day. Ridiculous. Maybe they'll start making some restaurants 60 days out. And others 30 days out. And some same day. Lol. And who gets up at 6am on vacation . I already do that 180 days out. I'm not doing it again.

 

[JimmyV]

Right, but right now there is zero wait. And people still are not coming. Currently, the wait is not an issue whatsoever.

Disney is obviously expecting an uptick in popularity. Very few things at WDW stay "hidden" and underutilized very long, unless they are really, really bad. (Hello Tony's. I am talking about you!!) Disney must think that there is enough quality here such that the February Break crowds will provide a decent test for when the Easter season hits. It is no coincidence that they are running this test at exactly the same time of year when they first "tested" FP+ without same day FP-.

And im still saying, what is the point in doing same day reservations if the entire point of not allowing ADRs is that there is room for walkups?

I agree with you that this is pointless and that a traditional ADR system should be put in place. But there is a difference between "pointless" and "won't make a difference." This is absolutely pointless. But it will make a difference, slight as it may be.

It just makes things more complicated choosing some places for 180 ADRs and some same day. Ridiculous.

Agree 100%.

 

[GillianP1301]

I don't get this at all. Same day reservation poses the same issue to someone like me who wants to book ADRs well ahead of time, than only accepting walk ups does. Not only that, I don't see how same day ADR will increase the traffic to the restaurant. I make my ADRs for my vacation at the end of the month and I would like to try SK, but I guess I will put a placeholder ADR in somewhere else in MK and wait and see if they change their minds on this one and open it up for 180 ADRs before our trip.

 

[cigar95]

I haven't seen that information posted anywhere, but for now I am going to assume that the reservations will go live at the same time as ADRs do, which is 6:00 a.m. (EST) on line and 7:00 a.m. by phone.

Given that neither the phone number nor the web address are the same as the regular WDW dining reservation system, quite possible that the hours will differ from that for other locations.