Should there be sitting restaurants that don't need reservations?

To be fair FP causes 2+ hour waits on many of the popular rides

No, it really doesn't. Those rides would already have 2+ hour waits.

What it actually causes is longer waits at less popular rides. Because people know they can fast pass those popular rides so they get in line elsewhere. FP was intended to spread out the crowds and it does that. Go to another theme park- the headliners will always have lines and those wait times get higher and higher and higher all day.
 
So all the sites with crowd projections are wrong ? That is rated one of the top weeks to go crowd wise on multiple sites
Yes. Many websites' predictions are faulty, and some are rarely updated. That's one reason to read real people's experiences on Dis. Crowd calendars have been unreliable for the past few years, given the major shift in attendance patterns WDW has seen in recent years. More families than ever go while school is in session, and fewer are going in the summer. Late July last year had the lowest crowds I've seen at WDW since 2009.

Meanwhile, fall has become extremely popular due to the holiday parties, Food & Wine, and good weather. A year and a half ago, people who had been told October would have low or moderate crowds were burned with really high crowds- there were many complaints about it on the boards. The following year, the crowd calendars updated their predictions to high crowds, but only a month or so out, confounding those who had made plans based on low crowd projections. Given all the complaints on these boards in the past month of people having unusual difficulty making their ADRs for November, it seems very likely that crowds will be unexpectedly heavy this November.
 
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Firstly we went during the same week last year, MK was crazy busy (as always) all other parks were moderate.
Secondly, say Ohana did hold back 1/3 of reservations, and people knew that, there would still be a hell of a lot more people heading over there trying to get a table than they could accommodate. Would you really want to go over to the Polynesian just on the off chance you could get a table? I find it much more relaxing to know I have a reservation.
 
Firstly we went during the same week last year, MK was crazy busy (as always) all other parks were moderate.
Secondly, say Ohana did hold back 1/3 of reservations, and people knew that, there would still be a hell of a lot more people heading over there trying to get a table than they could accommodate. Would you really want to go over to the Polynesian just on the off chance you could get a table? I find it much more relaxing to know I have a reservation.

First- thanks for the update from last year- moderate for most sounds ok- will never have the 0 crowds we had in 2010 and I get that

Second- I have somewhat conceded the whole 1/3 open thing probably wouldn't work logistically - however I remain adamant you only need 30 days prior for ADRs 180 is too much
 

First- thanks for the update from last year- moderate for most sounds ok- will never have the 0 crowds we had in 2010 and I get that

Second- I have somewhat conceded the whole 1/3 open thing probably wouldn't work logistically - however I remain adamant you only need 30 days prior for ADRs 180 is too much

I honestly don't think you'd have a better chance of getting somewhere like Ohana though. At that 30 day mark, there'd still be hundreds of people ready to call in or schedule on the app. It's just that popular. If anything you'd have MORE competition than you would at 180 because everyone would have their fast passes and know for sure they were going. People like me, who can't ask for vacation days 6 months out, would not be in the 180 pool, but we'd certainly be in the 30 day pool. And I'm pretty sure there are more of us than of the crazy people who can book 180 days out.

And as for all the moderately popular restaurants, you can still book those as the system is.
 
Actually I am going off peak 11/11-11/18 and ADRs are booked solid for Ohana. I am a member of touring plans and so far no hits for my restaurant. Again you place the blame on me when it's the system that's flawed- If you want ADRs you shouldn't get them until your balance is paid therefor a 30 day ADR window would be perfect sense

The problem with this is that room only reservations only pay 1 night up front. The rest is paid when you arrive. Only packages pay that far in advance. We don't do packages, because we have annual passes. Even before we got annual passes, we didn't do packages because there was no monetary advantage and it cut down on flexibility for changing plans. Only allowing package purchasers to make ADRs wouldn't be realistic.

Ohana is notorious for hard to get ADRs. I think it will free up a bit as it gets closer and people finalize their plans. We are going first week in November for the half marathon and could only get a 4pm dinner, but it's on a party night too. There were some very late openings, but we are going to the party. We don't have a guaranteed right to go to any and all restaurants. If that were true, many more people would be able to eat at French Laundry in the Napa area. Some things are just limited.
 
I think flexibility on time has an effect on availability. I happen to really like Ohana--to use the example of PP. I got an ADR for the day I wanted at a time I am happy with. PP may not like the 5:05 dinner that I have, but I am happy with it. Being able to eat the food I want in the atmosphere I want is much more important to me than the time. Actually, I kind of like that time. I will be eating while others are crowding onto afternoon rides. Then I will be getting in line while they are eating. There is a lot to be said for eating at "off times" in WDW.
 
Actually I am going off peak 11/11-11/18 and ADRs are booked solid for Ohana. I am a member of touring plans and so far no hits for my restaurant. Again you place the blame on me when it's the system that's flawed- If you want ADRs you shouldn't get them until your balance is paid therefor a 30 day ADR window would be perfect sense
Restricting ADRs to be made after your balance is paid is not realistic. You don't need to be a resort guest in order to make an ADR so this would not work. Also your idea blocks out room only resort guests too as they don't have a balance due at 30 days.
 
The problem with this is that room only reservations only pay 1 night up front. The rest is paid when you arrive. Only packages pay that far in advance. We don't do packages, because we have annual passes. Even before we got annual passes, we didn't do packages because there was no monetary advantage and it cut down on flexibility for changing plans. Only allowing package purchasers to make ADRs wouldn't be realistic.

Ohana is notorious for hard to get ADRs. I think it will free up a bit as it gets closer and people finalize their plans. We are going first week in November for the half marathon and could only get a 4pm dinner, but it's on a party night too. There were some very late openings, but we are going to the party. We don't have a guaranteed right to go to any and all restaurants. If that were true, many more people would be able to eat at French Laundry in the Napa area. Some things are just limited.

Here's the thing- I get you have room only so you don't have to pay until you get there ( kind of frustrating that the standards are different by disney all based on basically getting tickets or not, but that's a whole different thread).

I can adjust and say 30 day mark is still fine- Those with packages are locked in and those with room reservations only or those staying off property can still make reservations. My biggest issue with 180 days is that it's TOO far in advance - I don't know what I am having for dinner tonight but yet I know what I am doing for the day and what I am basically eating 6 months in advance while visiting WDW.

I honestly don't think you'd have a better chance of getting somewhere like Ohana though. At that 30 day mark, there'd still be hundreds of people ready to call in or schedule on the app. It's just that popular. If anything you'd have MORE competition than you would at 180 because everyone would have their fast passes and know for sure they were going. People like me, who can't ask for vacation days 6 months out, would not be in the 180 pool, but we'd certainly be in the 30 day pool. And I'm pretty sure there are more of us than of the crazy people who can book 180 days out.

And as for all the moderately popular restaurants, you can still book those as the system is.

I'm not as worried about having the same chance of booking Ohana 180 vs 30. I am saying I think 30 days is sufficient for everyone to make reservations- I know the same if not more will be making them that "close" to their trip but you don't have to plan so far out. 180 doesn't help those who are bad planners but I wouldn't go as far to say it's unfair to them either- right now the system is 180 and if you want a restaurant you better be on at 180 if you definitely want to get a reservation. It would still be people getting on at 30 days prior to book, but it does take people out of the running for those who cancelled packages.
 
Restricting ADRs to be made after your balance is paid is not realistic. You don't need to be a resort guest in order to make an ADR so this would not work. Also your idea blocks out room only resort guests too as they don't have a balance due at 30 days.

As a resort guest I think you should certainly have a benefit if staying on property. I think those staying on property should have an advantage in booking restaurants compared to those who stay offsite. (I am surprised disney doesn't offer this to entice more people to stay in property. Ex: Give an extra 2 or 4 weeks to book before those staying off property get, although not too far in advance )

I said before I am fine with re-evaluating my statement about paid in full( although I think room only should be paid same time as a packages have to be paid for, but again that's probably a different thread). But wether or not paid in full package, room only, or off property 30 days is more than sufficient for ADRs.
 
You really don't need ADRs to eat well at Disney. On any given day there are many same day choices that can be booked. I just looked now for dinner tonight and there are tons available including signature, character meals, etc... An ADR is really only necessary if you have your heart set on a specific restaurant and/or time. If you want BOG at 6:00pm or a CRT on your little one's birthday, then you for sure want to be booking at 180 days. But if you have even a tiny bit of flexibility, then you will find a ton of options on any given day. And if you don't like the idea of booking on your phone or computer, then all those places showing openings will more than likely be able to accommodate you as a walk up.

Personally, I love booking 180 days out, but I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to planning, so I can totally understand how making plans that far out is not for everyone.
 
Personally, I love booking 180 days out, but I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to planning, so I can totally understand how making plans that far out is not for everyone.

I'm the same way. My only complaint with the 180 day window is that Disney hasn't set all of their schedule that far out - I'm hoping for a Tiffins ROL package in December, but ROL is only on the calendar through September right now. They're holding me back!
 
Skipper Canteen started as walk-up only, but about a year ago started taking ADRs. I think the Plaza only takes ADRs from like 11-12 and it's walkup the rest of the time.
 
Ok- that's true they don't HAVE to but if they don't they are stuck with restaurants they don't want or QS meals and are pigeon holed
Over 75 restaurants onsite doesn't sound pigeon holed. Try something different.
Taking it to 30 or 45 days allows planning still and cuts out the cancellations for those who end up cancelling all together.
They've tried different reservation periods, from same-day to 180 plus. The current system is what management decided works best.
I have always thought that ADRs should be limited to 50% of available tables. Guests staying a their resort hotel should not be locked out of a restaurant if they are willing to wait to be seated.
That puts an unreasonable undue burden and expectation on the resort guests.
Here's the thing- I get you have room only so you don't have to pay until you get there ( kind of frustrating that the standards are different by disney all based on basically getting tickets or not, but that's a whole different thread).
Not standards. Policies.
 
You really don't need ADRs to eat well at Disney. On any given day there are many same day choices that can be booked. I just looked now for dinner tonight and there are tons available including signature, character meals, etc... An ADR is really only necessary if you have your heart set on a specific restaurant and/or time. If you want BOG at 6:00pm or a CRT on your little one's birthday, then you for sure want to be booking at 180 days. But if you have even a tiny bit of flexibility, then you will find a ton of options on any given day. And if you don't like the idea of booking on your phone or computer, then all those places showing openings will more than likely be able to accommodate you as a walk up.

Personally, I love booking 180 days out, but I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to planning, so I can totally understand how making plans that far out is not for everyone.

I completely agree with this and have said so multiple times. I personally don't mind booking 180 days in advance, and I don't really see how I am any more likely to know what I want to eat 30 days in advance vs 180. DH and I eat very well at WDW, and we only make a couple ADRs for each trip. I am currently planning two trips, for our September trip I am planning no adrs over 3 days, and in January I have 3 adrs that I am considering booking over 8 days, I have no doubt that I will not feel restricted in my choices once I am there.
 
Over 75 restaurants onsite doesn't sound pigeon holed. Try something different.

They've tried different reservation periods, from same-day to 180 plus. The current system is what management decided works best.

That puts an unreasonable undue burden and expectation on the resort guests.

Not standards. Policies.

Semantics but OK, then it is frustrating that they have 2 policies for room reservations

I don't go every year but when I do I have it budgeted- my trip for November is fully covered and I have the full amount ready to be paid prior to the due date so I have no problem paying when they deem its due(this is a package) , however am I really the only one who thinks its unfair having policy that says if its a package its due one date but when its room only you pay when you get there, or that a package $200 is due to hold it but room 1 night ( can be less or more than $200) . I would think the policy should be the same- whether its package or not they should have the same payment parameters in place.
 
however am I really the only one who thinks its unfair having policy that says if its a package its due one date but when its room only you pay when you get there, or that a package $200 is due to hold it but room 1 night ( can be less or more than $200) .
Most likely. Most people understand that not all travel bookings are identical.
 



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