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

[Westcoastwild]

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.

I think you are the only one. Mostly because you've totally lost me. I don't know what you're arguing for.

Packages have a different set of rules because of their nature. You can either take it or leave it. You can buy a package if you want to pay ahead, or you can do room only if you want to book. You get the same onsite amenities and booking windows because that isn't part of the package rules.

I've never made a package pay off. I always run the numbers. And I can always do it for a cheaper price ala carte.

 

[Dis703]

I get it, but it is kind of ridiculous you have to know what you will be in the mood for 6 months in advance- there is the issue of spontaneity. With ADR that far out and FP+ it makes everything so regimented and schedule oriented- I definitely don't like that I have to have ADR for a restaurant and then can't ride a ride if the line is too long due to dinner reservations . Or you have to know what restaurant your eating at so you need to have each day of which park you will be at etc-if the QS offered the exact same meals as the TS then fine but many people don't have time to plan every second of their vacation .

A compromise would be to have like a 3rd of the seats available for walk up service - disney will certainly get their money still and those who don't plan can spend time waiting it would be their choice and they would get a chance to eat at a TS.

Also I think they need to get rid of 180 for reservations - I think 30 or 60 is plenty of time- 6 months to know your entire vacation schedule is crazy and those who book a few months or weeks prior to their vacation instead of 6+ months in advance are up the creek for restaurant selections

You definitely don't have to book 6 months out. Out of more than a dozen trips now I've only booked my trips and ADRs that far in advance once. And I've booked trips as short as 1-2 weeks out and still made ADRs. Years ago, before ADRs were a big thing, we used to try and walk up to a restaurant and find they already had a waiting list of 2 or more hours. I'd much rather have my ADR set and not worry about walking around from place to place trying to find a table.

 

[Pennstate6411]

I think you are the only one. Mostly because you've totally lost me. I don't know what you're arguing for.

Packages have a different set of rules because of their nature. You can either take it or leave it. You can buy a package if you want to pay ahead, or you can do room only if you want to book. You get the same onsite amenities and booking windows because that isn't part of the package rules.

I've never made a package pay off. I always run the numbers. And I can always do it for a cheaper price ala carte.

I am saying there is no reason why they have a different set of rules. Essentially the only difference is theme park tickets. You would think Disney would want to give the advantage to those buying the tickets directly through them.

I am arguing that whether its room only or a package with tickets - either all payments should be due at X days or all payments are due at time of check in.

 

[Dis703]

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

But you don't have to be staying on Disney property at all, or go into the parks for many of them, to get an ADR so it wouldn't make sense to link it to payment of your resort stay.

 

[Westcoastwild]

You definitely don't have to book 6 months out. Out of more than a dozen trips now I've only booked my trips and ADRs that far in advance once. And I've booked trips as short as 1-2 weeks out and still made ADRs. Years ago, before ADRs were a big thing, we used to try and walk up to a restaurant and find they already had a waiting list of 2 or more hours. I'd much rather have my ADR set and not worry about walking around from place to place trying to find a table.

Right. This. When people talk about the "good old days" I always wonder if they are recalling correctly. Because that's what I remember and I love FP and ADRs for that reason.

 

[Dis703]

I am saying there is no reason why they have a different set of rules. Essentially the only difference is theme park tickets. You would think Disney would want to give the advantage to those buying the tickets directly through them.

I am arguing that whether its room only or a package with tickets - either all payments should be due at X days or all payments are due at time of check in.

Just because you book a room only doesn't mean you didn't buy your tickets through Disney. That's how we do it just about every trip. I imagine the rules are different because they have more to lose out on if you cancel an entire package vs. just a room. When I book my room and buy my tickets separately they already have the money in full for my tickets.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I am saying there is no reason why they have a different set of rules. Essentially the only difference is theme park tickets. You would think Disney would want to give the advantage to those buying the tickets directly through them.

I am arguing that whether its room only or a package with tickets - either all payments should be due at X days or all payments are due at time of check in.

The mouse still gets my money for the tickets. I book my room and buy my tickets through them. I just don't book a package because there is no incentive for me to do so. You do realize that a lot of packages have other aspects than room and tickets? Airfare, free dining, whatever. Many are seasonal specials that require you to book a specific number of nights on specific dates.

Anyway, still not getting your argument. There is no way you're saving any significant amount of money if your package is just tickets and room. If you don't like paying by that date, don't book the package.

 

[Moliphino]

I am saying there is no reason why they have a different set of rules. Essentially the only difference is theme park tickets. You would think Disney would want to give the advantage to those buying the tickets directly through them.

I am arguing that whether its room only or a package with tickets - either all payments should be due at X days or all payments are due at time of check in.

Why does it matter? Disney isn't the only place with different policies for different types of bookings.

 

[KrazeeK120]

As a resort guest I think you should certainly have a benefit if staying on property.

You do...you can book ADRs for up to 10 days of your stay at 180 days out, giving you a jump on those staying offsite.

 

[kaytieeldr]

arguing that whether its room only or a package with tickets - either all payments should be due at X days or all payments are due at time of check in.

You clearly don't understand the Travel industry as a whole. You are upset because you can't get an ADR for one specific restaurant. Other people got there before you. Think of it like a parking lot with 400 (random number) spaces. Four hundred cars get there and are able to park. The next car or cars have to park (eat) somewhere else. Sure, the drivers can circle around and around and around hoping a space opens up. Or they can try somewhere/thing different.

What they can't reasonably do is expect the park g lot (restaurant) owner to change a policy of create additional space just because a potential customer doesn't get their way.

 

[Minniesgal]

We just book most of our dining the week of and find we get ok choice.

if there is anything we have to have (less and less these days) we book at 180 days out otherwise we do it on the go and it works fine.

 

[Minniesgal]

So all the sites with crowd projections are wrong ? That is rated one of the top weeks to go crowd wise on multiple sites

November is a very busy time and in park ADRs can be more of a challenge then.

We are also going for 10 nights over Easter and we will book 3 ADrs and the rest we will book days of. We tend to book resort restaurants and mostly signatures and i don't find it too difficult.

Personally don't get all the hype over Ohana but keep checking things open up closer to the dates usually.

 

[Minniesgal]

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

I don't believe the system is flawed it operates on the basis of first come first served.

Restaurants are not limited to only resort guests, offsite guests reserve them as do DVC members. not everyone will have a balance to pay.

A first come first served system gives everyone the same chance of getting what they want.

 

[Minniesgal]

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.

It is not unfair given you have the option to select either way of doing it. Their business their rules.

 

[nursejackie]

Going back to the original question of this thread (which seems to have turned into a discussion in obtaining/booking ADRs), I am not sure I'd want to just turn up at a TS restaurant and hope there's a table when I want one and with space for my whole party, especially if we have schlepped all the way from the other side of a park, only to find it's full, or there's a long wait. For us ADR's help us make the most of our park time, we can eat at our favourite places without disappoint (subject to getting an ADR in the first place of course), and we can plan around the ADR time.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Going back to the original question of this thread (which seems to have turned into a discussion in obtaining/booking ADRs), I am not sure I'd want to just turn up at a TS restaurant and hope there's a table when I want one and with space for my whole party, especially if we have schlepped all the way from the other side of a park, only to find it's full, or there's a long wait. For us ADR's help us make the most of our park time, we can eat at our favourite places without disappoint (subject to getting an ADR in the first place of course), and we can plan around the ADR time.

Yup. Plenty of my favorite restaurants in "real life" don't take reservations. I'm ok with hanging out downtown for 2+ hours for the occasional Sunday brunch. I'm not ok spending my vacation time at WDW doing that, especially given how long it takes to get from point a to point b. I just want to sit down and eat and get right back out there.

 

[Yahweh]

I like making reservations far in advance. At 180 day mark, I'm no more likely to know what I will feel like than the 2 day mark.

I really look forward to the 180 day point in my planning...It's a lot of fun. I will often change reservations, adjust times etc.right up to the day I leave. But 180 days out versus 2 days out doesn't make much difference to me. It just gives me more time to have fun planning my trip! It part of the joy of planning

 

[CraigInPA]

Back to the OP... I've gone to WDW without ADR's, and still ate at 'Ohana, BOG, and other popular restaurants in prime time slots. The secret to doing so is to use the Disney app and check 2 days before, the day before, and the day of when you want to go to that popular restaurant.

While it would be neat to be able to do a walk-up, restaurants at Disney can be pretty spread out. If Disney said "we'll hold 15% open for walk-ups", you'd have people showing up at 'Ohana and finding no availability, going across the lobby to Kona, finding no availability, and then being angry that they spent all that time getting to the Poly and not being able to eat. Then they'd have to figure out where to go next to find those elusive 15% open tables. Frustrated, angry, and hungry, they'd not be happy campers! It's just not workable.

 

[nursejackie]

I like making reservations far in advance. At 180 day mark, I'm no more likely to know what I will feel like than the 2 day mark.

I really look forward to the 180 day point in my planning...It's a lot of fun. I will often change reservations, adjust times etc.right up to the day I leave. But 180 days out versus 2 days out doesn't make much difference to me. It just gives me more time to have fun planning my trip! It part of the joy of planning

I totally agree with you. After the 180 day window I then spend the next 179 days tweaking them, stalking MDE for the elusive ADR's we didn't get, or trying to secure reservations we've decided we now want, and then doing it all again when they finally realise the correct park times for our stay. Sounds like a nightmare to anyone who isn't disney obsessed, but to us it's all part of the excitement.

 

[Farro]

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

You can book any restaurant on the planet without having to pay in full for your trip, why should WDW be any different? 180 days is arbitrary, the same issue would exist at any days - reservations would be gone.