Solution for ADRs versus walk-in!!

[nutsforgolf]

I think I have a solution that would be the perfect balance between making an ADR 90 days out and being able to have the flexibilty to just walk up to a restaurant and get a table. Since not everyone wants to plan their entire week or if you plan a last minute trip and all the ADR's are booked, or if you just change your mind about a restaurent or run too late to make an ADR...here is my solution.....

Each restaurant should only book ADRs for about 25 to 75% of the restaurant depending upon the demand. That way, you can still have a chance for a walk-up. ADR's would still be valuable if you are 100% sure of when and where you want to eat. There are many restaurants back home that do the same thing. They only take reservations for a small number of tables, then open up the rest for walk-ins. Some even do what is called "call-ahead" seating, where you call them when there is a waitlist and you can put your name on the list without actually being at the restaurant. This could work well say you are at MGM and want to eat at Epcot. You pick up a house phone at MGM and put your name of the list at an Epcot restaurant, this allows you time to get over to Epcot without rushing.

Please let me know your opinions and how we could communicate this to Disney if you like the idea....

 

[crisi]

Why should your lack of planning inconvince those that can or wish to plan ahead? There are a limited number of available tables and times, ADR allows them to be booked first come first served, which is fair.

 

[fam4jc]

I agree that planning is important but it would also be nice to be able to change your mind and get a walk up table. But the fact is that Disney is so busy at times that you had better have a ps or you won't get a table. I have some more to try and make for next week. Sometimes I make two for the same meal and call and cancel one in the morning depending on what my family decides they want to do. I am sure there are lots of cancelations and no shows for those few lucky walk ups.

 

[mommykds]

No flames here but I think the way adr's are done is fair. First come (or called in this case) first served which cannot be more fair. What I do not think is right is when people make 2 adrs for the same time/meal but I understand that Disney is now cancelling one of them when they see the same meal time at 2 places for one party. JMHO.

 

[msmayor]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but in reality that flexibility exists whether you have ADR or not.

With few exceptions, there is no guarantee 'fee' or pre-charge to make dining reservations. You make the reservation and then, on that day, if you change your mind, you can call and cancel and go someplace else to take your chance on a walk-up. None of your other advance reservations get cancelled if you 'miss' one or cancel one.

For my family, we will not plan out every meal. I simply don't want a vacation that is so structured that I have to keep saying "OK...let's go...gotta get here, gotta get there". I have made a few dining reservations for the couple of places we don't want to miss; some places our kids want to go don't even take reservations (Planet Hollywood and ESPN Club) so we'll just wing it for our other meals.

I live with a structured schedule all year long; I refuse to be mastered by a schedule on my vacation for every moment.

 

[Kimkimba]

Can't you just see the mad stampede to CRT every morning?

I think it's fair the way it's done now.

 

[nutsforgolf]

I don't think everyone undestands the solution. What if you booked a last minute trip to the world, but all the ADRs were taken, this would be a dis-incentive to book last minute trips. Also, it does not penalize those that like to plan, but merely allow for a better chance for walk-ups. Also, the fact that people are "allowed" to make multiple ADRs for the same time is not fair. This plan would work for everyone, not just those that refuse to plan ahead. Hey, I'm a big planner, and I booked all by ADRs 90 days out, but what if my plans change during the day...it may be very hard to get into the place my family wants to go, even if we were willing to wait 1-2 hours for table at a prime time...if all the tables were booked through ADRs, then we would have a zero chance of a table...that is not fair. If I am willing to wait, let's say putting my name in at 4:30pm for a 6pm seating, that would be fair to those that have an ADR at 6pm. Those with an ADR didn't have to wait because they planned, and those without an ADR did have to wait. The thing that is unfair is that those that didn't plan may be blocked out entirely from a place. Let's think about back in the real world (back home) you NEVER book a restaurant 90 days out, most people can't think out more than 2 days ahead of time. Why should Disney be that much different?

 

[JenLynn]

nutsforgolf,
I think the reason people are not "understanding" the solution is because many of the ADR's are gone within moments of the 90 day mark beginning. So by allowing only 25-75% of the dining times to be taken there would be even less of a chance of getting an ADR. That is (as someone else said) not fair to those who are trying to plan ahead.

now, i plan my meals at disney and book my adr's as needed 90 days out, though we (DH in particular) would prefer to "play it by ear." But on a Disney vacation, if you wish to "do it all" then you need to plan a bit. It is similar to the fact that fastpasses run out and standby lines can be over 2 hours (as was the case at Splash Mountain when we were there last week). We have to "plan ahead" to get our Splash Mountain fastpasses or we won't be able to ride (DD, age 5 would never stand in a 2 hour line outside happily).

I will not speak to the debate over whether people should be able to book 2 seperate ADR's for the same night and then cancel one that day, but I will say that circumstances such as that (as well as people simply changing their minds and not showing for ADR's or getting ill at the last minute - happened to my mother) allow a wee bit of flexibility in the dining system by freeing up dining times at the last minute.

 

[RachelTori]

I have no complaints about the way the system is set up now. A great majority of us *plan* our trips and it works for us! We just don't "over-schedule" ADR's - one a day is plenty for us.

Just wanted to mention that Disney will not *accept* any ideas from the general public. They do have a disclaimer somewhere to that affect.

 

[kizmac]

I think it's fair the way it is. This is the first trip I have made all our ADR's at 90 days, mainly because of the free dining. We normally just wing it. Being we usually go in off season, we have never really had a hard time getting a reservation say at MGM for Sci-Fi as long as we did it soon as we entered the park. Don't get quite the selection for times but we get in.

If you are wanting to eat at the more popular places and Character meals an ADR would be a must but I'd bet that there are many other places for those that prefer to wing it.

 

[cobbler]

I like how it is now. I make my plans and usually just do one sitdown meal a day. I honestly don't care if I have to worry about time for that one meal. The rest we do counter service or DTD.

I know right now where I am eating and what park I am going to be in that day. If there is an EMH at a park that I am not at, then I can hop over there for the remainder of the night. I have never been to an early EMH, kids and hubby move to darn slow.

 

[ducklite]

1. I do book some non-WDW restaurants up to 90 days out.

2. When I decide to dine at WDW last minute, I either plan on dining at an off-hour, or call ahead and am flexible as to which restaurant I dine in. I've never had a problem calling at 5:00 pm and getting a PS/ADR for a restaurant at around 7:00pm.

I find no reason to change the way things are done.

Anne

 

[msmayor]

I don't think everyone undestands the solution. What if you booked a last minute trip to the world, but all the ADRs were taken, this would be a dis-incentive to book last minute trips. Also, it does not penalize those that like to plan, but merely allow for a better chance for walk-ups. Also, the fact that people are "allowed" to make multiple ADRs for the same time is not fair. This plan would work for everyone, not just those that refuse to plan ahead. Hey, I'm a big planner, and I booked all by ADRs 90 days out, but what if my plans change during the day...it may be very hard to get into the place my family wants to go, even if we were willing to wait 1-2 hours for table at a prime time...if all the tables were booked through ADRs, then we would have a zero chance of a table...that is not fair. If I am willing to wait, let's say putting my name in at 4:30pm for a 6pm seating, that would be fair to those that have an ADR at 6pm. Those with an ADR didn't have to wait because they planned, and those without an ADR did have to wait. The thing that is unfair is that those that didn't plan may be blocked out entirely from a place. Let's think about back in the real world (back home) you NEVER book a restaurant 90 days out, most people can't think out more than 2 days ahead of time. Why should Disney be that much different?

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you. Not everything in life has to be 'fair', but in this case I think Disney is as fair as they can be.

As for 'last minute trips', do you also think that all the resorts should keep rooms available for 'last minute folks' so they can have a chance to get what they want? Should airlines hold seats open? Of course not...those who call ahead get their choice of rooms/resorts, and those who wait until the last minute have to accept what's still available or go someplace else. That's exactly the way it should be with the dining...you either plan ahead or be prepared to go someplace else, wherever you can be accommodated.

The way I see it, Disney is being no different than some of the top restaurants in the nation which require reservations, and can require dinner plans months in advance in order to get a table.

If anything, Disney's decision to cut off table availability is a smart way to spread the crowds and not have lines of folks waiting 2-3 hours to get a seat to eat.

As one other poster said...could you imagine the stampede if there were just a few tables at CRT for breakfast each morning for walkups? The running/shoving by ADULTS would be a disaster.

 

[mommykds]

If anything, Disney's decision to cut off table availability is a smart way to spread the crowds and not have lines of folks waiting 2-3 hours to get a seat to eat.

As one other poster said...could you imagine the stampede if there were just a few tables at CRT for breakfast each morning for walkups? The running/shoving by ADULTS would be a disaster.

Didn't think of that one..very good point!!!

 

[BCV23]

I think I have a solution that would be the perfect balance between making an ADR 90 days out and being able to have the flexibilty to just walk up to a restaurant and get a table. Since not everyone wants to plan their entire week or if you plan a last minute trip and all the ADR's are booked, or if you just change your mind about a restaurent or run too late to make an ADR...here is my solution.....

Each restaurant should only book ADRs for about 25 to 75% of the restaurant depending upon the demand. That way, you can still have a chance for a walk-up. ADR's would still be valuable if you are 100% sure of when and where you want to eat. There are many restaurants back home that do the same thing. They only take reservations for a small number of tables, then open up the rest for walk-ins.

I actually think WDW already does what you are describing with variations.

I like making most of our reservations at 83 or so days out. But I've also been able to change things much closer to the date.

I suspect WDW holds some reservation spots until a week or so out and even holds some for "day of" reservations.

I would bet that the % held back varies. CRT breakfast may hold back only 2 or 3% for last minute VIPs or whatever while other park restaurants hold back 50%. Obviously, I have no clue what the numbers are but in observing dining for many years at WDW, I think they already do what you suggest.

 

[tlbwriter]

We know they hold a few spots back for concierge guests, right?

 

[BCV23]

Actually, I don't think we know that at all although there are certainly some DISsers who think so.

I think it is also feasible that the concierge CMs just know the time frames for more spots opening up. It is not as if you are staying concierge and suddenly decide you want to take 10 people to CRT that they will be able to do it. Now if you're the President or a huge celebrity, I think they might fit you in!

 

[ducklite]

I know for a fact that at certain restaurants there are spots held for concierge guests...GF guests at 1900PF, AKL guests at Boma, and CR guests at California Grill for sure.

Also my experience is that concierge guests will generally get the best tables when at all possible.

Anne

 

[BCV23]

But Anne are you certain that the tables are actually held for concierge guests or just that guests of a particular resort will be "fit in" if they want to dine at their home resort. I remember it used to be that you could call directly from your room to the restaurants at that resort. I'm not sure it has anything to do with being concierge.

We really have great luck with wonderful tables and short waits for the most part. But I've seen no difference whether we are staying concierge, regular room at the Polynesian or GF or at BCV.

I have seen a difference when I book last minute at the park. Bad tables and long waits. I do this so infrequently though that I'm not sure it means anything.

 

[eeyore45]

For CRT I was told that there are 183 seats, and they have about a 3.5 turnover rate, or they serve 640 breakfasts daily - - -

and I agree I'll bet they do "hold" back a very small percentage daily - because, if you stay concierge, I've noticed that they somehow manage to serve their guests... not sure, just a guess!