Something has got to be done about ADR's

[civileng68]

Really, something has to change with ADR's.

Though I don't have the solution now (and don't say there's not one if you have not deeply thought on it), something has to be done/changed in the way that PS's/ADR's are reserved.

Problem is, too many people have learned that you can make as many as you like without having to cancel previous ones.

What is now happening is that it is nearly impossible to get ANY sort of sit down dining within the parks while on your vacation. If you do not call ahead you don't sit and eat. I know you should make them ahead of time, and we do, but as on anyone's vacation, plans may change and an ability to eat somewhere may arise.

Even before our last trip, NO (and I mean NO) ADR's were available at the MK on selected nights. However when we got to the park, we went to the same places and were told to stick around because there were very high amounts of "no-shows". This is not the fault or abuse of a patron but the lack of something in place to force people to cancel a ADR for a same time somewhere else. I know many may not like the idea but I think a VERY small reservation fee should be place (and go towards your meal if you show up).

It is really becoming a burden and really impossible to eat in the MK anymore. What was really upsetting was, we finally got in Tony's Town Square and (were previously told it was full) yet the place was 1/2 empty. I asked the hostess what was going on and she said again "so many no'shows".

I think it's time for a brain-storming session.

 

[DVCLiz]

I think this is hard for some people to understand, because after all, they are at a theme park, and when they get hungry they want to eat whatever strikes their fancy, at whatever time they get hungry. They might expect a little bit of a wait, but it makes them extremely irritated if they can't get a same-day reservation.

And yet, the same person would never dream of going to, say, New Orleans (in better times) or NYC and expect to walk up to Commander's Palace or Tavern on the Green on a same-day basis.

I know there are a lot of no-shows, but I don't think charging for a reservation is the answer. The answer is - you just can't be spontaneous with WDW restaurants. You have to plan ahead, you have to make your ADRs, and you have to accept that there is no such thing as being accomodated for last-minute changes in your schedule that allow you to make different dining plans.

Sorry, but that's just the way it is now. I don't see any other system that would work, unless they do away with ADRs altogether and just have first-come, first-served at all restaurants. And I would HATE that!!!

 

[huskies90]

I have to agree with this one. We were ther last week and mid week when the parks were not crowded at all we wanted to change our ADR to a different time and were willing to do a different restaurant. We called in the AM for dinner. Not one open spot at ANY MGM restaurant. Not one. Well we show up at the restaurant at our scheduled time and the place is empty. Huh??

I admit I make multiples too. You have to. It is a battle of survival. Maybe they can link the ADR to your resort for onsite guests and hold a credit card for those offsite??

 

[srfrgrl07]

I agree that a guarantee for a reservation would be a plausible solution to remedy these problems. However, the majority of the customer base would not agree to it and there would be a zillion threads on this board complaining about how they need a cc to book a reservation and what if you don't use cc, etc. Disney used to require a cc for a dining reservation on holidays...they no longer do. I would suspect that they found even with the cc guarantee, they were able to fill the tables of no shows with walk up guests and no longer needed to follow that policy. It would be simple if they could flag the system to identify guests who are holding multiple reservations, but that is just not possible especially if there is a Mr. John Smith and his family of four booked for LTT at 6:00 and another Mr. John Smith with a family of four booked for 6:30 at Chef Mickey's. It would create more problems.

The ultimate solution would be for everyone to decide what meal they want on what night and leave the other restaurants for other guests, but I doubt that will happen, either. Ultimately, I don't feel that Disney is responsible for this situation as much as I feel that guests being "greedy" is.

You were able to get seated at the restaurant of choice without a reservation. Thankfully, it worked out for you. Unfortunately, there really are other restaurants that do book up completely in advance and probably operate at capacity throughout the evening with fewer no shows-Chef Mickey's for example. There are now more poeple realizing that they need to schedule in advance and are doing so. Counter service is the alternative if you encounter a location that is booked, however I would recommend trying the Plaza Restaurant if you haven't already because it is truly one of those "unknown" locations.

Ok, this should be on the dining board now.

 

[Meezers]

Wow....I must be really weird. I make one TS ADR each day....if we aren't going to use it...I call and cancel (providing I can get cell service where I am). I can't imagine making more than one ADR....it just doesn't seem right to me (notice I said "to me").

Sometimes I have tried to change the time for an ADR....if they can't we either keep the ADR or cancel it...

Like I said...guess I am just weird! But then I do carry maps to the park and all the menus in my pda!

 

[civileng68]

The answer is - you just can't be spontaneous with WDW restaurants. You have to plan ahead, you have to make your ADRs, and you have to accept that there is no such thing as being accomodated for last-minute changes in your schedule that allow you to make different dining plans.

Sorry, but that's just the way it is now.

You're on the right track except you are missing the biggest problem of which that has nothing to do with.

Many of those that DO plan ahead, themselves do not want to limit themselves to any specific time or place, so while they are planning ahead, many (I believe) are making MULTIPLE ADR's at the same time for different places in different parks just in case they decided to be in a different park on a certain day.

So while I agree that you need to plan ahead, that doesn't come close to solving the bigger problem of even the planners greatly abusing the system.

There HAS to be something.

 

[DVCLiz]

I've never double-booked either. I make my park plans around the ADRs I've made in advance. It never even occurred to me you could make two for the same time until I read about it on these threads!!!!

I'm such a rule follower that I tried once to cancel an ADR both on the phone AND in person. I was staying at VWL and had an ADR for Artist Point. I called from the room and got Disney Dining. They told me I needed to cancel the reservation in person (Huh?? Never been told that before??) OK, I was on my way down to the boat anyway, so I went to Artist Point and tried to cancel in person. The hostess told me she couldn't cancel it until the restaurant opened at 4. At that point I gave up and just went to the MK!!! But that's the only time I haven't been able to cancel.

 

[Markstudy]

Seems so simple.... if you have 7 Day ticket with 6 night stay at hotel.... you get 7 AM slots, 7 noon slots and 7 evening ADR's

I never even thought of booking more then one dinner per night.
Sneaky and tricky ... I should have thought of it myself.

If you guys want to get Disney to crack down on people booking Multiple ADR's (which seems unfair to me, now that I think about it, just as bad as cutting in line)....maybe we should all call and make 50 to 100 ADR's each. That would get Disney's crack computer IT staff off their butts and writing some new code.

 

[the kabuki]

Seems so simple.... if you have 7 Day ticket with 6 night stay at hotel.... you get 7 AM slots, 7 noon slots and 7 evening ADR's

I never even thought of booking more then one dinner per night.
Sneaky and tricky ... I should have thought of it myself.

If you guys want to get Disney to crack down on people booking Multiple ADR's (which seems unfair to me, now that I think about it, just as bad as cutting in line)....maybe we should all call and make 50 to 100 ADR's each. That would get Disney's crack computer IT staff off their butts and writing some new code.

Sooooo agree with this. Seems simple enough. They have all sorts of other info on you in the computer, should be easy to keep track of this.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

One of the problems the Disney should address is how impossible it is to cancel an ADR!

My DD's were taking a long nap and it was obvious to me they would not be making it to 5pm dinner, so I called the reservation line at 4:30 and was on hold until 5:05. I was just sitting reading while they slept so I stayed on hold and laughed with the CM when I finally got through.

Twice I went to cancel on my cell phone while in que. Once it was Maelstorm and then Peter Pan. Both times I had to hang up because we came to the loading area. Sheesh. If it hadn't a been a weekend and I had free calling there is no way I would waste minutes holding to cancel.

However, trying to process and hold to that many CC numbers would be a big undertaking. Unless you had all of your reservation numbers under one CC instead of a name...

I agree. It shouldn't be a major hassle to get ADR's.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thankfully, I usually book what I'm going to want before I go. Having been to WDW many times, I pretty much know beforehand when and where I'll be at each day and where I 'might' want to eat. If I find I'm not going to be able to keep a particular ADR, then I cancel it. How to fix the exisitng abuse? I would do what they used to do with CRT....take a $10 pp deposit when booking. If you don't have a credit card, then you have 10 days to send in a check...if it doesn't get sent in, the ADR goes away.
I did hear on one occasion last week a family talking about which ADR they wanted to use....LTT, Chef Mickeys or go over to Epcot for LeCellier!!!!!! I mean, they obviously had three for about the same time and now needed to make a choice. That's just not right.
Or use the system someone else mentioned.....a slot pp for each meal, each day.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Linking it to the tickets might work for those on vacation, but not for those that live in the area that want to come in and have dinner one night. We try to call in a week in advance and usually find that nothing is available. So we just show up when the place opens and generally don't have a problem.

 

[maccalovah]

Also, the slot per person idea would only really work for people staying onsite...if you're staying offsite, disney has no idea how many nights you're staying...and if you happen to have an AP, then there's REALLY no way of tracking anything....

 

[bicker]

Problem is, too many people have learned that you can make as many as you like without having to cancel previous ones.

They're doing something about it -- requiring deposits for some of the restaurants.

it is nearly impossible to get ANY sort of sit down dining within the parks while on your vacation. If you do not call ahead you don't sit and eat.

Okay, I think you're off-base here. What you're saying is true as you've written it (perhaps not how you intended it, though). It isn't just that you cannot get ADRs, but so FEW people are being no-shows -- most are actually showing up for their reservations -- there often isn't even any space for walk-ups. This isn't a matter of double-booking and no-shows, but rather that so many more people want to eat at full-service restaurants than in years-past.

That's not to say that a deposit for ADRs isn't a good idea -- it is, and I hope the practice spreads, but it won't address the concern you stated in the above quote.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

It seems like the simple solution to the walk up problem would be to hold ADRs for no more than 15 minutes. If you are walking into a restaurant that is 1/2 full because of no shows, they shouldn't be holding those tables. I know I have read posts about people being turned away because tables are being held.

I agree that it is hard to cancel ADRs. We had a major change before our trip this summer and had to cancel ADRs after we had made new ones. The CM I spoke with seemed put out to have to cancel them. She went as far as to say that there was no penalty for a no show.

I don't think the answer is a reservation fee. I think you should be given a 15 minute window to show up. If you are not there, a walk up guest will be given your table. If more tables were free for walk ups, I think less people would double book ADRs. I know in planning my trip for 8/06 I would love to have a night where I didn't have to plan ahead where and when we would eat.

 

[2BOYMOM]

Wow....I must be really weird. I make one TS ADR each day....if we aren't going to use it...I call and cancel (providing I can get cell service where I am). I can't imagine making more than one ADR....it just doesn't seem right to me (notice I said "to me").

Sometimes I have tried to change the time for an ADR....if they can't we either keep the ADR or cancel it...

Like I said...guess I am just weird! But then I do carry maps to the park and all the menus in my pda!

I totally agree. I must be really weird too. I would never make more than one ADR for the same meal, it isn't right.

I love your kitties. I miss my Siamese, Malcolm so much. He passed away 2 years ago from old age.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have to agree with this one. We were ther last week and mid week when the parks were not crowded at all we wanted to change our ADR to a different time and were willing to do a different restaurant. We called in the AM for dinner. Not one open spot at ANY MGM restaurant. Not one. Well we show up at the restaurant at our scheduled time and the place is empty. Huh??

I admit I make multiples too. You have to. It is a battle of survival. Maybe they can link the ADR to your resort for onsite guests and hold a credit card for those offsite??

Why do you need multiples? Not trying to get flamed but I don't understand. I have not been in years, so when I read here that ADR's are needed to ensure a dinner in desired restaurant, I looked at the UG decided which park I wanted to be in and made ressies for the day. I was flexible with times and got what I wanted. I don't know how it will work out once we are there, but I sure would have hated to create backup plans, and then try to remember which was which. I think it may be okay, as we are folks who tend to be where we need to be when we need to be there. I will cancel any that I think we may not be on time for. I may need to take all of this back next month.

I also think that holding a CC may be problematic for some guests, as a hold may be placed on available credit for the entire time. Fine for those with enough available but an issue for those with limited credit lines.

 

[bicker]

It seems like the simple solution to the walk up problem would be to hold ADRs for no more than 15 minutes.

I assume you mean that if you arrive after that you would be treated solely as a walk-up. I think 15 minutes is too long in that case. Especially at the beginning of a meal service (say 5:00), it is essential that the tables that are going to be filled get filled, either by those with the ADRs or by walk-ups, at the time-of, rather than 20-30 minutes later. Otherwise, the entire night's service (or alternatively, revenues) can be adversely affected.

More and more, the only language some guests seem to understand is money, how what they do will affect them financially. They seem to be able to readily ignore any other proviso, warning or directive.

 

[DVCLiz]

I thought it WAS the policy to release ADRs after 15 minutes. We almost missed a CRT dinner because we were five minutes later than our 15 minute window - I had to beg and plead to get in!!!!

I guess I thought it wasn't that big a deal because they did release tables fairly quickly and I didn't understand the scope of the problem with people making multiple ADRs. I totally agree that that practice is one that ought to be addressed!!

 

[tmt martins]

Do you think now is the TIME to start doing and SELLING ADR's on E-BAY
I could see it now 7:00pm at LTT on 12-24 let the bidding begin.