Something has got to be done about ADR's

[zulaya]

Never ever have made multiple ADRs for the same meal on the same day. Sorry, not trying to flame, but that contributes to the problem. It's too bad the CMs aren't trained to have 1 TS meal per meal slot on any given day.

I do remember reading on the Restaurants Board a looonnngg time ago that someone had madea multiple ressies on several days and a CM called them up and asked them to cancel what they weren't going to use. The person replied that they didn't know which park they were going to be at so they wanted to be "covered". In the end, that person had to cancel some ADR. Now whether that policy is enforced now, I don't know. But the way to solve the problem would be to stop it before it starts. Those CMs pull up our whole profile, I'm sure, when we call for ADRs. They can see when we have "double booked".

 

[Hopefully]

I'm in the weird group who NEVER makes multiple ADR's. Not only do I think it is not right, I think it is wrong. I plan my time to know which park we will be in which day, and then make my ADR's. I believe that everyone should have an opportunity to eat where they want, and the practice of holding multiple ADR's wrecks havoc with folks chances of sitting and eating.
I was also easily able to cancel one ADR we decided we didn't want to keep, in October. A quick call mid-afternoon, no problem.
I believe all those who book multiple "Just in Case" ADR's are being very selfish.
I would support something like a $10pp CC hold, which would be forfeited for no shows. I think it would help.

 

[Feralpeg]

I try to make an ADR for a special night by calling way in advance. Most of the time, since we are local, we have no idea that we will be going to a park until that day. When we get there, we just have to be very flexible. We've been turned away from some (always at LeCellier), but we manage to get into others as long as we are flexible on the time. We often eat very early (between 4pm and 5pm). The aren't as busy at that time.

 

[TammyJ]

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.

I'm surprised someone isn't already doing that!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Never ever have made multiple ADRs for the same meal on the same day. Sorry, not trying to flame, but that contributes to the problem. It's too bad the CMs aren't trained to have 1 TS meal per meal slot on any given day.

I'm no psychic, but given the current state of ADRs & dining @ Disney, I could see Disney doing for ADRs what they do when checking for multiple room reservations under the same name -- begin to pro-actively cancel the multiple ADRs for the same meal. I would certainly applaud that move.

With the implementation of the CG changes, I don't think it will be long before Disney does the same with other popular restaurants in both the parks and hotels. They are assuredly getting complaints about it and their own information about reservations vs. no-shows would substantiate that a problem exists that has to be addressed.

 

[Laurabearz]

Before free dining and the new food plan I could call while riding Splash Mountian and get a PS for CP in a snap!

I book more than I need but cancel what I dont need several weeks before the trip

 

[MiknMinMouse]

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.

They are able to keep track of which Priority Seating requests you make. When I called for this year's trip I made 4 Reservations. After talking to my family they decided that for the breakfast they wanted a later time so I called back to change. The CM I talked to had all of the PS times I had made in front of them and read them all back to me and added one more dinner. I'm not sure how people are making multiples unless they use different names or phone numbers.

 

[StephSalyer]

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.

Actually, you are not too far off. It was this very practice that put the policy for CRT in place. People getting multiple ADR's and then selling them on E-Bay. The pay before you eat at CRT policy is not that old. WHen we first ate at CRT approx 15 years ago there wasn't even a deposit required.........

 

[Amy&Dan]

For those of you wondering why people make multiple adr's its usually because they had to make their dining reservations before park hours were out. This made planning a nightmare. Thankfully, they are releasing park hours 6 months out now and letting you make your dining adr's that far in advance as well. I never double booked because we have generally travelled in enough of an off season that I was able to change adr's when the park hours came out if I needed too. But, I had cm's at Disney Dining tell me when I was on with them trying to figure out what to do for dining when I had no idea what the park hours were, to double book. Their suggestion! I am hoping that the new system of releasing park hours so far in advance will help people make their plans firmly and that may help a bit. Free dining, all the hoopla for the 50th and the word getting out that Disney vacations can be almost like cruises food wise, is making a lot of people sit down to eat more often!

 

[Flanigan]

I have to agree that something should be done about all the no-shows... even if it were doing like the Cinderella's Royal Table breakfast does in getting a credit card number and charging to hold the reservation. Fortunately on my trip me and my DW (yes I know there were only two of us) didn't have too bad of a time getting in to the Dinners we wanted by just walking up, we only made 2 ADRs one for the Breakfast, and one at Chefs de France.

 

[MomofKatie]

For those of you wondering why people make multiple adr's its usually because they had to make their dining reservations before park hours were out. This made planning a nightmare.

I don't agree with this- I managed to plan ADRs for our last trip without the October hours- anyone can pull up the normal EMH schedule and the historic hours- they don't deviate greatly year to year.

Epcot- ALWAYS open 9-9
MGM- During October, ALWAYS open 9-7 or 9-8
AK- ALWAYS open 9-5 during non peak times.

MK does have the most variable hours, but it doesn't warrant people making multiple ADRs for the same time.

Now that the hours are out 6 months in advance, that argument is no longer valid. Multiple ADRs are made out of greed and disregard for others, plain and simple.

 

[tlbwriter]

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.

I would agree with this if it weren't for Disney transportation. I don't think the average guests realizes it can take an hour to get from one park to another, or from one resort to another. The available transportation is too unreliable, IMHO, to hold guests to a 15-minute window.

 

[Lulu's Mom]

I also agree that guests should only be able to make 3 ADRS a day... one for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When you call to make an ADR they ask for either your phone number or reservation number so this should be an easy way to see how many ADR's a person has.

 

[tlbwriter]

I also agree that guests should only be able to make 3 ADRS a day... one for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When you call to make an ADR they ask for either your phone number or reservation number so this should be an easy way to see how many ADR's a person has.

The phone number wouldn't be an effective way to identify a single person - I could use my home number, my cell number, my work number, etc. And then my husband could make reservations using his cell number and his work number. That's five different phone numbers for two people. And of course you couldn't require a reservation number unless you wanted to limit ADRs to guests who are staying on-site. Though I must admit I won't be surprised if this eventually happens!

 

[bicker]

Well, I have five telephone numbers, so that means I'd be able to make 15 ADRs that way...

 

[wdw4us2]

I am among the group that NEVER makes multiple PS/ADR's. I have found that since Disney started offering the free food plan with its packages it's much harder to to book the restaurant you want anywhere on the property. We are AP and Disney Dining Experience members, so the free food doesn't ever apply to us. When we were planning for our last trip (which was the weekend of 10/14/05) we couldn't get ADR's for any park or resort restaurants unless it was the earliest or latest time.

As for the comments about it being hard to cancel ADR's once you're at WDW, we have never encountered that problem. Did you know that you can call from any pay phone on Disney property free? All you do is dial *88 and that will connect you with CR or Disney Dining. You can also make new ADR's by dialing that number, even for same day dining.

 

[bicker]

Yes, I have been aware of *88, but I've always received the same information from them, that it was too late to cancel the PS arrangements.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Well, I have five telephone numbers, so that means I'd be able to make 15 ADRs that way...

For the same meal? Or even the same day? (just joking)

But this does illustrate a huge loophole that already exists in the ADR system, thus allowing multiple ADRs for any meal. It would also make it nearly impossible for Disney to track multiple ADRs for a person or family.

 

[tlbwriter]

They are able to keep track of which Priority Seating requests you make. When I called for this year's trip I made 4 Reservations. After talking to my family they decided that for the breakfast they wanted a later time so I called back to change. The CM I talked to had all of the PS times I had made in front of them and read them all back to me and added one more dinner. I'm not sure how people are making multiples unless they use different names or phone numbers.

People are making multiples the same way you made your singles - they call and ask for them. Right now there is no rule against it. I don't know if a CM would let you make two reservations for the same time *at* the same time, because I haven't tried it. But I know that when I made an ADR at Ohana even though I already had one for Chef Mickey's at the same time (not knowing yet which one my SIL would want to keep), the CM didn't question it.

 

[civileng68]

People are making multiples the same way you made your singles - they call and ask for them. Right now there is no rule against it. I don't know if a CM would let you make two reservations for the same time *at* the same time, because I haven't tried it. But I know that when I made an ADR at Ohana even though I already had one for Chef Mickey's at the same time (not knowing yet which one my SIL would want to keep), the CM didn't question it.

Actually right now you CAN make multiple ADRs at the same exact time under the same name. The computer systems dont pull them up and alert the rep.

Also, just FYI, this also affects people calling before their vacation, not just those last minute people. I called 4 weeks out and there were NONE available for a 3 day period on my vacation. So while I do think the earlier you call the more chance you have of getting one, at the same time, the further out you call the less likely you may be to eat at that place at that time since you may change your mind in between.

Like I said, I called 4 weeks out and got nothing! I called everyday and FINALLY got Tony's Town Square after someone called to cancel.