SOOO beyond frustrated.... re: Disney Dining

[tigger2on]

Quick review...
Going to WDW in the fall and doing a split stay between ASmus (sept 24)and AKLV Jambo house.(sept. 27 - Oct 2)
Arriving Sept 24. with my friend and my 3 kids 4 and under, husband will follow on SEpt 25. with my mom, disabled dd and nephew. Then on the 26th... 4 more adult family members are joining us making our total # 12 (11 if you discount the baby!)
I was online and on the phone with WDW dining this morning at 7am on the nose and was unable to get any character or activity meal (such as Whispering Canyon Lodge) at all before 7:35pm for our 1st stay (24th-27th). My kids go to bed at 8- 8:30pm and will be 1, 2 and 4. I do not want to be trying to feed them while they are falling asleep nor do I want the crabby and miserable for the trip.
After finally getting NO character meals at all... for the 1st 4 days. I now have to attempt to get reservations for a group of 12 for dinners between SEpt 27 and Oct 2 as of MOnday!
Why can't I book those now? If I am a DVC member who pays dues and PAYS for the dining plan out of pocket, why is my dining experience suffering due to all the FREE diners! Why doesn't Disney allot a # of reservations to DVC members that are held for a month and then release them to the general public?
Why, if I am staying on WDW property as of Sept. 24.... can they NOT link any reservations I have to the date I leave all Disney resorts properties so I can book my reservations all at once and have a fair shot at getting some dining before 7pm?
I have never had such a horrible experience in my life.... I would never have planned mt child's 1st bday here if I knew it would be IMPOSSIBLE to have a meal with Mickey on his special day!
Magical experience my butt!
Sorry for the rant.... but thanks for listening.

 

[pixiedust23]

Your issue might be the size of your party. Did you ask about splitting the party into separate tables? You might have a better chance of getting of the reservations you want.

 

[dd08]

Quick review...

Why can't I book those now? If I am a DVC member who pays dues and PAYS for the dining plan out of pocket, why is my dining experience suffering due to all the FREE diners! Why doesn't Disney allot a # of reservations to DVC members that are held for a month and then release them to the general public?

What the PP said is a good suggestion.

While you may get mad at me for saying this, you gotta realize what DVC dues have nothing to do with dining.

The cash guest are PAYING for the dining plan, in that it's part of their hotel package - your overall price (room + food) per person is probably still less than what they are paying for their package. It's not truly FREE. Nothing in life is free.

There aren't dining reservations held for DVC members because that isn't fair to the non-DVC members.

 

[tigger2on]

I was only booking for a table of 4 and NOTHING!
Monday I will try for a table of 12 for the 1st and then just try and get 3 tables of 4 at the same time seatings and hope they can stick us together....

 

[rhodymom]

Greeeat. I am arrving 9/26 on my daughter's 2nd bday and want to get Chef Mickey's that night. I can't call till tomorrow but if you had no luck now I am sure to have the same experience tomorrow!

 

[Disney_Villain]

why is my dining experience suffering due to all the FREE diners!

Everyone suffers due to the Free Dining. This is why we will not go to WDW during this period.

 

[leanne2255]

We never make ressies ahead of time, since whenever I call, nothing seems to be available. We just typically walk up to the restaurant , and are usually seated within a short time. (there's only 2 of us). Granted, we're not talking Cindrella breakfast/lunch/dinner, but Character Breakfast at Y&B.

I think people overbook ressies and then don't show up.

 

[tigger2on]

We have to go in late September due to my dh's vacation....if we go as a family. I've been in May and Feb.. but with only a kid or 3!
I'd be happier calling day to day for the bookings that ate 90days from that date. With the 90 +10 rule... by the time I can book for my 1st day, all the early seatings are taken for the entire trip!
How is that fair??

 

[sixcats]

Is the group of 12 made up of all Disney resort guests? Once you have a party of 9 staying on property you can sign up for a grand gathering. They will help make your dining reservations for a larger group.

Keep trying online for the other reservations, things do open up sometimes.

 

[tigger2on]

I was told by DVC CM today that I have to pay to get them to book meals! I'm already paying for dining!!! Also now have learned that there are glitches in the online ADR system for booking ressies staying at a DVC!!! ARGH!

 

[Brian Noble]

If your late times were after your check-in day, try calling back at 90 days exactly. I've found that sometimes more tables are released that day that weren't available during the +10 period.

 

[vicki_c]

I was told by DVC CM today that I have to pay to get them to book meals! I'm already paying for dining!!! Also now have learned that there are glitches in the online ADR system for booking ressies staying at a DVC!!! ARGH!

What - pay who to book dining? That makes no sense at all.

However, it is true that currently DVC reservations cannot use the +10 advantage with the online system. Another IT problem. Apparently, they are in the process of fixing it. So if you want to use the +10 advantage, you will have to call on the phone for your reservations.

 

[pamjb]

All I can say is keep trying. I didn't book my ADR's until we were 45 days out for a party of 10. Took me 4 different phone calls over a 7 day period, but I finally scored Crystal Palace breakfast for 9 am.

Things change and additional tables get released into the system.

 

[princessfionasmom]

I was told by DVC CM today that I have to pay to get them to book meals! I'm already paying for dining!!! Also now have learned that there are glitches in the online ADR system for booking ressies staying at a DVC!!! ARGH!

This is INSANE! Are you serious? Pay them to book ADR's
What did the CM mean that you would have to pay like an extra fee, I don't get it!

 

[LisaRN97]

All I can say is keep trying. I didn't book my ADR's until we were 45 days out for a party of 10. Took me 4 different phone calls over a 7 day period, but I finally scored Crystal Palace breakfast for 9 am.

Things change and additional tables get released into the system.

Same thing here..... couldn't book CRT at all for any of our days, continued to call randomly and got a reservation the other morning for breakfast at the castle.

 

[Ramsfan28]

I just called this morning for our Sept. / October vacation as was lucky enough to get just about everything I wanted (including California Grill for MK fireworks and LeCellier). Also was able to get Chef Mickey's for a character breakfast at 8:30 one morning.

The only issue was trying to get a table around 5:00 for the Fantasmic package. I got a 3:50 reservation at the Brown Derby but I was encouraged to keep calling as things may open up. I can't believe that Fantasmic is not every night anymore - unreal.

I feel lucky that I was able to get what I wanted but I think the complete ADR system needs to be reviewed and changed. I for one would like to see DVC members being able to book ADR's at the time of the room reservation - I doubt it will happen but it would be nice.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We never make ressies ahead of time, since whenever I call, nothing seems to be available. We just typically walk up to the restaurant , and are usually seated within a short time. (there's only 2 of us). Granted, we're not talking Cindrella breakfast/lunch/dinner, but Character Breakfast at Y&B.

I think people overbook ressies and then don't show up.

ITA! I've seen people walk up and get Rose and Crown, Chefs de France, Cape May, Boma, Jiko, etc. during free dining. I'll agree, though, I wouldn't try CRT or LeCellier.

 

[Alexander]

...snip...The only issue was trying to get a table around 5:00 for the Fantasmic package. I got a 3:50 reservation at the Brown Derby but I was encouraged to keep calling as things may open up. I can't believe that Fantasmic is not every night anymore - unreal.

This is the direct result of the economy. Fantasmic is a very expensive show for Disney to display.

ITA! I've seen people walk up and get Rose and Crown, Chefs de France, Cape May, Boma, Jiko, etc. during free dining. I'll agree, though, I wouldn't try CRT or LeCellier.

Or Chef Mickey's!

OP--Late September seems to be when most people are taking advantage of the free dining. We are going in late August to early September and have had no problems getting ADRs and there are still many rooms available during that time. I did read on the resort board however, that there are no value resort rooms left for late September--that would be the direct result of the free dining.

 

[lizondro7]

If this is the worst thing you have experienced in your life then you have a good life!....and don't worry, I am sure your 1 year old will not remember having a meal with Mickey when he grows up.....so just try to have a good time and enjoy things as they come.... Life is too short to worry about these type of things.

 

[dahall]

I AM SO SORRY!! I too was a bit annoyed this morning as I tried to get a breakfast with stitch for my b_day boy 3 year old and a chef Mikey for my B-day boy 8 year old that last week in Sept.

Long story short after calling right at 6:58 2.5 hr. later I got most of what I wanted minus the Fantasmic package. Not only were there no Fantasmic packages there was not one dinner reservation at any of the Hollywood studio restaurants. How is it possible that there was NOT ONE. I get it is free dinning but I was a bit frustrated.

I know I should be happy I got most of want I wanted (although not close to the times I wanted) but my kids are a bit older so I will be better off then you.

ON ANOTHER NOTE: the very nice reservation person said to try back in about 2-4 weeks because the system was going to not allow people to have double booked reservations. He said reservation people will be calling Disney guests who have double reservations and asking them to pick ONE. He said that in the next few weeks people will not be able to double book reservations. I hope that helps KEEP TRYING!