The ADR craziness!

[mi*vida*loca]

Okay I've been to WDW 3 times and the last two times had no problems with ADR's. Last trip it was during the craziness of teh new system and still had no troubles. Even when I called way after my 90 days. I called 2 weeks after my 90 days and still had options for LeCellier. The trip before that I called the week of and got CP, GG and Tusker House with no problems.

We go back in March (first week of March when it's not so busy) and at times I'm worried I might not be able to get any ADR's! But in the back of my mind I keep thinking it's because of free dining that everyone is having problems.

Now is the problems with people getting ADR's the new system or free dining?? IYO.

 

[w-family]

I think it is ther perfect storms of both things causing problems. I too have never stressed about ADRs before, I always called and got what i wanted. My 90 days was today for Aug and I was a nervous wreck. the computer system crashed two times while making my ADRS and the heavy call volume also kept you on hold for a long time. I wouldn't strart stressing yet for March though,

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I'm not stressing about March just yet. But I do feel bad for all of the people calling right now and not beign able to get a lot of what they want even at 90+10!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

But I do feel bad for all of the people calling right now and not beign able to get a lot of what they want even at 90+10!

1) People get 90+10 days ADR's when staying on site.
2) This is good for you.
3) Sounds great, huh?
4) However, someone else already ate into your days with their 10-days.
5) So, when you call, you are already at a disadvantage for popular meals.
6) During Free Dining, it gets even worse.

NOTE: No good deed goes unrewarded. 90+10 has its own problems. What sounds like a good deal is actually a disadvantage, because other people get a 10-days lead on you for the same coveted ADR's. People just never look at it this way. They assume the +10 will get them anything they want. It was more fair when you had 90-days and had to call each day. At least the fastest dialers got their ressies

 

[soupy11]

1) People get 90+10 days ADR's when staying on site.
2) This is good for you.
3) Sounds great, huh?
4) However, someone else already ate into your days with their 10-days.
5) So, when you call, you are already at a disadvantage for popular meals.
6) During Free Dining, it gets even worse.

NOTE: No good deed goes unrewarded. 90+10 has its own problems. What sounds like a good deal is actually a disadvantage, because other people get a 10-days lead on you for the same coveted ADR's. People just never look at it this way. They assume the +10 will get them anything they want. It was more fair when you had 90-days and had to call each day. At least the fastest dialers got their ressies

It works out because you get to book into your ten day window, effectively chipping into the next guys available times.

 

[dvcdisney]

I think the problem is that the new system and free dining ADRs came into play simultaneously and it created such a mess. The system seems to take forever to search for ADR availability, but that my just be because so many people are going into the system. Not only are the CM using in, now the TAs are too. And all this during Free Dining! What a mess!

Now, I have said it a million times, if they had left it at 180 days, I would have booked my ADRs way in advance and so would some of the people. And many of those who are participating in Free Dining would have done it as soon as they could. So essentially not everyone was calling on the same day. So when they introduced this new system, there wouldn't be thousands of people on hold on May 18th. Keeping it at 180 days would be a win win for everyone. Disney - less people would be complaining at this point and the system may not have crashed since it wouldn't have to deal with the volume that it had to these past couple of days; people who booked their reservations earlier and not participating in free Dining would not be caught in this mess; Free Dining guest would not all be calling on May 18th, they would or could have called anytime after they booked since it was way after the 180 days; and the poor CMs who had to deal with so many problems...it's not their fault, whether they were not an experience CM or was able to get through easily, they all had to deal with upset guest trying to making ADRs.

Although I was able to get all my preferred ADRs, I am still quite nervous about this new system. I'm afraid that with all the "crashing" going on, it may affect already booked ADRs and if this is the case, then EVERYONE loses.

So again, BRING BACK THE 180 DAYS ADRS!

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

My plan is to keep calling until i get what i want LOL

 

[pixidust princess]

I'm really nervous also. I can book July 3 for our free dining trip Oct 3-10. I am keeping my fingers crossed and will all first thing that morning. I think that is all i can do at this point!

 

[vascubaguy]

I don't like the new system. I called to check ADRs and in the old system, they could pull up a restaurant and all available times. They could also scan a number of nearby restaurants. Now, you have to give them a restaurant name AND you have to give them a time frame to search (in 30 minute blocks). I asked for an ADR around 6pm and the CM said nothing was available, so I asked about 7pm and she said she'd have to search again. I like it better when they would say, I can't do 6pm, but I have an 8:15 or 5pm slot.

 

[snykymom]

Don't forget that the people calling now for free dining ADRs are also calling for August, prior to the start of school. So that's one more factor in the "perfect storm": new system, free dining and summer vacation.

I'm going right after Labor Day, when most schools have already started, so I'm hoping that even with FD, I'll get much of what I want! But if I don't, I'm flexible!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Relax everybody. We didn't call until last night for August and basically got what we want with some changes in days and times. It appears the most on hold problems are at 7:00am. Although I didn't want CRT or LeCellar so I didn't need to call exactly at 7:00am.

 

[dvcdisney]

Relax everybody. We didn't call until last night for August and basically got what we want with some changes in days and times. It appears the most on hold problems are at 7:00am. Although I didn't want CRT or LeCellar so I didn't need to call exactly at 7:00am.

I agree. I don't call at 7am either, I think the wait times are excessive at that time. I usually call mid morning to late afternoon. I called yesterday to add my last set of ADRs and I called around 1pm and was able to get my choices. However, this was my second attempt. I had called earlier around 11:30 and, in the middle of booking, the CM said that the system froze. So that was frustrating.

Although, it was funny that the CM who helped me with my first set of ADRs reminded me that I can call at 7 am. I just don't think they should promote that. It's way too busy.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Now with the thread about TA's being able to make ADR's before the 90 mark I'm sure people will start flipping out. They are making them at 100 days out from check in instead of 90+10 if I read correctly.

Dining will NOT make us or break us at all. I just want to be able to have some good character meals for my kids. Especially on their birthdays! I'm not picky about times. As long as it's before 7. We usually dine early...around 5 and have never had a problem.

 

[w-family]

It is strange a few times I have read about CMs not being able to offer alternative times; mine did. I would tell her what time I wanted and she would tell be the next closest time available. I wonder if I just caught a "good one" when I called. In all I think I spoke to four different CMs yesterday and they were all very helpful and thnking me for not getting mad at them for the problems.