The "I lied to get an ADR" thread

[Narnia]

I'd lie if I had too in two years me and DH are going to disney and dine in all the 2 credit meals. I would cry if I couldn't get in to Victoria & Alberts or the castle at night.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I don't really agree with the lying to get a table thing. If they don't have a table, then go somewhere else. There are over 100 restaurants. I don't really think people should lie and say that they have more people in their party than what they do have because then when a family with more people try to get a table, they can't because someone else took it!

I've never had this problem and all my ADR's are set, but its still wrong and unfair to others who could have had that larger table who needed it.

In my opinion, people should try somewhere else or keep calling to see if a table has opened up for their party size.

I think because of this, WDW is going to start asking for credit card holds for all restaurants sooner or later and change the system so that people can't double book or trick them so that they can get tables. I read somewhere that they were thinking of allowing those staying in WDW resorts to book ADR's first up to a year out and then those not staying on property will book later on (like 180 days out), but I don't know if this will ever happen or if its true.

 

[disneylvrnMS]

I think the bigger problem here is that a lot of people aren't actually lieing to the CM to get the reservation. The CMs are the ones doing the lieing.

I was honest with the CM and told her we were a party of 2. She took it upon herself to input that we were a party of 3 so that we could get a table.

 

[Mikes:)Mom]

Please don't do this! I was planning a trip in August for two of us. I called 180 days for our ADR's. But last week we added one more to the party. I had to cancel all our ADR's and rebook them all. I can't get in anywhere for three people on four days we are there. I call just about every day to see if anything opens up. Here I've been thinking I can't get ADR's because of free dining, but how I wonder.

When we went last year there where 10 of us. When we checked in we couldn't be seated until the whole party was there. Everyone but two was at Coral Reef right on time, but they made us wait outside until the other two come. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[nosy parker]

I had made all my ADRs (Oct/Nov) at my 180 days for the four of us. But then my eldest decided she would "possibly" like to join us. She needs to clear it with her work (new job) and even then I will have to see about the added expense of another flight and additional room. But in planning I have to consider she "might" be there so I called back cancelled all my ADRs and re-booked, because they told me I cannot simply add one more person. I know sometimes you can just let them know at the restaurant that you have an extra when you arrive, but it stressed me out too much to do that. So now I have all my ADRs for 5 and I will not be calling back to cancel her off if she does not end up coming. I can't take the chance of cancelling all the 5 person ADRs and then not being able to re-book for 4. It was hard enough the first time! I find this whole process very complicated. It's a shame if in the end we end up with a table for 6 and are only 4 seated there, but I can't really worry about it.

 

[Tamar]

I have had a concierge do this for DH and me without our requesting it.

Having been a server for many years at several "normal" restaurants, there is no way most restaurants would turn away a party of 2 or a reservation for a party of 2 if they had a table that would seat 3-4 people. There really is something not-quite-right about insisting that every single seat have a person in it, or saying "go somewhere else, we don't want your money".

JMHO.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

Not saying it is wrong, not saying it is right; but, I wonder what would happen if you do this at one of the places that takes credit card numbers at the time you book the ADR. Would they bill the card for the person that did not show up since you did not cancel the reservation.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Lisa.......And to add to what kelleigh told you, and answer your original question, the 180+10 stands for the additional ten days (total of 190) you get to make ADRs when you stay on Disney property/at a Disney resort. This gives those who are staying at a Disney hotel, etc. a few extra days to get first dibs on ADRs. Sort of an incentive to "stay where you play"......and eat!

I just want to clarify this a bit...its 180 days from your day of arrival, the 10 are the 10 days of your vacation. Its not 190 days prior to your first day.

This way you only have to make one call to make all your dining reservations instead of having to call every day to make your ADRs for the next day of vacation.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Disney's system, IMHO, IS flawed. How often do you go to a loval restaurant and sit at a table for 2? Um, not often! There are not many 2 top tables. There just isn't. Your local place would not even hesitate but to seat you at a 4 top. But Disney's system looks for 2, no 2? Sorry, sold out. NOT!

I would have no qualms at all with this. Heck, I am not sure i have ever sat a table for 2!

 

[oybolshoi]

To book what you want they have a rule 180 plus days from date of arrival so i lied what date i was checking in and will change it later and the lady i talked today said they can't the ressie away from me.

That's interesting ... every time I've called to make ADRs at my 180-day window I've had to provide a reservation number that verifies my eligibility to make use of the advance reservation system, which is a perk for guests who are staying on-site.

I just find it hard to believe that people feel like they need to go to these lengths to make a dining reservation. I'm not knocking anyone, because I plan mine waaaaay in advance, too, but this all smacks of desperation. If I'm going to lie about something ... it's going to be about something important.

Carry on!

 

[Wistful_Thinking]

I personally don't see it as a big deal. In recent years I would guess that we have made 300+ ADRs for a party of 2. I would estimate that over 50% of the time we are seated at a table for four (4) anyway.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

The "I lied to get an ADR"

1) I guess some people can justify any action.
2) Such a pity.

 

[oybolshoi]

I personally don't see it as a big deal. In recent years I would guess that we have made 300+ ADRs for a party of 2. I would estimate that over 50% of the time we are seated at a table for four (4) anyway.

That's a great point ... my husband and I almost always seem to end up seated at a 4-topper. Noticeable exceptions to that rule include Chefs de France, Kona Cafe, the Gardenview Lounge, Flying Fish, and Jiko. There are probably others but my memory ain't what it used to be.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I was told by a sweet adorable CM at CSR last year to do it when I was trying to book Boma & LeCellier for 2. I actually ended up having 3 at Le Cellier so that didn't end up being too much of a lie. When i went up to the concierge desk to check and see if anything had opened up the CM said no we don't have anything at Boma for 2 but we do have something for 4. I walked away and it hit me so I called into Dining and booked the table right then.

Today legitimately we got a better time for Boma (and had 4 times to choose from instead of the 1 i got stuck w/ for a party of 4) when I called back to see if i could change our ADR to 6 instead of 4 but the grandparents are coming up for that day so we really will have 6.

 

[SarahInMN]

To book what you want they have a rule 180 plus days from date of arrival so i lied what date i was checking in and will change it later and the lady i talked today said they can't the ressie away from me.

I'm sorry but in my opinion that is just plain wrong. And it penalizes everyone else who follows the rules.

So then I asked for a party of 3, and they had one at 7:10.

It's one thing to make an ADR if you think truly think there will be a higher number of people, but to knowingly lie when booking ADR's just doesn't seem right to me. I would feel really guilty knowing I had lied just to get a dining reservation.

On our last trip, we booked several ADR's for 6 people and then cut them back to 4 when some plans changed. Yes, our original ADR's were cancelled and our times moved, but I realy believe we did the right thing by freeing up an ADR for a larger group.

Sorry but that's how I feel.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I was asked for my res # when I wanted to book an ADR that was over 180 days.

 

[jennipooh]

Where to begin?... Is lying wrong...yes...lying is wrong, ALWAYS wrong what about when the truth hurts someone else or ourselves or helps us to get what we really want or need or think we want or need ... I think I had this assignment in my freshman philosophy class... Obviously we could go on and on with this one sooo...let's forget about the morality of it and just talk about the simple reality of the ADR system. Really, when I get an ADR in a restaurant I want at a time remotely close to what I want, then I actually feel as if I've won the lottery.........ahhh Disney Magic!

Anyway, I too remember reading something somewhere that stated very plainly that if there isn't a table for two then just ask for a table for three because the system is flawed and there would probably be a table for three sitting there open, lonley, wanting a home, waiting for a party of any size to scoop it up and love it yeah, I decided to try the ole table for three trick.

My son wants to have dinner at LeCellier and Coral Reef. Don't I suffer enough indignities as a single mother as it is, don't I deserve a table?... so I called for the umpteenth time to request a table for...TWO at either restaurant, either of our Epcot nights... and a big fat "No table for two, all booked up" was what I got from the CM. (yes, I chickened out) Why did I chicken out, was it my great and strong moral compass? or (like you) was I worried that the CM would kill me? or...

like another poster:

I have never done this BUT a CM did this for me (without me asking) so I could get into Cape May for breakfast. She said there was nothing open for 2 but she put us as a 3 ressie so we could get in.

When we finally checked in at Cape May 6 months later the hostess had was in a snit because we were just 2. She kept making comments that she was wasting a booth on a party for 2. Then the waiter came over and said why are there just 2 of you, the ressie slip says there are supposed to be 3...he gave us an attitude the entire time and it really ticked off DH.

oh my God!!! I would die if that happended to us! So I chickened out! But I did finally decide to ask the CM about it. I said "It seems that getting a table for two is the hardest table to get"... (CM agreeing), so I then said, "well then since it is so hard to get a table for two and since it seems that whenever we eat at a table service we always end up sitting at a table made for four anyway, what if.... we just went ahead and booked a table for three or four?"...(crickets chirping) (insert dramtatic pause) The CM was either trying to remember protocol or checking her system , but she finally came back with a, "Well, that wouldn't help us anyway, because there are no tables of any size at those two restaurants on either of those two nights." Maybe she lied...

Well thank goodness, because I wouldn't have wanted to spend the next two months losing sleep over having jumped on the fast train to Hell just to get my 9 year old son a good steak at Disney World.

Anyway, we did end up booking both LeCellier and Coral Reef ...lunches.

So after having said all of that, who are any of us to judge or to say what is right or wrong when it comes to booking ADR's? (I'm sure much worst goes on) and how much do any of us even know about the Disney ADR system? It never makes much sense. Are you kidding me with this 180 days, 180 + 10 (x 12 -13 + 6 -....my sanity.) Wouldn't it be nice to say "Do you feel like Crystal Palace tonight?"

 

[cmwade77]

This is what a travel agent is for, I don't know what she does, but our travel agent always gets us within 5-10 minutes of the time that we request, she is great! Of course she books at exactly 180 days out from check-in, so that helps, not quite sure how this year will work as we will be there for 12 days, so ADRs for our last couple of days won't be able to be booked right away. I am still shocked that so many people have trouble getting the ADRs that they want, on our Honeymoon (during free dining) we even got a same day ADR for Boma.

 

[emmabemmainc]

A table is a table. I'm sorry, but I don't see much wrong with what the OP did. Whether it be a 2 top or a 4 top--big deal! Like the PP's said, a lot of the time, 2 people will be sitting at a table for 4 anyways. It's not like the OP made a reservation for 10, knowing that only 2-4 people would show up. It's ONE person.
Yes, they lied, but who here can say that they haven't? A bigger lie if far worse, IMO then a lie like this. It may seem crazy to want to lie to get a table, but that's what WDW has turned making reservations into. It's crazy!

BTW-I just made all my reservations last week for 180+10 days out and was never asked once for my reservation number. She only asked what day we were arriving. So, I guess it depends on who answers your call.

 

[monty]

If you did a walk up to the restaurant and they had empty tables wouldn't they let you have one even if there were only two of you and the table was set for three?

If you book for three do they sit you at a table for four and have an empty space or are you sat at the side of a table for two? Do they actually have a special sized table for three people?

Computerised booking systems don't always have the logic us humans do!