Thoughts on improving ADR system

[Merriwind]

There has got to be a better way...

Had an ADR at Chef Mickey's on Friday 1/13 for DD's 8th bday. Called a couple of months out and got a 6:20pm for five. I really wanted an earlier time, since my Dmom and Ddad had booked a Wishes cruise to celebrate the big day. I called a couple of times a week looking for an earlier ADR. Over time, the earliest available ADR time moved later and later until finally a few days before the 13th, I was told that the restaurant was totally booked and got the same answer on the 13th itself. No biggie, I figured, we'll go as early as possible and wait for a table, hoping to get seated at least a little early.

We arrived at Chef Mickey's at about 5:30pm. There was no line to check-in, in fact there was only one family in front of me. I told the host about our ADR and that we were hoping to be seated early. "No problem," he says, "we are really slow tonight." Indeed they were. We were seated in about 30 seconds! Every room/seating area I passed through or peeked into had empty tables. Never did a crowd gather in the waiting area. Never did a line form to check-in. What happened to "completely booked"?!

I can only wonder how many people called as I did and didn't go to Chef Mickey's, either because they couldn't get an ADR time they could use or because they were told the restaurant was booked. I know from my own experience and from reading these boards that this wasn't an isolated incident. I have been in very slow "completely booked" restaurants at Disney before.

It just seems to me that there's got to be a better way. Maybe hold back a percent of the seats for walk-ins? I don't know. Anybody?

 

[pepperw23]

There has got to be a better way...

Had an ADR at Chef Mickey's on Friday 1/13 for DD's 8th bday. Called a couple of months out and got a 6:20pm for five. I really wanted an earlier time, since my Dmom and Ddad had booked a Wishes cruise to celebrate the big day. I called a couple of times a week looking for an earlier ADR. Over time, the earliest available ADR time moved later and later until finally a few days before the 13th, I was told that the restaurant was totally booked and got the same answer on the 13th itself. No biggie, I figured, we'll go as early as possible and wait for a table, hoping to get seated at least a little early.

We arrived at Chef Mickey's at about 5:30pm. There was no line to check-in, in fact there was only one family in front of me. I told the host about our ADR and that we were hoping to be seated early. "No problem," he says, "we are really slow tonight." Indeed they were. We were seated in about 30 seconds! Every room/seating area I passed through or peeked into had empty tables. Never did a crowd gather in the waiting area. Never did a line form to check-in. What happened to "completely booked"?!

I can only wonder how many people called as I did and didn't go to Chef Mickey's, either because they couldn't get an ADR time they could use or because they were told the restaurant was booked. I know from my own experience and from reading these boards that this wasn't an isolated incident. I have been in very slow "completely booked" restaurants at Disney before.

It just seems to me that there's got to be a better way. Maybe hold back a percent of the seats for walk-ins? I don't know. Anybody?

I think there should be an online system that people can look at, and maybe even reserve from there, showing at least what percentage a given resturant is booked at. The technology exists to make it real time, so that would not be a problem.

 

[Merriwind]

I think there should be an online system that people can look at, and maybe even reserve from there, showing at least what percentage a given resturant is booked at. The technology exists to make it real time, so that would not be a problem.

Wouldn't that be nice--being able to check and maybe make ADRs online! That's a great idea. thanks for responding!