Totally Disappointed

[212456]

we have never ever had to have reservations, not until last year, and every sit down required this.Was just wondering why the change ?

They havent made a change, restaraunts are just busier therefore harder to get in to

 

[bytheblood]

I understand the OPs frustration, but the truth is, Disney does stronly recommend making reservations. They make that recommendation because they know the chances are slim getting in without them.

They offer free dining year round rather it be pins or public offerings which fill up the restaurants fast. As long as free dining is offered, this will always be an issue.

 

[CathieArms]

CathyArms, what are your date for June, ours is June 25-July2, Fort Wilderness for 1st time, where you staying ?

June 13-23 - Beach Club Villas.

Looks like we'll miss each other by a couple of days...

 

[CathieArms]

I luv that I don't know where I want to eat in 6 months attitude. Really. Those folks make it so easy for me to get what I want. I wonder if these people call their spouse at 3 pm and tell them what they've decided on for dinner that night.

In my case, no. Generally speaking, at 5:30 I'm usually opening the fridge, freezer and pantry trying to see what we even have that I can throw together for dinner.

I guess I just feel like we're spending a ton of money on vacation and I want to make the very best of the experience. If we get there and the group isn't in the mood for something I've planned, then we switch gears and do something else and that's fine. But it really bugs me to have no clue and have everyone standing around saying "What should we do??"

 

[CathieArms]

It would be great if no one had to make ADRs and you could just walk up to the restaurant of your choice. But if you think of the logistics of hundreds (thousands?) of people walking up to a popular TS restaurant at dinner time and expecting to be seated, you have to agree that ADRs are very necessary!

I honestly wish that most of our local restaurants required ADRs. I don't mean by days or weeks, but just in advance! I hate going to a restaurant and being handed a pager and told "It'll be about 45 minutes." I refuse to do it. I'll leave and go to McDonalds before waiting 45 minutes...with a few rare exceptions.

 

[bytheblood]

I honestly wish that most of our local restaurants required ADRs. I don't mean by days or weeks, but just in advance! I hate going to a restaurant and being handed a pager and told "It'll be about 45 minutes." I refuse to do it. I'll leave and go to McDonalds before waiting 45 minutes...with a few rare exceptions.

I understand that. 15 minutes is our max. Any more than that and we would do the same.

 

[fey_spirit]

We found a way to beat that system (when we really want to eat somewhere)
We go in put in our names and if it's going to be more then fivteen minutes, we get in our car and run errands or just cruise for a bit and the come back, usually we are either just being called (We always get back 5 minutes earlier then the time they quoted us) or we get bumped to "next party called" status if we missed our name being called.

QUOTE=CathieArms;37802001]I honestly wish that most of our local restaurants required ADRs. I don't mean by days or weeks, but just in advance! I hate going to a restaurant and being handed a pager and told "It'll be about 45 minutes." I refuse to do it. I'll leave and go to McDonalds before waiting 45 minutes...with a few rare exceptions.[/QUOTE]

 

[2Tiggies]

I guess I just feel like we're spending a ton of money on vacation and I want to make the very best of the experience. If we get there and the group isn't in the mood for something I've planned, then we switch gears and do something else and that's fine. But it really bugs me to have no clue and have everyone standing around saying "What should we do??"

I think picking a restaurant is very different from deciding what you will eat. I don't know what I will want tomorrow any more than I know what I want to eat in 6 months. You still have the menu or buffet to select from when you get there so you can decide once you are at your table. Most people know what kind of places and cuisines they like.

 

[LilyWDW]

I think picking a restaurant is very different from deciding what you will eat. I don't know what I will want tomorrow any more than I know what I want to eat in 6 months. You still have the menu or buffet to select from when you get there so you can decide once you are at your table. Most people know what kind of places and cuisines they like.

See, that's how I think of it. I know what sorts of food I enjoy, so I know the type of restaurants I would enjoy. Plus, most places have a varied enough menu that if I decide I don't want steak at a steakhouse, there is always other things I could get.

 

[Melodious]

I just wonder how many people going to WDW for the first time, don't realize how early ADRs need to be made. This time we planned the trip more than six months in advance and made our ADRs on our 180 days, but four years ago, we took a Disney trip, planning the whole thing only three months in advance. It's not very common to plan things so far in advance, and if I weren't on the DIS I wouldn't have known it was so important. I would be upset if I planned a trip a couple months in advance, paid for the DDP because "it'll save you up to thirty percent" and then couldn't get an ADR for any place I wanted to eat. I just wonder how often this happens to people.

 

[jillyb]

I just wonder how many people going to WDW for the first time, don't realize how early ADRs need to be made. This time we planned the trip more than six months in advance and made our ADRs on our 180 days, but four years ago, we took a Disney trip, planning the whole thing only three months in advance. It's not very common to plan things so far in advance, and if I weren't on the DIS I wouldn't have known it was so important. I would be upset if I planned a trip a couple months in advance, paid for the DDP because "it'll save you up to thirty percent" and then couldn't get an ADR for any place I wanted to eat. I just wonder how often this happens to people.

I would imagine it's quite common. I mean, look at all the people who stand in a 120 minute line to ride TSM because they don't know about Fastpasses even though the information is given to them at check-in.

 

[2Tiggies]

I just wonder how many people going to WDW for the first time, don't realize how early ADRs need to be made.

LOTS!!!! I would venture as far as to suggest that the majority of folk who go have no idea. If you don't have a travel agent who points this out, do research or take the dining plan and read the small print recommending .... no, strongly recommending ADRs, a person would have no idea.

I would imagine it's quite common. I mean, look at all the people who stand in a 120 minute line to ride TSM because they don't know about Fastpasses even though the information is given to them at check-in.

Yes, and this too!

 

[eyor44]

We learned a long time ago that you have to make ADRS depending on what time of year you go. We go Thanksgiving week each year, we know we have to make ADRs for that week because it is so crowded. Part of the fun of planning for the next trip throughout the year.

A friend went during an off time in the Spring and they were able to walk up or call the Dining line and get in rather easily. I really think it depends on when you go. But if you want a specific TS, make an ADR.

Last Thanksgiving I happened to be in MK guest services and a sign was out front stating that there were no availablities at any of the TS restaruants. A lady was in GS so angry that they could only eat at a CS that night. She thought that because they had free dining, that meant they would have preferential treatment and be able to get into any TS they wanted at a moments notice. I felt very sorry for the CM who was trying to explain the system to her.

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

we are going in sept. and are not using the dining plan as we choose to stay off site and rent a condo vs. an expensive room along with the ticket package you have to buy to get the plan. as a result, i was able to make reservations at Ohanas for breakfast and the Crystal Palace for dinner even with all of the people on the dining plan.

 

[vicki_c]

we are going in sept. and are not using the dining plan as we choose to stay off site and rent a condo vs. an expensive room along with the ticket package you have to buy to get the plan. as a result, i was able to make reservations at Ohanas for breakfast and the Crystal Palace for dinner even with all of the people on the dining plan.

I don't understand your comment at all. What does staying off site or not having the dining plan have to do with anything? There aren't tables for DDP people and tables for non-DDP people.

 

[Goofy4]

I don't understand your comment at all. .

I believe the point being made was relative to the previous post about a guest thinking they were entitled to an ADR if they were on the dining plan.

We learned last year not to give up even if Guest Services has no more ADR's available. I think now days there are fewer walk-ups (and more no-shows), so if you're lucky a restaurant might squeeze you in.

 

[2Tiggies]

I believe a contributing factor to the ignorance of the importance of ADRs is the hard sell approach to the Dining Plan by CMs and also by travel agents. I have always booked over the phone or in person. Fortunately when I took my first trip I researched extensively before booking so I was well aware of the advantage and possible necessity of making reservations. However, to date, I have never once been advised of this when booking a package. Whether or not a person adds dining to their reservation, this point should be highlighted. Online bookings make this more challenging as there appears to be a growing tendency by people nowdays not to read small print (including, but not limited to terms and conditions of a binding contract when entering into any form of transaction). While to me it beggars belief that anyone could spend multiple thousands of dollars (or whatever the relevant currency may be), they fail to read the literature, this is an increasingly common trend and it would be appropriate to inform guests of certain essential steps which require taking to ensure maximum benefit and minimum disappointment. This way it leaves the consumer with the option to take it or leave it. They may not be interested in sit down restaurants, or they may not be too concerned about where they eat. However I believe by informing them, it is fair to say they have been handed the relevant information and therefore assume both the choice and the responsibility for their decisions.

 

[dawnmommy]

Every single time I called reservations and spoke with a CM (which was many times, as I kept changing dates and hotels, lol) - they very clearly told me that dining reservations started at 180 days, and in most cases they even gave me the EXACT date my window opened to make reservations.

I wonder if those who don't know use Travel Agents (ones who aren't Disney experts) or book online? We had a pin code so I needed to call each time.

Of course, i already knew about the 180 window (turned out to be 190 for us), as I'm a complete disboard addict!

 

[2Tiggies]

I wonder if those who don't know use Travel Agents (ones who aren't Disney experts) or book online?

That is probably part of the problem. I suspect the other half of the problem is simply down to information overload and it goes in one ear and out the other. And let's not forget the aspect of utter disbelief. To anyone unfamiliar with the system, being told to book a restaurant 6 months in advance sounds like an April Fools joke.

 

[goofy4prez]

I just wonder how many people going to WDW for the first time, don't realize how early ADRs need to be made. This time we planned the trip more than six months in advance and made our ADRs on our 180 days, but four years ago, we took a Disney trip, planning the whole thing only three months in advance. It's not very common to plan things so far in advance, and if I weren't on the DIS I wouldn't have known it was so important. I would be upset if I planned a trip a couple months in advance, paid for the DDP because "it'll save you up to thirty percent" and then couldn't get an ADR for any place I wanted to eat. I just wonder how often this happens to people.

Like you, I stumbled onto the DIS and discovered about 6 weeks before my first time in WDW what an ADR was. Fortunately, it was not during free dining, and I was still able to get some decent ADR's. Now, two years later I'm still on the DIS and have been to WDW 4 times in total and planning number 5.