Totally Disappointed

[2Tiggies]

Now, two years later I'm still on the DIS and have been to WDW 4 times in total and planning number 5.

And now you're a pro!

 

[MartDM]

While I understand OPs point, I've always found the need to have ADRs in order to get into a sit down restaurant reasonably quickly on the day/time you'd like...particularly for character meals.

We've been doing ADRs for as many years as we've been going to WDW...long before the DDP ever came about. WDW is a crowded place so the restaurants will be too. If you can't be bothered to make an ADR, you aren't really justified in complaining that you couldn't get a table. It's a simple problem to solve - just do a little planning.

 

[CathieArms]

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 COMPLETELY agree! Not only that, but when we went last year, we didn't purchase the dining plan and were told by more than one CM (as we goofed around with the reservations we made) not to forget that - should we choose to eat at a TS restaurant - we'd need advance reservations. And then they proceeded to make sure we knew the phone number.

So yes - I think Disney does an awesome job of making sure people know they need ADRs for the restaurants.

 

[CathieArms]

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.

No offense, but what in the world are you trying to say and how does it relate to what the OP is complaining about?

1. You're staying off-site.
2. By doing so, you don't need to buy park tickets to qualify for the DDP.
3. But by not staying on site, you don't qualify for the DDP anyway.
4. You made ADRs. Whether or not you made ADRs for 'Ohana and CP has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you're on the dining plan.

I'm really not understanding what you're trying to say...

 

[vicki_c]

No offense, but what in the world are you trying to say and how does it relate to what the OP is complaining about?

1. You're staying off-site.
2. By doing so, you don't need to buy park tickets to qualify for the DDP.
3. But by not staying on site, you don't qualify for the DDP anyway.
4. You made ADRs. Whether or not you made ADRs for 'Ohana and CP has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you're on the dining plan.

I'm really not understanding what you're trying to say...

LOL - I think I asked the exact same question somewhere around page 2.

 

[DisGirl23]

I COMPLETELY agree! Not only that, but when we went last year, we didn't purchase the dining plan and were told by more than one CM (as we goofed around with the reservations we made) not to forget that - should we choose to eat at a TS restaurant - we'd need advance reservations. And then they proceeded to make sure we knew the phone number.

So yes - I think Disney does an awesome job of making sure people know they need ADRs for the restaurants.

The thing is, I think people don't really believe this sometimes. They look at it more like advice than a "Warning! If you're going to want to be eating on your vacation, you'd best be make some ADRs or settle for all quick service"

DBF (Disney 1st timer) thought I was crazy for getting up so early 180 days out but, when we got there, he was praising me. And yes, I also fall into the *fun* group. I love planning our meals and I get excited when I get what I want... and I always have gotten what I want.

 

[grafxgirl]

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!

That said, I like planning my ADRs. It forces me to make a "game plan" of what parks we are doing which day, how our park schedule will work with our ADR times, etc.

We make our ADR's at 180+10 days out. We always know where we want to eat. Instead of having to plan our park schedule around our ressies, we just use the park hopper option on our tickets, that way we can go anywhere we want throughout the day, then hop over to the restaurant in the evening.