Treated badly by CM on phone

[goofy4tink]

No kidding! OP, sorry the CM was so snarky.

I really don't even understand all this ADR fuss. I have been to WDW a bajillion times over many many years and always book at least 2 table service meals/day, usually lunch and dinner - sometimes all three B,L, D - and have NEVER EVER had trouble getting ADRs - even fairly last minute. Of course some like Chef Mickey's may not be available right when I want it, but there are plenty of other great options and I can usually get everything I want - maybe not exactly when I want it, but I get the ADRs. I wonder exactly WHO is having such difficulty booking meals? Really!!??!

Lives4Disney

I have to say that there have been a lot of times that I haven't been able to get the restaurant I wanted at the times I needed. I travel at different times during the year. And I usually book asap...at that 180 day window. But, there have been times when something has come up and I have to call and try to make some changes. I have to tell you that if it's within about 3 months, I've been out of luck. Sure I guess I could eat at Marrakesh or Nine Dragons...they always have some openings but they aren't my first, or second, choice.

Wow, was that necessary? It really sounds like the DDP needs to end ASAP. It's causing WAY too much stress and taking away the last minute "discovery" aspect that makes vacations fun. The regular system they had before this one where you didn't actually make a "reservation", but you had a place "held" worked very well and they still took walk ins. I much prefer it to this system that shuts so many people out, except for those who know how to work the system far in advance. Walking around a park and finding a cute looking restaurant you have never been to and walking in to get on the waiting list is FUN on vacation. Finding a new nook, crannie, gift shop or place to eat is what a vacation IS. This is what makes magic for many families and apparently it's gone.

This is the big issue with WDW vacations. There are way too many people tat go with little knowledge of what they are getting into. The DDP has made it tougher to get those 'prime' ADRs. But, those of us that book as soon as we can are doing okay. The ADR system is exactly the same as the PS system....they just changed the name. It's the DDP, and now free dining, that has caused the excessive bookings, making it harder to book closer to your trip.
I've been traveling to WDW since '99 and I have to say that there has never been a time when I was able to walk up to a restuarant that looked interesting and been able to be seated. At least not at the time I wanted to eat. You could never just amble on up to the podium at the Crystal Palace at 9:00 and get seated for breakfast. Or to Liberty Tree Tavern at 5:30 and get seated for dinner. Sure, you can do that with the less popular spots, but not the character meals.
I have always said that WDW is no place for spontanaity...you MUST have a plan in place, you must do your homework. Those that just 'show up' are not going to have the same experience a good planner is going to have. I have friends going down in August...they have 5 adults and twin boys, age 6. They are staying at the GF concierge level, as well as buying the DDP. But, for some reason, they don't feel the need to make any ADRs!! I have told them, repeatedly, that they really have to, especially if they want any character meals for the boys. Nope, they say they're going to wing it. I even printed out Scott Thomas's PS planner, with restaurants/meals that I thought they would enjoy....all they had to do was make some choices and make the call,,,the phone number is right there. I don't believe they have called yet.
They are going to find that they are either going to be eating very late, or at counter service spots. What a huge waste of the DDP.

 

[Lovela]

What is a CM, What is DH and What is ADR? I don't understand this. Please advise me on it. If you think I am nosey. I apologise!

 

[MermaidsMom]

I guess I just feel like being mean when it comes to this post.

My answer to the above quote is YES YES YES....You/they are then SOL as you put it. And will require counter service. Believe it or not...ITS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU!!! Multiple ADR's affect others as well. ONE ADR is all that should be allowed. Shame on anyone making two (or more), even if they plan to cancel.

For instance. Lets say I call 150 days in advance and want to eat someplace specific at a specific time. Your second (or third) ADR may be preventing me from getting the timeslot I would desire. Then...100 days later you do cancel (which many probably don't)...Would that be fair to my family? You canceled an ADR at the time that would of been best for us? Your rudeness by having multiple ADR's at the same time, affected others.

Then it's time to end the DDP because it's become extremely unpleasant for not only the DDP guest, but especially the rest of the guests trying to enjoy a meal at Disney. Waaaaay too stressful.

 

[MermaidsMom]

I have always said that WDW is no place for spontanaity...you MUST have a plan in place, you must do your homework. Those that just 'show up' are not going to have the same experience a good planner is going to have. I have friends going down in August...they have 5 adults and twin boys, age 6. They are staying at the GF concierge level, as well as buying the DDP. But, for some reason, they don't feel the need to make any ADRs!! I have told them, repeatedly, that they really have to, especially if they want any character meals for the boys. Nope, they say they're going to wing it. I even printed out Scott Thomas's PS planner, with restaurants/meals that I thought they would enjoy....all they had to do was make some choices and make the call,,,the phone number is right there. I don't believe they have called yet.
They are going to find that they are either going to be eating very late, or at counter service spots. What a huge waste of the DDP.

I totally agree with you on this. In the past we were able to walk in to restaurants, NOT getting the time we wanted, but eventually getting a table. Now they don't even check for availibility they just say no. That is where I have my biggest problem, I think they should be able to adjust to the no-shows like they used to under the PS system. They must have been able to or else how did they take walk-ins then and not now?

 

[ellenmiele]

What is a CM, What is DH and What is ADR? I don't understand this. Please advise me on it. If you think I am nosey. I apologise!

CM = Cast Member
DH = Dear Husband
ADR = Advanced Dining Reservation

TTFN !!
(Ta-ta for now!)

 

[Olaf]

My girlfriend had a similar experience. I warned her about making ADR's, but she didn't listen. I saw her yesterday, she was just back. She thought since the end of April is a slow time, that it wouldn't be a problem. They ended up getting in the car and driving off property to eat something other than fast food.

I'm glad they're cracking down on the double booking. It really is rude to do that. There have been times while we're at the parks when we decide to forgo our ADR's. In that case, I always get on my cell and call WDW-DINE and cancel, or go down to guest relations.

 

[Olaf]

Then it's time to end the DDP because it's become extremely unpleasant for not only the DDP guest, but especially the rest of the guests trying to enjoy a meal at Disney. Waaaaay too stressful.

No way, no how. DDP is a huge money maker for Disney and that's what this is all about.

 

[MiaSRN62]

goofyernmost says : Last trip, I went to the restaurant near the Muppet's 3D (sorry I do not remember the name) (it doesn't matter). I asked if they could accommodate one "walk in" and they said, and I quote, "absolutely not".

Probably Mama Melrose ? I had an experience in Feb. We rarely do ADR's. I also hate being tied to be somewhere at a certain time. We've been to wdw way too many times to not appreciate the flexibility and nonchalent way of touring of recent years. Anyway.....walked up to the Sci Fi at 10:50 am. They were just opening up and there were maybe 15 parties lined up. Many had ADR's...we did not. My turn to the podium. I tell the CM we do not have ressies and ask politely if we can do "stand by". This CM (smirks), then goes off on a rant. He went on and on (literally lecturing me in front of dozens), about how disney "strongly recommends" ADR's. He went on for about a full minute. When he was done speaking (my teen dd's giggling behind me), I said, "ok, so does that mean you can take us as a stand-by or not ?" Dead silence for about 5 seconds and then he says calmly, "yes". We were seated within 5 minutes. The restaurant, our entire meal, was 50-75% full depending on the time. About the end of the meal, it was about 75% full.
My point is, I just think they are experiencing so many problems since "free" dining and the DDP has come about. I will personally RUN away from free dining. I know it saves a ton of moola, but the stress and crowds are just not worth it to me anymore. I miss the days gone by of just being able to walk up (maybe have a 30-45 min wait) and then get seated.
To the OP. I do agree, letting you have an hour or two to discuss your plans with you dh was not a huge deal. But I'm thinking, to play devil's advocate, that imagine if they did that with everyone. Not sure everyone would be as considerate as you were and might not call back at all. Disney probably wants to catch people right there while you're on the line so they're assured you choose one. It would be very difficult to track all those people who might not call back if you know what I mean. I agree, there must be a way to keep tabs on double bookings. So many people are being shut out of dining options. We actually have to resort to food courts at various resorts for our meals ! Not our preference, but we just can't book every single meal, every single day of our vacation.......that's not fun to us. And I fully understand this is our personal choice. We have been known to go offsite to get a meal as well when there is absolutely nothing available.

eliza says : Nothing! especially in the park restaurants. Now we try to eat off hours. Late dinner ~7:00-7:30 pm. we have better luck then but our children are teenagers so it's a little easier.

I know the pain ! We've had best luck when getting to the restaurant either very early or very late. Very early for lunch or dinner tends to work better........we're learning how to play the system when not having ADR's. I am so glad free dining doesn't start until later in August this year !!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Olaf says DP is a huge money maker for Disney and that's what this is all about.
__________________

A friend and I were discussing this just last week. I don't see it as a money maker. When priced out, we felt disney either lost a little or just barely broke even ? I see it more as a way for disney to assure that wdw resorts/packages are booked. But as far as dining profits, I don't see it. But I could be wrong.

Now they don't even check for availibility they just say no. That is where I have my biggest problem, I think they should be able to adjust to the no-shows like they used to under the PS system.

I agree Mermaidsmom !

 

[mom2my3kids]

I have changed mine around, But I always have canceled the ones I am not going to use. Took me two days to decide on Lecellier or nine dragons but actually canceled nine dragons today when I made my last ADR.

 

[Praying Colonel]

No way, no how. DDP is a huge money maker for Disney and that's what this is all about.

Exactly right. What's Disney more likely to end--a program that's wildly popular with guests and putting more money in its pocket*, or double/triple/over-bookings, which not only inconveniences other guests but puts 0 money in Disney's pocket? 3 guesses, and the first 2 don't count.


*--Even if we assume Disney's breaking even on the food part, they're still getting more folks to stay on-site--at rack rate, to boot. There's no way they're not making $ on this program.

 

[Steph9072]

So I called to check on my ADR's and change one for breakfast to lunch and the CM went over the rest of my ressie and noticed that I had two dinners booked for the same night.I was never told that you can't double book and have 24hrs to cancel one of them.Has anyone heard about this?So I told the CM that I would have to check with my DH and call back.She was very adamit about me changing them NOW.She told me I had to talk to guest services or she would make the choice for me so I hung up on her.2 minutes later I got a call from guess services saying that I had to cancel one of my ADR's I said that was fine I told the CM that I would do that I just wanted to talk to my DH.He said he would call me back in a few days to make sure that one was canceled.I didn't know that this was such a big deal so I just went ahead and canceled one while I was on the phone with him.I did mention how RUDE the CM and he said he would talk to her(not sure if he will though)So now I am all worried about my ADR's and did call and make sure they were still all there.I felt like I was being repermanded(sp?) for this.
Thanks for listening to me vent.
Laura

First off WOW I can not believe anyone would talk to anyone that way! How totally rude.

I called a few months back to switch an ADR. I explained up front I knew I had an ADR for that date but wanted to go somewhere else.

I said: lets cancel it then schedule another place
CM said: don't worry about it the computer won't let you be double booked. If I schedule a new adr it will cancel the first one.

 

[Allison]

A friend and I were discussing this just last week. I don't see it as a money maker. When priced out, we felt disney either lost a little or just barely broke even ? I see it more as a way for disney to assure that wdw resorts/packages are booked. But as far as dining profits, I don't see it. But I could be wrong.

The poster didn't say it was specifically a money maker in the dining area. Getting more guests to stay on property paying rack rate and spending all their money on Disney property means profits.

How many people are going during free dining that would not have gone otherwise? That's filling up rooms that otherwise might be empty.

 

[jsmla]

We decided to go spur of the moment after free dining was announced. I made two separate reservations at Le Cellier for two different nights, knowing that this would be a difficult ADR to get at a later date. After we figured out our schedule I called back to make a new ADR for 2:30 for tea at the Grand Floridian. I wanted to cancel my 4:00 pm ressie for Le Cellier for that day and the CM all but refused to cancel for me! He kept insisting that I didn't want to cancel, that I'd regret it, even though I had a reservation for a large tea at 2:30 pm that day and another ressie for Le Cellier for later in the week! He really wanted us to keep that Le Cellier ADR! I had to get really pushy to get him to cancel. I guess a 2:30 ADR and a 4:00 ADR don't count as double booking.

Jennifer

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you ask me, all reservations should be booked with a credit card and have a 24hr cancellation policy ... that would make people be a bit more wary on where and when they book things..

I disagree only because a 24 hour cancellation policy shuts out everyone who tries to make a reservation between when the original person made the original ressie, and day before.
How about this: Double-bookings will be valid for seven calendar days. If one is not cancelled within that time frame, the original reservation will automatically be cancelled by the automated reservation tracking system (not yet in place). This gives people like the original poster the opportunity to discuss arrangements with travel companions, and still makes it possible for others to get reservations.

The regular system they had before this one where you didn't actually make a "reservation", but you had a place "held" worked very well and they still took walk ins.

It’s exactly the same system that’s been in place for a number of years. Only the names have changed, to protect the, well… prior to “priority seating/advance dining reservations/reservations” – all exactly the same procedure (you call, you arrange for a time, you check in at the restaurant five to ten minutes early, you are seated at the next available table for your size party at/after your reservation time) just with different names – Disney made ACTUAL reservations. Now, granted, you could only make a reservation the same day, or three days or seven days in advance, depending on some conditions.

 

[cabanafrau]

I agree, Disney should be one of the last places anyone could ever expect to be treated rudely in the course of doing business & it's very unfortunate when it happens.

Count me in the tally for double-booking is rude, not to mention increases the cost burden -- which we all know gets passed down to everyone. If you really think about it from a personnel standpoint, surely there are extra people devoted just to deal w/ the customers who simply refuse to believe that their choices do have consequences impacting others. Now, I'm not saying that it's not okay to change your mind & we even changed an ADR for our last trip -- months ahead, added new one, cancelled old simultaneously. Did those ADRs limit what choices were available to us spontaneously on our trip? Yep, sometimes painfully so. We used every ADR we booked & made sure to arrive b4 the 15 min early window. Sure would have been nice to squeeze in an extra ride or show here or there, but we chose that ADR & expected it to be available to us, so we kept it, whether it suited us or not.

For those who posted about how empty a restaurant is while they're eating & walk-ins are denied, what happens to the servers? Disney is still paying them the salary portion -- a waste, & the servers' income isn't what it should be, because they don't have customers to provide the gratuity portion of their income.

As you can see, we're paying people to man phones (& provide phone lines, office space, etc.) & servers to wait for no-show customers. I'm sure that's just a fraction of what just this greedy ADR frenzy costs -- any wonder why Disney isn't attending to all the little details the way they used to??? We're spending more to accommodate all this foolishness, wastefulness & greed -- that's so the formula for keeping it the Happiest Place on Earth.

I'd love to see Disney move to a system where you have a grace period -- maybe 15 min, beyond your ADR to show up. At that point, it can be offered to a walk-in.

 

[MiaSRN62]

How many people are going during free dining that would not have gone otherwise? That's filling up rooms that otherwise might be empty.

Well I did acknowledge in my post that the DDP was selling rooms/packages......so I realize this.
I just thought, from a dining standpoint, the restaurants are not making a profit and may barely be breaking even. But yes, the rooms are getting booked, I agree......and besides, it's just my opinion which doesn't hold any real weight anyway....

 

[Donnainnj]

To me, it sounds like Disney needs a few more TS restaurants. If everything is always booked now, how could they lose?

 

[MiaSRN62]

To me, it sounds like Disney needs a few more TS restaurants. If everything is always booked now, how could they lose?

Agreed Donna ! Disney is building more and more resorts/ adding rooms but how can they not comprehend that they need to build more parks and restaurants to go with all these extra people. SSR is still not complete (that resort has added at least 750 more rooms if not more)....POP has plans to expand......the AKV are now being constructed. End result will be about 600+ more rooms. Yet the parks and restaurants are getting more and more crowded. Soon, it will be quite uncomfortable (and not fun !) to vacation there. It's not fun when you stay in a park for 6 hours and get to do on 2 attractions. Disney wants to book all these rooms to capacity, but where are they fitting all these guests ? I predict it's only going to get more and more difficult to make ADR's. The restaurants and dining time slots are a finite number.......

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I have two bookings for Fantasmic dinners, different nights. I planned to cancel one closer to our vacation, once I'm aware of the weather sitation.

Should I be feeling guilty?