Trouble w/dining ressies ??

[mom2rtk]

Doubt it. As in my post a little further up, the ONLY identifiers that the TA site asks for when searching times are if the client/guest is DVC or AP. They dont ask if staying on property, DDP, TIW, or any of the countless other possibilities people are asking about.

They wouldn't HAVE to ask for certain identifiers. It's all set up on this wonderfully complex new computer system. It would be VERY easy to have a certain digit in your confirmation number tell the computer (the CM wouldn't even have to know) which block of times to make available to you.....

 

[Feebarn]

This is all very odd - I was unduly worried about making reservations for our 2 week trip begining September 3rd after reading all the horror stories on DIS. Called up at the alloted time yesterday (noon UK time) actually I think I was ten minutes past and made my first 10 days worth of reservations. Called back again today once at noon and again about 2pm and made 5 more reservations and got everything I asked for. This includes things like fantasmic package at Mama Melroses and Narcoosees for fireworks and the likes. I'm not a DVC member but I am staying at OKW and I have free dining. I actually payed only a very little bit more for my accomodation than I could have paid for a value resort.

I asked the cast member who was dealing with the first bunch of reservations how come it was so easy and her explanation was that we were only a party of 2.

I have my doubts that there is a tierd system..... if there is, I certainly have not been adversly affected by it.

 

[culli]

People love conspiracy theories

 

[Disney-Kim]

This is really hard to comprehend....first of all...

what if you are DVC but not staying at a DVC property...how would they know what "tier" you are?

Disney Dining asks where you are staying but not a conf #....so whats stopping me from saying GF??? we booked all our ADR's ofr our May trip with AKL as our hotel...but we ended up changing later to POR...didn't matter. didsn't change our ADRs

how do they know if you are TIW ? we are but our card just expired and we may not renew....so are at the bottom because we used to be TIW? how do they know if you are TIW anyway? what if you make all your ADR's and THEN become TIW?

I think concierge should get first choice...you are paying for that perk. but the whole resort/class system is appalling.

 

[Colleen27]

Disney Dining asks where you are staying but not a conf #....so whats stopping me from saying GF??? we booked all our ADR's ofr our May trip with AKL as our hotel...but we ended up changing later to POR...didn't matter. didsn't change our ADRs

With the new system, they need the confirmation number to access the 90+10 window, so it would be easy enough to pull up where you are staying based on that.

 

[avahoneybee]

This is an interesting thread. If, in fact, Disney is doing this I will cancel my reservation at Coronado Springs and stay at the Ritz (I'm already staying there prior, I'll just extend it). I'm not even an ADR person but there are SOOOO many other restaurants in Orlando much better than inside the Disney gates.

I really wish we could go at another time. Free Dining (which is not free) is not looking so good.

 

[DMKEDM]

FWIW: We are DVC. We have APs. We were at WDW in March, at the Beach Club Villas. In May, we were at Animal Kingdom (Jambo House). We are going over Labor Day, at the Boardwalk Villas. No free dining. The March trip we did the dining plan. The May trip we did not. Probably won't for the Labor Day trip.

I made ADRs for all 3 trips. Not at 90 days, though...more like 50 days (or so) was when I got started...got some; didn't get others...did not get Le Cellier for May; did get it (for lunch) in March, but only on a third call (we made some changes and lucked into a cancellation opening)...didn't get California Grill for any of the trips...got Coral Reef for lunch in March (spring break), again by lucking into a cancellation, while we were on site...we change around a lot, but always start w/one TS for each day we're there...(we always cancel when we make a change, tho)...

If the "class system" is real, it sure doesn't work for us!...but then again, Disney's computer system often doesn't work...no surprise there!

 

[avahoneybee]

So would the value resorts folks be considered steerage on the Titanic and moderate folks be second class? Only the Deluxe resorts can eat at LeCellier?

I'm trying to find humor in this but it's really ticking me off.

 

[ParrotBill]

I was there in May for the days the new res system went into effect (they had to use both the old system and new to make my ADRs.)

I had no problem getting ADRs for Memorial Day Weekend, a moderately busy time. THey would have known I was DVC but I don't think I would have said we would be using TiW because we had not bought it yet.

I called last week for our trip that starts August 20, so I was a couple of weeks past the 90+10 window. This time they would knew DVC but I cannot remember if I said I was using TiW. I was able to get many of my ADRs with no problem especially lunch. But some were impossible: Chef Mickey's breakfast, Mama Melrose dinner, Coral Reef dinner. Could not get in, no way no how.

 

[Greysword]

After readingthis thread, it seems to me you people are crazy

Seriously, there is no evidence other than the two eye witnesses that this is in place (or if it will ever be initiated). if you read the DVC boards, people are cranky over there; because, they are have a very difficult time getting their reservations due to the free dining deal (as a significantly greater number of people appear to be eating in the TS restaurants than normal). Thus, it is difficult to believe DVC members are getting any extra advantage to the system.

Those who are getting truely irrate and threatening to never travel to WDW again are jumping to conclusions without any hard evidence to support the accusations. In all the posts by the CMs and TAs, there is nothing to suggest any resort has an advantage over another (except DVC staying on points). Those at the POP seem to have the same ability to book ressies as those at the Poly. Reading more into the information and getting cranky over this speculation does hurt others, as someone may actually believe you.

I guess the question is, would you be saddened if Club level or DVCers staying on points get an opportunity to book their ressies above those at other places? If they do get a little more priority during free dining promotions, would you be more willing to buy into DVC if the cost can be justified (frequent traveler to WDW)?

As for my two cents, IF DVCers are getting a priority in booking their dinner ressies, then it makes business sense, believe it or not. Since the DVC rooms have a full kitchen (1br or larger) or a kitchenette (studio), then it is extrememly likely DVC resort guests will not eat at a TS restaurant if bookings are difficult, as they can always have a relaxing meal in their rooms for less costs. This is loss of income for WDW. In addition, such a perk is likely to be announced and touted to entice WDW regulars to buy in (which I haven't heard of it yet).

ALSO keep in mind that most DVCers don't get the DDP (due to the kitchen), and they may eat the occasional meal at a TS restaurant. Thus, it would be difficult to conclude it is the DVCers fault that anyone calling in at the 90 day mark are unable to get the reservations they want. Instead, it is more likely that those who booked a trip from your resort one or two days before yours are occupying the slot.

All inall, I hate lynch mobs, and this is what this thread appears to be turning into..

Thanks you for listening and for your time!

- Chris

 

[mommyrants]

1) Yes.
2) When I got training, I was petrified than Disney made a caste system.
3) Most of us in-the-know are really upset.
4) Just because you stay Value and on Free Dining, you get last ADR choice.
5) The only ones below you are TIW and CM's arranging meals for themselves.
6) And people PAY for the TIW card!
7) Let's face it, there is now a food chain for ADR's.
. . . pay big bucks for Club Floor without Free Dining and get top priority
. . . pay little bucks and stay Value Resort, get low priority.
. . . get Free Dining and get even lower on the food chain.

NOTE: To me, this is morally wrong and against Walt's ideals. He always said you should have to pay more to get better service. Oh well, so much for Walt. Now we have Ogre (I mean Iger). And some of you thought I was kidding.

What's to stop you from booking Club level deluxe. Booking your ADR's and changing your res to a mod or value?

 

[Colleen27]

I guess the question is, would you be saddened if Club level or DVCers staying on points get an opportunity to book their ressies above those at other places? If they do get a little more priority during free dining promotions, would you be more willing to buy into DVC if the cost can be justified (frequent traveler to WDW)?

I can understand giving DVC an advantage. In the past, they've sort of had one, in that so many DVC members book at the 11 or 7 month window, in plenty of time to call on 180 out. With the window changing to 90 out, they lost that advantage and I can understand Disney trying to come up with something to put the balance back where it was naturally under a longer ADR window.

It is the rest that rubs me the wrong way - the CM reports that there is a multi-level hierarchy based not only on DVC membership but also other factors like AP, TiW, free DDP, etc. If it is strictly a slight advantage for DVC members (and the advantage that has always existed for club level guests), that's no big deal in my opinion.

 

[avahoneybee]

What's to stop you from booking Club level deluxe. Booking your ADR's and changing your res to a mod or value?

Disney could lose your reservation.

Honestly, there are already tiers for Hoop De Doo so I could see Disney doing this.

 

[deej696]

I guess the question I have is why is everyone buying into this. Yes, I realize CMs have posted their information and thats what everyone is running with. And while I respect those posters 100%, why is the info somehow more credible than that of the countless "I heard from a bus driver" rumors that we on the DIS dismiss without question.

Lets also remember that there has been much talk about dining reservations going online for the general public. I've already posted my experience with the TA system. The TA system for room and packages is the EXACT same as that of the general public. Therefore, its likely the dining systems will be idential also, and its a fair guess the TA system is probably a tester for that of the general public. In the TA dining system, there is no preference given to onsite/offsite, level of resort, etc before one can search a dining time because it does not ask for this info until after a time is provided. Now if Disney really wanted to create this tier system, wouldnt it stand to reason the TA system would at least ask for your Disney resort confirmation? Well, it doesnt.......

I said it earlier in the thread and I'll say it again, there is no evidence this is in fact a reality folks.

 

[DebbieB]

I guess the question I have is why is everyone buying into this. Yes, I realize CMs have posted their information and thats what everyone is running with. And while I respect those posters 100%, why is the info somehow more credible than that of the countless "I heard from a bus driver" rumors that we on the DIS dismiss without question.

I'm wondering the same thing. CM's sign a confidentiality agreement, why are they not only posting this information but keep coming back to stir the pot. My employer does some things I may not agree with but I would never post information on a public board that could harm my company. It's unethical.

 

[J.J.T.Douce]

I thought I'd share my first experience booking ADR's. We're staying at the POP on the free dining plan. (we downgraded from CRB with deluxe dining... I'm still a bit sad about not getting our pirate room ) I ended up calling around 9:45am on my 90 day window, was on hold for about 15 minutes, and got all my ADR's. We decided to not even try for LeCellier from what I read on the boards, but wish I had tried. If there is a tier, it did not effect our plans at all. Maybe we just choose less popular restaurants? We're happy with what we got. We were also able to get all of our prefferd times too. Breakfast at 8am, lunch around 1pm and dinners around 6. I'm sure if we had stayed on the Deluxe I would have experienced a bit of trouble.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

To the CMs who are in the know:

How does the tiering take affect? Are there only certain times allotted for certain restaurants for those lower on the totem pole? Do those higher up bump other people who are lower? Is 8:05AM CRT, 6:45PM 'Ohana and Le Cellier only available for DVC and CL folks?

 

[culli]

An easier way to do this, and yes even from a programing perspective would be to give the people with these supposed "tiers" a larger ADR window. This would be sooooooooooo much easier than trying to block off certain times or whatever the "Disney black ops" backers think is going on.

Come on really???????? Disney can't even make a working website what in the world makes you think they could pull this off

Stop reading people trying to push your buttons go to WDW have a blast and forget about it

They are giving away (not really, you are paying for it) free dinning and suprises you ADRs are hard to get

For our family the DDP is a huge pain in the butt so I have no horse in this race. Just go enjoy the magic and have fun with your family

 

[JimMIA]

I've already posted my experience with the TA system. The TA system for room and packages is the EXACT same as that of the general public.

There is a major point that you are missing here.

The travel agent system is not the subject of this discussion; the travel agent system is irrelevent. The CM's have already stated that they are NOT talking about the travel agent system.

The CMs are talking about their internal Disney system, which has far more capabilities than Disney will ever give either travel agents or the general public. Therefore, it should surprise noone that the CMs' ability to get ADRs will always be far greater than yours or mine.

If and when Disney gets the online ADR system up and running, CMs with inside access are still going to have the ability to create available ADRs when none exist in the public system. The question is not whether Disney CMs have greater access to ADRs than you do as a travel agent. Of course they do! They always have, and always will.

The question is whether the "new system" will automatically generate preferences for specific groups of customers. And, if it does, what will be the pecking order and how will it affect your vacations?

I think we should all realize that just because the CMs have the ability to enter those designators does not necessarily mean those categories will be treated any better or worse than anyone else. Those designations could well be nothing more than a means for gathering marketing data.

Or stirring the pot...whichever you prefer.

 

[ntsammy5]

Or stirring the pot...whichever you prefer.

Yeah, a lot of people are good at that!