Truth or is it just BS

[kniquy]

No truth to this. Make your ADRs yourself.

I am a firm believe in this. Another friend let their agent book ADR and couldn't get 1/2 of the places they wanted. But that agent also didn't ask for the CC number to hold the reservations until 9am on ARD day.

As a travel agent, this physically hurts me. I hope she sees the light sooner than later and starts booking.

I think my reaction put a sense of urgency in her. I think she is just very Disney naive and believes this "agent" (I don't think she is a real travel agent) was going to take care of everything for her.

I'm in such suspense over this. Did the OP tell their friend it's all bologna?? Is the friend going to be able to make their ADRs????

OP here- I told her I didn't think it was necessarily correct information. And I proceeded to tell her that I might be a little OCD with my Disney planning and am on the computer at 6am at the 180d mark - just to ensure we get what we want when we want.

Here she is going the week after Easter so somewhere around 2 1/2 months out and she has nothing booked. That would stress me out!

What appalled even more was that the so called "agent" even gave her the option of dining in Mexico at San Angel (inside the pavilion) or the La Hacienda outside. I have heard enough reviews about San Angel to know it probably isn't worth the money. So I steered her towards La Hacienda.

Certainly a seasoned WDW visitor could fly be the seat of their pants and book ADR's day of or day before but this is a trip with kids and if you.

I have another co-worker going in mid May - I don't try to push my Disney knowledge on them but I certainly gave her the recommendation to book ARD back in early January. I gave her some restaurant suggestions because seeing they were talked into the deluxe dining plan they have dining credits up the wazoo to use. She has not asked me anything else since. I asked her a week or so ago if she booked anything -- nope nothing yet. Her husband also thought that they didn't need ADR's because they were on the dining plan and that they could just walk up to any restaurant. It kills me to hear this stuff. I hate to see people caught off guard when they get to WDW and have a bad time because they didn't plan much.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Makes me think she's just working with a regular travel agent and not one that specializes in Disney travel. Not that there's anything wrong with being a non-Disney specific agent, but you need to know what you're selling. I hope your friend listens to you, since I'd be sick over the $ I essentially threw away by failing to have a good plan and ADRs for dining. I mean, it's one thing to wing it and know what you're doing or look for last minute dropped ADRs and know what you're doing...it's another thing to show up with nothing but bad info.

 

[FSU Girl]

I am a firm believe in this. Another friend let their agent book ADR and couldn't get 1/2 of the places they wanted. But that agent also didn't ask for the CC number to hold the reservations until 9am on ARD day.

I think my reaction put a sense of urgency in her. I think she is just very Disney naive and believes this "agent" (I don't think she is a real travel agent) was going to take care of everything for her.

OP here- I told her I didn't think it was necessarily correct information. And I proceeded to tell her that I might be a little OCD with my Disney planning and am on the computer at 6am at the 180d mark - just to ensure we get what we want when we want.

Here she is going the week after Easter so somewhere around 2 1/2 months out and she has nothing booked. That would stress me out!

What appalled even more was that the so called "agent" even gave her the option of dining in Mexico at San Angel (inside the pavilion) or the La Hacienda outside. I have heard enough reviews about San Angel to know it probably isn't worth the money. So I steered her towards La Hacienda.

Certainly a seasoned WDW visitor could fly be the seat of their pants and book ADR's day of or day before but this is a trip with kids and if you.

I have another co-worker going in mid May - I don't try to push my Disney knowledge on them but I certainly gave her the recommendation to book ARD back in early January. I gave her some restaurant suggestions because seeing they were talked into the deluxe dining plan they have dining credits up the wazoo to use. She has not asked me anything else since. I asked her a week or so ago if she booked anything -- nope nothing yet. Her husband also thought that they didn't need ADR's because they were on the dining plan and that they could just walk up to any restaurant. It kills me to hear this stuff. I hate to see people caught off guard when they get to WDW and have a bad time because they didn't plan much.

I force my Disney knowledge onto my coworkers whether they want it or not lol. I helped my coworker plan his first trip with his baby and he was resistant at first, but after admitted he wouldn’t have made it to any restaurants or rides without my help and actually bought me a lot of gifts to thank me.

I really hope your friend realizes they do need to make ADRs and make something before going. If they didn’t have the dining plan it wouldn’t be so bad because they could just figure something out, but I feel like they could end up with a lot of wasted credits. I hate when I hear people are going to Disney completely unprepared I know they won’t have as good of a time and I always try to help them avoid that.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I have a co-work who is planning a trip to Disney in April. Yesterday we were having a conversation about her trip -- still hasn't booked any dining and is on the dining plan. She is using some woman/possibly a disney travel agent to book everything for her trip. I urged her to get her dining booked so that they could get some of the places they really want to go to at times that will work for the kids.

My co-worker mentioned she was told (by her travel planner) that because she is on the dining plan that Disney makes sure there are reservations available for dining plan people.

This isn't anything that i have ever heard. Is there any truth to this? Do travel agents have any special access to ADR's? Do dining plan purchasers have any different/better access to ADR's.

You would think if this was the case this would be a great marketing point for Disney travel agents.

Curious minds want to know.

If your friend hasn’t made any dining reservations has she at least made some fast passes?

Or has the travel agent told her not to worry about them either?

She’ll be able to book dining reservations, just not where she may want to eat.

 

[Beer Me]

It is total BS but here’s the thing - the idea that you have to make ADRs 180 days out is also BS.

There are always openings somewhere. I don’t do walk ups but same day ADRs work fine if (and granted- it is a big “if”) you aren’t picky about which restaurants you want. It also helps to be flexible about times - like if you are ok with a 9pm dinner a lot of things open up.

Anyway , your friend won’t starve or be stuck with only QS. They will only be disappointed if they have their heart set on specific restaurants and times

 

[sharonabe]

she is going the week after Easter

This is not going to end well. The week after Easter is easily the 3rd or 4th busiest week of the year.

Well, at least by the end of the first day, they'll know the information they were given is incorrect. Hopefully, they'll find a CM who can help them get whatever ADRs there are to be had after that.

 

[megs1313]

tried to work with an experienced TA, but NOT Disney specialized, and she was WORTHLESS. sounds like she may have just a regular TA and not a Disney one. YIKES!

 

[Hi Pluto]

Maybe try to direct her over here to the disboards... then she can figure out just how prepared you need to be.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

It is total BS but here’s the thing - the idea that you have to make ADRs 180 days out is also BS.

There are always openings somewhere. I don’t do walk ups but same day ADRs work fine if (and granted- it is a big “if”) you aren’t picky about which restaurants you want. It also helps to be flexible about times - like if you are ok with a 9pm dinner a lot of things open up.

Anyway , your friend won’t starve or be stuck with only QS. They will only be disappointed if they have their heart set on specific restaurants and times

This! I’ve never booked a reservation 180 days out because I’m at the mercy of AP resort rates, which are available only a couple months out. I’m also constantly tinkering with the trip plan and sometimes swapping reservations pretty late in the game. You can always get tables for SOMETHING. Heck, I had that dining finder tool searching for a decent reservation time at CA grill, and I got it a week before our trip. Things constantly change. (And I’m generally booking for a table of 5-6, if she’s got a party of 4 it is easier)

 

[mckennarose]

...... G*d bless that girl she kept her composure even after the cussing started.

I feel bad for the CM's who get railed at because of a guest's lack of planning or expected entitlement. Saw a lady full on freaking out at the Ohana podium last time we were there because she "tried to get a reservation online but couldn't" so she just showed up at the restaurant expecting to be seated. Her family started slinking away in embarrassment while she was ranting.

OP, I hope it works out for your friend. I've seen so many people go to Disney unprepared and come back telling everyone they know how horrible Disney is and they'll never go again. Most people are not uber-planners or Disney obsessed like those of us on the DIS, and you don't have to be to have a great vacation. But you do need to have a basic understanding of how things work at Disney and it sounds like the travel planner has no clue and your friend is not taking steps on her own to look at things. Add to that the time of year she's going and the fact that as of now she has massively overpaid for a week's worth of chicken nuggets, burgers and fries. She won't be too happy about her experience.

 

[kniquy]

I've seen so many people go to Disney unprepared and come back telling everyone they know how horrible Disney is and they'll never go again. Most people are not uber-planners or Disney obsessed like those of us on the DIS, and you don't have to be to have a great vacation.

Exactly this!!! This is the fear I have. Disney is really unlike any other vacation you will take. There really has to be some planning and preparation. I go overboard, but when we are in the midst of our trip we also know how our day is going to go - what rides we will do, when we can relax and take a break and when we will eat. We do deviate from out plan a little but that is the benefit of the FP window - maybe we squeeze a ride in because we know we have an hour to get to a certain ride.

If you go there blind you will want to ride 7DMT, but oh you don't have a FP so you will be spending an hour in line. i feel that there is so much to do and see at WDW that if you can avoid/limit wasting time in lines you will get a ton more done. I know i can relax and go mostly with my plan when we get there. There are also so many great restaurants there that if you don't snag an ADR yes you will be able to eat somewhere, but it might not be as good as what you could be eating had you planned.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Wow! What a travel agent! Your friend is in for quite a shock because that is 100000% BS.

I agree. Some people shouldnt be travel agents. If the TA doesnt have the correct info, they should just admit they dont know instead of giving false information.

 

[cruisin5]

Your friend's TA is wrong and your friend very disappointed when they roll up to a character meal asking for a table. Sure they *may* find a TS to eat at but it's going to be frustrating. Sure hope they don't have a pile of elementary school aged kids to drag along asking why they aren't eating with Cinderella or Pooh.

You've told her the verifiable truth. There is nothing else you can do except smile and nod, saying wow, Disney must be changing up the way they do things again.

I've had co-workers insist they've stayed on site in a rental house with a private pool. Smile and nod.

Or ask for the name of the TA because they must be AH-MAZING!

 

[goofyintoronto]

However, DH and do walkups a lot now and are pretty successful. Not at places like BoG or Ohana, mind you, but we've had plenty of walk up success for a party of TWO.

Same here. It is possible. Of course not for popular character meals and such. But it is possible if you're not picky and dont mind eating off-peak hours.

I've had co-workers insist they've stayed on site in a rental house with a private pool. Smile and nod.

Or ask for the name of the TA because they must be AH-MAZING!

This post made laugh literally out loud. LMAO!

 

[mckennarose]

Exactly this!!! This is the fear I have. Disney is really unlike any other vacation you will take. There really has to be some planning and preparation. I go overboard, but when we are in the midst of our trip we also know how our day is going to go - what rides we will do, when we can relax and take a break and when we will eat. We do deviate from out plan a little but that is the benefit of the FP window - maybe we squeeze a ride in because we know we have an hour to get to a certain ride.

If you go there blind you will want to ride 7DMT, but oh you don't have a FP so you will be spending an hour in line. i feel that there is so much to do and see at WDW that if you can avoid/limit wasting time in lines you will get a ton more done. I know i can relax and go mostly with my plan when we get there. There are also so many great restaurants there that if you don't snag an ADR yes you will be able to eat somewhere, but it might not be as good as what you could be eating had you planned.

Agree!

I have to say that I don't think it's only non-Disney-TA's who can steer people wrong...but Disney itself.

I have a friend who was planning a trip a few years ago and asked for my help. It was her first time, three kids, hubby, and she was lost when she went to the Disney site. I gave her loads of information on UT tickets, offsite accommodations, ADR's, my recommendation to NOT get hoppers (budget was a big concern), fastpass info., touring plans, etc.

When I saw her a week or so later she told me that Disney was too hard so her DH called Disney directly and they booked a room through Disney, got 4 day park hoppers, bought the dining plan and were also doing Universal for two days. I asked her if she realized she would be running all day long for 6 days (their entire vacation) and she said they do fine in amusement parks all day now. I just let it go at that point. But she did come back later and tell me they spent way too much money (well, I guess so! their budget went out the window) and it was too hard to eat anything other than fast food, they were so exhausted from running, stood in lines all day and that it was a horrible vacation.

Disney makes it super convenient to lump everything together and people think they are set for their trip. But the reality is they are only trying to get more in sales and people still have to do the actual planning part. I'm not knocking Disney because it's not their phone cm's job to plan your whole trip, I'm just saying there's so much more a family has to plan after their rooms and tickets. They will tell people that ADR's are recommended and they open 180 days in advance. They don't tell them "If you want even a small chance to get into BOG, get online at 7AM at 180 days and you might get lucky!" Again, not Disney's responsibility, but people shouldn't be so naive to think Disney takes care of everything.

 

[kniquy]

I've had co-workers insist they've stayed on site in a rental house with a private pool. Smile and nod.

It is amazing people will spend so much $$ on a Disney vacation and do no research on actually what they are buying or doing.

I had a co-worker tell me she stayed at one of the value resorts, had the dining plan and thought it was the best thing in the world that she could eat at any of the resort dining locations - I wanted to say - Oh poor child you could have eaten at hundreds of other locations not just at the resort.

I am sure many of us on disboards have those friends or acquaintances who book WDW trips without planning much.

Follow the basic rules:
1. try to plan a visit for longer than 5 days
2. buy tickets for the length of your stay
3. figure out a loose park day plan
4. book your dining at or close to 180d mark
5. Stalk if you didn't find your original dining wish list
6. book FP at 7am at 60d
7. stalk if you didn't get your FP wish list because stuff always opens up.

Sounds complex but it can be pretty simple to help ensure you have an enjoyable time for all the money you are forking over to the mouse.

 

[Nancyg56]

It is amazing people will spend so much $$ on a Disney vacation and do no research on actually what they are buying or doing.

I firmly believe that if one is using a TA it is reasonable to believe that the TA is giving proper information. I feel badly for people who try to do the proper thing and use an agency in order to ensure their vacation is going to be spectacular, but find out too late they have been bamboozled.

This is why I do send first timer's to a TA, but I know this person, know the caliber of knowledge as well as the end results of her work.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

This! I’ve never booked a reservation 180 days out because I’m at the mercy of AP resort rates, which are available only a couple months out. I’m also constantly tinkering with the trip plan and sometimes swapping reservations pretty late in the game. You can always get tables for SOMETHING. Heck, I had that dining finder tool searching for a decent reservation time at CA grill, and I got it a week before our trip. Things constantly change. (And I’m generally booking for a table of 5-6, if she’s got a party of 4 it is easier)

I'm the same way. We barely make ADR's anymore because I know we can always find something to eat and we aren't picky at all. For first timers, though, who aren't WDW savvy or know how to work the app (or get a Landry's card or go on opentable), I think this can be really daunting. If someone thinks they are going to be seated simply because they have the dining plan (or in the case of the CRT story, because they are staying GF CL), they are going to be sorely disappointed. I just imagine them showing up at, say, San Angel, only to be turned away and then walking around WS looking for something else without realizing they could call the dining line or look on the app for help. Especially if people are traveling with younger children, that's a recipe for disaster.

OP, the advice you gave your friend is correct - there is no non-ADR, priority seating for those on the dining plan (could you imagine? There are SO many people on the dining plan, it wouldn't even be logistically possible to do this) and TA's (and CL and concierge CM's for that matter) do not have access to any "secret" ADR's anywhere. It's unfortunate their TA sold them a product and didn't fully explain how to make the best use out of it.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

It is amazing people will spend so much $$ on a Disney vacation and do no research on actually what they are buying or doing.

This is the part that blows my mind. Certainly, we all have different sense of what constitutes expensive, but I'm pretty sure you have to be in the 1% of the 1% to think a Disney vacation is cheap. With any other expenditure of this magnitude, I sure as heck do my research and try to get the most out of it. Why should vacation be any different?

 

[sponica]

This is the part that blows my mind. Certainly, we all have different sense of what constitutes expensive, but I'm pretty sure you have to be in the 1% of the 1% to think a Disney vacation is cheap. With any other expenditure of this magnitude, I sure as heck do my research and try to get the most out of it. Why should vacation be any different?

My mother thought that her DL experience would transfer over...but even though that trip was mistake riddled, we didn't know we were making mistakes so it didn't matter? Also probably helped it was post 9/11 so even though it was reasonably crowded due to the 4th of July holiday, the standby wait of 75 minutes for Splash Mountain doesn't seem that bad? (we felt so stupid when we realized AFTER waiting in line that there were these things called FastPasses).

I just feel bad for this person if they have TS credits during a crowded week. Hopefully they've started booking some sit down restaurants...