Truth or is it just BS

[evilqueenmindy]

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.

I understand this, my point is more that if they start looking for reservations now, 2 months out, there are ADRs to be had. This isn’t a dining crisis yet, it’s fortunate the OP spoke to them now when they can still book things.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Some people shouldn't be travel agents...

I believe she really just misunderstood the travel agent.
People misunderstand things SO much!

 

[Disneypro1]

I will say this....Le Cellier 2017 May, no adr. 20.00 tip..got us a table..just saying
And they were packed....

 

[Lefty33]

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 agree with everything you said. There are always reservations to be had if you put in the time and know the right channels to use. My trip last month came together at the last minute and nothing was paid for or reserved until two weeks prior and I had no issue with ADR's. Everything we wanted we got without issue (Crystal Palace, Beaches & Cream, Tusker House, BOG and Rose & Crown). Maybe if I was going at a crazy busy time of the year I would consider stressing about ADR's in advance but after X number of trips I don't worry as it just about always works out in the end.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

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.

Did they specifically tell the TA they wanted a Mexican restaurant? I can't tell by what you've posted. If so, I would have chosen SAI, but that's personal preference. If not, I hope your coworker knows there are many more options, if they are patient & check daily for what they want.

 

[Nancyg56]

I believe she really just misunderstood the travel agent.
People misunderstand things SO much!

I have an acquaintance who experienced the same thing. She bought the DxDDp and was told that she could book any restaurant she wanted when she got there. She had her 6 YO in tow, and was looking forward to all the options she coudl choose from. You guessed it. This was before you could check the ap to see what was open. They ate CS most of the week. WHen she got home she complained to the agency and was told that they made a mistake. But no recompense. Nothing but an apology. Now I appreciate a sincere apology, however I do nto believe that was all this woman deserved. She was a single parent who had scrimped to make a magical trip for her daughter, and she trusted her TA was what she sold herself to be.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

In the situation you described, agreed that the TAs have absolutely no special booking powers. That said, my TA managed to book a ROL Tusker House dinner before they were loaded. By several days. She does the 6am ADRs for me and then I play around with any further changes. I decided to tweak the time on ROL TH and it was 3 or 4 days before they showed up in MDE. I assume she called and maybe if I had called I would have been able to book it before they were loaded too. But I kept looking at it wondering how she had done that. It certainly looked like she had magic booking powers.


OP, I hope your coworker figures things out, gets some ADRs, and has a good vacation. We here on the disboards are often a little insane about planning but I've talked to several co-workers who have done different levels of planning and still had a great time. Sometimes if you don't know what you're missing, it doesn't matter.

 

[Dug720]

I will say this....Le Cellier 2017 May, no adr. 20.00 tip..got us a table..just saying
And they were packed....

And if that CM was caught, they would be separated immediately. Bribery is not allowed.

 

[beck00]

That poor lady...

 

[Minnesota!]

Doubt it is true, but she also won't have problems doing day-of, especially if she isn't trying for the "big ones"...BOG, Akershus, etc.

We do same day mostly, now. It hasn't failed me yet...

 

[Disneypro1]

And if that CM was caught, they would be separated immediately. Bribery is not allowed.

They’d have to fire half the employees at fine dining establishments at WDW. That’s All I’m saying....lol. There is a lot that is not allowed in life. But you know how that goes. It’s not a big deal. It happens all the time. Im not saying to do it or not. Im just saying.
As for us, 90% of the time. We get reservations same day. It may be at a time a little later or earlier but never really had to worry about the few months out reservation.

 

[RangerPooh]

Doubt this is true. Sure they may find some walk-ups, but not necessarily at the places that they might want.

 

[Dug720]

They’d have to fire half the employees at fine dining establishments at WDW. That’s All I’m saying....lol. There is a lot that is not allowed in life. But you know how that goes. It’s not a big deal.

And if they are caught, they will be fired. The upside of that is they will have to explain to future employers why they got fired from Disney (or explain a work gap), and being fired does not allow you to file for unemployment.

 

[Farro]

They’d have to fire half the employees at fine dining establishments at WDW. That’s All I’m saying....lol. There is a lot that is not allowed in life. But you know how that goes. It’s not a big deal. It happens all the time. Im not saying to do it or not. Im just saying.
As for us, 90% of the time. We get reservations same day. It may be at a time a little later or earlier but never really had to worry about the few months out reservation.

I'm having a hard time believing all it takes is a $20 to get the CM to risk their job to find you a table. They were giving $20 back in the 80's.

 

[jo-jo]

I just hope the friend doesn't come back after the trip and say to you "why didn't YOU tell me, I needed to make ADRs".

 

[poooh]

I actually got into an argument with my friend over what her sketchy TA told her once. Her TA had told her that she booked her at a Deluxe resort. I asked where she was staying and it was POR and she was charged a ridiculous "room rate" that had to be inflated for the TA's profit. $695/night for just the room in August. The TA was also pushing the purchase of an AP for a 5 day trip, knowing my friend would only be going once that year. I tried to tell her that I don't think the TA has her best interest in mind and that POR was a moderate level resort but she got very defensive. She felt like this was her TA's job and she was more qualified than I am so she trusts her TA more, even though she could have easily looked up the rates for moderate resorts on her own to see that they were half the price.

In the end, she felt that Disney was not worth her money after spending an insane amount for no reason. I still don't think she realized how badly duped she got. It sucks because when I tried to help her, she felt like I was criticizing her planning style or I was acting holier than thou.

 

[Disneypro1]

And if they are caught, they will be fired. The upside of that is they will have to explain to future employers why they got fired from Disney (or explain a work gap), and being fired does not allow you to file for unemployment.

I'm having a hard time believing all it takes is a $20 to get the CM to risk their job to find you a table. They were giving $20 back in the 80's.

. I’ll plead the 5th. But don’t be naïveté. Just saying it happens every day. Whether supposed to or not. Ymmv
As for the OP. I didn’t even know folks used travel agents anymore

 

[Disneypro1]

And if they are caught, they will be fired. The upside of that is they will have to explain to future employers why they got fired from Disney (or explain a work gap), and being fired does not allow you to file for unemployment.

Those jobs in Orlando are impossible to fill. No one would be out of work longer than 20 min. Lose one get another same day. It’s not like they pay 50k per year.

 

[siren0119]

Threads like this remind me why I do all my own booking LOL.

I have a friend who just became a Disney TA, and I allowed her to book my reservation so that she would get commission, but if I need anything else booked I either do it myself or she logs into her TA account while I'm over her house and we do it together LOL. I wonder how much people would pay for a non-TA Disney vacation consultant????

 

[DisneyWishes14]

In the situation you described, agreed that the TAs have absolutely no special booking powers. That said, my TA managed to book a ROL Tusker House dinner before they were loaded. By several days. She does the 6am ADRs for me and then I play around with any further changes. I decided to tweak the time on ROL TH and it was 3 or 4 days before they showed up in MDE. I assume she called and maybe if I had called I would have been able to book it before they were loaded too. But I kept looking at it wondering how she had done that. It certainly looked like she had magic booking powers.


OP, I hope your coworker figures things out, gets some ADRs, and has a good vacation. We here on the disboards are often a little insane about planning but I've talked to several co-workers who have done different levels of planning and still had a great time. Sometimes if you don't know what you're missing, it doesn't matter.

It's quite common that special dining ADR's are available to book by phone prior to being loaded onto the dining website. Your TA may not be magic, but it does sound like she is WDW savvy.

I actually got into an argument with my friend over what her sketchy TA told her once. Her TA had told her that she booked her at a Deluxe resort. I asked where she was staying and it was POR and she was charged a ridiculous "room rate" that had to be inflated for the TA's profit. $695/night for just the room in August. The TA was also pushing the purchase of an AP for a 5 day trip, knowing my friend would only be going once that year. I tried to tell her that I don't think the TA has her best interest in mind and that POR was a moderate level resort but she got very defensive. She felt like this was her TA's job and she was more qualified than I am so she trusts her TA more, even though she could have easily looked up the rates for moderate resorts on her own to see that they were half the price.

In the end, she felt that Disney was not worth her money after spending an insane amount for no reason. I still don't think she realized how badly duped she got. It sucks because when I tried to help her, she felt like I was criticizing her planning style or I was acting holier than thou.

While I don't doubt your story, a TA pushing an AP wouldn't make any sense as TA's don't make commission on AP's.