Upset about the ADRs 90+10 fiasco that Free dining is creating

[HayGan]

I am a champion "system gamer" but I totally agree with you! People are actually making bogus reservations just so they got the 10-day jump on their ADRs for free dining?!? I was kinda bummed that I had to cancel my annual mid-August free dining bounce-back I booked months ago. Maybe I'm not so bummed anymore!

I don't doubt that there are a few people who have played this game but I do doubt that it is rampant. I persoanlly haven't read or heard of anyone doing this. Seems like way too much work for an ADR!!!

 

[gkrykewy]

We where an old married couple by the time you guys got married then. We had been married for a WHOLE 24 hours Our wedding was the first time slot at the Wedding Pavilion on 28 May.

johno

Well, congrats on making it all the way to 4 years, along with us. I believe that's the "tin" anniversary.

 

[Inkmahm]

I've heard about double booking.. to me it is inconsiderate to block out a time for yourself at 2 places at the same time/same day. They let you do tht? I'd think they'd have a way and a motivation to stop that.

I didn't realize that was allowed, either. I'd never do it. I'm even good about canceling reservations as soon as we know we won't need them (that's rare though.) I haven't had to make any reservations under the new 90 day policy yet, my last trip was still under the 180 rule and I had concierge help in booking. I"m not looking forward to doing ADRs for October now.

Before then, I have a trip to Disneyland in August. I'm told their reservations don't open until 60 days before and then you don't even get a reservation number, they just take your name! I can't imagine that yet, but we'll see.

 

[bobrex]

How is it that you can dupe the system? I thought you needed to provide a reservation #?

Nope, I've never had to provide a reservation number. The CM will ask if you are on the dining plan, but all I've ever had to do is say yes and I was free to make ADRs.

 

[gkrykewy]

Nope, I've never had to provide a reservation number. The CM will ask if you are on the dining plan, but all I've ever had to do is say yes and I was free to make ADRs.

You usually do have to provide a res number.

 

[Chuck S]

Nope, I've never had to provide a reservation number. The CM will ask if you are on the dining plan, but all I've ever had to do is say yes and I was free to make ADRs.

The dining system can now read DVC reservation numbers and link the ADRs to that reservation. I did have to provide the DVC confimation number the last time I called dining, which seems to be somehting new after recent system upgrades. Perhaps preparing for online ADRs.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes, we've had to give room reservations to get an ADR recently as well. I wouldn't overbook but actually our group is splitting into 6 and 5 people groups on Sunday and I have 2 ADR's for 5 PM. One at Chefs de France and the other at Boma. So, they do allow for more than one ADR per time frame. This may be the only time this year that DH and I will both be using our TiW cards at the same time! I'm at Chefs, going to see the Fifth Dimension on Sunday!!!!

Bobbi

 

[Sammie]

As Chuck said Dining can now look up your reservation if you don't have the number with you, by name and address and phone number.

After free dining was announced we canceled and rebooked our trip, I am not going to fight that crowd for a place to eat.

 

[Ksp]

Sorry, I didn't hear about this 'holiday surcharge'
What's up with that?

 

[lugnut33]

Sorry, I didn't hear about this 'holiday surcharge'
What's up with that?

Due to overwhelming guest demand....

 

[bobbiwoz]

Sorry, I didn't hear about this 'holiday surcharge'
What's up with that?

Here's the link to the Disboards notification of the surcharge.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining.htm

During seasons of high demand, Disney raises the prices at most of the prix fixe restaurants.

Below are the restaurants and dates when you can expect to pay more. On average, it's $4.00 more per person ages 10 and up, $2.00 more per child ages 3 -9.

December 16, 2008 - January 3, 2009
April 5 - April 18, 2009
May 24 - July 11, 2009
Restaurants:

1900 Park Fare
Akershus
Biergarten
Boma
Cape May Cafe
Chef Mickey's
Cinderella's Royal Table
Crystal Palace
Garden Grill
Hollywood and Vine
Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner)
Ohana
Trails End
Tusker House
NOTE: This list is subject to change without notice and does not exclude other dining venues. There is no impact on guests using the Disney Dining Plan.


Bobbi

 

[Chuck S]

Sorry, I didn't hear about this 'holiday surcharge'
What's up with that?

It is a $4 adult, $2 child upcharge during higher travel seasons at the buffet restaurants and "family style" meals like the evening meal at Liberty Tree Tavern. It does not affect "regular" table service or counter service venues.

 

[rgf207]

We have a different issue with Disney Dining. We aren't going during free dining but rather during this ridiculous "holiday" surcharge period of June. Instead of paying an extra $4 a person, we cancelled our Disney Dining reservations and will be spending that money offsite. SO instead of getting an extra $16 per meal off of us, they lost approximately $700 of revenue. We have no problem in helping out the greater Orlando economy!

I will say Disney Dining has really begun cracking down on the double bookings. It is not as easy to book two meals for the same timeframe. Whenever we have changed ADRs they always seem to mention the cancellation of the other reservation. I do not know how the on-line dining booking system will impact the entire system.

I hear you but I can assure you that Disney didn't lose $700 in revenue. There were probably 10 people in line to take your cancelled slots. That's why Disney does it. They have no problems filling the tables.

 

[eliza61]

I think anyone who games the system to that extent should probably be under psychiatric care.

Hang out on the trip planning board and see what extent this people go to, to plan the "perfect" vacation. It makes the D-day invasion of Normandy look like a day at the beach.

 

[Chuck S]

Hang out on the trip planning board and see what extent this people go to, to plan the "perfect" vacation. It makes the D-day invasion of Normandy look like a day at the beach.

Sad, but true. To me, a vacation isn't supposed to be fully planned. A meal here and there with ADRs is fine, but we let a lot of the magic "just happen." A rigorous schedule would not be relaxing to me.

 

[Starr W.]

Hang out on the trip planning board and see what extent this people go to, to plan the "perfect" vacation. It makes the D-day invasion of Normandy look like a day at the beach.

I thought that I was the only one who noticed that!

 

[Chellymouse]

I know that changes were made due to people double booking and not cancelling, but I say punish those folks and leave the rest of us be! I called at 6:59am on my 90th day, waited on hold for 45 minutes and barely got the ADRs that we wanted. We had to move some days around, but this is nuts! Bring back the 180 or at least give us DVC folks, who are WILLING to pay for dining some extra days! Let's face it, while not many of us want to cook on vacation, we can certainly avoid Disney dining altogether!

 

[lugnut33]

Wanna see what people are going through to get their ressies for free dining? Check out


Some highlights:

I literally called over 350 times.....all circuits busy or I actually "got" a busy signal........Started calling at 7 AM...from my house phone..then my cell phone (left for work early).....then came into work (still dialing via cell) and once seated - started calling from work.
Total time on the phone 72 minutes.
I think I got a few extra grey hairs though (LOL!!!!)

Started calling at 7:00 - kept getting all circuits are busy message. Gave up at 8:00. Went back to bed (home sick today) Woke up at 9:50 and tried again.

Got through at 9:85 on hold until 10:10 finished at 10:51

I was finally able to get back on hold at 8:58 and all was said and done by about 10:20 a.m.

I am really pissed...called the first time this am and was on hold 1hr 17min...had to hang up to take my kids to school. Called again waited 2 min to find out the system was down. Called AGAIN and the system went down after she made the 4th ADR and said because she hadn't saved them they were lost...are you kiddding me. On hold again now for the 4th time. I don't know how much more I can take...I am sure eveything I want is going to be booked at this point..

Ok...after 4 calls. Wait time of a total (all calls) 2 hr 27 min. On the 2nd and 3rd calls the system crashed and my ADR's were not saved. On the 4th call got through after 11 min and was NOT able to get the times I had earlier. Some were ok...close enough but not what I wanted and had to switch days

OK, there might be 100 people there to fill my place since I'm not eating at WDW, but I'll be damned if I'm going to go through that. I bet there will be some surprises also when people actually go to the restaurants. No thank you, it's not for me.

 

[fishermouse]

Actually I would like to see the window shortened to 2 or 3 days. It was great when we used to be in our room and call the dinning number for either that night or a day out. If I have to eat some where that I planed 3 months prior I'm not on vacation.. Or they should leave 30 to 40% of the tables open for walk-ins. I have no idea what I'll be in the mood for or where I'll be at 7pm 90 days from now. Maybe it'll be a nice beach day and I'll drive to Daytona, or put some burgers on the grill by the pool, or maybe I'll want to go to a resturant,to much planning is not what I want for vacation.

 

[HayGan]

I hear you but I can assure you that Disney didn't lose $700 in revenue. There were probably 10 people in line to take your cancelled slots. That's why Disney does it. They have no problems filling the tables.

Historically, they may have been true but with conditions as they are today who knows!

And yes, they did lose $700+ in revenue because I will spending that money off-site. It was money I was definitely planning on spending there but now I know I willdefinitely be spending it somewhere else. Most of the other people who may be taking my place would have likely been spending that money on-site anyway. I would be willing to make a substantial wager that a majority of the people who eat at Disney restaurants are a) staying on-site (and stuck on-site thanks to Magical Express) or b) locals (who I would guess willavoid most of those restaurants during surcharge periods anyway.)