Very upset with ADR system

[otoole]

I have been to Dsiney twice before and on the cruise and I know the system - obviously as I am a diser. So I woke up early this morning and got showered and dressed, etc. before 7 so that if I was on hold I would be ready to get to school on time (I am a teacher). I started calling before 7 and got through right at 7 and was told that they would have to redirect my call - why I don't know as I called 407-WDW-DINE and did all of the appropriate prompts. Once forwarded I was told that it was the wrong number and they would have to redirect at which point I sat on hold for 1 hour! I had to leave to go to work - was on my land line since I am from Canada and the long distance bill would be a lot but certainly more if I used my cell. I called at morning recess and asked that someone call me (now on my cell), at first the CM said sure but then when she found out I was staying for 7 days said, "no it will be too long on the phone". I later spoke to a manager and when I explained what had happened and could even name the first CM, she made no apologies but said she would try to make my reservations and get back to me. I haven't heard from her and so called Disney once again - now at 5:00 pm to find out that she did make some reservations but 3 are unavailable and the times of the others are bad! This system sucks! I can't believe Disney doesn't have a 1-800 number anymore! and I am one of the organized ones! I don't understand why they can't hold some reservations to open up each day for 10 days - people that checked in yesterday for the 1st day of free dining could book 10 days out so booked all of the days that I am staying - the only restaurant and time that I got was breakfast at Boma at 7:35 a.m on check out day - no surprise that it was available! I am really upset and disappointed with Disney right now and questioning my trip because your third trip is about meals more than the first two - been there done that...
Has anyone else experienced this? Can't managers fit in a reservation when they mess up?

 

[vicki_c]

I'm sorry you're having such a rough time.

Your experience, unfortunately, doesn't sound that unique this year. It seems the CMs are really hampered/hindered by the new system / dual systems / whatever. I'm not sure if managers would have any override capabilities or not.

 

[MelanieC]

I'm not sure what your saying the first manager did wrong? The manager's can't make reservations that aren't there this far in advance. The system is set up for specific time slots. If they aren't there, unfortunately you have to keep calling back.

I'm sorry to hear you didn't get what you were looking for. Keep trying, things do open up.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I am so sorry you had such a bad experience. Don't Give Up and Call back again!
But, I lost you a bit, did you say you asked Disney to call YOU back?
And did you say they made reservations, but then that they were unavailable, I think I lost you???.
I wanted to just say to TRY and call again, I had a very difficult time and then it all worked out AMAZING and we are a BIG group that got VERy good times and restaurants AFTER I was disconnected more than once, and had other issues as well.
SO, don't give up, I really hope it works out for you!!!!

 

[otoole]

Sorry - my entry was confusing. I did ask Disney to call me back as I was then on my cell and being from Toronto - it would cost a fortune. The CM agreed to and then said no when she found out I was calling for 7 reservations. The manager agreed and took my number but still haven't heard back - I only found out the reservations that I did have because I called once again after returning home from school. When I spoke to the CM I gave flexible restaurants but said I wanted dinner reservations anytime betwwen 5-7. The reservations she made (that I found out when I called at 5 pm) were mainly for 3-4:30 pm.
I do think that a manger should be able to make a reservation because we all know that a few are held for people without reservations. I also don't agree that those making reservations yesterday could book up all the spots for today, tomorrow, etc. people - what then is the point of calling on your assigned day at 7 a.m.? This is what I was told happened - I was essentially told that even if I hadn't been mistakenly redirected I wouldn't have gotten my reservations anyway because they were fully booked yesterday.

 

[MelanieC]

Why isn't it fare for those who called yesterday? You also get an advantage for those who arrive 7 days after you? It all equals out in the end. When those arriving 7 days aftr you call they can make their ressies for their entire stay, and so on and so on.

 

[soupy11]

Sorry - my entry was confusing. I did ask Disney to call me back as I was then on my cell and being from Toronto - it would cost a fortune. The CM agreed to and then said no when she found out I was calling for 7 reservations. The manager agreed and took my number but still haven't heard back - I only found out the reservations that I did have because I called once again after returning home from school. When I spoke to the CM I gave flexible restaurants but said I wanted dinner reservations anytime betwwen 5-7. The reservations she made (that I found out when I called at 5 pm) were mainly for 3-4:30 pm.
I do think that a manger should be able to make a reservation because we all know that a few are held for people without reservations. I also don't agree that those making reservations yesterday could book up all the spots for today, tomorrow, etc. people - what then is the point of calling on your assigned day at 7 a.m.? This is what I was told happened - I was essentially told that even if I hadn't been mistakenly redirected I wouldn't have gotten my reservations anyway because they were fully booked yesterday.

Welcome to the feeding frenzy that is Free Dining.

Your best bet is to try back. Expecting them to do it for you is going to be an exercise in futility, frustration, and hopelessness. They don't know what the heck to do with your reservation if they can't hit your exact request. You need to be flexible and help them redirect your priorities.

 

[otoole]

Why isn't it fare for those who called yesterday? You also get an advantage for those who arrive 7 days after you? It all equals out in the end. When those arriving 7 days aftr you call they can make their ressies for their entire stay, and so on and so on.

yes accept the free dining began yesterday so I assume that since it is a Sunday and the computers broke down yesterday that it was because of the high volume of people leaving on a Sunday for the start of Free Dining. Those of us leaving during the week are less likely to get our reservations as a result. An assumption I know but wouldn't be surprised if it was the case. Afterall, on my previous two trips when I called at the 180 mark at 7:00 am I got everything I wanted at the specific times that I wanted.

 

[Allison]

I do think that a manger should be able to make a reservation because we all know that a few are held for people without reservations. I also don't agree that those making reservations yesterday could book up all the spots for today, tomorrow, etc. people - what then is the point of calling on your assigned day at 7 a.m.? This is what I was told happened - I was essentially told that even if I hadn't been mistakenly redirected I wouldn't have gotten my reservations anyway because they were fully booked yesterday.

Actually, they do not hold back tables for people without reservations so another CM can't do anything for you in that regard. If there are no time slots, they don't have anything to give you.

The system seems fair to me. Anyone staying on property can book 10 days at a time. The people coming before you book prior but the people coming after you have to wait.

 

[RainbowWit]

I would assume that it would be difficult getting ressies during free dining. There are a lot of families that maybe would not normally to TS resturaunts, and us disney foodies love eating at our fave places when it's free! I'll never book during the august free dining, just because I like the flexibility of other times. I called 6 days after of my 90 days and got everything I wanted for my 08/01 - 08/9 trip. *shrug* 90 + 10 is a convienence for all of us.

 

[haley's mom]

I would assume that it would be difficult getting ressies during free dining. There are a lot of families that maybe would not normally to TS resturaunts, and us disney foodies love eating at our fave places when it's free! I'll never book during the august free dining, just because I like the flexibility of other times. I called 6 days out of my 90 days and got everything I wanted for my 08/01 - 08/9 trip. *shrug* 90 + 10 is a convienence for all of us.

I don't understand you made reservations prior to the 90days? I thought 90 + 10 was that you could make reservations at the 90 day mark for the following 10 days? Please clarify. My check in date is 9-27, when is the first I could call?

 

[a1tinkfans]

I don't understand you made reservations prior to the 90days? I thought 90 + 10 was that you could make reservations at the 90 day mark for the following 10 days? Please clarify. My check in date is 9-27, when is the first I could call?

6/29 you can call and make ALL your reservations, up to 10 days IF you are staying ON PROPERTY. Otherwise, those that are OFF property need to call back each morning to get the reservation for THAT 90 day mark.
Hope that helped.

 

[RainbowWit]

I don't understand you made reservations prior to the 90days? I thought 90 + 10 was that you could make reservations at the 90 day mark for the following 10 days? Please clarify. My check in date is 9-27, when is the first I could call?

No no I made them AFTER my 90 days..guess I should have made it clearer..LOL

 

[w-family]

I miss 180 + 10, those were the days . . . .LOL

I call tomorrow morning, lets hope I hit the jackpot!

 

[disneylovinfamily]

I thought that I read before that with the 90 plus 10 thing, they only open a certain # up for the plus 10 days. I might be wrong, but I remember reading that on the dis maybe free dining time last year.

 

[speedyf]

I'm not involved with free dining...just an interested bystander watching the whole phenomenon evolve.

I'm sure this has been covered before on this board...but, if I were booked with a package starting on the 2nd day of free dining...why would I not just start my reservation on the 1st day of free dining and then later change my reservation and remove that first day from my package?

In fact...why wouldn't I just book another room-only reservation for about 3-5 days before free dining and use that reservation to secure 90+10 reservations before the big rush?....then, cancel the room only reservation about a week later.

I just recently started visiting this board, but...I'm sure this must have been discussed in the past as a way to "cheat the system". I'm wondering if this is on the same level as mentioning pool hopping on the resort board or talking about bringing old mugs from home for free refills....or squeezing 6 people into a value room that only holds 4....

Speed

 

[brittanyherdnon85]

I called Disney dining for the first time yesterday and I had a great experience unfortunately my b-day choice had no opening but the CM was very nice about it and I was welcome to call back with my seconded choice once I come across it

 

[Joan1]

I understand your fustration but with this dining system it seems that when someone is looking at an ADR and then say no lets try for another time / date the old time / date seems lost in their system for a little while and doesn't automatically go back into inventory. So keep trying. This is a one big reason I let my TA handle my ADR's I give her my preferences with 2nd and 3rd choices for each one and I don't have to sit on the phone which I can't at 7am anyway

 

[w-family]

OMG, I called at 7:00, was on wait for 30 minutes, and I was making my very last reservation for 13, the computer system crashed and she told me I had to call back!!!!! Now the wait time is over another 30 minutes, and I have lost all of my reservations including O'hana, Chef Mickey & the Princess Dinner at Norway. This is ridculous!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I can't believe Disney doesn't have a 1-800 number anymore!

. . . why?
. . . 1-800 numbers are to bring in customers or added business
. . . you already bought dinner or will, so where is the advantage?
. . . if you call to change ONE adr later, then the 1-800 is a loss
. . . because no added business was gained, just changed
. . . so, why pay millions per year for a system that is not necessary?

90 + 10 is a convienence for all of us.

. . . People get 90+10 days ADR's when staying on site.
. . . This is good for you.
. . . Sounds great, huh?
. . . However, someone else already ate into your days with their 10-days.
. . . So, when you call, you are already at a disadvantage for popular meals.
. . . During Free Dining, it gets even worse.

NOTE: No good deed goes unrewarded. 90+10 has its own problems. What sounds like a good deal is actually a disadvantage, because other people get a 10-days lead on you for the same coveted ADR's. People just never look at it this way. They assume the +10 will get them anything they want. It was more fair when you had 90-days and had to call each day. At least the fastest dialers got their ressies.