What is up with ADR's?

[Magical Mama]

So my SIL is planning on a trip to the World in March of 2009. She is taking my two nieces (3 and 9) along with two other family memebers. They are staying off property. Well she believed that she would just walk in to CRT and CM's while there and get to do character meals for the girls. So, I tried to talk to her about the whole 180 day mark and so forth. She still didn't get it. So I lent her some of my books to read. She said she finally got it. So I tried to explain to her, she had missed the 180 day mark and she may get CM but could almost guarntee there would be no CRT. So she told me she would call and make ADR's, well that was weeks ago and she still had not done it, so yesterday I just called for her. Can you believe I was able to get her breakfast at CM and CRT?!!!??!!! I was shocked! I literally said to the CM "are you sure???" So afterwards, my SIL was like, "see I told you it was no big deal." She doesn't get how lucky she is!!!!

So my question is, how are there ADR's left for CRT this late????

 

[Tricia1972]

I feel that it has something to do with the current upgrade to the dining system. It's creating general confusion about when you can call in, which results in openings that normally wouldn't exist.

Glad you got their reservations for them!

(To find out more about the System Upgrade, you can check out the first post in this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1977770)

 

[choirfarm]

I also think it has something to do with the princess dinner in Epcot. If you are on the dining plan, ASkerhaus only costs 1 credit and you get the picture and everything. My daughter wanted to see Aurora and said, skip the castle. She had no interest. It wasn't worth 2 credits to me, plus then if we ate at the castle and the boys didn't, then our credits would be off. So the dining plan probably has something to do with this.

Christine

 

[emmabemmainc]

I don't know, I called 2 weeks ago and got over 15 reservations for January(including CRT, CM, CP, CR and more!) ! I was shocked--but I do agree w/ the PP who said that it could be b/c of the new reservation system--I don't think people realize that they can call.

 

[bkfree]

I think several factors are at work.
The current economic status has some rethinking upcoming trips in the new year.
Same issue has many skipping the DDP and trying to eat really cheap.
Others are making the DDP stretch farther by cutting our 2TS dining.
Still others like us have failed to be sufficiently impressed with CRT and the price tag attached to it or the cost of 2 TS credits.

My two love Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace and 1900 Park Fare much more.
We are doing Askerhaus Princess Dinner on our upcoming Dec trip for the first time. I have so many positive things about it and have many friends that have done both and give Askerhaus a much bigger thumbs up than CRT.

I think all of these variables are making ressies at CRT not as much a to die for must do as in the past.