What's with ADRs?

[Aliceacc]

Bluwater: If you have no kids with you, that might work-- you can plan on late dinners, or be a bit more flexible.

But I'm not sure it would fly with my 3 kids!

 

[lurkernj]

With all the buzz about the difficulty of getting ADRs during free dining, I called at the 180 day mark and had no problem with anything but LeCellier, got it, but at 4:10p (this was at 7am on day 180).

Since then, I have rearranged my schedule countless times and have called to change ressies and have not had a single issue, was able to get what I within an hour of my desired time. In fact, I called this week and was able to switch two more. I even called to add a breakfast at Chef Mickey on our last day(about 3 wks ago) and got 9:35am. We are a party of 6 going from 9/2-9/12, so don't lose hope, KEEP TRYING!!!!!

PS, yes, I cancelled everything we are not planning to use, even my Chef mickey lunch.

 

[Connears]

I called at 180 days and had no problem making adr for 12/28-1/02/09 trip which is peak holiday week. We had no problem getting our 1st choices, even on NYE....Just called back yesterday to add LTT on arrival day 12/28/08 and I had my choice of any time from 8-9:00pm!
We have gone every year during xmas week for the last 4 years and haven't really had any problem, except CG on xmas night and we took 9:15pm and were seated early enough to see Wishes. I can't complain.

Connears

 

[Redbudlover]

With all the buzz about the difficulty of getting ADRs during free dining, I called at the 180 day mark and had no problem with anything but LeCellier, got it, but at 4:10p (this was at 7am on day 180).

Since then, I have rearranged my schedule countless times and have called to change ressies and have not had a single issue, was able to get what I within an hour of my desired time. In fact, I called this week and was able to switch two more. I even called to add a breakfast at Chef Mickey on our last day(about 3 wks ago) and got 9:35am. We are a party of 6 going from 9/2-9/12, so don't lose hope, KEEP TRYING!!!!!

PS, yes, I cancelled everything we are not planning to use, even my Chef mickey lunch.

That has usually been my experience as well, so wasn't too worried as I didn't want LaCellier or a princess breakfast - but then couldn't get Chef Mickeys, WCC, or Donalds breakfast at all during the entire trip - well could have had WCC for 9:50 - but with a 2 year old that won't work....

 

[ahill004]

I'm a little surprised about Donald's b-fast. We are going the first two weeks in December and we had no problem getting an early morning ADR one day each week. (Daisy is kids' favorite character)! I know I booked the first one 180 days out but the second one (I believe) was booked a few days after my 180 days. And there wasn't any issue with times. I was also able to get WCC for b-fast one morning and I just called last week and rescheduled it for another morning (YES, I did cancel the first ADR)!! So I woudl suggest to keep calling. I cannot imagine those two restaurants both booking up completely!
Also, we traveled to Disney last Sept. during free dining and called the night before and got an 8:05 ADR for Donald's b-fast. It can definitely be done if you keep trying!

 

[Redbudlover]

Did you just start making reservations for September? I am thinking that free dining is still going on in September. This may be the problem. I would keep calling because some people double book. I didn't know you could double book. I thought that if you were in the system for a specific restaurant and time, that you would not be allowed to reserve another restaurant for the same time. You would be directed by the CM to reach a final decision regarding which restaurant you would eliminate. I usually begin planning restaurants the minute we plan our trip. So that when our 180 day mark arrives, I have narrowed my choices down and I make all our ressies on the same day. Can you tell I am obsessive compulsive? But at least I am one happy camper at WDW.

I didn't know you could double book either - I know that I have had it happen in the past when I was changing ADRs that a CM told me if I had a conflicting ADR... I have always changed things around a lot. I hope I can grab something as the 45 day mark gets closer.... I would like to have my DGD have a nice meal and a good time at WCC so we wouldn't have to travel for a meal in the evening...

 

[disneypolybride2008]

on our first trips to WDW i didnt even know about ADR's or 180 days, it was strange to us to get to the podium and have them say we needed a reservation, it's like how do we do that? Oh go over to this little hut (MGM) and see if they have an opening. Now i have learned to do my homework before going. My family is coming w/ me on this trip and my dad's so funny. He's like why are you guys eating at the Castle and we're eating hotdogs? I said Dad it's because we're on the Deluxe plan and you're on the regular one. He says i dont mind paying OOP, so i said it's about $45 pp, so do you want to join us? He says he'd have to think about it and talk it over....NO....the 180 day mark is a few days past, there's no time to think! So he's yet to give me an answer, by the time he does CRT will be impossible. (Hoiday time too). I told him how LeCellier was booked 183 days out except for times during the fireworks. He cant grasp the idea of making a reservation that far in advance. It also makes planning a last minute trip a bad idea. I think the 90 day would be good, atleast they'd have the park hours posted by then!

 

[Tink51]

Just ate at "Yuk" & Yeti in latye June and it was pretty bad. DH had duck- dried out and tough. My shrimp tempura was extremely greasy. fried green beans appetizer was the best part of the meal. Won't be going back again

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Just ate at "Yuk" & Yeti in latye June and it was pretty bad. DH had duck- dried out and tough. My shrimp tempura was extremely greasy. fried green beans appetizer was the best part of the meal. Won't be going back again

Did you eat the TS or the CS? We are planning to eat at Y & Y CS when we go. I hope it won't be too yuk.

I told him how LeCellier was booked 183 days out except for times during the fireworks.

183 days? Why? Isn't it 180?

 

[Aliceacc]

183 days? Why? Isn't it 180?

Because people staying at Disney resorts can book up to 10 days worth of ADRs at the 180 day mark.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Just wanted to add my $.02 about WCC. We went to WDW the second week of December in 2005 and everything was booked. We were staying at WL and one night we were just going to do CS before we hit MK for MVMCP but on our way out decided to check at the hostess stand at WCC to see if they had anything available. They had no wait and were able to seat us right away. Some restaurants do not allow walk ups when they're "booked" but I think at certain times of the year at certain restaurants they leave some availability for walk ups (or had a lot of people not show up for their ADR's). Good luck!

I have a last minute trip planned for the 26th of July and called and got the exact time for Ohana's I wanted. We haven't even called yet to make ADR's for our November 9-15th trip but we've been to almost all WDW restaurants now so we're very flexible with places/parks/times.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Because people staying at Disney resorts can book up to 10 days worth of ADRs at the 180 day mark.

Well then wouldn't it mean that you could book Le Cellier or any other restaurants 190 days in advance if you were staying onsite? I'm just not getting where the 183 came from.

 

[Tricia1972]

Well then wouldn't it mean that you could book Le Cellier or any other restaurants 190 days in advance if you were staying onsite? I'm just not getting where the 183 came from.

I believe that she called for reservations at the 180 day mark from her arrival date. She was eating at LeCellier the fourth day of her vacation, thus it was 183 days from the date she was dining there. (180 days - day 1 of your vacation, 181 days - day 2 of your vacation, etc.)

One note about that, if a restaurant is booked as in the example above - always try calling 180 days from the date you are dining there. Disney holds some tables to release at the exact 180 day mark.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Oh, I see. Thanks for clearing that up for me, Tricia.

 

[Tricia1972]

Oh, I see. Thanks for clearing that up for me, Tricia.

No problem at all

 

[mickeysgirl17]

To the OP: Because of the DP and Deluxe plans and because of people double booking (making 2 or more ADR's for the same time), ADR's are all getting booked early.

You MUST make your ADR's 180 days in advance and prefferably at 7am when they open for reservations.

I called 180 days out at 7:03am and unfortunately, I was on hold over an hour and 15 minutes. By then, I was lucky to get Le Cellier at all. Many of the times I wanted were gone too.

Despite there being low seasons, disney is picking up business all through the year and there are no more "slow times". People know this and they know they must book early.

There is also the matter of the 180 day plus 10 rule where people can call 180 days out from their check in date and then book ADR's for the next 10 days.

I believe Disney is trying to fix the problem though but it will be slow and take some time. They are currently going to check everyone's ADR's and cancel those that are double booking so that some slots may become available.
They are also changing from 180 days out to 90 days out temporarily until they can fix their system starting around Aug. 1st.
I think that the new system will prevent people from double booking.
In addition, they will be opening new restaurants to help with the crowds.
This will take time, but hopefully, we will see some better changes in the near future.

 

[Tricia1972]

Just because I am interested in the subject, where can I read about the new ADR system and how it's going to fix double bookings?

Also the story about Disney going back and manually checking every reservation in their system to cancel double bookings? I am SHOCKED that they're doing this because they aren't losing money by the double bookings (currently) and it's surprising that they're willing to lose money by paying a team of CM's to cancel double bookings.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Also the story about Disney going back and manually checking every reservation in their system to cancel double bookings? I am SHOCKED that they're doing this because they aren't losing money by the double bookings (currently) and it's surprising that they're willing to lose money by paying a team of CM's to cancel double bookings.

Actually, they do lose money when people double book. Guests who double book can only be in one place at one time. So, what happens is they show up for only 1 of their ADRs. Meanwhile, another party could have had the ADR that they are a no-show for. Thus instead of making money off two meals, Disney makes money from only 1.

 

[Tricia1972]

Actually, they do lose money when people double book. Guests who double book can only be in one place at one time. So, what happens is they show up for only 1 of their ADRs. Meanwhile, another party could have had the ADR that they are a no-show for. Thus instead of making money off two meals, Disney makes money from only 1.

I agree with your logic. This would be true if Disney made a true dining reservation and held a table for a group. They don't and they overbook their current 'call ahead' system accounting for people who do not show up. The restaurants are always full and if they had empty tables at a restaurant - they'd be free to allow walk ins.

In NO way am I defending no-shows and double bookers. I personally cancel and am a proponent of canceling. I am just saying, from Disney's standpoint, I don't see the value to them of paying an entire team to scour for double bookings and cancel them. They have a system in place to make sure the tables are full (overbooking). For those that they have a problem with no-shows where they do lose money, they have a CC hold.

My questioning/reasoning is why I am interested in reading the article(s) about the new ADR system, etc.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

The restaurants are always full and if they had empty tables at a restaurant - they'd be free to allow walk ins.

It was my understanding that TS restaurants at WDW no long accept walk-ups? Is this not true?