when Epcot 1st opened > dining reservations

[tinkandpan]

I remember booking ahead of my grandparents to get there and make the reservation that morning right outside spaceship earth on those computers.I recall getting a reservation at Alfredo's which was huge!

 

[muffyn]

I really sort of wish they'd go back to that system. It seemed fairer that way, rather than expecting newbies to "know" that they should make their ADRs six months in advance. Or maybe allow half the spaces to be taken by ADRs, and the rest same day reservations and walkups.

I know what you mean. lucky we have only gone in slow times & have had no problems booking 30 days ahead.......
but, man, I KNOW its a perk for the disney resort gueast to get the 180+10, but that seems soooooo unfair to the rest of us. how can anyone off property expect to compete?

 

[Mean Queen]

I remember being in Epcot all those years ago! In order to make dinner reservations, you did it through a bank of computer kiosks and you actually could see and speak with the CM through the computer....an early webcam sort of thing. Cool....I had forgotten all about that!!

I was just talking about that the last time we were at Epcot. We were standing at the Pin Station, which used to be the reservations area. The CM's all wore futuristic looking clothes. It was still a fight to get times then, at least this way you don't waste your park time waiting to get a dining time. I do think some times should be set aside for people who don't know to plan their dining 6 months ahead of time.

 

[centurythree]

YES! The video teleconferencing was so cool back then. 1983...interactive - WOW! Now, does anyone remember the little mascot that would buzz around the screen when you were searching for stuff? Or the display portion of Innoventions - Communicore West, where you could see the CM interacting on the other end of the conference?

Was it I/O, the little light puff from Backstage Magic?

 

[Nom]

I loved that system- if you ask me it was easier than the current system for sure!!!

If you go to EPCOT guest services today, you can see off to the left hand side of the building, behind some planters- there are still some of the World Key Kiosks left there. I have a pic at home I will post that I took last October.

In the MK, you had to walk to the restaurant you wanted and get a reservation in person.

 

[allisonswonderland]

I remember my dad doing that when I was little - I thought that was really cool talking to someone on a "tv screen"

 

[MarieA]

I remember the Diamond Horseshoe. Every time we went to WDW my dad would say he wanted to see the show. We were finally able to get a reservation during our trip in 1992 (with my dad) and the look on his face during the show was priceless. He was smiling from ear to ear. I'm so glad we were able to make his wish come true that trip because it was the last time he went to WDW. He passed away in 1993. WDW was his favorite vacation destination.

I also remember making all of our EPCOT dining reservations at those Kiosks. At that time you could make dining reservations at the Contemporary as well. It was much simpler then, you didn't have to plan your dining 6 months in advance. We would do it day by day. We'd decide in the morning what park we were going to and then make our dining plans in that park or a hotel nearby.