I called Disney Dining Reservations yesterday at approximately 8:00 a.m. My hold time was less than a minute. Unfortunately, their systems were down and I was told to call back in about two hours.
I called again at 10:04 and my hold time was 12 minutes. I was at work by myself and the phone kept ringing and when, I had about 3 more minutes to hold, my boss called and I had to find some files for him so I had to hang up.
I called again around 10:35 and my hold time was approximately 7 minutes. I actually held for 9 minutes and 39 seconds. The castmember was able to book a few of my ADRs but the system was having so many troubles that she put me on hold and booked those few. She came back to the phone and then went back into the system to book the others. She said she did this as a precaution because if the system went down mid-booking, I would lose all of the ones she had "held" for me.
She started booking the others but the system was giving her such fits she put me on hold several times. I gave her the other restaurants I wanted and she put me on hold again.
After being on hold, I was given confirmation numbers for three more of my ADRs and then the castmember made my last ADR. Total call time? 52 min. 19 sec. I have NEVER stayed on a phone call with Disney dining that long.
The castmember was very apologetic and tried to keep me happy. I was very pleasant to her. It wasn't her fault that the computers were giving her problems. She said that the new dining computer system was supposed to take place on May 25, 2009. When I asked it that would include the program where guests could make online reservations, she said she didn't know but they have been told it's coming soon. (Can you tell we had plenty of time to make small talk?)
There are four of us on the dining plan. On the night of our 25th wedding anniversary, our son and daughter will be eating at Planet Hollywood and my husband and I will be eating at the Grand Floridian Cafe. The system would not allow her to book both. We had to choose just one even though the reservations were just for 2 people. She told me to call back on Tuesday (the 90 day mark for the Planet Hollywood reservation) and make an ADR for Planet Hollywood but tell them it's not on the dining plan. But, when our daughter and son get to Planet Hollywood, tell them they are using the dining plan. That's the only way the system will allow them to book the second booking for that day. She said that was the system's way of not allowing "overbooking".
I did take the survey at the end of the call and, out of the half dozen or so questions they asked, I had to, honestly, give the experience at 5 which is the worst on the list. I gave the castmember a 1 (excellent) because she was really nice and apologized numerous times for the delay.
I am soooo glad my boss was out of town today or I would have NEVER gotten my ADRs booked!
Sorry for the rant but disers are the only ones who truly understand.
Excited and nervous about getting our ADRs.
,DD(7)
,DS(1)
, M&D, 2 bros. 1st time DS & 1 bro. Counting down the days. Everything has magically
fallen into place for this trip. FD BB from last yr for 2 rooms & 2 bros booked 1st day FD offer out in spring. Cheap flights $52r/t
