Why can't we make ADR's online?

[kathyg]

You would think that Disney was progressive enough to figure that online ADR's would be less expensive for them and easier for us. They, of course, could still have the telephone takers for those who do not have access to a computer, but really, give the rest of us a break! Wonder what their reason is for not doing it?

Just curious.

 

[dischick4778]

That's a great idea. It would be so convenient too. Wish they would implement that.

 

[salmoneous]

Don't mean to insult too many people, but here goes...

Having worked on several "self service" projects I can tell you, without question, that people are idiots. The ADR process has two big no-no's: too many choices and no money on the line. People would end with ADR's at the wrong place, wrong day, etc. People would book 8 ADR's a day - either due to errors or simply not being able to make up their minds. You really do need CM's to help people through the mine field.

It might work on a very limited basis - you could put HDDR or Cindy reservations on line. But I doubt you could open up the whole system.

 

[Palendat]

I tend to agree with salmoneous.

 

[bicker]

I don't see it as a major priority, for guests (in general) or for the company. Very few, if any, people are making yea/nay decisions about a WDW vacation based on having this capability, and as salmoneous indicated, there are a lot of down-sides to offering this. The crux of the problem is that many people expect light-weight web applications riding inside web browsres to be as robust and user-friendly as heavy-weight Windows and Macintosh native client applications, and that's a very unreasonable expectation. Web browsers are notoriously poor platforms for developing easy-to-use and reliable user-interfaces. Their only strong point is the fact that they're free -- and you get what you pay for! So web applications, by their very nature, will be more prone to user frustration than custom-designed client applications, and so companies really are well-advised to go slow into this realm. A couple of (much smaller) destination resorts just started allowing online reservations over the past year, so it is coming down the pike. I suspect WDW will start offering it soon, but perhaps not until the average Internet user gets a bit more web application saavy.

 

[kathyg]

Then why not give people the same choices as other online companies. If you feel competent, book online. Otherwise, call customer service. I would think in this day and age there can be computer programs which will allow you to only book a certain amount of ADR's in one day (like the pop ups you get that say "you have already responded to thiis poll", or "you have already entered this contest". With all these people who are making ADR's, Disney must be employing so many people to do this.

 

[bicker]

Then why not give people the same choices as other online companies. If you feel competent, book online. Otherwise, call customer service.

Unfortunately, far too many people "feel" competent, even when they're not!

 

[debster812]

Unfortunately, far too many people "feel" competent, even when they're not!

Preaching to the choir Mr. Bicker, as someone who works in an IT Help Desk environment can attest.

I agree it would be super convenient, but the potential downsides are too many for it to be implemented across the board I think. There are people who double up on ADRs now, and they have to call long distance to do it. Can you imagine if you could just click away and do it? There would potentially more no-Shows than actual guests sitting and eating.

 

[kathyg]

Well, given that, I guess I must agree....maybe Disney could have people pass a computer literacy test before booking ADR's online

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I would go for on-line ADR's.
2) ONLY IF THE MEALS WERE PREPAID WITH A CANCELLATION FEE.
3) If not, a few people could can take up all the ressies.
4) I am sure "you" wouldn't but others might.
5) How would you like to miss a ressie because others overbooked?

 

[MyGoofy26]

Unfortunately, far too many people "feel" competent, even when they're not!

Now THAT'S a sentence worth repeating.

 

[kathyg]

I do appreciate where you guys are coming from...really, I do. And I don't want to appear argumentative because really I'm not. Aside from the computer literacy issue, I'm sure there could be safeguards to people overbooking. As I said in a previous post, I'm sure there could be a way to prevent anyone from making more than one dinner, lunch or breakfast ressie for any one day. You would have to cancel one before entering another. It doesn't sound that difficult to me, but I'm not a software expert.

How many of us would avail ourselves of the online option? I have no idea. Maybe we should post a poll? Still, there are all those others who don't even know of the existence of these Boards.

As an online shopper who buys everything from cars to furniture to q-tips online, I would certainly welcome the opportunity to make my ADR's online without having to deal with a CM who may or may not know as much as I do, and may or may not be having a bad day. Plus, it's a toll call and if one is making multiple ADR's it could get expensive. Especially when you want to change something.

Just my opinion, but I would love to see Disney implement it and I'm certain they will....one day.

 

[dischick4778]

I have to agree with you kathyg. With all the tecnology out there these days there must be a way to safeguard against people making multiple ressies and then not showing up. I use opentable.com for many ressies in NY and believe that Disney could come up with something similar that would function based on Disney rules and regulations.

And as others stated those who aren't comfortable with the online world could always call. Afterall Disney offers online resort booking and those who aren't comfortable with it simply call in right?

I'm surprised they haven't started using online ressies yet.

 

[bicker]

I'm sure there could be safeguards to people overbooking.

Won't people then complain about that? They don't need such safeguards with the telephone system because people have a greater sense of restraint and consideration of others when they have to make ADRs through a live CM, as compared to when all they have to do is click some buttons on a web site. The curse of the Internet: People simply don't act the same way they do "in real life".

How much customer dissatisfaction does online ADRs warrant stirring up?

As I said in a previous post, I'm sure there could be a way to prevent anyone from making more than one dinner, lunch or breakfast ressie for any one day.

Okay, so let's pursue it then: How? Telephone numbers? I have six. Email addresses? I have 125. (Seriously.) Street addresses? Well let's see, if I live at 123 Main Street, I can call my kitchen Apartment 33B, my living room Apartment 21A, etc. Controls require a control object, and since Disney doesn't restrict ADRs to their own hotel guests, they don't have any means of controlling ADRs.

Of course, that does point out a very strong way of doing what you suggest: Open up an online ADR system, but only to registered Disney resort guests -- a new perk for staying on-site. However, even then you'll cause dissatisfaction, because some larger families will be upset that they have to call in for a second ADR for a meal, if they decide to split up.

Another possible control object is a credit card number: So would you be happy with an online ADR system that required you to enter your credit card number, and then limited the number of ADRs (per meal) to one per credit card? I still have five credit cards, so that doesn't work out so well either.

You would have to cancel one before entering another. It doesn't sound that difficult to me, but I'm not a software expert.

I am a software expert: The software is never the hard part. The hard part in this case is what we call the "people problem". Unlike software, people don't do what they're programmed to do.

 

[kathyg]

I am a software expert: The software is never the hard part. The hard part in this case is what we call the "people problem". Unlike software, people don't do what they're programmed to do.

You are right on there, BICKER....and your screen name does surely do you justice. I could go on, but what's the point...Disney is not listening to me or to you. Wishing doesn't make it so. So, we will all have to oblige the all powerful gods.

However, since you are a "software expert", why don't you contact Disney and propose an online ADR. You seem to know what the pitfalls would be and I'm sure you could work around them. No doubt, Disney would pay you a hefty sum. Think about it. You would be making a lot of friends here. You will, however, have to cut me in for part of the profits $$$$$$$

 

[Bambi1Fan]

I do appreciate where you guys are coming from...really, I do. And I don't want to appear argumentative because really I'm not. Aside from the computer literacy issue, I'm sure there could be safeguards to people overbooking. As I said in a previous post, I'm sure there could be a way to prevent anyone from making more than one dinner, lunch or breakfast ressie for any one day. You would have to cancel one before entering another. It doesn't sound that difficult to me, but I'm not a software expert.

How many of us would avail ourselves of the online option? I have no idea. Maybe we should post a poll? Still, there are all those others who don't even know of the existence of these Boards.

As an online shopper who buys everything from cars to furniture to q-tips online, I would certainly welcome the opportunity to make my ADR's online without having to deal with a CM who may or may not know as much as I do, and may or may not be having a bad day. Plus, it's a toll call and if one is making multiple ADR's it could get expensive. Especially when you want to change something.

Just my opinion, but I would love to see Disney implement it and I'm certain they will....one day.

Well, I have to say that I, for one, would not like to see online ADR's implemented. I'm a CM at the Disney Reservation Center and I would be out of a job if they implemented such a thing. That of course is my main concern, but it would create chaos in the "dining reservation world" if this happens. There are too many variables right now for this. Disney would have to change policy to make sure that EVERY restaurant would at least be credit card guaranteed with a cancellation policy in effect...otherwise you will have an absolute nightmare of overbookings and no-shows, and that's just not good business. We get all kinds of complaints now when a Dining Reservation CM makes a mistake, and the restaurant managers get highly upset! I couldn't even imagine what the managers would go through letting everyone in the free world that has access to a computer booking their own reservations! Can you just think of the mistakes and problems that it could cause? IMO, Disney is providing a wonderful service by having knowledgable CM's available to answer any questions, make suggestions and provide information that could be vital to making your vacation plans. We're the experts, no one knows Disney like we do....let us do all the work for you, that's why we're here! Have a Magical Day!

 

[bicker]

However, since you are a "software expert", why don't you contact Disney and propose an online ADR.

I don't really have much interest in that. Sounds kind of boring compared to the software I'm currently developing.

 

[english rose 47]

I'm glad you have to talk to a person, I totelly agree that the Adr<S WOULD ALL BE SNATCHED UP! Call me old fashioned but as My dear old Mum used to say about T>V I like real people better than canned ones !and of went the T.v when we had company!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I agree I think it would be a nightmare. Just in a matter of minutes we can all think of downsides.
People have a hard time swiping a card at a checkout line, touch screen voting, or even inserting two fingers in the knuckle scanner at the parks. I shudder to think what an on line ADR system would be like for many.
What sounds simple, is far from it. Even if a system was updated every half hour, can you imagine how many ADR transactions alone that would involve?
And I could easily see cc deposits required to discourage no shows and over bookings. And that would make guests much more unhappier than a phone call.

 

[bicker]

I didn't even think of the "snatched up" issue: Now that's some software I'd be interested in writing: An application that you program your desired ADRs into, and it uses automation to poke the WDW server the specific second that the ADRs are released into the system, doing 14 HTTP transactions all at once, to secure all the ADRs before a regular person even has the chance to log in to the system to put in their first ADR request.