Why do they hold back later p.s times???

[CJ]

My family has been to WDW many many times and I have always made our priority seating arrangements as soon as possible to guarantee we get the time we want. It has always been a painless process and very efficient.

Now, using a DU representative, seating times are non-existent for the evening hours. I've read that you have to call back when you are within a 20-30 day range now to get the "good" times, ie after 6:00pm. I feel bad asking our DU agent daily to check for availability, and frankly am angered by this new "policy". Shouldn't the people who call first be granted the priviledge of the "first come first served" benefit??

The park hours are official, the restaurants chosen are those in parks with extra evening hours, and yet my rep is told there's nothing available after 5:45pm? I do not understand this shift in policy. Can someone explain it?

Thanks for letting me rant, I know others probably feel similarly.

 

[DebIreland]

I totally agree. I made PSs for Mama Melrose for June 26 and Hollywood & Vine (fantasmic package) for July 3rd and got 4.40 and 4.20 - I was told they were the latest times available. It's crazy that I will have to ring back in 8 weeks for a later time and 'compete' with people who are ringing for the first time. Why don't they just *not* do PSs for those restaurants until 30 days beforehand?
It's absurd to say you can ring 90 days ahead. Why on earth would we want to sit down at 4.20 for a 9pm fantasmic show? Geez I like to savour my food but that's a bit OTT.

Absolutely, those who ring first should have their choice of times. Add to that the fact that I'm making costly international calls each time I ring. It bugs the hell out of me.

 

[scran]

This is the same situation I had while making my PS in Dec. for our Easter week at the kingdom. The CM I talked with suggested making a reservation for the time I wanted to do dinner (around 5:30) than call back 30 days out and "upgrade" this reservation with a PS.........you've got the table so all you're doing is adding your credit card to hold it for Fantasmic. I did this all without any problems for H& V.

 

[n2mm]

They have been doing this, esp. at MGM, for the last couple of years. I am STILL waiting for them to release some late seatings at MGM for my less than 3 weeks away trip. I am under 20 days now and still waiting. I called on Friday (exactly 21 days out) and still nothing late at 50sPT. The CM said the last seating was 5:50PM, but the restraurant was open until 9:30PM. Will try again this week. I have 4 seatings to adjust times on. My trip is April 29-May14, so don't get too excited when you reach your 30 day mark.

 

[Lewisc]

Not to defend Disney but I think they want to use the Fantamic reservations to fill the early dinner slots. I was at MGM when MM closed at 6:00. I think the decision on when to close the restaurant depends on bookings.

 

[weluvpluto]

I agree, it stinks!
When I called today to make 2 dinner priority seatings at MGM, the latest I could get was 5:40. I'm not booking a Fantasmic package, I just want a later dining time.

 

[rt2dz]

I believe they are trying to fill up the restruants at the unpopular times first and to see if they need later times. All about making more money.

 

[jenr812]

Yep I agree it stinks. However, I was told that the tradeoff for reserved seats at Fantasmic is helping the restaurant fill less desirable time slots.

 

[Kaycee]

The theory for a while was that this was being done to fill the less desirable dining times with FDP PS's. The problem with this theory is that it doesn't explain why the same thing happens when making regular, non-FDP dinner PS's at MGM restaurants, or why this sometimes happens at MK restaurants as well. The other theory that has been presented is that this is done to fill the for-sure dining times before the park hours have been solidified, and that the later dining times are opened up once it's certain that the park will be open at those times. I don't know if this is the true reason or not.

For whatever reason, this has been the situation for the past couple of years. Yes, it's a pain, but if you know this is the way it is you can at least work around it. I feel bad for those who have no idea that later dining times will become available when they're told the latest dining time is 4:30.