Why has it been so hard?

[FlintTown2000]

We are taking 3 generations to Disney. Grandparents, two children and spouses and four grand kids. 10 total people ranging in age from 2 - 76. My wife and I are doing most of the planning, we have been to Disney a lot. This includes Disney World, Disneyland and cruising. I've never had this much trouble getting everything arranged.

Resorts - That was several months ago, pretty deep in the pandemic, so I was pretty flexible with this one. But it took about 8 total hours of my time getting rooms reserved for everyone. Very limited options, website issues, super long hold times and several call backs and we finally got 4 rooms at the Swan with tickets.

Restaurants - 60 days out we get up early and try to book dining for 10. Just impossible. Nothing is available for 10, nothing. Try to call, and again multi-hour hold times and they were unable to help. We ended up booking our party in 6 and 4 near the same times. I'm looking into 3rd party options, but those cost additional money.

Paying the balance - How on earth is it not possible to do this online? And why do I have to wait in a 45 minutes line just to pay a bill? After I got a team member it was still 40 minutes to pay everything off.

Did I just get super unlucky? Is traveling with 10 just that difficult? Normally we just do it for four, and its not normally an issue.

Thanks

 

[mom2rtk]

Everything is hard right now. Sorry.

 

[Dug720]

I'm looking into 3rd party options, but those cost additional money.

Just be aware that those - at least the legal ones - only LOOK for ADRs. They don't book them for you.

 

[loveshak22]

I traveled solo in November and it was way too hard! I kept having technical issues with ADRs and losing them, if I could even find one at 60 days out! I had to call a couple of times to modify my resort reservation as it wouldn't let me online (and even my MDE reservation required a call to change). Wait times for the calls were always insane - but the CMs were always super helpful when I got a hold of them!

Good luck! It sounds like a fun trip if you can get it all planned

 

[Dave006]

Did I just get super unlucky? Is traveling with 10 just that difficult? Normally we just do it for four, and its not normally an issue.

Yes 10 is a large group. Restaurant seating is not normally setup to accommodate parties of 10.

Also there is quite a bit of pent up demand to travel since many guests have been unable to travel for 18+ months and international guests just were able to travel to the US this month. So lots of calls to reschedule trips & modify reservations and tickets as travel and Covid-19 factors changed frequently.

Dave

 

[chainkid]

I'm going Thanksgiving to early Dec with a group of 11 people so ADR's had to be split to smaller groups. Just booked as close to same time as possible and got everything i wanted even Space 220,Boat house ,Ohana, Boma, . Was able to get all 11 at same time in japan. Disney is always a challenge with big groups so i feel your pain.

 

[ftbaker1313]

for groups that large I have had luck calling the restaurant directly at times. Especially non Disney owned ones. For the others make two smaller ARDs and request when you check in for adjacent tables.

 

[perchy]

We are taking 3 generations to Disney. Grandparents, two children and spouses and four grand kids. 10 total people ranging in age from 2 - 76. My wife and I are doing most of the planning, we have been to Disney a lot. This includes Disney World, Disneyland and cruising. I've never had this much trouble getting everything arranged.

Resorts - That was several months ago, pretty deep in the pandemic, so I was pretty flexible with this one. But it took about 8 total hours of my time getting rooms reserved for everyone. Very limited options, website issues, super long hold times and several call backs and we finally got 4 rooms at the Swan with tickets.

Restaurants - 60 days out we get up early and try to book dining for 10. Just impossible. Nothing is available for 10, nothing. Try to call, and again multi-hour hold times and they were unable to help. We ended up booking our party in 6 and 4 near the same times. I'm looking into 3rd party options, but those cost additional money.

Paying the balance - How on earth is it not possible to do this online? And why do I have to wait in a 45 minutes line just to pay a bill? After I got a team member it was still 40 minutes to pay everything off.

Did I just get super unlucky? Is traveling with 10 just that difficult? Normally we just do it for four, and its not normally an issue.

Thanks

Some restaurants don't have seating for 10. You may want to try 8 and 2 or 6 and 4 for close to the same times, until you can snag 10, or just in case they don't.

 

[jimmymc]

I wasn't sure if you even could book a party of 10 online right now. Did you have any success with it or was it only by phone?

 

[pindecisive]

I didn't book ADRs at all for our last WDW trip. Checked the app a few times and there were less than a handful of restaurants as options. Once we got to the parks I saw why, many of the dining options for Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios are now Mobile Order only. You can't order until you get there and need to have the app installed. Epcot was a little different due to the International Food Festival, so I'm not sure what it's like when the festival has closed.

It seems weird to do this, especially with a big group if you haven't visited since the pandemic, but I'd check the dining options, confirm they have Mobile Order and just show up. We've never had an issue finding seating for Mobile Orders at DL or WDW especially. You're also able to order from several places and then just sit together, which I personally really love.

 

[Marthasor]

I'm assuming you booked the Swan through WDW? It would have been much easier to call Swan/Dolphin directly to book the rooms - you may know, the Swan is not managed by Disney, it is a Marriott property. Also, since you are staying at the Swan, I highly recommend calling the resort directly (or looking on opentable) to book Il Mulino, bluezoo, Shula's and/or Amare which are all restaurants at the Swan, Dolphin or Swan Reserve. It is much easier to book those resort restaurants through opentable or by calling the resort directly. It is so much easier, when staying at the Swan, to deal with that resort directly than trying to go through WDW or the WDW website.

 

[TheDad00]

You can pay online. Just did for our Jan 21 trip

regarding adr. I mean you have 10 people. Covid and all. less seating is available. It is expected

 

[Dug720]

I traveled solo in November and it was way too hard! I kept having technical issues with ADRs and losing them, if I could even find one at 60 days out! I had to call a couple of times to modify my resort reservation as it wouldn't let me online (and even my MDE reservation required a call to change). Wait times for the calls were always insane - but the CMs were always super helpful when I got a hold of them!

Good luck! It sounds like a fun trip if you can get it all planned

Tip for ADRs when traveling solo... Search and book for 2. You'll be seated at a 2-top (at least) anyway and you're not charged for the "ghost". Several of the restaurants won't even search for 1 - they know this.

Also put in for 2 if using the walk-up wait-list. Same logic.

 

[loveshak22]

Tip for ADRs when traveling solo... Search and book for 2. You'll be seated at a 2-top (at least) anyway and you're not charged for the "ghost". Several of the restaurants won't even search for 1 - they know this.

Also put in for 2 if using the walk-up wait-list. Same logic.

That's a good idea! I had so many issues with ADRs this trip I used the lounge and bar areas to eat, which also makes it an easy walk-up and sit down option. And usually you have both a bar menu and the restaurant menu to choose from. But that was at the resorts - I wonder if the lounge/bar area in the parks is harder to try that option given crowds?

 

[Moliphino]

You can pay online. Just did for our Jan 21 trip

You can pay off packages online. Room only you can't, as you aren't required to pay it off in advance.

 

[Dug720]

That's a good idea! I had so many issues with ADRs this trip I used the lounge and bar areas to eat, which also makes it an easy walk-up and sit down option. And usually you have both a bar menu and the restaurant menu to choose from. But that was at the resorts - I wonder if the lounge/bar area in the parks is harder to try that option given crowds?

No clue. I did max one ADR per day and then did QS or walk-up wait list. Other than Nomad I don't really like lounges.

 

[Tigger's ally]

You can pay off packages online. Room only you can't, as you aren't required to pay it off in advance.

Is that backwards? I only do room only bookings and I can and always do pay online. I can't tell you if you can pay online for packages as I don't ever get them.

 

[Moliphino]

Is that backwards? I only do room only bookings and I can and always do pay online. I can't tell you if you can pay online for packages as I don't ever get them.

Nope. Packages are easy to pay online because they need to be paid in full ahead of time. I've never actually tried to pay off a room only ahead of time because it isn't necessary, but it's been commonly reported on here that you have to call.

 

[CrystalClear82]

Im fortune to have made the trip to DW a handful of times this year... every time has posed its challenges. From dining reservations, flight cancellations, extended trips and someone getting sick while there.
At this point of traveling in 2021 we have come to hope for the best and make the most of what it is..
*As of this moment we still have no idea where we're eating the day/night of Dec 31st... We're winging it!*

It will work itself out..

 

[modavi]

Sorry, trying to follow this but what is an ADR? Assuming it's... *Something* Dining Reservation?