Will WDW ever allow guests to make ADR's online

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Do you think that in the near future WDW will allow guests to make ADR's online? My feeling is they will because it will make things easier and with today's technology I am surprised they have not started to do this.

 

[loveFL]

I'd say yes, someday they will. However, I bet certain things (like the popular character meals) will only be bookable on the phone.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'd say yes, someday they will. However, I bet certain things (like the popular character meals) will only be bookable on the phone.

Would you also include fine dinning restaurants like Victoria & Alberts and the California Grill, as locations that can only be made over the phone like the character meals?

 

[THEDISFANS]

It would save them money they wouldn't have to pay all the people that take the ADR's phone calls.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

It would save them money they wouldn't have to pay all the people that take the ADR's phone calls.

You are 100% right about that and I just realized that is something I forgot to say in my original post on this thread. So thanks for mentioning it.

 

[TxRabbit]

Aren't there rules for making ADRs? I thought you couldn't schedule two ADRs for the same time on the same day? Is there a proximity rule too? They would really have to program the system well so that it wasn't abused by the ease with which you could make ADRs...also, I don't know about such things...but if they did program all the checks in place to limit abuse, what would they do to ensure that the system wasn't horribly slow or crashing all the time...would they have to limit users? Currently, with the call in system, the system itself is limited to the number of CMs taking calls, and when the system is at capacity there is a waiting line...how would they do this on the internet?

 

[stitchntiggertoo]

I hope so! I do virtually everything on the internet anymore. That would cut the wait time and having to listing to the same "rules" every time you book. Plus I am always worried about writing the numbers down incorrectly. That would be great if they did that.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

I was asked to take a survey by WDW when I was visiting their website, and one of the questions addressed making restaurant reservations online. So they are thinking of it.

 

[IHeartTink04]

I hope not! I love talking to the Disney people every time that I call. I always ask them their favorite restaraunt, hoping to find one that I haven't ever ate at. Last time the lady told me that she loved O'hana for dinner. I have ate O'hana for breakfast many times and even stayed at the Poly but I never tried it for dinner. So I tried it and LOVED IT!!! I love the personal interaction of the phones and I don't mind the phone calls, I hope they never make it online. There is usually not wait either so keep it that way Disney!

 

[disneygal537]

Disney obviously already has the software in place to check when your existing ADRs are -- I seriously doubt they expect the CMs to manually check each time an ADR is made. It would just be a matter of creating a web inter-face, which plenty of companies have done. Dinner reservations are available online already at some restaurants, and even if they weren't, it's not that different from booking a flight online. As far as regulating traffic, the Disney site does seem to be slow -- they probably need to increase the bandwidth they pay for, or they could create something like the "queue" you're placed in when buying tickets through TicketMaster, etc.

And, I doubt that Disney would go to a web-only system of reservations. Like most companies, they would probably reduce the number of CMs answering phones significantly, but keep the option there for those who don't want to book online. And, they would probably have to hire some new people to maintain and update the website.

But that's just my opinion..

 

[webray]

I sure hope so. This is long over due.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I really hope they do because the one thing I really hate doing is sitting on the phone for 10+ minutes just to talk to a human being. I also can understand that certain restaurants such as V&A, CRT, CG, and any other restaurant that needs a cc to book, you have to call....but all others, I don't see why they wouldn't make it an internet thing.

 

[simonkodousek]

I'm almost 100% sure that WDW will start doing this in the near future. It would save so much time for high-speed users, plus you could see of any other openings.

~Simon

 

[KKCannon]

Since I'm a real night owl, I'm hoping that someday we could have the choice - human ressies and/or electronic ressies.

 

[Luv4Disney]

I would say no because I think people would find a way to abuse the system, or people would complain if the site is down/overloaded, etc. Just my opinion though.

 

[Lynne M]

It's all a matter of money. Sure, it's technically possible to make a web interface to their ADR database, and make it user-friendly enough for the general public, and make it able to handle thousands of simultaneous users, instead of the relatively small group of CMs who use it now.

But, that's going to be a VERY significant expense, both for the initial development and the long-term maintenance of the system. And with very minimal financial return. If you spend several million dollars on a new ride or a new resort, you'll get a 'bump' in the number of visitors, as folks want to check out the new thing. Will more people go to WDW because they can make ADRs online? Highly unlikely.

I think that's a large part of the reason why Disney's computer systems are so antiquated. There's only so much money in the budget, and ride and resort development folks will get first crack at the money.

Companies spend money on development if they can 'sell' the result, or if they can save money due to cutting staff, or other efficiencies. Disney will only do this if they can lay off enough of the Disney Dining CMs to cover the cost of the system, and since they're probably getting minimum wage, the financial incentive will never be there.

Yes, it would be great for us to be able to book ADRs online. I'd love it. But, unless Disney can save money or make money by doing it, it won't happen anytime soon.

 

[kribit]

Hmmmm...that's an interesting question. I don't typically make ADR's (a couple next trip), but I bet LOTS of folks would love to do it this way vs. calling in on the 407 number. Perhaps it's in the works already.

 

[jimmalru80]

I would say no because I think people would find a way to abuse the system, or people would complain if the site is down/overloaded, etc. Just my opinion though.

My opinion as well.

 

[leonger]

They could always use a system similar to what ticketmaster and almost every sporting event uses. If the system is busy, you're stuck into a queue. They'll have to make a way to not allow (two) people (in the same party) to make ADRs at two different places for the same time slot.

Aren't there rules for making ADRs? I thought you couldn't schedule two ADRs for the same time on the same day? Is there a proximity rule too? They would really have to program the system well so that it wasn't abused by the ease with which you could make ADRs...also, I don't know about such things...but if they did program all the checks in place to limit abuse, what would they do to ensure that the system wasn't horribly slow or crashing all the time...would they have to limit users? Currently, with the call in system, the system itself is limited to the number of CMs taking calls, and when the system is at capacity there is a waiting line...how would they do this on the internet?

 

[LilyWDW]

It would save so much time for high-speed users

And that's why for now I don't want to see them do this...

I JUST got cable in my area (but it's expensive as heck atm so I still use DSL) and I know some people who are still stuck with normal dial up due to their location.

Add to that, they have so much trouble with their room booking online that it would be a MESS if they set up ADRs this way.