WOW!!impressed with my disney experience

[WishnDisney]

I'm really REALLY worried about using the site to make our dining ADR's this Wednesday. Our 180 window opens on a day we happen to be driving 500 miles from NC to NY...through an area of mountains with spotty coverage. So I'm planning to have my phone to call CRO and DH's ipad to try the app and see which one I have luck with first.

Everyone knows the site is notoriously glitchy, but perhaps the OP is seeing the beginnings of a turnaround? It would sure be nice! I had to use it a bit last night to customize magicbands for our friends traveling with us. I almost had the couple create their own MDE account but then decided to just keep them listed on ours (they're staying in our villa with us so I will just treat them like they're family and schedule their FP's). I'm worried that making their own account and then linking will create issues.

Glad you had a positive experience OP! Hope we start hearing more like that!

On my 180 day last November I had to call in since it wouldn't give me my plus 10 on the computer. Glad to see someone having a good experience and hope that continues. It's got to turn around sometime doesn't it?

 

[sretav]

I've been using the website since December with zero problems. While it might not be the most intuitive of sites, it's not too difficult to figure out. I've booked, cancelled and changed multiple ADRs, booked FPs and changed FPs, booked our campground night and a Memory Maker card. Not a single glitch or error message.

I've installed the App version on both my phone and iPad and have noticed the FPs only have one random person from our party listed for each but everything is fine in the web version. I don't plan on using the App in the parks.

My best advice is just use the web version even on your phone or tablet. I'm one of those people who prefer the full web version of sites on my phone over the app versions, including the Dis's own app which I found to be slow and more cumbersome than the web version.

As for booking ADRs 180 days out and being worried you won't have a good enough connection and you'll miss out, is this really still a problem? I booked all my ADRs right after the New Year so about 95 days out and got all 3 of the character ADRs I wanted including CRT and Akershus, canceled Chef Mickey about 40 days out, booked Crystal Palace instead, added Ohana's and then last week at about 25 days out decided to switch 2 park days around to avoid the pre Easter week crowd level 9 days as much as possible and was able to switch 2 ADRs to different days with only a 15 minute difference from my original times plus I switched 6 FPs to different days at pretty much the same times as before.

Long story long, are most people not getting what they want unless they book at 180 days?

 

[Jennasis]

I've been using the website since December with zero problems. While it might not be the most intuitive of sites, it's not too difficult to figure out. I've booked, cancelled and changed multiple ADRs, booked FPs and changed FPs, booked our campground night and a Memory Maker card. Not a single glitch or error message.

I've installed the App version on both my phone and iPad and have noticed the FPs only have one random person from our party listed for each but everything is fine in the web version. I don't plan on using the App in the parks.

My best advice is just use the web version even on your phone or tablet. I'm one of those people who prefer the full web version of sites on my phone over the app versions, including the Dis's own app which I found to be slow and more cumbersome than the web version.

As for booking ADRs 180 days out and being worried you won't have a good enough connection and you'll miss out, is this really still a problem? I booked all my ADRs right after the New Year so about 95 days out and got all 3 of the character ADRs I wanted including CRT and Akershus, canceled Chef Mickey about 40 days out, booked Crystal Palace instead, added Ohana's and then last week at about 25 days out decided to switch 2 park days around to avoid the pre Easter week crowd level 9 days as much as possible and was able to switch 2 ADRs to different days with only a 15 minute difference from my original times plus I switched 6 FPs to different days at pretty much the same times as before.

Long story long, are most people not getting what they want unless they book at 180 days?

Well bully for you and your ADR's but it's not a risk I'm willing to take. I know what I want and would like to make sure we get it. And since I will be sitting in a car for 12 hours essentially doing nada, it seems like a good use of my time (assuming the Blue ridge Mountains or the awful Lehigh Valley cell coverage don't mess with my phone).

 

[sretav]

I was really just asking as a general question. Is it a false perception that ADRs need to be booked at 180 days or a reality? Has 180 become a modern day Disney old wives tale or is it a true fact and I just have Tinkerbell fluttering behind me with pixie dust at the ready?

 

[csmith041177]

I am going to reserve judgment until I see for myself in September.

 

[Peanut Giggleface]

The worst website ever? This website disagrees with you!

OMG That's hilarious!! Make sure you scroll down for the fun sound effects!!

 

[Jennasis]

I was really just asking as a general question. Is it a false perception that ADRs need to be booked at 180 days or a reality? Has 180 become a modern day Disney old wives tale or is it a true fact and I just have Tinkerbell fluttering behind me with pixie dust at the ready?

I have been unable to get certain restaurants or times after the 180 day mark..so it's not an old wives tale necessarily. You can get SOMETHING pretty much anytime, as long as you don't care what or when. There is always something. And sometimes you're lucky and things open up, even coveted ones like breakfast at CRT or dinner at BOG. And there have been times I've gotten what I wanted or thereabouts after the window had opened.

I care what and when on this upcoming trip so I will not take chances booking later.

There are no hard and fast rules. You roll the dice. Even at my 180 window I STILL might not get exactly what I want.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was really just asking as a general question. Is it a false perception that ADRs need to be booked at 180 days or a reality? Has 180 become a modern day Disney old wives tale or is it a true fact and I just have Tinkerbell fluttering behind me with pixie dust at the ready?

It depends on which restaurant you want to book. BOG not only needs to be done at 180 days, but generally 180 plus 9 or 10 days.

CRT hasn't been a huge deal in years, since they made all 3 meals character meals and did nearly nonstop seating all day. Our first visit was back in the day when they only did one character meal a day. Now THAT was crazy.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I have had less issues with the mde on my iPad or the PC then I do with the disboards app on the iPad... So I am pretty happy with it. I booked most of my adrs 180 out (couldn't get bog dinner for a couple more weeks), make payments to my package (room only I had to call in, which is fine, I like the hold music!), booked my FPs at a reasonable 9 pm because they go live at midnight eastern, and other than being stuck with only 3 a day, am happy with that. We picked our magic band colors and just got a note reminding us they'd be shipping soon... We'll see how the app works in the parks... But honestly we've never had a app for wait times at DL that we used, so it's all good if I never look at my phone for that. Can't wait!

 

[Kate and Family]

Well bully for you and your ADR's but it's not a risk I'm willing to take. I know what I want and would like to make sure we get it. And since I will be sitting in a car for 12 hours essentially doing nada, it seems like a good use of my time (assuming the Blue ridge Mountains or the awful Lehigh Valley cell coverage don't mess with my phone).

I think she was trying to put your mind at ease, in case you do not get good reception going through the mountains.

 

[Bullseye]

I've been using the website since December with zero problems.

Same here, since December I've booked ADR's, magic bands, memorymaker with no problems. Got FP selections coming up in about two weeks

 

[patty57]

Well bully for you and your ADR's but it's not a risk I'm willing to take. I know what I want and would like to make sure we get it. And since I will be sitting in a car for 12 hours essentially doing nada, it seems like a good use of my time (assuming the Blue ridge Mountains or the awful Lehigh Valley cell coverage don't mess with my phone).

Geez. I think the poster was trying to be reassuring to you.

 

[fishhunter]

For those having problems with the website, what about calling a CM to make all dining reservations? I will be making my dining reservations in June and I plan on calling at the 180 +10 day mark first thing in the morning. Write down all info including reservation # and after that who cares what the site says. No way around the FP+ though.

 

[leebee]

I was really just asking as a general question. Is it a false perception that ADRs need to be booked at 180 days or a reality? Has 180 become a modern day Disney old wives tale or is it a true fact and I just have Tinkerbell fluttering behind me with pixie dust at the ready?

Usually at 180 days, I don't even know I am going to Disney, much less know where I want to eat! We plan a Disney trip maybe 2-3 months in advance, and yes, we have favorite restaurants and experiences. I have never had an issue getting the ADRs we've wanted, although to be fair, there are usually more places where we want to have dinner than there are days on our trip! We travel in the summer or over Columbus Day weekend, and with a variety of restaurants and the willingness to be flexible with times, I've always been able to make the ADRs we wanted… including BOG (although I had to try a couple of times for that one), Ohana, California Grill during Wishes, etc.

 

[Magpie]

Count me in as another one who likes the MDE website! I think it's attractive, easy to use, and I like the design. I have vision issues that are getting progressively worse, and the Disney site is easy on my eyes. I can SEE everything! (I can't really explain how miraculous that is, but trust me when I say that it's awesome.)

Compared to sites like the DisBoards, with flashing thingys, cluttered pages, and tiny text and drop down menus that don't necessarily correspond to their headings, MDE is a dream.

I really haven't had issues with glitches. I've only had to call the Disney tech folks once, when the site wouldn't accept the Pop Century as a legit mailing address for our Passholder MagicBands (we're Canadian). While the nice gentleman was in there, inputting our mailing address for us, he also fixed the leftover notification about Space Mountain being down, from our last trip in 2013.

It's all good! Sometimes I log into MDE just to look at all my ADRs and FP+ lined up all neat and tidy, and anticipate our next trip. (Less than two weeks from now! )

I experience MANY more issues with the old site, than with this new one. (Misspelled names, no DME, all my Mickey Mail going to Sweden...)

 

[WillAustin]

It's all good! Sometimes I log into MDE just to look at all my ADRs and FP+ lined up all neat and tidy, and anticipate our next trip. (Less than two weeks from now! )

I just logged in to check ADRs and mine were all gone. I expect they'll show up again later, because that's just how it's been. Last time, the guests listed on the reservations weren't correct. Still needs fixing, and the FP+ interface, implementation and flow need a redeisgn.

 

[LisaTC]

180 days is when it opens...Many have already booked and are ready to stalk the ADR's at 6am at that 180 day mark for hard to get ADR's. That said. I got a labor day deal in my email and booked a trip for mid-December. That was about 90 days out...got everything I wanted. Took about 3 tries for CRT, but I got it. I know some have gotten things 2 weeks prior. So, I doubt I answered the old wives tale thing, but if you want something and you are booked 180 prior, do your ADRS ..you can always change. You have 179 days! LOL

 

[magicbob]

I experience MANY more issues with the old site, than with this new one. (Misspelled names, no DME, all my Mickey Mail going to Sweden...)

Don't get me wrong. I don't think the old website was any better. Disney has a decades long history of having a substandard website. I'll give OP the benefit of the doubt that maybe things are starting to turn around. But given the vast number of reports to the contrary, you'll have to forgive me if I'm still a bit skeptical of Disney IT.

 

[Kate and Family]

I just logged in to check ADRs and mine were all gone. I expect they'll show up again later, because that's just how it's been. Last time, the guests listed on the reservations weren't correct. Still needs fixing, and the FP+ interface, implementation and flow need a redeisgn.

Were you using the computer and website or the app?

 

[Magpie]

I just logged in to check ADRs and mine were all gone. I expect they'll show up again later, because that's just how it's been. Last time, the guests listed on the reservations weren't correct. Still needs fixing, and the FP+ interface, implementation and flow need a redeisgn.

Just checked mine, and they're not gone, they're just stuck in a loading pattern with the little spinny thing. I bet they'll load just fine if I check later.

Most every site I visit goes down at one point or another. This is my favourite resource when that kind of thing happens: http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/