No More ADR's at conflicting times

[TDC Nala]

It's pretty much a fallacy that if you do not book all your restaurant reservations 180 days out you will have to eat counter service. There is usually somewhere to eat. It just will not be one of the ultrapopular places and you might have to leave a park.

 

[Hopefully]

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again...the absolute biggest problem with the ADR system is the 180 days - and this is further proof. Nobody can have their schedule nailed down 6 months out. However, that still doesn't justify the practice, IMO. And I'm sure not everyone cancels the ADRs they decide they won't use. This change they made is a good step. But lowering that 180 day number to 30 or 45 would be an even better step.

I do!!!!
We own DVC so we book our resort usually 11 months in advance. I spend the next 5 months planning our schedule. I KNOW what I want at 180 days and I do not want to see that change

 

[2Tiggies]

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again...the absolute biggest problem with the ADR system is the 180 days - and this is further proof. Nobody can have their schedule nailed down 6 months out. However, that still doesn't justify the practice, IMO. And I'm sure not everyone cancels the ADRs they decide they won't use. This change they made is a good step. But lowering that 180 day number to 30 or 45 would be an even better step.

It honestly doesn't bother me making my ADRs so far out. I would have no issue with a shorter ADR window except that this has proven to make securing ADRs twice as hard anyway.

For our 2009 trip ADRs could only be made 90 days out. It was an absolute nightmare trying to get them as most people have booked their trips by 90 days out, whereas far fewer have finalized their plans at 180 days. While I don't mind making them closer to my trip, my experience has shown me that it is easier to get the places and times you want at 180 days.

There will always be those who change their minds and change their plans so tweaking ADRs is something which I don't think can be solely pinned on the window being at 180.

 

[mom2rtk]

For our 2009 trip ADRs could only be made 90 days out. It was an absolute nightmare trying to get them as most people have booked their trips by 90 days out, whereas far fewer have finalized their plans at 180 days. While I don't mind making them closer to my trip, my experience has shown me that it is easier to get the places and times you want at 180 days.

There will always be those who change their minds and change their plans so tweaking ADRs is something which I don't think can be solely pinned on the window being at 180.

We had the same experience in 09 when it was 90 days out.

I think when people long for the 90 day out thing again, they really are longing for the days when it was 90 days out and the dining locations were not in so much demand. That's just not the case any more.

 

[TheRatPack]

We have to split our family up on some reservations, four at one table and 3 at another, but we use different email/phone when we do it so it won't cancel out one of our ressies. I make one in my name and one in my husbands, so again hopefully they won't cancel anything like that.

 

[Huck Sawyer]

And I'll say it a million times more... you're in the minority.

Most people do plan WDW vacations 9-12 months in advance. Most people only get 1-2 weeks of vacation per year, and know whether or not WDW will be among the finalists.

There are only 74 table service restaurants which take reservations. With an average occupancy of 150 persons per seating, that's 11,100. WDW receives 100,000+ guests on almost any given day. It's inevitable that people will not get the dining times or locations that they want. As for double-booking, it's not as serious an issue as people make it out to be. If Disney were truly concerned, they would require CCs on all reservations -- hopefully they'll go that route in the future. In the meantime, the system works just fine for anyone who plans a week-long vacation in advance. Most people do. For those who do not, or choose not to, that's why there's counter service. Disney provides something for everyone.

You might think the world plans there life around their trip to disney but booking that much in advance is few and far between. It might seem normal on a Disney related board but not in the real world.


Also I received an interesting phone call on Thursday. I had posted here about switching our dates and the lack of ADR open with well over 4 months + to go. I wrote a formal email and sent it off to disney customer service. To my shock they actually called me to discuss my letter and my concerns. They are looking at the booking policies and time frames right now because of so many complaints. They do know of the disney related boards and how they cause panic and insider club feel that alienates their regular guest (regular guest are the majority!!!) that have no clue about booking 6 months in advance, having to make ADRs and so on. It was an very interesting conversation and I'm so pleased I was able to voice my opinion on how dumb this whole system is.

Hopefully that means we will see some great change to their system, and I don't have to act like a crazy person scrambling to get an adr for my family a half of year in advance........

 

[maxiesmom]

You might think the world plans there life around their trip to disney but booking that much in advance is few and far between. It might seem normal on a Disney related board but not in the real world.


Also I received an interesting phone call on Thursday. I had posted here about switching our dates and the lack of ADR open with well over 4 months + to go. I wrote a formal email and sent it off to disney customer service. To my shock they actually called me to discuss my letter and my concerns. They are looking at the booking policies and time frames right now because of so many complaints. They do know of the disney related boards and how they cause panic and insider club feel that alienates their regular guest (regular guest are the majority!!!) that have no clue about booking 6 months in advance, having to make ADRs and so on. It was an very interesting conversation and I'm so pleased I was able to voice my opinion on how dumb this whole system is.

Hopefully that means we will see some great change to their system, and I don't have to act like a crazy person scrambling to get an adr for my family a half of year in advance........

I'm not sure why you bother posting on these boards, if you think we are all crazy people. Some of us just happen to be well organized, and don't like to have to scramble at the last minute looking for someplace to eat, or having to settle for a less desired restaurant. Neither making ADRS or not making ADRs for WDW is the wrong way of doing things. Only you think your point of view is the "right" way of doing things.

Not to mention you seem to be unaware that WDW a few months ago shortened the booking window down to 3 months. It didn't last long. So they obviously know that many of their guest are fine with booking 6 months out, and it actually works.

Btw, sending an e-mail is a great way to get in contact with someone from WDW. It doesn't mean they are going to change how they do things, but it is nice to know they are at least listening to our concerns.

 

[Huck Sawyer]

I'm not sure why you bother posting on these boards, if you think we are all crazy people. Some of us just happen to be well organized, and don't like to have to scramble at the last minute looking for someplace to eat, or having to settle for a less desired restaurant. Neither making ADRS or not making ADRs for WDW is the wrong way of doing things. Only you think your point of view is the "right" way of doing things.

Not to mention you seem to be unaware that WDW a few months ago shortened the booking window down to 3 months. It didn't last long. So they obviously know that many of their guest are fine with booking 6 months out, and it actually works.

Btw, sending an e-mail is a great way to get in contact with someone from WDW. It doesn't mean they are going to change how they do things, but it is nice to know they are at least listening to our concerns.

sorry you took my post so personally. I was not calling people crazy for being on the disboards or booking so much in advance. I was referring to the booking process and how it creates stress. I will be the first to admit I'm not well read on disney's past adr or resort history. But I think I represent the average florida and disney traveler, who go to disney maybe every couple of years and does not plan and plan. WDW gets how many people a day? it's very unlikely that most of their guest know the inside and outs of their system. People on the discuss boards know because it's talked about at length. I'm allowed to post here and have a opinion that might be different than the planners, my traveling is style different and that is okay. Also I don't think my one simple email is going to cause any change. But it was really nice in this day of age to receive a phone call from customer service instead of an generic email. The service representative asked many questions and was very welcoming of my opinion.

 

[nicki.momof3]

. I don't know very many (if any!) people who only have one phone number ,

I do - one home phone #.

 

[minnie mouse ears]

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again...the absolute biggest problem with the ADR system is the 180 days - and this is further proof. Nobody can have their schedule nailed down 6 months out. However, that still doesn't justify the practice, IMO. And I'm sure not everyone cancels the ADRs they decide they won't use. This change they made is a good step. But lowering that 180 day number to 30 or 45 would be an even better step.

I don't think that is accurate at all. My family does not plan vacations 9 to 12 months out. I might start planning at the 6 month mark at times but that is rare. I feel like I am a very detailed planner though & research all our vacations very well. However, we don't know from year to year exactly where we are going. From talking to many people I know, I think they do the same thing.

My work just requires a 1 month notice of when we are going on vacation. Not everyone has to plan out a full year at a time.

 

[mcd2745]

And I'll say it a million times more... you're in the minority.

Most people do plan WDW vacations 9-12 months in advance. Most people only get 1-2 weeks of vacation per year, and know whether or not WDW will be among the finalists.

There are only 74 table service restaurants which take reservations. With an average occupancy of 150 persons per seating, that's 11,100. WDW receives 100,000+ guests on almost any given day. It's inevitable that people will not get the dining times or locations that they want. As for double-booking, it's not as serious an issue as people make it out to be. If Disney were truly concerned, they would require CCs on all reservations -- hopefully they'll go that route in the future. In the meantime, the system works just fine for anyone who plans a week-long vacation in advance. Most people do. For those who do not, or choose not to, that's why there's counter service. Disney provides something for everyone.

It honestly doesn't bother me making my ADRs so far out. I would have no issue with a shorter ADR window except that this has proven to make securing ADRs twice as hard anyway.

For our 2009 trip ADRs could only be made 90 days out. It was an absolute nightmare trying to get them as most people have booked their trips by 90 days out, whereas far fewer have finalized their plans at 180 days. While I don't mind making them closer to my trip, my experience has shown me that it is easier to get the places and times you want at 180 days.

There will always be those who change their minds and change their plans so tweaking ADRs is something which I don't think can be solely pinned on the window being at 180.

We had the same experience in 09 when it was 90 days out.

I think when people long for the 90 day out thing again, they really are longing for the days when it was 90 days out and the dining locations were not in so much demand. That's just not the case any more.

So obviously, what most of you are saying is that the current system works well for YOU, so you don't want it to change. It's worked well for me too as for my Aug trip I made all my ADRs at 180 days and got basically all the restaurants I wanted at or close to the times I wanted. However, unlike most, I am willing to look at the system and the process objectively - not just what would work best for me. And in doing so, it's very easy to come to the conclusion that the whole thing is completely non-sensical and lends itself to far too much abuse.

 

[mom2rtk]

So obviously, what most of you are saying is that the current system works well for YOU, so you don't want it to change. It's worked well for me too as for my Aug trip I made all my ADRs at 180 days and got basically all the restaurants I wanted at or close to the times I wanted. However, unlike most, I am willing to look at the system and the process objectively - not just what would work best for me. And in doing so, it's very easy to come to the conclusion that the whole thing is completely non-sensical and lends itself to far too much abuse.

I'm not sure what sort of logic you are using to say that those who prefer the current system are purely self-serving, yet your preference is completely selfless and objective.

You can't say that any more than you can (and tried to) say that absolutely NO ONE makes plans 6 months out. Clearly some do.

Glad to know my thoughts are nonsensical. Thanks.

 

[Huck Sawyer]

I think it boils down to that each person has a different traveling and booking style. But you can not have a system that caterers to one group only. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with booking 6 month in advance! but when you look at how heated these topics gets and how many people are upset and stressed with the process of booking it makes sense that it will change over time until they find the right fit for everyone.

 

[mcd2745]

I'm not sure what sort of logic you are using to say that those who prefer the current system are purely self-serving, yet your preference is completely selfless and objective.

You can't say that any more than you can (and tried to) say that absolutely NO ONE makes plans 6 months out. Clearly some do.

Glad to know my thoughts are nonsensical. Thanks.

Just for the record...I never said your or anyone else's thoughts were nonsensical. Sorry if that is how it came across . I said the current ADR system is nonsensical. Secondly, I have never said that no one makes plans to go to WDW six months out. I said that even if you plan to go to WDW and you book your trip 9,12,15 or however many months out....you still can't have the specifics of each day you're there nailed down 100% six months out - no matter how much of planner you are. So from that standpoint, it's nonsencial to commit to a specific restaurant at a specific time that far out (yet, we're all "forced" to do it - not literally forced, but you know what I mean...I hope ). Especially when you consider that one, two, four weeks later, WDW could end up making significant changes to park hours, EMH days, show/parade/fireworks times, etc. to throw those plans into chaos.

 

[Kathi OD]

Just for the record...I never said your or anyone else's thoughts were nonsensical. Sorry if that is how it came across . I said the current ADR system is nonsensical. Secondly, I have never said that no one makes plans to go to WDW six months out. I said that even if you plan to go to WDW and you book your trip 9,12,15 or however many months out....you still can't have the specifics of each day you're there nailed down 100% six months out - no matter how much of planner you are. So from that standpoint, it's nonsencial to commit to a specific restaurant at a specific time that far out (yet, we're all "forced" to do it - not literally forced, but you know what I mean...I hope ). Especially when you consider that one, two, four weeks later, WDW could end up making significant changes to park hours, EMH days, show/parade/fireworks times, etc. to throw those plans into chaos.

I'm new to this debate, but I want to add my .02, fwiw.

While you might not have every minute of every day nailed down at 6 months out, it's really not that difficult to plan your day around where & when you're eating.

Changes to all of the things you mentioned can even occur on the very day you've got plans. Saying that a change to any one of those things could throw your plans into chaos is more than a bit dramatic.

Whether you can make your ADRs 30, 45, 60, 90, or 180 days out, there will always be those who can get what they want and those that can't. It has nothing to do with the booking window. It has more to do with where you're staying (when does your booking window open), where & when you want to eat, and how well you know & understand the process.

 

[TDC Nala]

The system caters to the 180 planners if you want Le Cellier or 'Ohana dinner - and even then you can probably score a cancellation if you keep looking. I can't imagine having to make ADRs for anything else at 180 or you get nothing. I never book anything at 180.

Granted it's going to be difficult to get 'Ohana dinner before 8 pm 2 months from your vacation but that would be difficult even if they shortened the booking window.

 

[pilferk]

I do!!!!
We own DVC so we book our resort usually 11 months in advance. I spend the next 5 months planning our schedule. I KNOW what I want at 180 days and I do not want to see that change

Add me to the choir.

We, too, are DVC members.

We, too, have no problems nailing down our schedule 6 months out...and if there's a day that's iffy (in terms of day off vs 1/2 day in a park) during our vacation...we make ADR's at one of the resorts, rather than in a specific park.

In short: I agree with you.

 

[pilferk]

You might think the world plans there life around their trip to disney but booking that much in advance is few and far between. It might seem normal on a Disney related board but not in the real world.

We're a young family, who socialize with lots of other "young" familes (upper 20's to late 30's parents, kids all under 12). We're active in our community, in the community sports leagues, and on the PTO for our town.

I would say MOST of those families are not Disney nuts or obsessive planners.

I would say, in my conversations with many of those families, that MOST of them who plan a WDW trip...plan it further than 6 months out.

It's anecdotal data, to be sure. But given what I've seen, I can't buy into the idea that "most people" book vacations at WDW much closer to their vacation date. It doesn't pass the smell test.

Yes, there are people that do. But MOST people? You'd have a hard time convincing me of that. Primarily BECAUSE of exactly what we all see in terms of scarcity of rooms/ADR's inside of 90-120 days.

 

[pilferk]

I think it boils down to that each person has a different traveling and booking style. But you can not have a system that caterers to one group only. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with booking 6 month in advance! but when you look at how heated these topics gets and how many people are upset and stressed with the process of booking it makes sense that it will change over time until they find the right fit for everyone.

Except....here's the thing:

Shorten the window to 90 days, and you exclude those who want to plan further out. You completely take away their ability to do it because they can't access the system "quick enough" for their liking.

Keep the duration at 180 days, and you weight things in favor of those who are more likely to plan (or force those who prefer not to into action).

Both ways favor SOMEONE.

One thing to keep in mind: If you shorten the window, you probably increase the utilization on "d-day". Disney's systems would likely see a lot more calls/web traffic each day, because you'd now have a logger jam of more folks trying to secure ADR's all at the same time.

We know Disney tried the 90 day window...and switched BACK to 180 days pretty quickly.

 

[mcd2745]

I'm new to this debate, but I want to add my .02, fwiw.

While you might not have every minute of every day nailed down at 6 months out, it's really not that difficult to plan your day around where & when you're eating.

Changes to all of the things you mentioned can even occur on the very day you've got plans. Saying that a change to any one of those things could throw your plans into chaos is more than a bit dramatic.

Whether you can make your ADRs 30, 45, 60, 90, or 180 days out, there will always be those who can get what they want and those that can't. It has nothing to do with the booking window. It has more to do with where you're staying (when does your booking window open), where & when you want to eat, and how well you know & understand the process.

Yes, changes can occur at anytime, but are more likely 5-6 months out than they are 1-2 months out.

Was I being overly dramatic for effect? Maybe. However, if a change did occur at 2-3 months out that, say, would cause you to want to rearrange all your park days (and therefore change all your ADRs)...I would think for all the uber-planners out there, choas may not be dramatic enough a description.

"...how well you know and understand the process"? This comment sounds very similar to comments from the other posters who prefer the current system simply because it works for them. On a whole, as DISers, we probably "know and understand" the system better than the average WDW visitor (to varying degrees, of course). So therefore, you could say, we have somewhat of an "advantage" over those average visitors. And that is exactly how you all want to keep it.