Below is the response I received from Walt Disney World in regard to my query. I still can't quite grasp why they would subject a portion of thrir guests to this inconvenience:
Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.
Nick, we appreciate your concern, however, this policy is no different
than when we were booking 180 days in advance.
Guests who over-lap months, but either wait until that new calendar
comes out, or try to work around the dining without the hours. It is
probably a good idea to try to reserve something in advance and then
when the hours do come out, try to change any reservations as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
We look forward to your visit.
If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us.
Sincerely,
Lainie Weidner
WDW Online Communications