Online ADR system?

[DizneyRox]

Well, that sortof blows my original idea out.

I wonder, this kindof fits then:

Tables are pre-booked with each category. Disney has enough information on file to be able to place the typical makeup of a restaurant.

So, let assume a smallish restaurant with a few tables. So, maybe per hour, they set aside something like 1 offsite, 2 value, 4 moderates, 6 Deluxe, and 8 DVC tables and 2 concierge. As people call and are cetegorized based on accomodations, what's "left" shows on screen. It can go a couple ways from here. As they are booked, they come off the inventory. It's possible they lump categories, so moderates maybe see what's left for the value and the moderate tiers. To be fair though, if a moderate calls and makes a ressie, 1 comes off the moderate tier until there are no more, then they start pulling from the value tier.

Or, they stay tiers until the date appears, and values fall inot a free for all tier at maybe 60 days, but the concierge tables stay until the morning of.

Interesting concepts though, if that's what they are doing. Does sound complicated. First come first served has worked for a long time, but in a word of me me me, I guess things have to change...

If this is really happening, I can't help but think the tiered dining is not far behind. Values get Quick Service, Moderates get Disney Dining Plan, and Deluxe get the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan. And better food or more options? Get a better room!

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

1) This was the order explained.
. . . Club Floor (at any Deluxe)
. . . DVC (when staying on points)
. . . any Deluxe
. . . any Mod
. . . any Value
. . . any resort when staying with Free Dining (whether Deluxe, Mod, Value or DVC)
. . . all Off Site or locals
. . . any "Tables in Wonderland" discount card
. . . CM's eating on employee discount *

I'm curious to where those with the different dining plans will fall. If it matters where you stay it should matter what plan you are on. If you pay $70 vs. $33 it should make a difference.

There is one problem with this. Some people, like myself might spend less in the parks and order less expensive entrees in order to stay at a more expensive resort in order to get the ADRs they want.

We recently started staying the values because we could spend a lot more money in parks. I spend more overall than before because I'm not worried about the upfront cost of the resort.

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

Now that TAs can book online ADRs has anyone used Magical Journey to do this?

[princessimagineer]

is the tier system just bitter speculation or is this legit?

[DizneyRox]

Speculation based on the current Disney business model, which is profit above all else.

[DizneyRox]

If it matters where you stay it should matter what plan you are on. If you pay $70 vs. $33 it should make a difference.

Not really. For $70 you are getting the deluxe dining plan, which is much different than the regular dining plan. 2 TS per day vs 1 TS and 1 CS, etc. That's apple to oranges.

Resorts are much closer to an apple to apple comparison. Bed, toilet, sink, shower, pool. At the Grand you pay a lot more for that than you do at the POP. Sure, there are some differences, but they are actually ore of a facade. But, those staying at a deluxe IMHO probably feel like they need to be treated better because they are paying 4 or 5 times more for the room than someone staying at a value. I don't want to debate who's money is "better", ust stating that it isn't unbelieveable to think that is the perception.

Resort level is just more of an apple to apple comparison. Sure there are exceptions, but in general, I don't think it's too much to generalize and say, on an average day, a guest at the grand is spending more than a guest staying at a value. Why not give them a little "perk" for that. It doens't cost Disney anything to implement this system (minus development costs), it's not like they are getting better beef for their burgers, or better water for their drinks.

[jiifigment]

So you're telling me the reason why at 5am yesterday (7am WDW time) I could'nt get the ressies for exactly 90 days out I'm looking for nearly anywhere is because I'm on the free dining plan even though we're staying at a Deluxe?

I'm sorry, but I'm getting sick of this socialized mentality that everything is adopting lately. Someone needs to evaluate whether or not I really DESERVE something before I should get it.

I really miss the old, FREE America.

[jiifigment]

LOL!!!! I'd fix my typo in that last post, but when I try, the system keeps telling me I don't have permission to do that!!!

[DizneyRox]

I think the reports are that this isn't in effect just yet, BUT that they need to have your reservation "active" when making dining reservations, maybe it is or at least part of it.

And again, this is pure speculation on our part. Maybe not the tiered reservation idea, but how it's actually going to be implemented. It's fun to speculate!

[DisneyBabies]

I'm sorry, but this tierd idea really concerns me. I understand that this is just speculation at this point, but TheRustyScupper did give a few examples that indicate there may be at least some truth to this.

I hope enough people contact Disney about this (including myself) to get them to rethink this idea. ADR's should be FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! It should not matter what resort guests are staying at. A family that stays at GF isn't any more special than the family that stays at POP. Walt wanted EVERYONE to have the same magical experience when they come to Disney.

I don't think it's too much to generalize and say, on an average day, a guest at the grand is spending more than a guest staying at a value. Why not give them a little "perk" for that.

I know some people say that those who pay more to stay at GF and the other Deluxes pay to get extras, but those extras should not be at the expense of my vacation experience. Those extras should be tied to your room, they should not extend to the entire World (except for those few club floor extra tours that are already in place that you only have access to if you are on the CF). Their "perk" for spending all that money is staying at a nicer resort, having a bigger room, having quicker access to the parks. A "perk" shouldn't be something that takes something away from others, it should be something that is done only for guests who stay in those resorts. I deserve to have the same chance to get ADR's at any restaurant I choose that everyone else does.

And it's really unfortunate that if you read between the lines of this tierd system, Disney is saying some guests are bettter and more worthy than others. That isn't the Disney I love. I know this is not official yet, but I will be e-mailing Disney about this to express my concern over the unfairness of this possibility. If enough people contact Disney, maybe this will never come to fruition and we can all be treated equally.

[Figment78]

Although some think Disney's "business model" is make money above all else, a tiered system would not effectively accomplish that in the bigger picture. Sorry, I don't buy it. They are not going to anger wealthy people living in the Orlando area who want to eat dinner at the California grill or Flying Fish, with numerous bottles of wine, and full course dinners, just for the sake of making someone staying at Pop Century who forgot to make their ressies until the week before they left a little happier. If your theory is that they are after more money, this is not going to accomplish that. There is a point where people will not just pay more to get more. And Disney knows that. Furthermore, it's really not that reasonable to execute - what is the time frame that the system will wait before beginning to fill the tables with people from lower tiers?

Some may disagree with my optimistic viewpoint of Disney, but I have to believe in the good of this company and in common sense.

What is the source of these tiered rumors? Does someone who actually takes these ADRs or who built this new system have facts to report?

And I would like to mention that Disney seems to get an unfair share of people dissing their deluxe hotels when you could easily spend almost the same amount per rate at a hotel that is not in the middle of Disney, with far fewer amenities and access to dining. For example, I stayed at a hotel two years ago (possibly a Hilton or Marriott, I cannot remember) in Chesapeake Bay for a wedding and the WEDDING rate was over $250 per night. (the discounted rate). It was similar in decor to the Yacht Club, and it had 2 restaurants and a pool. They didn't have complementary buses to take me anywhere, and while it was nicely decorated, it wasn't intensely themed, as many of the Disney resorts are. What people often forget when they complain about the cost of the disney resorts prices is that you are paying to go to Disney World. Not just stay in a hotel. Of COURSE they are going to be more expensive, relatively speaking. However, I have yet to be able to justify spending the same amount on a trip to Vegas at a nice (but not extravagant) resort like Ceasars or Mirage for 4 nights for the same money I can spend for 7 in Disney at the Wilderness Lodge or Boardwalk. Even the Hotel Hershey in Hershey PA, which is supposed to be extremely nice, is more expensive than Disney hotels. But that is just MY common sense opinion.

Sorry for losing it there.

And for the PP who said they miss the old FREE America - I'm right there with you. If in fact, this tiered system is true, it might be the end of my rope with the way things seem to be headed.

[Tink1]

Now that TAs can book online ADRs has anyone used Magical Journey to do this?

Magical Journeys has found NUMEROUS glitches in the system and due to this I can tell you I will not yet use it for my Sepember trip and I tell my clients that as well.

I do not yet trust the system. (seems like it is down more than it is up as well)

IMHO, it is too unstable at the moment, which is why it has not been released to the General Public.

I would want it done via phone so I have CM name, date and time - then the recorded call can be pulled if there is a huge issue.

Nanc

[Figment78]

Nanci,

Have you been told by disney that it is a tiered system?

***
And to the poster who asked if they were unable to get their ressies even when calling at 7am at 90 days outs, the answer is not because of the tiered system, but because people who may be checking in for their vacation the day before (or a few days before) your trip can make their ADRs for 90 days from checkout plus 10 subsequent days.

[Tink1]

Nanci,

Have you been told by disney that it is a tiered system?

***
.

No we have not.

BUT that is not something they would want us to know either.

Nanc

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

Magical Journeys has found NUMEROUS glitches in the system and due to this I can tell you I will not yet use it for my Sepember trip and I tell my clients that as well.

I do not yet trust the system. (seems like it is down more than it is up as well)

IMHO, it is too unstable at the moment, which is why it has not been released to the General Public.

I would want it done via phone so I have CM name, date and time - then the recorded call can be pulled if there is a huge issue.

Nanc

This is good information to know. I always write down that information however I didn't know they could pull up the recorded phone call. Interesting!

[SBETigg]

Not really. For $70 you are getting the deluxe dining plan, which is much different than the regular dining plan. 2 TS per day vs 1 TS and 1 CS, etc. That's apple to oranges.

Just a quick correction. Deluxe plan is three meals, CS or TS, and two snacks per person per day. Plus refillable mug for stay. The standard plan is 1 ts and 1 cs, 1 snack per day. I don't think this should make any sort of priority difference when actually making ADRs, though.

[DizneyRox]

I have not known Rusty to have bad information. My speculation may be inaccurate as I've said. I do believe that they are working on a tiered system of some sort. They tiered the dinner shows, so it's not unheard of.

I'm not sure how to sell this however, anyway you slice it it comes off as class based. Unless it's never even mentioned, but as Rusty stated, people have seen some inconsistencies that back up it's based on something other than first come, first served. I don't think it would take long to reverse engineer what's happening and it someone somewhere would spill the beans based on what they saw.

Just a quick correction. Deluxe plan is three meals, CS or TS, and two snacks per person per day. Plus refillable mug for stay. The standard plan is 1 ts and 1 cs, 1 snack per day. I don't think this should make any sort of priority difference when actually making ADRs, though.

Aye, yes, I didn't feel like looking up the plan differences, but noting there ARE differences. It's enough to say it's apples to oranges though.

[badkitty]

So no one has really mentioned it and maybe it is a bit of a side-track to the OP but what if you don't know where you want to eat 90+ days before you leave? I hate being tied to ADRs but it now seems like I won't be able to eat at a TS without making a plan with multiple alternates and calling at 4AM on the day "my window" opens. Yuk. Oh and I guess forget about walking up and waiting for a table without ressies since most that I have tried are over-booked and show "no availability".

So does this also mean that locals can't stop by WS without making ADRs 90 days in advance? This seems to me in direct conflict with the "after 4" annual pass.

[DizneyRox]

Actually, walk-up dining is pretty much a thing of the past. Used to be only a few restaurants were turning walk-ups away. These days, there are only a few that seem to be capable of accepting walk-ups.

So, even before any new system, this was a problem with disney dining. Most blame the DDP for this. If you have dining credits, it's in your best interest to use what you paid for, even when they are "free".

[princessimagineer]

i agree with figment78, which is why i asked earlyer if this was just bitter speculation or not.

for all i know, one day someone was booking their ADRs and some didnt work, and they blamed it on "well it must be because i am staying in POP"

yes it would make sense that a GF resident may be generally spending more on a meal because the stereotype (lets be honest, what it comes down to) of the people who stay there may be asking for a few courses plus bar-drinks. vrs the stereotype of someone staying at the POP.

in my personal experience, ive stayed at a wide range of resorts on the cost levels and never seemed to have more problems with one trips ADRs over another trips, and ive gone from CR right up to Poly.

and the people staying during the free dining season. isnt that basically everyone staying at that time, getting that package? and according to the "Tier system" these people are all treated at the same level. well that just blows the whole system out of the water because you have free dining people in GF and POP, but NOW are they treated as equals? that contradicts the fight over getting special "perks" because one chooses a deluxe.

i like to believe that disney has our best interests at hand, and if you dont believe that, then its simple- stop going. disney does not want to cater to pessimistic attitudes anyway, its called the happiest place on earth for a reason.

as much as i dont think booking ADRs online is a good idea 100%, i think they can work it so one has the choice to use the internet to plan so he can see it estimated price/schedule-wise, and then proceed with a phone call (like booking your trip online, we always plan it all out online but then call to physically do it). make it so that new people can see all the restaurants ON the disney site itself and browse them according to price and food style (they dont NEED to put the menu on, but just a basic oh this is an african cuisine place etc). there is a way the internet can be used beneficially, i just dont think completely booking ADRs is what we as travelers are looking for