Advanced Dining Reservation Changes Effective 10/27/09: Official Announcement & FAQ's

[Figment!]

180-day Booking Window
8/11/2009

As a part of our normal course of business, we regularly evaluate feedback from our Guests and adjust our offerings accordingly. As a result, we have made the decision to adjust to a 180-day booking window for dining, recreation and tour offerings (+10 days for Resort Guests). At the same time, the Theme Park Operating Calendar will be published to Guests 180 days out as well.

This adjusted booking window will go into effect, Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

This change will not impact existing dining, recreation and tour reservations. These reservations will be honored as booked.

We feel this will offer Guests a better service in order to coordinate and plan their vacations.

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FAQs:

Q: Why is the booking window transitioning to a 180-day window?
A: As a part of our normal course of business, we regularly evaluate feedback from our
Guests and adjust our offerings accordingly. As a result, we have made the decision to
adjust to a 180-day booking window for dining, recreation and tour offerings (+10
days for Resort Guests). We feel this offer provides our Guests with a greater window
of time to pre-plan their vacation.

Q: Will park hours also be going to a 180-day window?
A: Yes, park hours will also reflect a 180-day window for Guests on our Disney.com
website.

Q: How will Guests who have a current reservation be notified that they can now
book 180 days out?
A: Guests who have already booked future resort reservations for arrivals after January
25, 2010, will be notified via phone or email of the upcoming policy change for
booking 180 days in advance (+10 days for Resort Guests).

Q: Will this 180-day booking window also apply to Resort room reservations?
A:No, reservations for Walt Disney World® Resort hotels may be secured up to 500 days
in advance.

Q: Will this 180-day booking window apply to bookings made online for both Guest
and Cast reservations?
A: Yes, it will apply to all our Walt Disney World® Resort booking venues.

Q: Will Walt Disney World Resort Guests still receive the 180-day plus 10-days
benefit?
A:Yes, Walt Disney World® Resort Guests will have the 180-day plus 10-days benefit.

Q: What is the 180-days plus 10-days benefit for Resort Guests?
A: Walt Disney World® Resort Guests are able to book 180 days out from their arrival
date and up to an additional 10 days of their stay. This allows Resort Guests to
potentially book dining, recreation and tour reservations for their entire stay and not
have to call back every day after the initial booking.

Q: Does the change impact existing dining, recreation and tour reservations
currently booked?
A: No, all existing dining, recreation and tour reservations will be honored as booked.

[Dsnygirl]

Just sent Disney a long letter about what a bad idea I think this is, based on what I had read on another post.

If they are doing this in response to people's complaints about not getting ADR's, they need to re-consider, and realize that the problem is with all the double-bookings they are allowing, not the timeline.

Most people I know prefer the 90-day timeline... who really wants to be sitting down 6 months in advance, trying to figure out what & where they want to eat?? (Yes, we all did it before, but didn't most of us like it better when it became 90 days??) I am guessing that Disney will see the double-booking of ADR's increase, as people will be even more unsure of where they want to eat, and will book everywhere "just to have a spot in case we're in the mood". Totally selfish, yes, but that's what we're already hearing people are doing for September. So, I can't imagine Nov/Dec and school vaca's being any better.

All that being said, it will be interesting to see what happens with holiday bookings... imagine the furor that is going to come when families are trying, in JUNE, to book their Christmas meals, and they can't, b/c all the good spots are taken. Disney thinks it has upset guests now???

(Hmmm... also just realized that we were considering going next August. Six months out from that is February. Well, there is NO way we will have decided if we're travelling to Disney by February... and I can assure you, if we decide by May to travel in August, and there's no good dining left?? We're going nowhere near Disney! I'm wondering if this 180-day window, if double-bookings continue, will radically decrease people's "last minute" trips?? Not good for Disney on that front, either.)

[Mickey'sGirl]

Honestly, we have NEVER had a problem securing the ADR's we want, regardless of the time of year we were travelling, or whether we are on the Dining Plan or not, or if it was at 90 days or 180 days. That said we are flexible, and don't care for places such as Cali Grill, Le Cellier or The Rose and Crown, so perhaps our palettes have been working for us.

I do know that in past editions of various tour books, the authors have recommended "double booking" as a strategy (Can you imagine?! ) . I don't think the problem with double booking lies with the days out from check in that reservations can be made, but with the system as a whole...and unfortunately, I can not imagine how to solve that problem. Ignorant people will be ignorant people. Personally, I curse the day that the Dining Plan was born.

[Dsnygirl]

I don't think the problem with double booking lies with the days out from check in that reservations can be made, but with the system as a whole...and unfortunately, I can not imagine how to solve that problem. Ignorant people will be ignorant people. Personally, I curse the day that the Dining Plan was born.

Jenn, I whole-heartedly agree... but it seems the problem has come to a head with the online system. I'm wondering if people were better before re: double-booking when they were actually calling and talking to a person who would question them on it, vs. being on an impersonal computer, and they just blow right through the pop-up that asks you if you really intend to have 2 meals at 2 places at the same time.

We have never had a problem, either, no matter the timeline... but I'm concerned that the online system will just ge worse with 180 days b/c people will be that much more unsure of what they want.

And I agree with you on the DDP... we weren't fans of it in December, although our palettes aren't as flexible as you & your guys' are, either. But I'm working on it!!

[mickey&missy]

I cant believe they're going back to 180 days! I suprises me that people liked 180 days better then 90!

I'm almost positive that if you took a poll on the various message board the majority of people would pick 90 days!

We normally book our reservations far in advance so it's not all that important to me.

I just wonder if going to 90 days had something to do with seeing how the new computer system could handle it and now that everything is up an running without glitches they decided to go back to 180!

[SurferStitch]

I can't believe the people I've talked to who say they hate the 90 day window because they can't get any places they like. Really, 90 or 180 doesn't make a difference at all. Why can't they understand that???

It's the system that's the problem, not the time span.

I love the 90 day window, and wish they would keep it. At least this change won't affect our trip in December.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

It really doesn't matter to us.

We book our trips well in advance, and I don't really have a better idea of where I want to eat at 90-days vs 180-days.

Either way, we'll plan and I'll be on-line at 6am sharp, hoping and praying for what we want.

I do wish they would stay with one or the other, it is the changing that will confuse people!

[sisterslovindisney]

I like that park hours will come out earlier but I can't imagine knowing what I want to eat 180 days out - plus we don't get the dining plan but if it happens to be free dining we would. Will free dining promotions be known 180 days out so people can plan or will we just have to guess?
Also I would be really mad if I was one of the people whose 90 day window was October 27th. Now if I understand correctly everyone from 90 days to 180 days from October 27th will be able to book on that day..I'm glad our 90 day window opens October 5th!

[TheDuckRocks]

Sooooooooo, I'm gonna be there Dec. 5th. Am I now allowed to make reservations?

180-day Booking Window
8/11/2009
This adjusted booking window will go into effect, Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

Between now and Oct. 27, 2009 it will still be the 90+10 day time frame.

[Gregandmel]

Can anyone tell me what the ADR's 500 days out are for? It looks to me like you can make ADR's 500 days out if you are booked "Room only". Or is this for events only? I can't tell. We have "Room only" reservations at the end of April. Would I qualify to book my adr's now, instead of the madhouse on October 27th??

And if not - does anyone think that Disney will plan ahead for the absolute CRUSH of internet activity the morning of October 27th and have MORE phone operators on hand for this date? Lordy I hope so!!

[Tink1]

Can anyone tell me what the ADR's 500 days out are for?

There are no 500 day ADR's.

You can book a room only reservation 500 days in advance of your departure date even though room pricing has not been released.

Nanc

[Meteora]

I'm a planner and would ordinarily love the 180 days, but...my parents have a trip in February, and the whole family has a trip in April. That means I'm going to have to book ADRs for two trips on the 27th, and as others have said, that day will probably just be crazy. On the bright side, there are only a few ADRs we really want, and the October 27th day for pretty much everyone should also cancel out that annoying 10 day policy for the time being, so not everything will have been taken by the time we call.

Here's hoping the online system is working effectively on October 27th. All I really want is a Cali grill fireworks-time ressie for my parents' anniversary, on any day they are there, and Boma on any night for our family trip. (crosses fingers)

[Maleficent's Dad]

As a result, we have made the decision to adjust to a 180-day booking window for dining, recreation and tour offerings (+10 days for Resort Guests). At the same time, the Theme Park Operating Calendar will be published to Guests 180 days out as well.

This adjusted booking window will go into effect, Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

Jason,
Any reason why Disney hasn't released park hours for 180 days yet? Booking window opens tomorrow, and park hours aren't out yet...

[Figment!]

Jason,
Any reason why Disney hasn't released park hours for 180 days yet? Booking window opens tomorrow, and park hours aren't out yet...

No idea.

The INTERCOT Staff has several Official channels to watch for park hours, as soon as they come across we will get them posted as expeditiously as possible.

[thumperbug]

well, I'll be on line first thing...as in 6 am est for my Feb ADRs'. I have my list of dates and places I want to eat. I usually plan my adrs around park hours and what parks I plan to hit...but since they are not out...just gonna do the best I can.