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

[Phantod]

Okay, the policy changes on 10/27/09. Here are the rules (plus or minus a day)...you should figure out the exact math yourself:

If you arrive at WDW prior to 1/25/10, then you are on the 90 day plan. Take your arrival date and back up 90 days.

If you arrive at WDW between 1/25/10 and 4/25/10, you need to call on 10/27/09, as everybody in that group is within 180 days of 10/27/09 and that's when the new rule takes affect.

If you arrive at WDW after 4/25/10, then count back 180 days from your arrival date.

Unless, of course, they change the rules again.

[Phantod]

Ah Figment, you beat me to the punch.

[nicster]

Don't like it one bit! We never book our trips out far enough in advance for the 180 day booking to be an advantage for us-- it is only a disadvantage.

[candleshoe]

Guess I'll throw my hat in to the pro-180 day booking crowd (the minority). I'm super **** retentive and plan way ahead and always got what I wanted at the 180 day mark. I've had many friends like me who, since it went to 90 days, were having extreme difficulties at the 90 mark. The selfish part of me likes it because I know a lot of people do not know at 180 days what their plans are so it gives me a better shot. BTW, I NEVER double book!!! I think that is completely rude- because I am **** retentive I know exactly what I want to do and where I want to be every day and every meal!!!

[candleshoe]

LOL. looking at my post it's amusing what they edited out- i didn't think it was a bad word! **** **** ****!!!

[KAT1811]

On or after October 27th, 2009.

Starting October 27th, Guests may book Advanced Dining Reservations through April 25, 2010 and up to 180 days in advance there after.

This is beyond frustrating!!!!!!!!!! I'm just finishing making our dining for our November trip and I already have to start planning our March trip or we'll be eating burgers and fries all week!!! Ugh!!! At least I do't have to worry until Oct. I like the 90 + 10. I don't know where I want to eat this weekend never mind in 6 months!!!

[JPL]

OK here is why 180 days is a bad decision by Disney. I was talking to someone today who is thinking of going to WDW either the last week in March or possibly the 2nd week in April. I told them that ADRs were changing to 180 days. The response I got was this. Well I guess I better book my reservations 180 days out for both time frames since I don't know exactly which ones I will be using and won't know until atleast January which dates work for me. This is the type of behavior that te 180 days promote. It happened with people booking up restaurants hoping for free dining and not bothering to cancel them if Free Dining wasn't offered during their stay in the past amd we have come full circle to the same problems happening all over again

[Dsnygirl]

It happened with people booking up restaurants hoping for free dining and not bothering to cancel them if Free Dining wasn't offered during their stay in the past amd we have come full circle to the same problems happening all over again

Now, that is a concept I hadn't even considered. Why do people have to do this??? I keep thinking that there has got to be a way for Disney to cut down on the double bookings, but how do you stop people from booking a "proposed" trip, or booking restaurants they'll only eat at if it's free??? That's just rude, and I guess you just can't stop people from being rude if it's their nature. And I thought I'd heard everything....

[tiaramom]

Love the 180 booking
Love it
Love it
Love it

Im a planner- and it always works out better.
I did not enjoy the 90 day window at all-
and I am thrilled with the change.

[Imagineer1981]

On a positive note, if you call 180 days out and don't get your reservations that you wanted, you have 179 more days to keep trying as opposed to only 89 days to try again...always a bright side

[Mackflava99]

I have never had an issue booking 180 or 90 days out-

i have had issues changing reservations but thats more the fault of others joining our party ( or one who could even be in a place that served raw fish - go figure)

but for my family, we've never ever had an issue- Cali Grill, le Cellier etc- i have been able to get them fine.

I do feel that 90 days is much easier-

[Pigtunia]

Guess I'll throw my hat in to the pro-180 day booking crowd (the minority). I'm super **** retentive and plan way ahead and always got what I wanted at the 180 day mark. I've had many friends like me who, since it went to 90 days, were having extreme difficulties at the 90 mark. The selfish part of me likes it because I know a lot of people do not know at 180 days what their plans are so it gives me a better shot. BTW, I NEVER double book!!! I think that is completely rude- because I am **** retentive I know exactly what I want to do and where I want to be every day and every meal!!!

You know, I couldn't have put all that better myself. A great big "DITTO"!

[Pigtunia]

OK here is why 180 days is a bad decision by Disney. I was talking to someone today who is thinking of going to WDW either the last week in March or possibly the 2nd week in April. I told them that ADRs were changing to 180 days. The response I got was this. Well I guess I better book my reservations 180 days out for both time frames since I don't know exactly which ones I will be using and won't know until atleast January which dates work for me.

They shouldn't be allowed to get an ADR until they've got a resort reservation. That way the double bookings on their ADRs would be moot.

[FriendsofMickey]

I am one that loves the 180 days out as well. I tend to plan my vacations out more than six months out. I also fall into the category of retentive planner.
I sit down figure out what parks I will be at as soon as the park hours come out. Then I pick where I want to eat. It does give us an advantage to those who don't plan out as far in advance (for whatever reason), but then so does 90 days. I know many people that like to do last minute trips. They are at a disadvantage with making ADRs whether it is 90 days or 180 days out. So, I suppose they could argue for a No advance drining reservation policy or a 45 day advance dining reservation.
I also think that if there are that many who do not know/plan 180 days out, then at 90 days out there should still be a lot of dining options left. And on the same note, as it is at 90 days, those who planned out way in advance are on the phone or internet early as can be to book, so within the first few hours, they have already booked up what they would have booked prior to that. So, the advantage to those who book later, is not that great at 90 days. (that is, all early planners and later planners are on the phone at 90 days, so dining books up very quick 90 days out).

I completely disagree with double booking for a trip. I do think Disney needs to reconsider their booking policy. Maybe take a card and charge for no shows. I know Brown Derby charges for every person in your party for a no show (I think it is $20 per person). Why can't the rest of the restaraunts do this?

[FriendsofMickey]

They shouldn't be allowed to get an ADR until they've got a resort reservation. That way the double bookings on their ADRs would be moot.

This policy would exclude all those who do not stay on site.

[epceddie]

Having to book 90 days out or 180 days out makes no difference to me.
There are NO Disney restaurants that I HAVE to ever go back to. There isn't one that truly stands out.
The best meal I've ever had at Disney came last January when my buddy Pete made chicken marsala in our 2BR at Old Key West. it was outstanding and so much better than ANYTHING we've ever had in the parks or at the resorts.
My wife and I are going to give the quick service dining plan a try in November. We don't have any ADR's. We're just going to go with the flow and see what happens.

[mousetrapper]

On a positive note, if you call 180 days out and don't get your reservations that you wanted, you have 179 more days to keep trying as opposed to only 89 days to try again...always a bright side

I think that's an excellent point. There may be a lot of people making ADRs "just in case" but as they get closer to their trip will have to make adjustments to their plans.

I guess the moral of the story is: if at first you don't get your ADR, try, try again!

[mousetrapper]

You will still be able to call no earlier than 90 days in advance (8/21/09)

Only arrivals on and after January 25, 2010 will be affected by this change.

Ah, Figment! you're the best.

Now if only I could be sure the Nov. hours are accurate...

[Stickey]

I was pleased with the previous change to a 90 day ADR window. A period 180 days out is not necessary. A 90 day period benefits those who book trips on shorter notice.

A 180 day ADR period will increase the flaws in the ADR system:

1) People will cancel the trip but not the ADR's.
2) People will forget that ADR's were made.
3)People will never book the trip, but again not cancel the "just in case" adr's.
4) The probability of changes increases in a 180 day period- park hours, restaurant closures, cancelled trips, modified trip dates, etc.

The online booking option makes abuses much easier. It is critical that Disney take steps to prevent these abuses. It is unclear what checks & balances are currently in place for the online system.

I would tier the ADR periods. For example, if it must be 180 days, then a valid reservation and confirmation number should be required. Perhaps 90 days for FL passholders not staying over at a Disney resort. For off-site guests, there should be a maximum ADR window of 60 days.

[BelleKP]

I would tier the ADR periods. For example, if it must be 180 days, then a valid reservation and confirmation number should be required. Perhaps 90 days for FL passholders not staying over at a Disney resort. For off-site guests, there should be a maximum ADR window of 60 days.

I was trying to find a polite way of saying this . . . as not to offend those of you that stay off site. But I agree with Stickey. My first instinct (as a way to prevent double bookings etc.) is that Disney should require a reservation number when booking ADRs. I know that excludes others, but perhaps that would simply be a perk to stay on property. I like the idea of the tier system, that way everyone gets a chance to book their ADRs in due time.