Oh so THAT'S WHY I can't get a reservation at Be Our Guest (and every other restaurant in WDW)!!

[cmorris303]

My husband and I just booked last week for 12/12-12/15 as a surprise for our kids. Of course, Minnie's Dinner at H&V was completely booked. After reading another post on here about all the different reservations apps and websites, I started looking around. I found Minnie's Dinner on the exact date I was looking for on DDA and was so excited. I paid $8 for the reservation. I then had the option of scheduling a catch and release time or obtaining the name the reservation was booked under and the confirmation number. I chose the latter because the DDA site mentioned the popularity of Minnie's dinner and how hard the catch and release method was for this ADR. I was emailed an attachment, which was a picture of the ADR in an MDE account with the confirmation number and name it was under. After the initial excitement died down, it just didn't feel right to me. I knew it was dishonest. I continued to check over and over and a few days later I got my own ADR for the same date. DDA did refund my money when I told them I didn't need the reservation. Just thought I'd share my experience of how the site worked.

 

[littleblackegg]

Does anyone think Disney should just increase capacity at its restaurants so this isn't such an issue? It's just supply and demand. If it were possible to have a decent sit down dinner in whatever park you happen to be in, without planning 6 months in advance, one wouldn't need a complex ADR strategy.

I just went on both Open Table and the Disney reservation application and made reservations for both Morimoto and The Boathouse in October. Both fine, signature dining experiences. One of them isn't even open yet and I still got a reservation. Why are people not able to get reservations for decent restaurants? There are dozens and dozens of excellent sit-down restaurants on the property.

 

[mom2rtk]

I just went on both Open Table and the Disney reservation application and made reservations for both Morimoto and The Boathouse in October. Both fine, signature dining experiences. One of them isn't even open yet and I still got a reservation. Why are people not able to get reservations for decent restaurants? There are dozens and dozens of excellent sit-down restaurants on the property.

I don't think they're looking for an ADR an A restaurant. I think they are looking for ADRs at certain specific restaurants.

 

[littleblackegg]

I don't think they're looking for an ADR an A restaurant. I think they are looking for ADRs at certain specific restaurants.

The complaint had to do with not being able to find "a decent sit-down dinner." For me, I sometimes feel we have so many options we are overwhelmed (especially with so many new places opening).

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Does anyone think Disney should just increase capacity at its restaurants so this isn't such an issue? It's just supply and demand. If it were possible to have a decent sit down dinner in whatever park you happen to be in, without planning 6 months in advance, one wouldn't need a complex ADR strategy.

I think so! Especially for in park dining. We had an awful meal at Yak and Yeti and have Rainforest Cafe in our back yard. Tuskerhouse can be quite challenging to acquire a reservation and eventually, we're going to outgrow it or just get bored. I've eaten there 3 times and had a great experience each time, but I would love something new or to not have 3 choices in the park so they get run through quite quickly.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Here is how our trip went....ADRS for 5 people, meaning each cancellation would cost $50.
My DH got sick and could not attend his birthday dinner at Yachtsman, so if he had made the ADR, then the whole family is SOL? We can't check in and are charged $50?

Nope Disney will always make accommodations for special cases. If you have your DH ID and CC you should not be charged.

I've seen a lot about the fake names so a few days ago I emailed the company in question. I X'd out the names. Here is the response I got:

"Dear XXXX,

DDA does not book any ADRs under "fake names". Our bookings are done with the names of real people who are the staff of DDA. We act as the clients Concierge and are not required to show up to dine, as is customary in this line of work. Furthermore, DDA has never booked a single resort stay and cancelled it in order to get any ADR. We begin booking at the 180 day mark like most others. While I understand your concern, rest assured that DDA does not use any automated program to make ADRs or make any false bookings in order to obtain such.

Regards,
XXXX"

Feel so much better that a company accused of making false reservations say they don't

I was just going to post the same thing (I'm looking at you, Chase Bank, and your MC to Visa switch with NO NOTICE). This would also cause problems with people whose cards get lost or stolen ...especially if it happens while they're at the parks. In those cases, any identifying feature may change on the card used to check in...name, card number, type.

80/20 Rule - how many times would this actually happen? Meanwhile the change in policy would improve the experience for most guests. Disney will always work with exceptions.

 

[sunflare]

80/20 Rule - how many times would this actually happen? Meanwhile the change in policy would improve the experience for most guests. Disney will always work with exceptions.

A lot more than 20%, I think. People switch cards all the time, chasing better rates/better rewards. External data breaches mean that cards are reissued all the time with different numbers. I've managed to lose or have fraud occur on one of my cards (an Amex) four times in one year... while that was a pain, I was lucky that Amex will run old card numbers through if they can prove autopayments existed before the fraud occured. One time I forgot my card at home when I was going on vacation - we ended up using my husband's card, which, while it's on the same account, has a different number (an Amex only thing.) In all of those cases, I was no longer able to provide the original card that I had made my ADR with - so therefore I wouldn't be allowed to dine using a reservation I had rightfully secured? I cannot imagine that I'm unusual with these situations - though I can say that the couple of years that encompassed all of these things started me wondering what I did to upset karma Disney would end up causing more pain that assistance if they enforced a one-card, no change rule.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Sorry,but what you described, if I'm following, would be the minority. When you make a hotel reservation you are asked to show the card - not a stretch to show it for dining. Nothing is being charged to hold the dining.

 

[sunflare]

Sorry,but what you described, if I'm following, would be the minority. When you make a hotel reservation you are asked to show the card - not a stretch to show it for dining. Nothing is being charged to hold the dining.

When you make a hotel reservation you are asked to show A card... not THE card that you used to make the reservation. If that were the case, I would be denied my room... I'm paying with a different card than I used to make my reservation.

 

[smiths02]

Sorry,but what you described, if I'm following, would be the minority. When you make a hotel reservation you are asked to show the card - not a stretch to show it for dining. Nothing is being charged to hold the dining.

But not anymore. Disney is going card-less. I didn't show ID or a card to check into my room. I paid almost everything with my magic band. Now I could see showing ID, but having the same credit card? I can't even imagine the guest relations nightmare with the 3 year olds crying outside Akershus and Chef Mickey because mommy brought her magic band and visa and not her Discover card.

 

[Dean Marino]

I just went on both Open Table and the Disney reservation application and made reservations for both Morimoto and The Boathouse in October. Both fine, signature dining experiences. One of them isn't even open yet and I still got a reservation. Why are people not able to get reservations for decent restaurants? There are dozens and dozens of excellent sit-down restaurants on the property.

Must echo this - great advice. Sandy and I always want to go to a SIG level restaurant for dinner.... every night, eight nights a trip, two trips a year, 12 years.
We have NEVER had a problem getting our ADRs. For these, or for our breakfasts. We skip lunch .

Now, we DO do a couple of things.... we always book at 180 days. We OFTEN book at non-Disney owned restaurants (still on property). We've noticed that the finer restaurants are SHIFTING to "non-Disney owned". Virtually ALL of these have some form of open-market booking mechanism, in addition to the fairly crippled MDE system. For example....

Shula's, BluZoo,Il Mulino, Kimono's (Swan & Dolphin)
Fulton's, Trex, Portabello, Boathouse, Morimoto's, etc (DTD)
Offerings at Four Seasons
OFF SITE, close & Stunning - Bull & Bear. (We have GOT to book this place ).

Now, we STILL book a lot of Disney owned places.... but aside from the Brown Derby (taking a back seat this trip - it's being DDP'd again), they are primarily SIGS....

California Grill, Narcoossee's, V&A, Citrico's, Artist's Point, Yachtsman's

We avoid (in our mind - all personal opinion) the following....

BOG (the world's most STUNNING cafeteria).
M Paul's (sadly, once a fairly good SIG)
Le Celier (Cappuccino machine broken for 6 years, means well, just can't get there).
Tutto (Alfredo's WAS good)
Via Napoli (we can find great pizza in our home town - and it's puny )
ANY PARK RESTAURANT - the exception WAS Brown Derby.... (was, is?) the only true SIG in a park. Still evaluating their current situation....

 

[Plaid Princess]

I completely understand your point on this one and it is a fair method, maybe the fairest of them all! But one word to sum up if this happened: Chaos.

Sure, it would be ridiculous! But no one could complain that "someone else" got their reservation, or claim they are more deserving because they're staying on property.

 

[Plaid Princess]

Build more parks or limit the number of people so the park is manageable. If the waits were under 20 min a person could do the park in one day and be done with it - true for rides and restaurants.

I have a trip with family thats never been and can't get a BOG or anything on New Years Eve Period. So I check often in the roulette Dinning Reservation - Disney sure makes Walt Disney sick with their direction I am glad he is not here to see it.

my 2c.

This is the best "solution" I've seen yet. You're expecting Disney too make less money (limit entrance more than it already is) and spend a lot of additional money (build more parks... which they couldn't staff), in order for you to be more comfortable. Walt Disney was a businessman... not an idiot.

However, I don't believe the difficulty to get reservations is necessarily Disney's fault. I think they actually keep trying to solve this dilemma but people keep finding loopholes. Unfortunately, it primarily the uber disney fans that are doing this. People are still finding a way to book multiple reservations because the just don't know what the will want at the time so they book an adr at BOG every day of their vacation so they have their choice. Also, the internet culture has blown certain restaurants out of proportion.

Yes. This. Always.

Are there particular restaurants people are having a difficult time getting in to? My husband and I are annual pass holders and we live about an hour and a half away. We usually make plans and reservations about 4-6 weeks out, and I can't remember the last time we had a difficult time making meal reservations. We can usually even get into Jiko or Citricos at about 6 weeks. Perhaps it is the time or the restaurant?

They're the "must do" restaurants that the sheeple think they can't live without: Be Our Guest, California Grill, Ohana, Cinderella's Royal Table, Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's, and anything with Princess Dining. All of them have mediocre food with a heaping side of hype, and a rushed appetizer.

I should have been clearer -- I only meant shortening the window for park restaurants. But as I said, I think having different requirements for park and non-park restaurants would be really confusing. I'd rather stick with the existing system, imperfect as it is.

I agree... It's not perfect, but this has been tried and tested quite a few different ways. I agree that while people will not always get everything that they want... ultimately you are still on vacation, so you've already won.

 

[Aurora0427]

[QUOTE="Plaid Princess, post: 54449945, member: 17797



Yes. This. Always.



They're the "must do" restaurants that the sheeple think they can't live without: Be Our Guest, California Grill, Ohana, Cinderella's Royal Table, Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's, and anything with Princess Dining. All of them have mediocre food with a heaping side of hype, and a rushed appetizer.

.[/QUOTE]

You may think everyone who wants reservations at those restaurants are sheeple, but if you have a child who wants to eat with a princess, CRT becomes a must do. Trust me, I'd rather be at Morimoto or Blue Zoo this October, but with a small child, I'll be at CRT. We compromise by doing some of our favorite World Showcase restaurants, thank goodness.

 

[Dianekulka]

I'm new to the Disney scene, does Disney Dining Buddy really help? We are booking what seems to be last minute for Dec and everything is unavailable

 

[minidis]

Plaid Princes. I never mentioned less money. My preference is better quality of service and experience - for me the paying guest. You can fly business class or Southwest guess which one is more enjoyable?

I'm glad you mentioned "business". Business is a transaction between two persons. The consumer can also be a big idiot. Have you ever seen Disney sell items after October in December or 30% reduction of rooms. Is Disney loosing 30%. Or paying you the consumer 30% to take these deals.

Just because it has a Mickey on it does not to make it a good deal. When we as consumers affect the demand. It will affect the supply. The quality of supply, the price of supply.

Right now Disney does not have a supply issue - but there are other places in the sunny Orlando that also have attractions.

Imagine consumers not placing dinning reservations for a period of a month. Disney would have its characters handing out samples of food just like in the supermarkets to draw the crowds in - why? Because they need to pay cast members like you.

I hoped you learned a lesson today on supply and demand. There is always room for for idiots in business.

Barry

This is the best "solution" I've seen yet. You're expecting Disney too make less money (limit entrance more than it already is) and spend a lot of additional money (build more parks... which they couldn't staff), in order for you to be more comfortable. Walt Disney was a businessman... not an idiot.



Yes. This. Always.



They're the "must do" restaurants that the sheeple think they can't live without: Be Our Guest, California Grill, Ohana, Cinderella's Royal Table, Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's, and anything with Princess Dining. All of them have mediocre food with a heaping side of hype, and a rushed appetizer.



I agree... It's not perfect, but this has been tried and tested quite a few different ways. I agree that while people will not always get everything that they want... ultimately you are still on vacation, so you've already won.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I've seen a lot about the fake names so a few days ago I emailed the company in question. I X'd out the names. Here is the response I got:

"Dear XXXX,

DDA does not book any ADRs under "fake names". Our bookings are done with the names of real people who are the staff of DDA. We act as the clients Concierge and are not required to show up to dine, as is customary in this line of work. Furthermore, DDA has never booked a single resort stay and cancelled it in order to get any ADR. We begin booking at the 180 day mark like most others. While I understand your concern, rest assured that DDA does not use any automated program to make ADRs or make any false bookings in order to obtain such.

Regards,
XXXX"

You were sent a load of spin doctored garbage. Just because the name on the reservation happens to be a real person does not mean it is not a reservation under a fake name. The name on the reservation is false because the person under who's name it is booked has absolutely no intention of actually going to the restaurant in question and therefore booked under false pretenses.

Does anyone think Disney should just increase capacity at its restaurants so this isn't such an issue? It's just supply and demand. If it were possible to have a decent sit down dinner in whatever park you happen to be in, without planning 6 months in advance, one wouldn't need a complex ADR strategy.

The problem isn't total capacity. The problem is there are a few high in demand places. The castle may have mediocre food. But it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And you can't just build a second identical castle. We were lucky to hit it the year they first did the lunch and dinner full character meal when it was a one credit place.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I just went on both Open Table and the Disney reservation application and made reservations for both Morimoto and The Boathouse in October. Both fine, signature dining experiences. One of them isn't even open yet and I still got a reservation. Why are people not able to get reservations for decent restaurants? There are dozens and dozens of excellent sit-down restaurants on the property.

One restaurant does not equal another. Morimoto may be a fine restaurant when it opens. But if what someone wants is the castle, well they're not going to see Morimoto as a viable alternative.

 

[Disneyliscious]

The name on the reservation is false because the person under who's name it is booked has absolutely no intention of actually going to the restaurant in question and therefore booked under false pretenses.

I get what you're saying. My point is that on my last trip I was unable to be at a computer for a certain ADR. Called a friend and she went on to the Disney site and booked it for us in her name (she didn't know any better). She never had any intention of going on this trip, she was just booking an ADR for me that I was unable to get. There was no issue at all when we checked in at the restaurant and we just used her name since thats what the ADR was booked under. If this makes me a crook, lock me up. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[englishrose47]

I had trouble the last 2 times I went to Disney, I travel with another escort an 8 developmentally Disabled adults every year . I always find something but have yet to be able to get a ressie for 10 to BOG for lunch or supper, or to Chef Mickeys , but whoever said you can't get a Princess Meal is wrong I got the Breakfast at Akerhaus easily both years. I am NOT happy about the ressie swindle of these company's , the DD population has already lost enough from the cheaters at Disney, they can no longer get the GAC card and now they are being cheated yet again. I say Shame on all these comp[anise and individuals who abused the GAC and now the ressies .