.

[pjweaver]

When ADRs first came out I hated it. We would go into the parks and find nothing available. Now knowing how to work the system, and being that we only go down once or twice a year, I couldn't live without it. Planning is part of our fun and builds the excitement.
I can see it being a pain for locals though. We have often used the app to make ADRs for the next day because of the people that double book and cancel 24 hours ahead of time. I could see WDW setting aside a percentage of tables that open up one day in advance but still keep say 80% to open 6 months out.

 

[samsteele]

If they did away with the system and I'd have to make rope drop every morning just to get an ADR inside a park, I would be extremely unhappy.

I'm a rope drop person (as in every park day) but would still be unhappy because lining up for a same day ADR first thing in the morning just to snag a popular ressie would gut my touring plan. I rope drop to rush to popular, favourite attractions before the crowds grow and then use my FP+ for a do-over in the afternoon (think Soarin). What would be the point in rope-drop for me if I spent the first golden 30-45 mins in a line to get my ADR? If that happened, think I would cull my ADR wish list down to less popular spots so I could just do a walk-in (like Marrakesh). And I can do that now for a handful of restaurants if I choose. I just don't see the win in this for most guests.

 

[disneysteve]

I think I'd get sick of the same old burgers over and over (how do you do it @disneysteve?)

WDW has the best counter service food you will find anywhere (including better than Disneyland). There are CS meals we actually look forward to eating when we visit. Heck, I'd go into MK just to get the chicken fajitas at Pecos Bill's. I think that's the best CS meal on property. The grab and go case at The Land has a vegetarian platter with regular and roasted red pepper hummus, tabbouleh, and cous cous salad that is excellent. I don't even look at the menu anymore. I just go straight for that. Even though they took it off the menu, Captain Cook's will still make the adult grilled cheese - I had one last week. As for burgers, I don't eat red meat, but we all love the veggie burger at Cosmic Ray's topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions from the toppings bar. The food court at Art of Animation is also top notch. The roasted vegetable platter with Naan bread, acorn squash, and spinach and paneer cheese - yum.

So no, we don't need ADRs to eat very well at Disney.

 

[NeuroCindy]

I don't know that anything would change other than the time of the rush.....but it would still be a "mad rush".........oh yeah and that rush is going to happen "during" your vacation . I like the ADR system as it is, maybe I'm in the minority but going to first come first serve doesn't fix anything in my mind. On the podcast today they spoke of how Skipper's Canteen is not taking ADR's right now...............we ate there during Marathon week and only waited about 15 min (btw it was really good ). But I believe that was related to it being new and sort of unknown.

Say you did away with the CRT ADR? How would attempting to make the resi on the same day change any of the waiting and chaos? .............and all this occurs during my vacation instead of 6 months prior to my vacation. I just see doing away with ADR's as ADDING stress..............not relieving it.

Doug

I'm a rope drop person (as in every park day) but would still be unhappy because lining up for a same day ADR first thing in the morning just to snag a popular ressie would gut my touring plan. I rope drop to rush to popular, favourite attractions before the crowds grow and then use my FP+ for a do-over in the afternoon (think Soarin). What would be the point in rope-drop for me if I spent the first golden 30-45 mins in a line to get my ADR? If that happened, think I would cull my ADR wish list down to less popular spots so I could just do a walk-in (like Marrakesh). And I can do that now for a handful of restaurants if I choose. I just don't see the win in this for most guests.

I agree with both of these. If they want to keep some reservations for guests within 24 hours of dining time, that's fine.

 

[disneysteve]

Years ago, we used to like to have lunch at Crystal Palace. We never made reservations in advance. When we got to the park in the morning, we'd stop in City Hall and make a same-day reservation. We couldn't usually get peak time, like noon, but we didn't care. We were fine having lunch at 2:00. We would just get a late morning snack to hold us over.

I doubt this would work today, though. The parks are just way, way, way too crowded (which is really the source of most of the problems we all complain about). Heck, I even remember the kiosks at Epcot where you would chat with a live person on a TV screen and they would book your dining for you. Those were the days.

 

[kbelle8995]

I would be fine if ADR's went away.

 

[WebmasterMike]

Yesterday was a bit nutty for me, so I haven't had a chance to listen to the show yet, but I do like having the ability to reserve meals ahead of time. It makes things simpler for me. I'm not sure of the trickle effect no ADRs would have on how I vacation though. If they did away with the system and I'd have to make rope drop every morning just to get an ADR inside a park, I would be extremely unhappy. @WebmasterMike knows I'm not a rope drop person.

Let me quote @*NikkiBell* "Why am I up so early? Why am I doing this?"

 

[CampbellzSoup]

As of right now it seems the poll numbers enjoy making reservations and I'll weigh in on this too.

Again I guess I was bred into the Disney era of making reservations and electronic but to me there seems to be no real effort in making 5 diner reservations for a week stay there...yeah can it be a pain if I don't get a resturant I want sure. However I like knowing when I get there it's all taken care of...it took me about 2/3 hours of planning my disbey meals and fast passes.

I'll be honest with you it was fun too being able to pick and choose where I wanted to eat and waking I to the park and not running to a podium or hoping they have openings in my Resturant of choice...

It just seems to me it gives you the option of planning Disney your way. I'm sure you can still go into the parks and have the same experience by going to the resturants and asking

 

[Angel Ariel]

I would be *thrilled* to see ADRs return to a reserve the day of system. Reserving dinner 6 months in advance for *most* places, but especially a theme park, is ridiculous. This would return a good bit of spontaneity to visiting WDW that has, *for us*, diminished with FP+.

I can understand reserving a week or even a month in advance, and I'd be fine with that, but day of would be great. I *highly* doubt in this day and age that reservations will require going to the restaurant as Skipper's Canteen is now. There's no reason they can't use the app and website infrastructure they already have, and just close the window down to same day only. Combine it with GPS requirements on the app (you have to be in WDW to reserve a restaurant, for ex) as they are already planning on doing with FP in California, and I think an electronic system is definitely possible for day of reservations.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Me personally? I'd be a little upset. Because of my special diet, Disney needs 2 days advance notice that I'm coming, and they can have food for me at almost any table service restaurant. If ADRs were either non-existent or same day only, I'm guessing my options would either be no table service or limited to one or two locations in each park (which is currently the case for me with quick service locations).

I would be surprised if WDW's service to those with allergies declined. I would like to hope that they could find a way to still accommodate the needs of guests with allergies. They have such a reputation for being so accommodating in this area, I really hope they wouldn't sacrifice that.

 

[Angel Ariel]

WDW has the best counter service food you will find anywhere (including better than Disneyland).

We will have to agree to disagree on this point We just went to DLR in November and the variety of counter service options was so nice, and the food was great!. The whole Pacific Wharf area in DCA (absolutely delicious bread bowl soups, yummy chinese, mexican,etc) the Plaza Inn on Main Street (not quite CS, but not TS either), the star wars menu they had at Tomorrowland Terrace, River Belle Terrace...we found so many more great CS options at DL.

We definitely give the Table Service edge to WDW, but DLR wins the CS side hands down

 

[mikelan6]

ADRs are most beneficial when you're going as a large group. For my June Gay Day trips, my friends will all do their own things during the day, and then meet for a meal at a prearranged time and place. I can't imagine showing up to breakfast and saying "Table for 24 please."

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I love ADR's, and love the excitement and planning that goes with them. Part of the reason I love going to WDW is trying new foods, or indulging in old faves - and - not driving (so not able to access a lot of choices at home), WDW is perfect for me to get around and do that. Planning/researching/anticipating is part of the fun for me - to do AHEAD of time, so I feel less stressed out while actually ON vacation - I know that everything is already "set", unless I choose to change it. I also remember talking to the CM's on the TV's at Epcot - used to freak me out and amaze me, all at the same time. Like others have said, I would HATE to have to leave all ressies until the last minute, wake up early to snag a popular one, and then possibly not get what I want in the end anyway. I feel the current system gives me - the guest - much more choice (including what time to get up!)

 

[Halloweenqueen]

DL counter service rocks, I've never been impressed with WDW QS.

I'm sure same day would be great for locals, passholders, or small groups, but I think it would be difficult for larger parties. Imagine traveling cross country, or internationally and wasting park time looking for a TS.

I rarely travel with less than 10 people. It is difficult for everyone to agree months in advance. I can only imagine if we had to make meal decisions the same day!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I am an uber planner and have incorporated making ADRs into my planning, using crowd calendars to pick what park what day and then based on where we want to try we pick when to eat where based on what park we will be in, etc. (and then add hyperlinks to menus for each meal, etc.) - so for ADRs to go away that would be a bit shock to my planning

That said, if it changed I think I could/would adapt. I am worried about a plan that still allowed for day-of ADRs as wouldn't that just create a "running of the bulls" effect for people to get to BOG or whatever to get a reservation time?

I was wondering if a process where there were no ADRs at all but rather you just put you name on the list - like at a regular restaurant that doesn't take reservations, etc. BUT - you could use the app to do this (so similar to calling in to a place to put your name on the list). I think that could work that you could check the app and it would tell you what the wait time was at each restaurant and you could put your name at the end of the list for the place you want and then perhaps it will send you messages if the time changes or when you are 15 minutes out or something so you can head to the restaurant.

Otherwise not sure how it would work if there is an 8 hour wait for CRT or whatever

 

[disneysteve]

We definitely give the Table Service edge to WDW, but DLR wins the CS side hands down

I'm happy to concede that point. I haven't been to DL for 10 years and we found the CS food to be rather bad then but if they've upped their game since then, kudos to them. And if it is now better than WDW, they must have really done a great job considering how good CS is at WDW.

 

[mcd2745]

I certainly would not want ADRs to go away entirely. I like knowing I have a reservation at a place that I know I like. However, I definitely would like to see the window reduced from 180 days to 30 or 45 days. Too many things change from six months out. Disney will tweak park hours, could announce refurbs/closures of attractions, add/cancel parade or fireworks times, etc. that could cause you to want to change your plans around. At 30 days, Disney's schedule for park hours, and parades/fireworks, etc. are pretty much set. There are many other benefits to a reduced window. I always believed that the 6-month window was the root cause of many of the problems that plagued the ADR system. It causes people to make multiple ADRs for each day until they can finalize their plans (including FP+ selections) each day. There shouldn't be a need to do that at 30 days. You also have a lot of people making ADRs at 6 months out for trips that they haven't even booked yet and may never end up taking (since you don't have to fully commit - financially - until 45 days out, if on a package). At least now with no-show fees, in each scenario, most of those reservations should get cancelled and go back into the availability pool whereas 5-6-7 years ago most weren't cancelled and there were insanely high no-show rates at most of the restaurants. Still, I just don't see it as a very - for lack of a better term - "efficient" system if large numbers of reservations are always being cancelled (even though someone else presumably takes that slot most of the time).

 

[disneysteve]

You also have a lot of people making ADRs at 6 months out for trips that they haven't even booked yet

We never book our trips that far out. We just got back on Sunday and we booked that trip about 6 weeks earlier. We're going again in July and haven't even begun to think about booking yet. I won't get around to that until maybe April or May at best.

 

[JJZMgailey]

My understanding is that you wouldn't be able to go at rope drop and make a reservation for later that day, you'd show up at the restaurant when you're ready to eat - just like a regular restaurant.

I think that might be kind of cool!

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

I like to reserve in advance, but 6 months out is a pain. The park hours change. I don't know what FP+ times will be available. I'd rather have it all available 60 days out when Disney should have a good idea what the hours are and I can plan FP and dining at the same time.

Laurie