NEW UPDATE- More Changes to the Dine Booking Window

[JPVonDrake]

As many of you know, a system upgrade is in progress that is impacting the booking window for dining reservations. As development of the new system continues, it has become necessary to again adjust the previously communicated fall launch plan date.

Starting October 26, 2008 all guests will be able to book advance dine reservations for dining dates up to March 22, 2009. This adjustment supports a reservation window of no less than 90 days.

Exceptions to this will include Victoria & Albert's, Chef Mickey's and Cinderella's Royal Table. Due to the unique components and special nuances associated with these dining experiences, these locations will not be impacted, and Guest will continue to be able to book up to 180 days in advance.

We currently expect booking to return to normal by late December 2008, however this is still subject to change. Once normal bookings return, Disney Resort Guests to book up to 180 days prior of arrival (for up to the first 10 days of their vacation), and non-Disney Resort Guests to book up to 180 days prior to the date they wish to dine.

I will continue to post more information as it is officially released. Stay Tooned!

 

[pinkrose]

Thank you JP!!! :wave:

 

[DznyGrlSD]

:sohappy::sohappy:

Thanks JP - My butt is going to be up bright and early tomorrow booking ressies for my March Bday trip

 

[wannabeBelle]

thanks as always JP!!!! You are the best!!! Belle

 

[imamouse]

As many of you know, a system upgrade is in progress that is impacting the booking window for dining reservations. As development of the new system continues, it has become necessary to again adjust the previously communicated fall launch plan date.

Starting October 26, 2008 all guests will be able to book advance dine reservations for dining dates up to March 22, 2009. This adjustment supports a reservation window of no less than 90 days.

Exceptions to this will include Victoria & Albert's, Chef Mickey's and Cinderella's Royal Table. Due to the unique components and special nuances associated with these dining experiences, these locations will not be impacted, and Guest will continue to be able to book up to 180 days in advance.

We currently expect booking to return to normal by late December 2008, however this is still subject to change. Once normal bookings return, Disney Resort Guests to book up to 180 days prior of arrival (for up to the first 10 days of their vacation), and non-Disney Resort Guests to book up to 180 days prior to the date they wish to dine.

I will continue to post more information as it is officially released. Stay Tooned!

Thanks, JP. I am puzzled by the bolded portion above. No less than 90 days? So, if I want an ADR within 45 days, how is that handled? Or should the statement be no more than 90 days ?

 

[JPVonDrake]

Thanks, JP. I am puzzled by the bolded portion above. No less than 90 days? So, if I want an ADR within 45 days, how is that handled? Or should the statement be no more than 90 days ?

Sorry for any confusion. Let me try to explain better.

Normally Guests always have a booking window of 180 days. Meaning they can make dine reservations to eat as soon as same day or as late as 6 months into the future and these reservations are stored in our current Dine Reservation Software.

With the upcoming enhancements, we are not just upgrading our current software we are completely replacing it. The new software will not be able to read any reservations made in the old software so both systems will be used during the transition. As such, we need to have a standard property-wide cut off date for the old software so it can be retired as soon as possible once the new software is in place.

Starting on Sunday 10/26/08 a guest will be able to call and book dining reservations to eat today, tomorrow, or any future date up to 3/22/09. This means if a Guest calls Sunday they will have a 147 day booking window. If the Guest calls on Monday the cut off date will still be 3/22/09 so they will have a 146 day booking window, and so on. Each day the booking window gets smaller and smaller. The goal is to ensure this booking window does not reach less then 90 days in advance before the new software is ready to start taking reservations.

Previously the cut off date was 2/22/09. As of today (10/25/08) the booking window is down to 120 days and the new software will not be ready to start before this window reaches 90 days, hence we extended the cut off date to give the programmers more time to get our new software ready.

 

[Sam02]

That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification JP.

 

[imamouse]

Thanks, JP. I appreciate your follow-up post to clarify the changes to the booking window for ADRs.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

6 hours and 45 minutes I'll be up and on the phone - yes, I'm insane but I REALLY want to get LeCellier :slurp:

 

[DznyGrlSD]

*YAWNS*

I got everything I wanted for March including Le Cellier, Crystal Palace (before the PPP) & California Grill during Wishes on my Birthday :sohappy::sohappy:

 

[shelbysmom]

Thank you so much!!!!

I just booked my reservations for February. :sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

For the first time ever we were able to get Chef Mickeys!!

I really appreciate it because the last time I called for an ADR they told me to try on mid November. I wouldn't have been able to get my ressies by then.

Thanks!!!!:wave::wave::wave:

 

[disneyfan20ny]

When will we be able to book our own reservations on line???

 

[JPVonDrake]

When will we be able to book our own reservations on line???

While online dine reservations is in the early planning stages, no start date or timetable has been officially released. I am happy to keep everyone posted as new details emerge.

 

[missionspace]

So when can I make a reservation for MAY 1 2009?
THANKS

 

[wannabeBelle]

Depends on when the new ressie system will be implemented or not. Belle

 

[rsoxguy]

JP- Your info is always a huge help. Thanks! :wave:

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

Just to give a small update. I talked with a CM at CRO this evening about June 2009 park hours and the 180 ADR window. June hours will be available on Jan. 1st and the CMs don't know (or aren't telling) when the 180 window will be back up. However, when I made my WL reservations for June, the CM assured me the 180 window would be back up by December 15th.

 

[snookie5605]

thank you for the info. my 180 day mark is december26th and i am worried about getting dates for my june 23rd trip.

 

[melissw]

I just called today for my end-of-April trip and the recording still stated there was a 90-day window for all restaurants except for Cindy's castle, Vic & Al's, and Chef Mickey. Guess I will be calling everyday until I hear something different...

 

[disneygirl76]

Hey all, just a quick update. I just got off the phone with Disney Dining and I spoke to a cm who confirmed that the Dec 15th date is no longer and that now, they have pushed back the reservations being back up to mid - Jan!! she apologized that the 15th is not longer a valid date. She said that the hours are still expected to be posted for June on Jan 1st. (give or take a day or so). I asked if people who have existing confirmation numbers for upcoming vacations will be notified via email or anything when the system is up. My expectations are that so many people are going to call and access the new web system, that it is going to be madness trying to get the reservations. She said that no, no bulletin or email is going out - we just need to call back. She assured me that there is no way for it to be up early. I am going to call every few days in the a.m. to just see though. It's a two minute phone call and I'd rather do that then miss out on the ressies.

Hope this info is helpful!! :wave: