No ADR's ??

[HouCuseChickie]

I always find it funny when I see how many people are turned off by ADRs when I LOVE them and look at them as a a major convenience factor. I actually really enjoy ADRs- making them and having them, but I think some of the aversion may be how you dine at home and on other trips.

Now, I'm not saying we make reservations for every meal we eat out at home...but when my parents come to visit, we have something special for the family, etc. we commonly make reservations. I also make reservations at certain restaurants before going NY, Vegas, NOLA, etc...sometimes up to 4 months in advance. Some of it may also stem from my time in the restaurant industry. I worked at a very popular (now closed) privately owned seafood restaurant (their distributorship even had the WDW contract for a while) and people were always furious that we wouldn't take reservations. So, I look at the option of making ADRs as a perk ...at least compared to what those owners used to put patrons through.

Sure, we dine with kids, sometimes have a larger party, and usually try to get into at least a couple of the popular non-character meals- so the ADRs are a plus. My only real beef is wait time. I have had wait times up to 45-50 min for some ADRs...now that is unacceptable to me. And of course, you'll have to fight the no show fee if you decide to walk b/c you're sick of the excessive wait.

Oh well- everyone operates differently...as long as we're having fun and getting fed!

 

[WDW 3]

My family doesn't like to be scheduled. At all. So maybe 2 ADR's for 7 days and I might cancel one. I've tried it and it seems when ADR time rolls around.... no ones hungry, were having too much fun to stop... something.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Depending on the time you go, you can just walk up to a lot of the restaurants -- but almost never for the signatures, and almost never at peak dinner time --- Even on the busiest days, be at the restaurant you want 15 minutes before they open for lunch, and you can usually get a table right there and then, with no more than a few minutes wait. Same in the middle of the afternoon (between 2 and 4). Some (like Mama Melroses) you can walk up almost anytime. BOG does not accept walkups -- in fact, your not even allowed in the checkin line before you'll be booted out by one of the workers there.

 

[englanddg]

BOG doesn't do ADRs for lunch. Only walk-ups.

 

[Hot Lava]

407.WDW.DINE told me that Be Our Guest cancellations do not show up on their system. Off topic (a bit), but wanted to mention.

BOG does not accept walkups -- in fact, your not even allowed in the checkin line before you'll be booted out by one of the workers there.

!?!?! So what happens to those cancelled reservations? Particularly if they are not being saved for walkups! How are you supposed to hope for anything if you can neither get cancelled reservations, nor walk up?

 

[englanddg]

!?!?! So what happens to those cancelled reservations? Particularly if they are not being saved for walkups! How are you supposed to hope for anything if you can neither get cancelled reservations, nor walk up?

The Agent had no clue outside of saying "it's too popular right now". I asked the same question.

Of course, the Agent on the phone could have been like a Bus Driver. I haven't stopped trying even though that's what I was told!

 

[bethymouse]

I guess I just couldn't do it. I really feel more comfortable knowing that I will have a table, BUT I have waited 15 minutes sometimes even w/ a reservation because the place was overbooked!
I have been to so many places where people try to reserve a table, and they are turned down. I've seen people @ the concierge desk trying to make reservations- not fun!
We got into RF Cafe one night DTD because we were just so hungry ( late about 8pm) and we were lucky because they'd opened up the outside area! It was fun to watch the boats, but the service wasn't too good, and it was expensive.
We tried one year to get a TS meal ( that was the year we had QS only!), and we couldn't get a reservation anywhere! We ended up going back to our resort and ordering pizza delivery!

 

[lilclerk]

!?!?! So what happens to those cancelled reservations? Particularly if they are not being saved for walkups! How are you supposed to hope for anything if you can neither get cancelled reservations, nor walk up?

I heard somewhere, don't remember where so don't quote me, that BOG was overbooking themselves assuming there would be cancellations. That's why they very rarely pop back up in the reservation system and I'm guessing why walk-ups at dinner are rare.

 

[Disneykidder]

My hubby said we should do it for this trip but I just couldn't. There are too many usuals I couldn't do without. So I said we would only do a few but I booked one for everyday!! hehe!!

 

[Hot Lava]

Hot Lava said: ↑

!?!?! So what happens to those cancelled reservations? Particularly if they are not being saved for walkups! How are you supposed to hope for anything if you can neither get cancelled reservations, nor walk up?​

I heard somewhere, don't remember where so don't quote me, that BOG was overbooking themselves assuming there would be cancellations. That's why they very rarely pop back up in the reservation system and I'm guessing why walk-ups at dinner are rare.

So they are doing it like the airlines? So if everyone shows up, then what? You get bumped. That should make for some very grumpy guests!