WDW Magic reporting no more duplicate reservations through the on-line dining system

[vicki_c]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/Resorts/Walt-Disney-World-Resorts-information/News/17May2011-Online-dining-reservations-no-longer-allow-multiple-reservations-for-the-same-timeframe.htm


Since being introduced back in June 2009, the ability to book dining reservations online has been a big hit with Walt Disney World guests. However, it has been suspected by many that dining availability has been reduced since the new system was introduced due to the fact that some guests were booking multiple reservations for the same time, and then choosing their preferred restaurant on the day, and not canceling the other reservations for the same timeframe. Disney have today addressed this issue and no longer allow conflicting online reservations to be made for the same timeframe.

[DoctorK]

I have read that there are some glitches in the system (if you have a party of 10 for instance, you can't make a reservation for 5 at one restaurant and 5 at a different restaurant). I suspect that the people who were cheating the system will still continue to do so by making reservations under different e-mail addresses not linked to their resort reservation number. But it should reduce some of the ADR hoarding.

[vatmark]

I wonder how they will prevent the multiple ressies though. It doesn't say. If it's just by e-mail address or phone number people will use multiple addresses or phone numbers. I can't imagine it being your reservation confirmation number because what if you are off site? :RpS_confused:

Ann

[bnoble]

I suspect this is just a matter of cutting down on it. Many people who might "grab an extra" ADR or two might not when faced with the need to "actively cheat the system" to do it.

[stevenmilz]

Bummer. We do this all the time, but are very careful to release the ADRs we don't want well in advance of our actual trip. I need to tweak some ADRs for Sep and Oct this week, maybe I'll give the multiple phone #s a try....

[Melissa]

Just went and tried this for our upcoming trip. When I tried to book a second reservation at the same time as an existing one, I got the following screen:

146

I did sign into my account to make the reservation. I tried changing just the email address, then the email address and the phone number and still got the same result. Not sure how it's going to work when one person is making reservations for different groups going at the same time? Most likely you'll need to have seperate accounts at www.waltdisneyworld.com with seperate email addresses as mentioned above.

[Lovedisneymagic]

Vicki,
We are on the same page! I was just about to post the same thing. I was in the system trying to make ADR's and unsure if we wanted to keep 1900 or go to Ohana one night during our trip. Thinking I should check availability FIRST before canceling 1900 I got the screen Melissa did.

I wondered when this would happen. It has been in the last couple of days for sure. I think it is a great thing. Too many double reservations making it very hard for the average person to book their ADR's. Also, it just makes you (makes me!) make a decision. I have wondered how many people have made multiple reservations to have options on that day and never do a thing about the others. That is like taking a piece of magic away from another family-- totally unfair.

Thanks for posting this Vicki!!
Ali

[amlyjo]

I've been making reservations for a couple of weeks now and have been getting this message every time I attempt to book one that is in conflict with another. I assume it's tied to the phone number I used because sometimes I was logged in and sometimes not. It's actually a quick way if you are trading days to check availability at a restaurant, click that you want a particular time, and cancel the one that conflicts all at the same time.

For me it also knows they conflict if they are within an hour of each other. I agree completely that it just makes you make the decision and keep the reservations open for others looking for them. No stealing magic here! I am guessing it might be best if you were trying to book 5 people at one place and 5 at another to call in or go to the trouble of getting another account.

[josh]

Just use a different phone number and email address :RpS_thumbup: or should I say :RpS_thumbdn:?

[JW73]

I have to wonder if this wouldn't be much less of an issue if ADRs didn't have to be booked 180 days out. It is really hard that far out to be absolute about things, especially when the park hours and such are almost certain to change. Our upcoming trip is the first time I have booked the whole trip less than 180 days out, but a lot of people do it all the time. I remember thinking 90 days was pretty far out for ADRs on our first trip. I know...it is what it is.

[bnoble]

To be perfectly honest, I don't think it really matters all that much. I routinely make ADRs months and months into my 180-day window, and have gotten even hard-to-get ADRs a day or two before (including dinners at Le Cellier and even a same-day ADR once at 'Ohana). Granted, my trip will not be ruined if I don't eat at Chef Mickey's on arrival night, and if you have something very specific that is really important to you, then it would matter more.

[vicki_c]

I agree with you Brian - although I did post the information, it really doesn't matter to me one way or another. I don't do it, and I truly don't believe there are so many people that do that it impacts me at all. But I know many care a lot.

[josh]

There's generally decent availability even the day before you're trying to make a reservation. That's not always true when Free Dining is widespread though. But for tomorrow, there's availability at Via Napoli, Sci-Fi, Biergarten, Boma, Coral Reef, Flying Fish, Kona Cafe, Rose & Crown etc. And I've had pretty good luck just walking up to restaurants lately. There's a really big problem with people making reservations and not showing up though. I don't know if this will help considering it's so easy to get around and more and more people will just realize that fact.

[JW73]

Well, that's probably true, Brian. I didn't book the trip until 4 months out and still managed to get all the ADRs I wanted (well, I want Le Cel for lunch and have dinner, but whatever. :RpS_smile: ) I just wonder if people are more likely to hoard ADRs because it's so far out and they feel there is plenty of time to sort out the details later. I don't know, though, maybe not. :noidea:

[JW73]

There's generally decent availability even the day before you're trying to make a reservation. That's not always true when Free Dining is widespread though. But for tomorrow, there's availability at Via Napoli, Sci-Fi, Biergarten, Boma, Coral Reef, Flying Fish, Kona Cafe, Rose & Crown etc. And I've had pretty good luck just walking up to restaurants lately. There's a really big problem with people making reservations and not showing up though. I don't know if this will help considering it's so easy to get around and more and more people will just realize that fact.

The only way for Disney to combat no-shows is to force a credit card confirmation for all ADRs and charge a no-show fee. I don't see that happening and I would hope it wouldn't. Short of that though, no-shows will always be an issue.

[drischar]

The timing of this post and the change by WDW is a little bit embarrasing for me since I started a thread yesterday titled Too Many ADRs. After reading the boards at another forum for the past 18 months, I got caught up in the frenzy as my 180 window approached. Here's a copy of the start of my thread. But it was always my intention to cancel all extra ADRs as soon as my itinerary was set.

"I currently have 19 ADRs for a 5 day trip. When my 180 window opened, my extended family had not yet confirmed that our trip was definite nor exactly which days we would go. And we could have been up to 12 people in our party. So, not knowing which days and thus which parks, and such a big group and 180 not 180+10, I knew I had to create as many possibilities as possible. Realistically, we will probably only have 3 TS meals for these 5 days. I have narrowed it down considerably. We did no TS on our last trip, so we've never done character dining." :RpS_blushing:

[JW73]

DeAnn, the flip side of that is that people, like you, who free up ADRs 4 months may be why I was able to get all the ones I wanted at that time frame. :RpS_smile: Each one you release is making someone else very happy.

[vicki_c]

DeAnn - I saw your post and I was shocked :jaw:- not from an "I'm judging you" standpoint, but I just couldn't believe how many you made when you were only planning on 3 meals. It is really a huge ethical deal to some people (rightly or wrongly) so I guess if many many people were doing that, it is a problem. But I don't think you are in the majority. But it's good to let them go ...:RpS_thumbup:

[bnoble]

The only way for Disney to combat no-shows is to force a credit card confirmation for all ADRs and charge a no-show fee.
Not quite. The other way (which they already do) is to allow over-booking based on historical no-show data. The Unofficial Guide has a pretty good discussion on this, IIRC.

[Lovedisneymagic]

DeAnn,
I completely understand how you would get caught up in the madness! When you read everywhere about people getting up at the crack of dawn on exactly their 180+10 to get exactly what they want and seeing articles about everything being booked, it would be easy to get nervous about it! I agree with Vicki, at least you are letting them go so another family can enjoy it. Please don't feel badly about your tons of ADR's :RpS_smile: or about your post. It is understandable. And, you were not cheating the system or doing anything dishonest. No worries. :RpS_cool:

As I have said on "another" board I am encouraged that Disney is at least taking steps in the direction to try to kind of control multiple bookings and no shows. There will always be ways to cheat any system but hopefully this small road block will deter it a bit more.
Anytime more families can enjoy the magic we all love the better!
Ali

[mousehelper]

For what it's worth. I just booked a duplicate--- to see if I could book a duplicate. I got no warning, no screen, no nothing.
Not saying tomorrow morning might not bring a new experience!

But-- I also haven't been able to cancel anything on line for months, or see any of my adrs online either.
All computers are not equal in the World of Disney IT.

[drischar]

how many you made when you were only planning on 3 meals.

Yeah, that was part of the problem too, I didn't know how many we would actually end up wanting to plan. At one point I was trying to plan a Platinum vacation on an Aluminum budget. :RpS_lol:

[vicki_c]

But-- I also haven't been able to cancel anything on line for months, or see any of my adrs online either.
All computers are not equal in the World of Disney IT.

Which is weird because I had no problem cancelling a reservation and making a different one right from my phone in the park when we were there last month (using the mobile dining site).

[RuthAnn]

I got that same message Melissa did when I was booking ADRs for a February trip, I think in January. (I'm not one of those 180 day people.) :RpS_biggrin: I was logged into my Disney account at the time. Maybe they were beta testing this back in Jan and I was one of the lucky testees.

[Lovedisneymagic]

All computers are not equal in the World of Disney IT.

THAT is for sure! :RpS_smile:

Crazy thing... I just went into "My reservations" and 3 of them are missing even looking with the search and the confirm #'s. It was just last night that I got the pop up when trying to book Ohana.

Maybe there is a master mind there that is sitting back laughing at all of us trying to find our ADR's and knowing we are going crazy trying to figure their system out!

Ali

[stevenmilz]

I need to tweak some ADRs for Sep and Oct this week, maybe I'll give the multiple phone #s a try....

Well, multiple phone #s didn't work when trying to book a conflicting ADR when logged into my account. Of course -- as expected -- logging out and using a different email and phone # worked fine because there's no way for the site to correlate that back to me. The bad part is that this is a "dangling" reservation now -- not linked to the others in my account. What I haven't tried yet is to pull it into my account's reservations using the search feature. I doubt it'll work.

FWIW and IMHO, what Disney should do is allow a couple of conflicting ADRs within a series of consecutive days -- say one conflict every 2 or 3 days. So if you have ADRs over a 7 day period, allow maybe 2 overlapping ADRs. That would still allow for good planning if you're not 100% positive what you want to do. From an IT perspective, this shouldn't be hard (I'm a software engineer -- I do this stuff). If they wanted to really take this "no conflicting ADRs" policy to the extreme, they could cancel all your ADRs for any days you still have conflicts, forcing you to whittle your ADRs down so they don't overlap. They have your email and phone # for each ADR -- they could start emailing you a couple days before and/or auto-calling the phone # you've listed when conflicts exist. Just my two cents, FWIW (not much!) :RpS_wink:

[DoctorK]

I hope this doesn't sound preachy, but just a different perspective... The thing about tying up 19 reservations when you intend to cancel 16 down the road is that there are families who can't or don't think to call back to check availability. They'll call (or go online) to make their reservation, and be told that there's no availability. They'll probably book a "second choice" and because popular wisdom is "If you don't book CRT at 180+10 you'll never get in" probably never check back. Or their travel agents won't continually be calling hoping to catch the 5 minute window after those reservations go back into the system.

[bnoble]

he thing about tying up 19 reservations when you intend to cancel 16 down the road is that there are families who can't or don't think to call back to check availability.
I don't think this actually matters. If you do cancel, *someone* will get the spot. Maybe not a planner, but maybe someone who goes by the concierge desk at their resort that morning, or checks with Guest Services in the park that day. If you don't cancel, it's still not a problem, because (as mentioned) Disney over-books based on historical no-show rate---that's why ADRs aren't "real reservations". Unless that rate, overall, is impossible to predict (and I'm betting it's not) then it will all work out in the end.

Full disclosure: I don't double book. But I don't begrudge people who do.

[DoctorK]

Maybe it doesn't matter to you, or to Disney (since they'll likely fill the table anyway) but to the person who called at T-179 to be told it's all booked, it matters to him or her. That's the perspective that I thought was missing. Some people justify double (triple? sextuple?) booking as "being able to grant a little pixie dust for a lucky last minute walk up." I disagree with that viewpoint.

[bnoble]

I see, you are saying that *planners* should not be disadvantaged (as opposed to non-planners). I don't necessarily disagree with that ('cause I'm a planner too), but that's not the same thing as "no one else will get that spot".

Though, personally, I suspect that I have enough advantages as it is.

In any event, of all the possible things to worry about, this one is pretty low on my list. As I wrote above, I rarely book anywhere close to the 180-day window anyway.

[jhalpin76]

To take it one step further, if people don't cancel, keeping reservations and there aren't walk-INS to fill those spots that could have been filled by real reservations that people intended to keep, then the wait staff suffers too with lost income.

Having said that, I was one who had several reservations and changes of plans. However, I do release them once things are finalized, whichnis generally 2-3 weeks out. I would say there were 4-5 reservations that I was on the fence about that didn't get cancelled until we were two weeks away. I feel bad and hope someone picked them but from what I saw when we were eating, there was a lot of available tables.

[Canuckster]

There are legit reasons for double booking. I made my ADRs about 10 days ago.
I am planning for a group of 10, but for Cinderella's Royal Table, Garden Grill, and Cape May all I could get was two ADRs of 5 each. So to their system, it may appear as though I double booked.

Does anyone think they will do anything to ADRs already made?

[bnoble]

To take it one step further, if people don't cancel, keeping reservations and there aren't walk-INS to fill those spots that could have been filled by real reservations that people intended to keep, then the wait staff suffers too with lost income.
Except that (again), Disney over-books based on historical no-show data. So, as long as people are *consistent* in their "not canceling", Disney will still have the right number of people, more or less, who eventually do show up, because they take extra ADRs to make up for folks who bail.

And it's not the server's pay that Mickey is worried about. It's his own cheese. Empty restaurants don't make money.

[drischar]

I am planning for a group of 10, but for Cinderella's Royal Table, Garden Grill, and Cape May all I could get was two ADRs of 5 each. So to their system, it may appear as though I double booked.

Does anyone think they will do anything to ADRs already made?

Having a large group (12) was the biggest reason I felt I needed to make extra ADRs at 180. Having never made ADRs before, I didn't know if there would be anything left if I waited. I now know differently. And, in the same vein, a few of my duplicate ADRs were at the Plaza because they don't have tables for 10-12. Not sure how that will be handled in the future.

I was working on my last ADR decisions this morning and when I tried to pull them up online they were ALL gone :RpS_ohmy:. I tried to search by confirmation number but no luck. So I called and was told by the CM that she could see all of my ADRs on her screen and that the system was probably just down. Yeah, I know, Karma. But while I had her on the phone, I asked about the changes and she said the first part went into effect yesterday. I asked if they had been told how existing duplicates would be handled and she said that they had not been told at this time, that it was one step at a time.

FWIW, I did not make 19 KNOWING that I only needed 3. And I didn't go into it planning to make 19. It snowballed (yes it grew from an already too big number). "Do we want CP pre-RD or CP 1st lunch? But will we be at MK on Tues, Thurs, or Sun?" "I just read that Plaza is almost the same price as Cosmic Ray's but nicer. But that requires 2 tables, 2 ADRs." And now I'm cancelling all the extras at 150 days.

[discott71]

Having a large group (12) was the biggest reason I felt I needed to make extra ADRs at 180. Having never made ADRs before, I didn't know if there would be anything left if I waited. I now know differently. And, in the same vein, a few of my duplicate ADRs were at the Plaza because they don't have tables for 10-12. Not sure how that will be handled in the future.

I was working on my last ADR decisions this morning and when I tried to pull them up online they were ALL gone :RpS_ohmy:. I tried to search by confirmation number but no luck. So I called and was told by the CM that she could see all of my ADRs on her screen and that the system was probably just down. Yeah, I know, Karma. But while I had her on the phone, I asked about the changes and she said the first part went into effect yesterday. I asked if they had been told how existing duplicates would be handled and she said that they had not been told at this time, that it was one step at a time.

FWIW, I did not make 19 KNOWING that I only needed 3. And I didn't go into it planning to make 19. It snowballed (yes it grew from an already too big number). "Do we want CP pre-RD or CP 1st lunch? But will we be at MK on Tues, Thurs, or Sun?" "I just read that Plaza is almost the same price as Cosmic Ray's but nicer. But that requires 2 tables, 2 ADRs." And now I'm cancelling all the extras at 150 days.

DeAnn - don't worry about it. Your adrs are so far out that it doesn't matter. Take your time, make your plans and cancel when YOU are ready. You have a lot of people you are planning for - not an easy task. There is plenty of time before your trip & there will be someone there to pick up your ressie - you will make their day :RpS_smile:!

I am also a heavy duty planner. I do have a couple days with 2 adrs in different parks because at this point I do not know which park I will be in which day. I also have one day where I have a lunch adr and a dinner adr. I don't feel I am doing anything wrong. About 3 - 4 weeks out I will make my final decision and release the ones I am not using. Simple as that.

For my family, dining is important -not the food part so much, but the characters and the experience. Maybe this will change as my kids get older, but for now it's as much a priority as which park and which rides.

I really think this 180 thing drives all this craziness. Perhaps it shouldn't be so long. Also, I've seen it mentioned where people find decent availability days before their trip. That's wonderful for those that it happens to, but in the 4 trips I've had, I've never been that lucky. I guess that's why I book a few extra.

Before getting flamed, I will repeat that I do cancel the extras 3-4 weeks out once Disney puts the final changes through their schedule. I will also say that this won't stop me from making a couple extra here and there. As we all know there are ways around this.

[breezy2]

I have never double booked, so I should be okay with this new system. I do wonder what they will do to fix the glitch with large parties needing 2 reservations of smaller parties to get tables or even wanting to go to 2 different locations. When we went as a group, we did that several times. The one that comes to mind most is when half of us went to sci fi and the other half to 50's PTC.

[mousehelper]

Before getting flamed,
We don't flame here. People can express opinions. But-- if it starts getting personal the mods WILL step in. So, no worries.
We don't all have to agree. But we all have to respectful and adult ---- ish.
:yo:

[JW73]

I doubled up on a couple ADRs, too. I have released everything we didn't end up needing, but at the 4 month mark (when I booked the trip) I still wasn't positive what our itinerary would look like. I agree with Vicky that the 180 day system fuels the craziness. Even though I am sure Brian is right about over booking, the 180 day system fuels the hysteria around ADRs making people who would otherwise just book what they need when they realize they need it go a little crazy and book for all contingencies out of fear they won't be able to have that special meal if they don't. The new changes to the system with regard to double booking and Jill's sense that there were a lot of empty tables have me wondering if the over-booking system is having the desired result.

[bnoble]

adult ---- ish.
Boooo! Boooo!

(:RpS_cool:)

[JW73]

Brian, in my head "Boooo! Boooo!" sounded like the old woman who heckles Princess Buttercup in Princess Bride. :RpS_laugh: Sorry, it just made me giggle.

[bnoble]

Yes, I was channeling her, exactly!

[ceb104]

You guys have me paranoid checking my ADR's. LOL! We have a group of 24 ( :RpS_blink: ) and I have quite a few days where a few are at one place at at one time, a few at another, an even more at another - all booked under my email, but with different names and phone numbers.
I hope they do work things out for large groups.

[vatmark]

I don't think the problem lies with those who double book but cancel once their plans are set. It's those individuals who make many adrs in different parks with no intention of using or canceling. They just want to have "Choices" or "Flexibility". Basically the me me me attitude. I don't have a problem with someone double booking and canceling once they have their plans set.

Ann

[mousehelper]

I was curious, so while making my rounds of Adrs this morning, I tried to double book. I had absolutely no problem doing so. I made one for Lilo, and then made one for 1900.
:RpS_mellow:

[bnoble]

It blocked me. Were you logged in to the account you use as a TA by any chance? I noticed that when I was making 180+10 reservations, I was asked to:


Login now if you are a Disney Resort hotel Guest or a Travel Agent for extended booking dates.

I bet agents are not blocked, as they book multiple meals for clients all the time.

[mousehelper]

Man-- I thought I responded-- and now it's not here.

Anyway-- I'm not a TA Brian. I work with Disney guests and I work with TAs who pay for my services as a value added for their companies. But, I'm not a TA.

[bnoble]

Hmm. I can't explain it then, because I definitely saw the "you must cancel the old one to book the new one" screen this morning. I assume you went all the way through to getting the 12-digit confirmation number, right?

[peachygreen]

So I had to check. I am logged in under my email account, not as a resort guest or as a travel agent. I was blocked from making both reservations, even if I used 2 different names and phone numbers. I even tried changing everything including email, phone and name and since I was logged in it would not let me make multiple reservations. I have a party of 13. I wonder how I am going to have to do that one.(hopefully they will figure that part out before next year. I'd hate to have to call to make all my reservations again - I like the internet)

[mousehelper]

Yepp-- all the way thru.

But-- as I have mentioned somewhere before, my computer and Disney IT do not play well together. The last enhancement enhanced me right out of being able to see any of my reservations online. I can't retrieve anything, I can't cancel anything. I need to call to do it all. I can make reservations, and that is about it. Is that why I can still double book? Who knows.

Disney knows that some computers systems do not work well with them. And they say they don't know why, and are working on it.
:RpS_mellow:

[Canwegosoon]

To be totally honest I have been getting that message for a while- it alerts me to a conflict- I like it because at least it allows me to look and see i I can get something else prior to ditching my origional ressie. Time to time I have had to mae duplicate ressies but in the past 3yrs I have gotten to the point were I don't have to any more. I log in a the earliest point and do my reservations and as early as possible I adjust them. I have been a no show to a couple ressies but usually it was because o transportation issues. Once we went away because our ressie was 7pm and they were running over an hour behind....

I believe that most people are responsible and cancel any double ressies. I go only on school brea times and have not had an issue-because I plan. Non-planners will always have an issue at 8-10 crowd level times.

[jhalpin76]

it alerts me to a conflict- I like it because at least it allows me to look and see i I can get something else prior to ditching my origional ressie. Time to time I have had to mae duplicate ressies but in the past 3yrs I have gotten to the point were I don't have to any more.

I think the difference is that now it won't let you make the double reservation where as before you could choose to ignore that warning and keep both.