New Disney Dining Reservations System

disneydining

Those of you who have been travelling to Walt Disney World for a few years have witnessed the transformation of the Disney Dining reservations system…multiple times. Just when we figured out how to get the best character dining reservations by calling exactly 180 days before our trip at exactly 6:59 a.m. ET and booking for the last day of our vacation…187 days away (clever!), they changed the game on us by allowing reservations 90 days out. Then suddenly waking up pre-dawn to call the reservation line and hoping to get one of the fast typing phone bank reps wasn’t enough. The reservations system went online, and the game changed completely.

I was personally disappointed when the reservation system went online because with this new ease, people decided to book multiple reservations for the same time. Not sure if they were going to be in the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, they’d book Tony’s and 9 Dragons for the same day and time. Those of us trying to book just one reservation found that there was no availability because these multiple-booking vacationers never cancelled the extra reservations. In fact, during our December vacation we had to roll the dice and hope for walk-up availability. We sat in restaurants with open seats all around us as people didn’t honor their reservations.

Now the Disney Dining reservations system online is going through another transformation. Still in Beta, this new system allows for more search options, helping to lead people to the best possible reservation for them without the need to do extensive research off of the reservations system. I think this is a great addition to the current system, and my hope is that with more information during the reservation process, people will choose more carefully and make less overlapping reservations.

Have you tried the new reservation system? Tell us what you thought!

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10 Comments

  • AJ

    Srsly. The double bookings were always a problem, but with the ease of the online system it became systemic! It seems like Disney's been finding and closing the loopholes in a lot of their dining systems (refillable mug abuse might get kicked to the wayside, soon, too!). Looking forward to the outcome of the new system.

  • ResourcefulMommy

    AJ, you know what I would love? A pop-up – maybe Captain Hook – that says, "Don't you already have a reservation at this same day and time?"

    That would be incredible!

  • Nancy

    I will be booking ADRs at the end of June for New Years weekend….so I will be extremely curious to see how this works. A little nervous too, because I always hate doing something when it's still in testing…so many bugs. But I'll let folks know how I make out.

  • DiPaola Momma

    And here I was thinking.. easy peasy.. just make a good ole fashion reservation. SEE this is why I look to you for your sage advice. I'm down for the Captain Hook pop up too but can we make that Jack Sparrow?

  • TheAngelForever

    We used the online reservations when we went to Disney before DisneySMMoms in February. I went to it after a problem with the traditional phone call. It took a little getting used to and had a few glitches, but was a nice improvement. My only complaint was the way it narrowed down the times you could see. I would like it just to pop up what is available on that date with the number in your party. No doubt more of the kinks have been worked out since that time. Hoping that they can also figure something out to stop the greedy people who double/triple book ADRs with this new system. Love your Captain Hook idea 😉

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  • Katie's Nesting Spot

    I have not but I can't believe so many people would make duplicate reservations. Not ver considerate at all.

  • Joy

    so wrong and rude to over book yourself and then never bother to cancel. We have some of our ADR made for November-SOOOO excited got dd into the castle I know there are mixed reviews but she is four and she just wants to go to the castle! also doing Ohana breakfast and made reservations @Tony's with hopes of landing a great seat to see the SpectroMagic parade!