UPDATE: Dining Changes Official

[disneyfanatic101]

This is an update from a thread I posted yesterday.

I got this from WDW News Today:

Here is the official announcement from Disney on changes to the dining reservation system:

The Walt Disney World® Resort will release a new reservation booking system for dining, recreation and tour reservations in late October 2008. The new reservation system will replace our current Dining Reservation System and will allow you to book multiple dining reservations for your Clients in one experience, while associating reservations to your Clients’ Walt Disney World Resort room reservations.

In the future, Travel Agents and Guests will be able to make dining reservations online at disneytravelagents.com and disneyworld.com with this new reservation booking system. The launch date for this enhancement will be announced at a later date.

As a result of the system upgrade, effective July 29 through late October 2008, Guests will be able to book dining reservations up to Jan. 25, 2009 arrivals. In late October, booking processes will return to normal, allowing Guests to book up to 180 days of arrival.

The system upgrade will not impact Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Chef Mickey’s Restaurant. Those three venues will continue to observe the normal booking processes throughout the system cutover.

There you have it, as expected, you will soon be able to make all your Disney vacation reservations online in one motion, making the overall experience much easier. Expect the new system to be in order around January 2009.

[PolynesianMedic]

It's about time this went into effect!

[Disneyfan_77]

I agree! No more waiting on the phone & worrying about catching them during normal hours.

[ftg09]

So, the way I understand it, this is a kind of test run?

[disneyfanatic101]

Yes, I think it is kinda a test run.

[ChrisX]

This should make the trip planning process that much easier. I am sure they will need to iron out the kinks, but this is definitely a good move that has been a long time coming.

[Flanagan]

Thank you for calling Walt Disney World Dining! If you are calling to make a reservation for Victoria and Albert's, please press one. If not, please press two. Thank you! If you are calling from the Orlando area, or are making a dining reservation for within the next seven days, please press one. If not, please press two. Thank you! If you have visited the Walt Disney World resort before, please press one. If not, please press two. Thank you! If you have visited five times, with at least one visit since 2003, please press one. If not, please press two. Thank you! All Walt Disney World travel planners are currently helping other guests. Please remain on the line and the next available travel planner will be with you as soon as possible. Thank you! *click* *random Disney music that is played so softly it cuts in and out*

NEVER AGAIN! Thank you Disney!

[princessariel]

That's awesome!!

[clion]

Thank you for calling Walt Disney World Dining! If you are calling to make a reservation for Victoria and Albert's, please press one. If not, please press two. Thank you! If you are calling from the Orlando area, or are making a dining reservation for within the next seven days, please press one. If not, please press two. Thank you! If you have visited the Walt Disney World resort before, please press one. If not, please press two. Thank you! If you have visited five times, with at least one visit since 2003, please press one. If not, please press two. Thank you! All Walt Disney World travel planners are currently helping other guests. Please remain on the line and the next available travel planner will be with you as soon as possible. Thank you! *click* *random Disney music that is played so softly it cuts in and out*

NEVER AGAIN! Thank you Disney!

Well, it's good to know we have that spiel recorded for the archives.

[hms1016]

Thank goodness! I am sure this will be a great improvement over the current system.

[Flanagan]

Well, it's good to know we have that spiel recorded for the archives.

I have nightmares with that spiel. I can recite it at will, I've heard it so many times being the official trip planner of the Frikkin' Flanagan Family Fun Fest for the last 4 years and unofficial trip planner for various trips in between... It's gotten to the point that I know the timing and sequence of the button presses.

[BamaJenn]

I'm glad to hear this. Lou also mentioned on this week's podcast that the new system is going to make it so you can't do the double booking thing anymore which was an issue that often caused ADRs to fill up. I know for years I've been saying it made SO much more sense to allow you to do it online... I mean you can do practically everything else online. It's just shame that I won't get to use it anytime soon because we'll be booking our tour and ADRs for the January trip before it's implemented.