Saw this posted elsewhere: new DVC perk? Awesome

[Chuck S]

It seems to be the one program they piloted right at the end of COVID. It was extended to grand villas, cabins, bungalows and treehouses (though this I saw confirmed once).

I've taken large family groups before (12 to16 people), I can see such a program being helpful for large group ADRs.

 

[J-Dog]

View attachment 770642

We used a very similar perk in December 2022. Had a GV at RIV.

Here's the thread I started about it:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/did-anyone-else-get-this-email-from-ms.3895561/

tl;dr: I used the ADR service, but ended-up changing most of them because what they got me weren't ideal in one way or another. The only real "perk" of it was getting those initial ADR's so that I didn't have to wake up at 3am (Pacific time).

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We just received this email for our sept trip. We have a split stay with 6 people in 2 studios at OKW then moving to a treehouse, and it mentioned both stays. I think we would only use it for dining and maybe room requests. I’m not sure on dining though since it sounds like it may be better to try for our own reservations right when it opens in the morning.

 

[mak'smom]

We just received this email for our sept trip. We have a split stay with 6 people in 2 studios at OKW then moving to a treehouse, and it mentioned both stays. I think we would only use it for dining and maybe room requests. I’m not sure on dining though since it sounds like it may be better to try for our own reservations right when it opens in the morning.

We are staying in a Grand Villa at the Grand Floridian the second week of July and used this service. I normally am up and scheduling dining as soon as the window opens, but was very worried about getting reservations for 11 people. The service worked great. We got every reservation at the time we wanted and did not need to stress. Highly recommend.

 

[Brian Noble]

The more I go to WDW, the more I find myself wanting to treat it like a vacation rather than a logistical exercise on a par with the Normandy invasion. I'd rather let a "Disney specialist" or the equivalent do all of that stuff. I'd lean that way even if they would not do it with the same gusto I used to bring to the table. If I don't get the Hot Ticket, there are plenty of other places to eat. Some of them are even good! ;-)

However, when I stay in a DVC resort, there is no commission so there is no third party to do that work. If Disney wants to offer it, I would absolutely take them up on it.

 

[marx]

Do those with Club Level reservations typically get an email like this? I have an AKV Club Level (first time in many AKV trips) coming up in less than 60 days and didn't receive anything from concierge. I don't actually need any assistance, I'm just curious.

 

[tsulliv9]

I've taken large family groups before (12 to16 people), I can see such a program being helpful for large group ADRs.

We used it last Thanksgiving staying at RIV GV with 11 people and what was nice is a lot of the restaurants would not book for more than 6 people but they would get 2 reservations for the same time with 6 an 5 and it would all be under my account. This was much easier than having to juggle 2 different accounts and trying to get close times for each. I will say every single place we ate at did a very good job of seating us together or in tables right next to each other.

 

[J-Dog]

We are staying in a Grand Villa at the Grand Floridian the second week of July and used this service. I normally am up and scheduling dining as soon as the window opens, but was very worried about getting reservations for 11 people. The service worked great. We got every reservation at the time we wanted and did not need to stress. Highly recommend.

We did the same thing, but most of the ADRs that they got for us were 2-3 hours before or after our requested time, and about 1/3 of them end-up being placed as 2 separate 4-top tables (there were 8 of us).

Over the next 2 or 3 weeks after that, I managed to find and replace every ADR that they got us that was not ideal with something that was much closer to what I asked for. We ended-up with all of the same restaurants with better times and a single table at every one, just by changing the ADRs myself.

Not saying that they did poorly, but they obviously don't have the same stakes in the game as the person that they are making the reservations for.

Having said that, I would probably use the service again if I was offered it, but no way would I do it if it they started to charge for it.

 

[Chuck S]

We did the same thing, but most of the ADRs that they got for us were 2-3 hours before or after our requested time, and about 1/3 of them end-up being placed as 2 separate 4-top tables (there were 8 of us).

Over the next 2 or 3 weeks after that, I managed to find and replace every ADR that they got us that was not ideal with something that was much closer to what I asked for. We ended-up with all of the same restaurants with better times and a single table at every one, just by changing the ADRs myself.

Not saying that they did poorly, but they obviously don't have the same stakes in the game as the person that they are making the reservations for.

Having said that, I would probably use the service again if I was offered it, but no way would I do it if it they started to charge for it.

Understandably, some venues are not able to accomodate large groups at the same table. When I take a large group, ususally two of us will get together at my friends house, he has a home office with mutliple computers, to make ADRs. If we find times close to each other we book, and then that morning we stop by the venue to let them know we are actually one large party, and if we could be seated at one table, or nearby, it would be great. If not, well, we just dine as seperate groups. This service, if they at least get 2 or 3 reservations near the same time, could work similarly, but unless the reservation is specifically for a large table, I'd still drop by the venue earlier in the day, and let them know.

 

[drusba]

The more I go to WDW, the more I find myself wanting to treat it like a vacation rather than a logistical exercise on a par with the Normandy invasion. I'd rather let a "Disney specialist" or the equivalent do all of that stuff. I'd lean that way even if they would not do it with the same gusto I used to bring to the table. If I don't get the Hot Ticket, there are plenty of other places to eat. Some of them are even good! ;-)

However, when I stay in a DVC resort, there is no commission so there is no third party to do that work. If Disney wants to offer it, I would absolutely take them up on it.

Still smiling about the Disney/DVC reality of the Normandy comment in your first sentence.

 

[J-Dog]

Understandably, some venues are not able to accomodate large groups at the same table. What when I take a large group, ususally two of us will get together at my friends house, he has a home office with mutliple computers, to make ADR. If we find times close to each other we book, and then that morning we stop by the venue to let them know we are actually one large party, and if we could be seated at one table, or nearby, it would be great. If not, well, we just dine as seperate groups. This service, if they at least get 2 or 3 reservations near the same time, could work similarly, but unless the reservation is specifically for a large table, I'd still drop by the venue earlier in the day, and let them know.

Right, but I was able to switch from their reservation for 2 tables of 4 at 7:00pm at CRT (which they did at 60 days), to a table for 8 at 7:00pm at CRT at (if I remember right) at 56 days. And had 2 other ADRs that were very similar to this.

And they told me that they would continue to look for ADRs that opened-up that were closer to what we requested, but I end-up switching them all manually myself. So, obviously, the ADRs had opened-up and I was quicker than they were.

Again, I'm not saying that the service was bad. It's just that I was clearly more worried about me getting what I wanted, than they were worried about me getting what I wanted.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't want any new "service" that is going to add to our dues.

My bet is when finally rolled out, there will be a fee. I don’t think they could add it to dues.

 

[Brian Noble]

the Disney/DVC reality of the Normandy

In fairness, there are times when I play the atomic clock game for non-Disney things. For example, if you want to park at Hā'ena State Park on Kauai, and you are not a Hawaii resident, you need to pay for a reservation. Those open thirty days prior, midnight Hawaii time, and they sell out in tens of seconds.