Modifying a guaranteed ADR?

[Colleen27]

In light of the new policy regarding credit card guarantees and cancellation penalties, I'm curious about whether or not it is possible to modify party size for those ADRs that require CC info. How has this been handled with pre-paid/guaranteed reservations to date?

I've never had to think about it before, but now the majority of our restaurant choices will be subject to a cancellation penalty and I made our reservations for our largest possible party size knowing that one person is a "maybe". If he can't make the trip am I going to have to start all over with rebooking ADRs at the last minute, or will I be able to call and change the reservations I already have from 7 to 6?

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I don't think changing your party size will be an issue. Disney isn't going to charge you up front for making reservations. They're going to take down your credit card number and charge you if need be. So, if you make a reservation for three, then later need to change it to four, no big deal. But if the four of you then don't show up on the day of, you'll be charged for four, because that's how your reservation stands.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't think changing your party size will be an issue. Disney isn't going to charge you up front for making reservations. They're going to take down your credit card number and charge you if need be. So, if you make a reservation for three, then later need to change it to four, no big deal. But if the four of you then don't show up on the day of, you'll be charged for four, because that's how your reservation stands.

What I'm wondering about is that in the past when I've tried to change the number of people on a reservation, whether to add or subtract someone and whether or not it effects table size, I've been told that isn't possible. You have to cancel and rebook, or you can just let the hostess know about the change in party size at check-in and hope they can accommodate you (generally not an issue stepping down, but might be stepping up). But I've never tried to change a cancellation-fee ADR. So what I'm wondering is if the process is different for the ADRs with cancellation rules.

 

[daraddg]

I'd like to know the answer to that too, I have a reservation for 5 but need to drop down to 3 and worried they will cancel the whole thing and its a resturant that I havent been able to find another opening for.

 

[OhThePain]

For the most part, trying to modify a CC hold/ pre-pay restaurant is the same as trying to modify any other restaurant, the only difference is that if you don't cancel an ADR up to a certain point (I think it's 48 hours before in most cases) you will be charged. If you try to show up with more people, they will try to help you out as best as they can, but they also have the right to turn the extra person away. Showing up with less people than your ADR is made for may result in being charged a no-show fee for each person that is not there. Depending on the hostess/host some will not charge you for just one person not showing up, however, others can and will.

There are a few ways you can handle this. First, is to make an ADR for 6 and if 7 are there hope the can take your whole party (you may have to wait longer), but they can and will turn the 7th person away if they can't help out your situation. Next would be to make an ADR for 7 and hope the other person comes. If not, you may have to eat the cost of a no-show. You can also call and make your ADR for 7 and if the other person decides not to join, call Disney Dining and see if they can make the change for you (if the first person you call says they cannot make changes, call again, you can get very different responces from different phone CMs). Another option, if you make your ADR for 6 or for 7, is to go to the restaurant itself as early as you can, and explain that there is either one more or one less person in your party. This gives them a little more time to try to help you out, but there is a chance that they will still charge you for a no-show.

Personally, I would talk to the "maybe person" before you make your ADR's and explain the situation and the policy. I would also have them understand that if they are to be included in the ADR's and then end up not going, you will try to modify the ADR, but any ADR that cannot be modified where you end up getting charged a no-show fee, they are going to cover the extra cost. I don't think it is right for you to have to wait to make ADR's just because of one person and then end up either missing out on an restaurant or getting charged because of them.

 

[n2mm]

This is the exact scenario I posted on the new thread. This happened to us last year. We were booking the Norway meal and were not sure if grandson was traveling with us. I called and spoke with the CM who said if I add GS and he did not show, I WOULD BE charged the $10 no show for him not attending. I asked about modifying and was told that I could only CANCEL and rebook and would loose my reservation. So we left GS OFF the reservation. Now in light of this new ruling, I will have to make DOUBLE bookings if I'm not sure of my party size. While I know there was some abuse, now folks like me (and others) will have to purposely DOUBLE book to ensure we don't have to pay fees for no-shows in our party. So in Disney's efforts to fix one problem, they will create another. Sounds like I need to send a letter about my concerns. I've never been an ADR abuser and I even take my netbook and cancel my ADRs if I don't need them, but now I'll have to get creative on making my ADRs. I'm just happy that my window opens on 10/22! for my April trip!

 

[pixiesnake]

Last November I had a California Grill ADR for 4 that had to be guaranteed with a credit card. About a month before the other couple decided they couldn't come. I thought for sure I was going to have to cancel the whole reservation and hope to be able to get another one. When I called I asked if I could just change the number of people they changed it to 2 with no problem. I had same confirmation number and when I showed up at the restaurant they had it as a party of two. Actually, come to think of it I was paranoid about it really getting changed so I called again a week later to check it and it was fine then. All worked out fine and I was relieved. Did I just get lucky? I have no idea since I haven't had to deal with the same problem since. So, it is POSSIBLE for them to just change the number on the reseveration.

BTW - I think the new arrangement is a good idea. I do hope, though, that they have a way for you to change the number and not have to cancel the entire reservation.

 

[Colleen27]

Ugh, that was what I was afraid of. I guess what I need to do is just stop tweaking my ADRs once the new policy takes effect because it sounds like it won't apply to the ADRs I already have. And in the future I suppose the safe bet is to double book initially if there's any uncertainty about who will be traveling with us and just cancel the ones for the wrong party size once everything is set.

I'm so disappointed to see ALL our first night choices on the list! We don't book cancellation penalty meals for our arrival day because of the potential for travel delays, but almost always book either a signature restaurant or character meal. Now those will all be penalty restaurants.

ETA: Interesting, Pixie, thanks for sharing. Maybe this is going to be another of those things where you just have to get through to a CM who knows how to do it if you need to modify rather than cancel a reservation.

 

[Cafeen]

It's like everything with Disney Dining. It all matters who picks up the phone. There are recent reports of BOTH reactions ("No way can it be done" and "Sure, I'll make the change for you no problem").

There does need to be something official in place for this with the large additions to the CC hold pool. As we are now dealing with potential extra charges from CMs getting it wrong, which (while they'd likely waive it after the fact) can really be annoying.

They also should really fix that stupid "odd number" bug that's been in the system forever. The bug exists where the system cannot find a table for 1, but a table for 2 is available. This technically should NEVER happen as if there's room for 2 due to fire codes, table size, and available servers, there's room for 1. The same holds true for nearly all odd numbers, where the availability changes for the next number up, typically increasing. I know that I make half of my reservations for 2 due to this, and was instructed to (several times) by dining CMs. Somehow, I'm doubtful that this will happen though, so I really hope that the modification policy/process does get fully in place.

(Note that before, when it was only a small selection of guaranteed ADRs, it wasn't a big deal, I could search for 1 for those and take what I got (if anything), now that it's a much larger portion, it matters a bit more.)