A question about the $10 cancellation fee.

[ScubaCat]

You can also completely cancel at the podium for no charge. I've done that a couple of times. As long as SOMEONE shows up for any reason, they won't charge you. The penalty is just there to stop people from booking up the reservations and ignoring them when they don't feel like showing up. (And that happened ALL THE TIME. No matter what it is in life, if there's no penalty, people will abuse.)

 

[lockedoutlogic]

You can also completely cancel at the podium for no charge. I've done that a couple of times. As long as SOMEONE shows up for any reason, they won't charge you. The penalty is just there to stop people from booking up the reservations and ignoring them when they don't feel like showing up. (And that happened ALL THE TIME. No matter what it is in life, if there's no penalty, people will abuse.)

Indeed...many people (though few would admit it)...would book multiples per meal period so they had the choice of which park they went to. That has probably also been curbed by the advanced booking fastpasses.

 

[Lisa F]

I have been told only 1 person has to arrive for the reservation and then there will be no fee.

We recently had to cancel an ADR same day. We called Guest Services and we asked if they would let us "trade" it for dinner the following night at another restaurant instead of acquiring the fee. She said yes. She then told us that we could cancel the new one by 10pm with no fee. It was worth asking to see if there were any other options. I'm sure it depends on the time of year and cast member but it worth a shot if you are ever in a bind like we were.

you do not need to call to do this.

you can do this yourself on MDE... even day of you can change an ADR to a different day further out and then cancel it entirely without incurring the fee.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

you do not need to call to do this.

you can do this yourself on MDE... even day of you can change an ADR to a different day further out and then cancel it entirely without incurring the fee.

Very true...I've done this before as well...it's a backdoor into the system.

The one problem there is there has to be a reservation more than 24 hours out to change it to. Popular places/times may not allow that.

 

[Leelo]

you do not need to call to do this.

you can do this yourself on MDE... even day of you can change an ADR to a different day further out and then cancel it entirely without incurring the fee.

Thanks! We will remember that option for next time. We called on that trip because we weren't on wifi and data needed to be spared.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

If I reserve a table for 5, but only 4 end up going, am I charged the $10 fee?

ADR "NO-SHOW" CANCELLATION FEES 411:
ALL Table Service eateries, both Disney-owned and non-Disney-owned are covered by this policy.
.
1) The rule says you are charged $10 per person for "no-show" ADR's.
. . . penalty applies when none of the party appears for the ADR
. . . penalty does not apply as long as some guests in party appear
2) The "no-show" penalty procedure
. . . podium person lists ADR as no-show (checks "On Hold" box in computer)
. . . usually after 30-minutes tardiness you are marked as a "no-show"
. . . once listed as "no-show", your name and number of your guests are listed
. . . the computer is reviewed by a manager at the end of the operating day
. . . the eatery manager SOLELY determines whether or not to charge you
. . . if charged, the cost penalty is on your credit/debit card immediately
. . . there are no exceptions for missing ADR's for such things as late flights
. . . if worried about late/delayed flights, don't book a TS meal until well after arrival time
. . . there are NO exceptons for being delayed due to crowded WDW rides or attractions
. . . it is up to you to plan you day to meet ADR times
. . . if you get there and decide not to wait for your ADR< you WILL be charged the no-show-fee
3) Exceptions - policy
. . . penalty is not assessed for cancellations made the day before ADR
. . . the ADR must be canceled by 11:59pm the previous day to avoid a no-show penalty
. . . for pre-paid meals, there are 24-48 hour cancel periods (eg. CRT, HDDR, Luau)
4) Exceptions - not policy, and at manager's discretion
. . . cancellations for lunch/dinner made early in the same day
. . . you come to the eatery ANYTIME during the same day and apologize
. . . a few minutes tardy, podium person usually will not denote you as "On Hold"
5) No-Show Penalty Trial Period Backstory
. . . this was done on a trial-basis for 4-weeks in Epcot
. . . cut down no-shows by over 75% at Epcot eateries
. . . Le Cellier cut daily no-shows to 1-page from 2-3 pages
. . . now a policy, as no-shows greatly can reduce eatery revenue
. . . a no-show takes a ressie someone else might have kept
. . . the policy was then trialed for character meals and signature meals
. . . being so successful, it is in effect for almost all table service meals across-the-property


NOTE1: During busy periods, there might not be a grace period and late-is-late, and they
might even cancel your ADR. However, whether the ADR was canceled due to tardiness or
not, the penalty fee will not be imposed, as long as you showed at the podium.

NOTE2: IMPORTANT
If you show up 2-hrs before your reservation, you still might get the penalty fee.
The "Ala Carte" dining reservation system
. . . the system only shows/allows only 2-hrs of ADR's for check-in purposes
. . . if you show within that time, the SEATER (aka, host/hostess) checks you in with no problem
. . . if you are earlier or later, the SEATER must write your name and confirmation number down in long hand
. . . the long hand note is given to the manager
. . . the manager, then, will look at the non-shows at the end of the day and not charge you
Why doesn't this happen all the time?
. . . some SEATER's are simply lazy
. . . others just don't care
If you show up 2-hrs early for your ADR, ask the SEATER if they have noted your confirmation number that you have appeared to the ADR. If the SEATER does not note your arrival, you can bet you will see a no-show penalty-fee on your credit card.