Are deposits now required for all ards

[mackay_j]

Just went on to start booking our Ards and for the 1st time I seem to need to pay deposits upfront (only had to do this last time for select restaurants). Tet here are 15 of us so I was booking us in 3 parties of 5. As you can imagine trying to organise such a large party (which includes several young adults a few teens some kids and a toddler ) is going to be a chalenge. What happens if a few cancel and do not show up for an ARD has any one tried going with fewer than on the booking.


I do not want to risk not making any ARDs as the chances of getting walk ins in august for 15 is probably nil, but at the same time I do not want to end up paying lots for any groups no shows (3 siblings and their families and one mil.

What is the latest that you can cancle an ARD and not have to pay.


Thanks for any help- I am a veteran of my family visits but this large group thing has me in a spin.

 

[meggiebeth]

I think it's a new thing- you are charged if you don't cancel 24 hours in advance. It really is a bit silly!

I've read that as long as someone shows up for that table, you aren't charged. But if you're booking three tables, people would have to show up for each if those tables.

My brother skipped several meals on our last trip and we were never charged.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[chmurf]

These are not deposits, but they're a guarantee.

you are not charged, unless you don't show up and/or don't cancel before the cancellation time limit. (between 24 and 48 hours prior to the ADR depending on the restaurants. Conditions are stated when you book)

This is designed to prevent guests from making several dummy reservations for the same day, which was a rude and inconsiderate behaviour towards all the other guests who would find a restaurant to be booked solid by guests with no intention of eating there, and who are rude enough not to cancel in due time.

ETA : you're not charged if at least one person per table shows up
booking 3 parties of 5 instead of a party of 15 ... any specific reason, or is it just to avoid the automatic gratuity ?

 

[Elise79]

It changed last October/November time.

You need to cancel by the night before to avoid the charge. As long as someone shows up and takes the table there will be no charge.

I would make the other groups secure there reservations with their card to make them more committed to the bookings. I would also book a group of 15 if you all want to eat at the same time. The smaller bookings won't stop the auto gratuity if they know you are part of a larger party.

 

[orangetiggs]

Always check your card that you use, we artived early to an adr last year and crystal palace missed us and charged us even though we had eaten there

So always double check

 

[cliveywolves]

These are not deposits, but they're a guarantee.

you are not charged, unless you don't show up and/or don't cancel before the cancellation time limit. (between 24 and 48 hours prior to the ADR depending on the restaurants. Conditions are stated when you book)

This is designed to prevent guests from making several dummy reservations for the same day, which was a rude and inconsiderate behaviour towards all the other guests who would find a restaurant to be booked solid by guests with no intention of eating there, and who are rude enough not to cancel in due time.

ETA : you're not charged if at least one person per table shows up
booking 3 parties of 5 instead of a party of 15 ... any specific reason, or is it just to avoid the automatic gratuity ?

Yes IMO this is was a good move by Disney as you say far to many people book multiple reservations just for the sake of being able too, maybe this will now stop this !

 

[Elise79]

Yes IMO this is was a good move by Disney as you say far to many people book multiple reservations just for the sake of being able too, maybe this will now stop this !

See I think it's a stupid idea - it's only needed on the popular reservations.

Now we only book ahead for the places we must eat. I will look on the day for any others and if I can't anything I fancy we just eat offsite and Disney lose out!

 

[meggiebeth]

See I think it's a stupid idea - it's only needed on the popular reservations. Now we only book ahead for the places we must eat. I will look on the day for any others and if I can't anything I fancy we just eat offsite and Disney lose out!

I totally agree. It's ridiculous! If we have made ONE booking and can't make it for whatever reason, we are charged! It's a minority that make more than one reservation.

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[cliveywolves]

I totally agree. It's ridiculous! If we have made ONE booking and can't make it for whatever reason, we are charged! It's a minority that make more than one reservation. Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Totally understand what you are saying, but honestly I have a friend who is a CM & it is a lot more than a minority that were booking multiple and not showing up for ADR's hence why Disney changed this policy.. Never going to please everyone but I have found it easier this time around to make our ADR's

 

[Tink1987]

I personally think it's a good idea - when in DL recently so many people were being turned away because people had booked and there was the chance they may not turn up. We heard many a conversation by CM's on the greeting stands that 4, 5, 6 etc reservations had not turned up in the last hour. And this was during a quiet period!

 

[Tink1987]

See I think it's a stupid idea - it's only needed on the popular reservations. Now we only book ahead for the places we must eat. I will look on the day for any others and if I can't anything I fancy we just eat offsite and Disney lose out!

I do see where you are coming from but Disney are losing out also by people walking up and having to be turned away just incase a party turns up. As said in my previous post, we heard so many CM's talking about how bad they feel turning people away but they can't risk giving the table away even if the booked reservation is 20 - 30 minutes late.

 

[chmurf]

If we have made ONE booking and can't make it for whatever reason, we are charged!

you're not. As long as you go to any guest relations or hotel front desk and explain that you couldn't do it in time, CMs will be more than happy to cancel your ADR (even if it's past the ADR time) and waive the no-show fee.

I've even had to cancel an ADR, 5 minutes before, and since the CM at my hotel could not verify if I'd be charged or not, she credited my room balance with $30 "just in case" (the amount that could be charged for no show).
Turns out I wasn't charged and kept the $30.

I've cancelled a few ADRs on short notice (much shorter than the posted cancellation requirements) and never was charged as long as I explained my resasons (and one time the reason was "I'm not feeling well, I don't think I'll be able to go eat" wether that reason was true or not is my own business.)

People are allergic to change. And they think they'll get charged left, right and center. People call some rules "stupid" because they might, due to exceptionnal circumstances, be in a situation where they might be in a situation where they might (3rd *might*) face the possibility of getting charged for a no-show, when all they have to do is ask a CM to waive the charge, which 99.9% of CMs will do (and apologise for your not being able to enjoy your meal)

Some will complain about the cancellation policy, they probably would complain even more if they weren't able to book their favorite restaurants.


@Elise79 : if you walk up to a restaurant and can't find a table and walk away, Disney doesn't lose out, because the mere fact that you can't find a table means that the restaurant is already booked solid. So if Disney doesn't get your money, disney don't care, they already have another guest's money.

 

[DLPDreams]

I think the 48 hours (in some circs) and 24 hours is way too far in advance, especially for larger parties (who may split up etc at short notice) or parties with young children. No-one knows how tired they are going to be at a given time, or if they want to change touring arrangements short notice etc.

I am finding it difficult to understand how we pack any 'spontaneity' into our trip at all. It's a holiday, not a military operation . It actually really concerns me. I do really want to go, but it is leaving me feeling a bit 'stressed' being the only one with all the planning on my shoulders for 6 of us! I've been to DLP several times and never felt that I have to plan to within an inch of our lives. And while no-one is forcing me to do this, I feel like after everything I have read, if I don't (especially as we are going at a busy time), it will be at our peril .

Having to book ADRs and now FPs so far in advance makes it very hard to change much nearer the time and still be given decent alternatives .

I do understand why the no charge fee has been introduced, but I do think they could have made it much nearer to the reservation time. Even the same day - say within 6 hours or something. This would then allow for walk ins and give the original booker a little more leeway.

chmurf - I will bear that CM tip in mind, thanks. As I am sure there will be some times where we book meals and just can't make it - children (or anyone in the party) too tired to go back out, feeling poorly etc.

Just to clarify, is the cancellation charge now for all TS restaurants then? It used to just be for certain ones didn't it?

 

[Disneymad]

I am finding it difficult to understand how we pack any 'spontaneity' into our trip at all.

You can be more spontaneous than you ever could before. Due to the Credit Card penalty people either don't book ADR's they might not use, or cancel them. Thus leaving more availability for walk ups.

The only people I've really seen complaining about the change are those who want to book ADR's and not turn up if they don't fancy it. Yet they are the very ones stopping spontaneous people like me from making my dinner choice on the fly because a restaurant is holding tables back for no shows

 

[DLPDreams]

You can be more spontaneous than you ever could before. Due to the Credit Card penalty people either don't book ADR's they might not use, or cancel them. Thus leaving more availability for walk ups.

The only people I've really seen complaining about the change are those who want to book ADR's and not turn up if they don't fancy it. Yet they are the very ones stopping spontaneous people like me from making my dinner choice on the fly because a restaurant is holding tables back for no shows

Perhaps you are right, but I think some of this depends on when you are going too. If going during a free DDP and busy park period, I still think it will be hard to get into some of the popular eateries and character meals without a reservation, at a popular time of day/night!

I don't want us to be despondent if we can't get into where we'd like to eat, so I prefer to book, but like the flexibility of being able to cancel within a shorter time frame .

I certainly would not book and then not bother to cancel (penalty or not), or double book, it is very rude imo and shows a lack of courtesy for others .

 

[darthtatty]

you're not. As long as you go to any guest relations or hotel front desk and explain that you couldn't do it in time, CMs will be more than happy to cancel your ADR (even if it's past the ADR time) and waive the no-show fee.

I've even had to cancel an ADR, 5 minutes before, and since the CM at my hotel could not verify if I'd be charged or not, she credited my room balance with $30 "just in case" (the amount that could be charged for no show).
Turns out I wasn't charged and kept the $30.

I've cancelled a few ADRs on short notice (much shorter than the posted cancellation requirements) and never was charged as long as I explained my resasons (and one time the reason was "I'm not feeling well, I don't think I'll be able to go eat" whether that reason was true or not is my own business.)

that's good to know
theres always a chance someone can get ill at the last minute or transport problems.

Just to clarify, is the cancellation charge now for all TS restaurants then? It used to just be for certain ones didn't it?

Ive just done my ADRs and all of them needed a card to guarantee the reservation. Im sure its all of them now.

 

[Elise79]

you're not. As long as you go to any guest relations or hotel front desk and explain that you couldn't do it in time, CMs will be more than happy to cancel your ADR (even if it's past the ADR time) and waive the no-show fee. I've even had to cancel an ADR, 5 minutes before, and since the CM at my hotel could not verify if I'd be charged or not, she credited my room balance with $30 "just in case" (the amount that could be charged for no show). Turns out I wasn't charged and kept the $30. I've cancelled a few ADRs on short notice (much shorter than the posted cancellation requirements) and never was charged as long as I explained my resasons (and one time the reason was "I'm not feeling well, I don't think I'll be able to go eat" wether that reason was true or not is my own business.) People are allergic to change. And they think they'll get charged left, right and center. People call some rules "stupid" because they might, due to exceptionnal circumstances, be in a situation where they might be in a situation where they might (3rd *might*) face the possibility of getting charged for a no-show, when all they have to do is ask a CM to waive the charge, which 99.9% of CMs will do (and apologise for your not being able to enjoy your meal) Some will complain about the cancellation policy, they probably would complain even more if they weren't able to book their favorite restaurants. @Elise79 : if you walk up to a restaurant and can't find a table and walk away, Disney doesn't lose out, because the mere fact that you can't find a table means that the restaurant is already booked solid. So if Disney doesn't get your money, disney don't care, they already have another guest's money.

There is no guarantee they will continue to waive the fees especially if a lot of people cancel within the window.

Anyway, from my point of view we would book ADRs for restaurants likes Turf Club, GFC, Kona, Captains Grill quite happily. We have once or twice not been able to make them as we have been offsite away from Disney and have been late back. I always cancel but usual online and not by phone. I am not willing to book a restaurant like that and risk a $30 charge if we are having a good time elsewhere and don't want to head back - that's not a holiday.

I also have come to a point in my Disney visits were I am fed up with the over-priced average food served at most 1TS restaurants. I am not willing to book them months in advance and have them held on my CC.

Fortunately we are not tied by the DDP and we always have a car. Lots of other restaurants close by.

 

[DLPDreams]

There is no guarantee they will continue to waive the fees especially if a lot of people cancel within the window.

Anyway, from my point of view we would book ADRs for restaurants likes Turf Club, GFC, Kona, Captains Grill quite happily. We have once or twice not been able to make them as we have been offsite away from Disney and have been late back. I always cancel but usual online and not by phone. I am not willing to book a restaurant like that and risk a $30 charge if we are having a good time elsewhere and don't want to head back - that's not a holiday.

I also have come to a point in my Disney visits were I am fed up with the over-priced average food served at most 1TS restaurants. I am not willing to book them months in advance and have them held on my CC.

Fortunately we are not tied by the DDP and we always have a car. Lots of other restaurants close by.

I agree it's a bit much. Like I said, if they just made the timing a bit more lenient, same day even.

Once we get to WDW, after our few days at US and then DC and shopping etc, we don't plan on having a car for the remaining two weeks (just too expensive to have for that additional time if we are just planning on staying on WDW), so we are a captive audience (and happy at that as it's our first WDW trip).

You mention $30 - is it $10 per head?? I thought it was $10 per table.

Like I say, I don't intentionally plan to not turn up! But, with young children, things go awol sometimes, even with the best will in the world!

 

[DLPDreams]

Ive just done my ADRs and all of them needed a card to guarantee the reservation. Im sure its all of them now.

Wow. So does that leave an imprint on your CC then? I've read about this with some car hire firms too - they leave a shadow but don't actually take anything - all a bit double dutch to me tbh I don't even own a CC, but will be getting one for our trip .

 

[Elise79]

The guarantee is $10 per person

I haven't seen any holds or shadows on my card when booking ADRs but it does get linked against each reservation.

(Oh and I couldn't be without a car even onsite - we drive to the parks and other resorts. The cost of the car is far less than I put on my time not wasting it on waiting for buses trying to get everywhere)