Are deposits now required for all ards

[DLPDreams]

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)

OMG that's even worse - that's $60 for us . I'll be sending my DH on his own if we have to cancel short notice!!

Nope, car hire for us for an extra two weeks will be approx over £400 (7 seater as there are 6 of us) - we'll stick to the buses for that!

 

[chmurf]

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.

See the other side of the coin, and think about guests who have a good time at Disney's and can't get a table at an "empty" restaurant, because tables are held up by guests who're having a good time elsewhere.

Now, if this policy gives some guests second thoughts, and have them reconsider their bookings, for fear they might no longer want to eat there on short notice, then that's more tables for guests who are comitted to be there on their ADR time.
This policy is a win-win situation for guests who are on the dining plan for example.

There is a limited number of tables at restaurants. It's a very good thing that this policy helps to make sure that, those who make ADRs are actually willing to eat at the restaurant. If some guest books a restaurant, with the thought, at the back of their head, that they might be having too much fun elsewhere to eat there on that day, then the cancellation guarantee might help them reconsider and make a decision not to book and leave that table open for another guest.

That's a very good policy and very good news for those who stay onsite, and have no possibility (or don't want) to eat offsite.
That might even avoid them to have to book their restaurants 6 months in advance ... because, after all, that's a holiday ...

 

[Elise79]

See the other side of the coin, and think about guests who have a good time at Disney's and can't get a table at an "empty" restaurant, because tables are held up by guests who're having a good time elsewhere. Now, if this policy gives some guests second thoughts, and have them reconsider their bookings, for fear they might no longer want to eat there on short notice, then that's more tables for guests who are comitted to be there on their ADR time. This policy is a win-win situation for guests who are on the dining plan for example. There is a limited number of tables at restaurants. It's a very good thing that this policy helps to make sure that, those who make ADRs are actually willing to eat at the restaurant. If some guest books a restaurant, with the thought, at the back of their head, that they might be having too much fun elsewhere to eat there on that day, then the cancellation guarantee might help them reconsider and make a decision not to book and leave that table open for another guest. That's a very good policy and very good news for those who stay onsite, and have no possibility (or don't want) to eat offsite. That might even avoid them to have to book their restaurants 6 months in advance ... because, after all, that's a holiday ...

Yes, but I don't double book and never book anything I don't intend keeping - I only book as you have to get a table at a sensible time.

Sometimes life gets in the way and plans change...

 

[2Tiggies]

I see both sides of this and think there is merit in both approaches. A happy middle ground would probably be ideal.

It's not a big deal to us as we no longer do many sit down restaurants and aside from CRT in its days of being the hardest-to-get ADR, none of the really popular restaurants are on my list of must do's.

I think those ones that have people getting up at 6 am to be online and book could do well with a deposit and 24 hour cancellation policy. But really, things like Crystal Palace, Tony's, and the rest ..... just pointless IMO.

My card was not charged and there is nothing being 'held' on it for my ressie this year.

 

[chmurf]

Yes, but I don't double book and never book anything I don't intend keeping

perfect. So the cancellation policy is not an issue because you don't willingly put yourself in a situation where you might get charged if you forget to cancel an ADR

Sometimes life gets in the way and plans change...

And that's why CMs at guest relations (or even at CRO on the phone) are very good at dealing with such situations and waive the fees, or even credit the penalty back onto your CC)
So, it's still not an issue.

The main goal of this policy is to hit guests where it hurts : the wallet. so that they at least go through the trouble of telling the restaurants that the table can be reassigned to another party.
If you call and politely ask to waive the penalty, they most probably will (and they already have as per my experience)


No risk taken, but the pledge that the guest will inform the restaurant that the table becomes available again if life gets in the way, and the possibility, for Disney, to charge something if abuse is detected (like multiple reservations on the same CC at different restaurants at the same time)
without that possible penalty, most guests will not have enough good manners to call and cancel, assuming the restaurant will soon enough find out that they no-showed. I find this rude.

 

[amacspad]

We are on the dining plan again this year and I'm slightly worried having to give my cc details for all the reservations as last time we booked the hoop de doo show we found when we got back home they charged us the full amount and it took weeks to get the money back, also got charged for things we shouldnt have on the car hire too!

Debs x

 

[mackay_j]

p

The main goal of this policy is to hit guests where it hurts : the wallet. so that they at least go through the trouble of telling the restaurants that the table can be reassigned to another party.
If you call and politely ask to waive the penalty, they most probably will (and they already have as per my experience)



I hope your correct and that if you have a good reason they will help get your credit back - Many visitors are traveling with medically challenging children and cannot foresee what could happen in any one day.

For me we usually book for every day - good food that caters for allergies is a big attraction for us to visit. However, we have had to cancel last minute with only a few hrs or less notice (last time it was 3 out of 14 of our meals including Xmas day

I am now not sure what to do as there are 5 in our table (10 others in our party will be on other table reservations)- that would be $150 at risk for missing 3 meals - I would be quite upset to loose that sort of money through no fault of our own - as for us (and many others with children with things like diabetes, epilepsy and cancer). But if you are not staying on site it may not be so easy to find the correct person who can sort it/ issue refunds.

 

[Zeebs]

Don't try and book Cinderella's Castle I had to pay that sucker up front, talk about a small heart attack. It is for madam's birthday lunch but that is one expensive, paid up front lunch.

We are staying off site so have only booked a few places, and our meal at Chef Mickeys is booked well into our stay so I can see how Madam gets on with the characters (she screamed blue murder at the lego men at LEGOLAND and they were wayyyy down the other end of the restaurant) so I did this in order to give me enough time to see how she does and give me enough time to cancel so not to be hit with the charge.

Kirsten

 

[chmurf]

Many visitors are traveling with medically challenging children and cannot foresee what could happen in any one day.

I'm disabled (on the GAC/DAS) and I can relate to that. But it's not because I have "special needs" that rules don't apply to me, and that rules should not exist because they are more "unfair" to me than they are to "the vast majority of guests".

I am now not sure what to do as there are 5 in our table (10 others in our party will be on other table reservations)- that would be $150 at risk for missing 3 meals - I would be quite upset to loose that sort of money through no fault of our own

that's why I asked the question earlier, if it was for a specific reason (like not eating together, at the same time, same restaurant, and so on) or if it was to avoid the automatic gratuity.
As Elise79 pointed out, the auto-grat will be added if your server notices you're a "group", and if you will be eating at the same restaurant, booking a table of 15 will lessen the risk that absolutely no one can make it to the restaurant in time.
I mean, if you're in such a tie-up that all 15 people miss their ADR, then it probably means that you have much worse problems on your hands than a restaurant cancellation penalty ...

But if you are not staying on site it may not be so easy to find the correct person who can sort it/ issue refunds.

407-WDW-DINE a Cast Member might pick up the phone and help you out

 

[mackay_j]

I'm disabled (on the GAC/DAS) and I can relate to that. But it's not because I have "special needs" that rules don't apply to me, and that rules should not exist because they are more "unfair" to me than they are to "the vast majority of guests".

I just think it is a shame that abuse of the old system has resulted in a new one that makes it harder/ off puting for people with medical issues to use without loosing (or risk of) money.

that's why I asked the question earlier, if it was for a specific reason (like not eating together, at the same time, same restaurant, and so on) or if it was to avoid the automatic gratuity.
As Elise79 pointed out, the auto-grat will be added if your server notices you're a "group", and if you will be eating at the same restaurant, booking a table of 15 will lessen the risk that absolutely no one can make it to the restaurant in time.



I mean, if you're in such a tie-up that all 15 people miss their ADR, then it probably means that you have much worse problems on your hands than a restaurant cancellation penalty ...

- that's a distinct possibility


407-WDW-DINE a Cast Member might pick up the phone and help you out

No it was more to do with me not wanting to be responsible for what everyone does. (I am quite nervous about getting this holiday right - our last family get together was a bit of a disaster - that's putting mildly :rotfl2):- my side of the family and friends can't believe I'm up for another try. I really want this to work as my MIL is paying for us all to go and is really looking forward to having her whole family together for the first time ever.

So I am going to show the others what we have booked and then they can book and join us if they wish. - we will tip what ever is required anyway.

It is also to do with finance issues - one party will think nothing of ordering poa (lobster/fish) food and very (and I mean VERY) expensive wines . In there defense they would always do when out and would probably offer to pay but it would make the us and other party feel very awkward if we didn't just split the bill equally. So with 3 separate bookings/bills I thought I could try and keep all parties happy. (hopefully)