Asking the Pros: Modifying a Disney Dining Reso

[CaptainEO88]

My husband and I are planning to visit WDW September 20th-27th, have purchased a package and are staying on property. At our 180 day mark, we booked all of the dining reservations we wanted.

My question is, my brother and sister-in-law are going to be able to join us on one day of our trip. They expressed interest in wanting to eat with us. Has anyone ever had success calling to change a dining reservation from 2 people to 4 people?

Worst case scenario, I can sign up for Disney Dining Buddy, and try to book new reservations for four, instead of two. I am just trying to save the money, and the hassle of canceling and rebooking. Hoping someone has good news out there.

 

[robndani]

I would just call Disney Dining and have them check it out for you. Probably the easiest way to start!

Enjoy!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I am just trying to save the money, and the hassle of canceling and rebooking

1) Got to do it.
2) If you just show up with two extra, they may be standing outside watching YOU eat.
3) Disney is getting tougher to just "bring more people".
4) Of course, if the eatery isn't too busy, they will allow them, otherwise, nope.
5) Call and make a new ressie, THEN cancel the previous ressie . . . DO NOT cancel the current ressie first.

 

[casey10]

Great advise so far. What location and what day during that week are you looking at?

 

[Pmlocke]

We have done exactly that on our last two trips. This past February and last November. We have a niece and her husband who live in Florida and like to surprise us with a call "We are here, let's get together in the parks for dinner". We go to the concierge and ask for a table upgrade from 2 to 4. Never been a problem. In February we had to change our reservation from 6 PM to 6:30. No big deal. I also know that you can call the dining reservations number if you know ahead of time to make the change.

 

[CaptainEO88]

Just following up in case anyone is interested. Changing the reservation was a disaster. I was able to actually secure an ADDITIONAL reservation for two, at Be Our Guest for Breakfast in the middle of the night last night. Meaning I had TWO reservations for TWO at 9:35AM. I called Disney dining, to see if I could just have one reservation for four at 9:35AM. They said it could not be done.

It's not that I don't think the CM was capable, or telling the truth. The problem lies in your inability to solve my problem. I have two reservations for two, for the same time. How do you not have the power or authority to override one of the reservations from two to four guests, and cancel the additional reservation so everything evens out? Why is it so difficult?

Instead, on a whim in the early morning hours this morning, I weighed the risks, and cancelled BOTH of my reservations for two, and secured a reservation for four. Lucky for me, no one swept the reservation out from underneath me.

Honestly, I don't post on these boards a lot, although I've been a member for awhile. Planning our trip this past year to WDW, has been a more stressful, and less magical experience than it has been on our previous visits to WDW, DL and DCL. I don't mean to bring a lot of negativity to the boards, but I am frustrated with how difficult Disney has made it to spend my hard earned money this time around. I have always gotten such good service. But since we booked this trip in January, every time I have had a problem with something, the answer has been, "No." No matter what. It's just so frustrating. I feel like I need a vacation from planning my vacation.

 

[yooperfan]

I don't think the cm was incompetent, at the time you called there probably weren't any tables for 4 available. Just because you had ressies for 2 tables that would seat 2-3, doesn't mean they had a table for 4 available. Someone could have cancelled a table for 4 online if they found a better time or restaurant for them later and you were lucky enough to snag it. Ressies are a lot more complicated than 2+2=4, because it doesn't. Glad you got some pixie dust though!

 

[mommycrawford]

Just following up in case anyone is interested. Changing the reservation was a disaster. I was able to actually secure an ADDITIONAL reservation for two, at Be Our Guest for Breakfast in the middle of the night last night. Meaning I had TWO reservations for TWO at 9:35AM. I called Disney dining, to see if I could just have one reservation for four at 9:35AM. They said it could not be done.

It's not that I don't think the CM was capable, or telling the truth. The problem lies in your inability to solve my problem. I have two reservations for two, for the same time. How do you not have the power or authority to override one of the reservations from two to four guests, and cancel the additional reservation so everything evens out? Why is it so difficult?

Instead, on a whim in the early morning hours this morning, I weighed the risks, and cancelled BOTH of my reservations for two, and secured a reservation for four. Lucky for me, no one swept the reservation out from underneath me.

Honestly, I don't post on these boards a lot, although I've been a member for awhile. Planning our trip this past year to WDW, has been a more stressful, and less magical experience than it has been on our previous visits to WDW, DL and DCL. I don't mean to bring a lot of negativity to the boards, but I am frustrated with how difficult Disney has made it to spend my hard earned money this time around. I have always gotten such good service. But since we booked this trip in January, every time I have had a problem with something, the answer has been, "No." No matter what. It's just so frustrating. I feel like I need a vacation from planning my vacation.

So sorry it's been so tough!...I just described it a being on a hamster wheel on a thread I started! It makes you feel bad, and not as happy about going to the "happiest place...." Just remember that once you are there, you will have fun. It is too much work though...I feel your pain!

 

[CaptainEO88]

I didn't say the CM was incompetent. Hardly that. I said they should have the power and authority to override things like this. Essentially, I have completely given up on calling any number on Disney property. When I tried to book the Free Dining promotion this year, I had a Free Dining room at Pop in my cart, but by the time I put in my payment information, someone had yanked the reservation out from under me. I called, and was STILL on the webpage with the Pop room in my cart, and they would not honor it. So basically, whatever you see on the computer is what they see on their computer, and gone are the days of special circumstance, consideration, and good customer service.

If Disney wanted me to spend more money upgrading my room to Preferred, and upgrading my Dining Plan from QS to Regular, they would give me ten seconds to put my payment information in, and secure my reservation. Instead of it being a virtual Hunger Game-like race to the confirmation page.

This, by the way, was corrected in the days following the promotion, where Disney now held your room reservation for ten minutes while you made your reservation.

I just feel as though Disney should empower their CM's a little more to make good financial decisions. To make calls based on circumstance. I mean, realistically how many times a day over the entire WDW property do people call and try to add family members to their reservations. Even if it happened in one out of every ten reservations (Which is a HUGE stretch), they would still be able to accommodate the changes. In my line of work, we treat every customer as though they are King and Queen. And, unless it somehow conflicts ethically or morally, we never say no to the customer. And surprisingly enough, the number of people who try to take advantage of this is much lower than you would think.

I mean, BOG isn't cheap. It's like $20 a person. So you can make more money, and add two to my reservation, that you ALREADY have a reservation for. Or I could cancel it all, and you could get nothing.

 

[CaptainEO88]

It is too much work though...I feel your pain!

This is actually really sweet of you to say. I really just wanted to vent. You're right, I take things entirely too seriously. It's tough when you have a family that depends on things to go smoothly. I know once we get there, we will have a wonderful time no matter what. I just need a 'chill pill.' Lol. Thanks again for the kind words.

 

[LaurEm378]

The Pop reservation situation is maddening, and an empowered CM definitely could have extended the offer to you. I bet some CMs would have done it, and that's what's annoying--the inconsistency. It IS poor customer service. I hate having to hang up and call WDW back repeatedly over little issues because I KNOW something is possible but the first, second, or third CM I get tells me it's not.

Turning a table for 2 into a table for 4 is a little trickier because of fire codes. Tables for 2 are just easier to get than tables for 4 because so many guests travel as a larger family.

Most of the times I've been seated as a party of 2, the tables are in a dedicated area of the restaurant, full of two-seaters. Usually they're on an aisle where it wouldn't be possible to pull up another table or more chairs. If all the tables for 4 were already taken, they can't book something they don't have.

Have faith, though--seems like everyone books multiple BoG ADRs and ends up throwing all but their most prized time and date away. I think if you keep checking, you'll get exactly what you want! Happy planning!

 

[CaptainEO88]

I am so grateful to you guys for being so gracious towards me. Even though I had a grumpy attitude about it all.

You're right LaurEm, it's the inconsistency. At least if it was consistently a 'No,' I wouldn't get my hopes up like I do.

I do understand what everyone has said about a table for four, not being the same as two tables for two. I still would have liked them to work some magic, but also accept that a lot of my disappoint comes from simply not getting my way.

 

[LaurEm378]

Perfectly normal to feel that way. We all try to plan our perfect trip. It's why we belong to this forum! I don't blame you a bit...I blame Disney for not building enough awesome restaurants, which would make it easier for us all to get what we want!