Beware: Disney auto-cancelling your DDP ressies

[Brygida]

Would love to have another CM / Dis Veteran confirm this!

I was on the phone changing a couple of upcoming August FREE DDP ressies and the CM informed me that my two dinner reservations for the same night were flagged to be automatically cancelled!!! unless I chose the one I really wanted.

When I told her it was un-acceptable for an automated program to summarily delete my DDP ressies just because they were for the same day, she stated, that she could "verify" that I really meant to have two and then they would not be deleted.

This was the situation. I had booked 2 out of the 4 people in my party to dine at Boma for dinner. On the same day, I booked 1 person in my party to dine at Sanaa for dinner. So, in total, we have 4 DDP credits we could be using that day and have chosen to use 3 at dinner time. 3 is less than the 4 credits any reasonable person would assume we would even use in that day! Why would Disney program an automatic cancellation of both my DDP ressies that day! I'm not even using our daily allotment!!

When I told the CM this, she said she had no input into the auto-cancelling program and neither did her supervisor, so don't bother asking to speak to her. As I continued to state that the auto-cancelling rules made no sense since they weren't even checking how many DDP allotments you were using in that day, she offerred an email address I could write to to complain and then she either hung-up on me or we were disconnected.

So, beware. If I had not called to change a DDP ressie, my two DDP ressies would have been summarily cancelled without my knowledge, during prime FREE DDP weeks! I hope this does not happen to any of you.

 

[TDC Nala]

As far as I can tell, the system does not automatically do this. If anything causes this to happen it would be a CM manually cancelling the conflicting reservations.

This is also a feature of the online booking system now. If you book two reservations for the same time it will warn you that you have two reservations at the same time. It will then give you the choice of cancelling the original reservation OR keeping it in addition to the second reservation.

You could have explained that they were for two different groups of people. There is nothing wrong with doing that.

If it concerns you, and you want to book reservations at different restaurants for different members of your party at the same time, book them under different names and with different contact phone numbers. They cannot track your reservations via your DDP status or your room reservation. The fact that you are on DDP is not relevant to your restaurant reservations. The dining reservation system has no idea what your daily DDP allotment is (especially since there is no "daily allotment" for the purpose of using DDP credits, there is only a limit as to how many can be used in one transaction) nor does it know how many people are staying on your reservation.

 

[Brygida]

As far as I can tell, the system does not automatically do this. If anything causes this to happen it would be a CM manually cancelling the conflicting reservations.

This is also a feature of the online booking system now. If you book two reservations for the same time it will warn you that you have two reservations at the same time. It will then give you the choice of cancelling the original reservation OR keeping it in addition to the second reservation.

You could have explained that they were for two different groups of people. There is nothing wrong with doing that.

If it concerns you, and you want to book reservations at different restaurants for different members of your party at the same time, book them under different names and with different contact phone numbers. They cannot track your reservations via your DDP status or your room reservation. The fact that you are on DDP is not relevant to your restaurant reservations. The dining reservation system has no idea what your daily DDP allotment is (especially since there is no "daily allotment" for the purpose of using DDP credits).

When you say "same time" is that for a meal, like both for dinner? Or would this problem be for a lunch and dinner ressie too on the same day?

There is nothing wrong with booking two different restaurants in the same day either and splitting up your party. Shouldn't that be a valid reason too?

Anyway, it is good to hear that it really isn't "automatic" as the CM claimed. Isn't that lying? Certainly it is misrepresentation, with the intent to strike fear into DDP users? That is very un-Disney. I worked hard to get my FREE DPP ressies! I don't want CM's talking about cancelling them on me!

 

[TDC Nala]

I believe it is if the two reservations are within an hour of each other.

One of the biggest perceived flaws in the ADR system is the ability for one party to make unlimited ADRS including several in one day to cover all possible bases, and then wait until they arrive at the park to decide which ones to cancel (or, quite possibly, not bothering to cancel). And yes you are allowed to split up your party. The solution is easy - book each reservation under the name of someone in the party who will be at the meal. The same person is not going to go to both meals and the system does not care whose name or phone number you put on the reservation.

And this CM was not undoubtedly lying as "automatic" does not necessarily mean they have a machine do it. "Automatic" may mean they do it without checking with the guest. Have seen reports of some cancellations - but not many, so I do not know how much this "system" is followed up.

And it has nothing to do with DDP users. The restaurant reservation system has no idea if you are on the DDP or not unless you are trying to book CRT or a dinner show and avoid the prepayment.

 

[Lehuaann]

I ran across this same issue since I wanted to book two separate adr's in the same meal period. This is what I was told; if your account shows 2 ressies under the same phone number-same name-same meal period they can flag the account for double-booking, therefore, the best thing to do is book the 2 ressies under same phone number-different names.

I then booked 2 BD dinner adr's under; same phone number-1 adr under my name-1 adr under mother's name and had 0 problems with this set-up.

BTW: The CM never mentioned that the system auto flags ressies. It was my understanding that they can go through the system manually and flag for a supervisor to view. Also, there have been reports from people here that they had all of their ADR's deleted due to double-booking so that was a chance I wasn't willing to take.

 

[Sammie]

If they are booked under different names, you should not have a problem. Which they should be since different people are eating.

As stated above you might have to list a different phone number for each person that the reservation is booked for.

Is one person in your group eating alone?

As Nala said it is to prevent people from double booking, a reservation while they decide which one they really want. And I am glad they are attempting to control this.

 

[MODisneyfan]

Nothing should be auto cancled.. I read on the boards somewhere about someone getting their ressies cancled cause they changed their reservation to a package. I did the same thing and was told that they don'e cancle automatically it had to be done by a person. I think you were talking to someone who didn't know what they were doing..

 

[2Tiggies]

And this CM was not undoubtedly lying as "automatic" does not necessarily mean they have a machine do it. "Automatic" may mean they do it without checking with the guest. Have seen reports of some cancellations - but not many, so I do not know how much this "system" is followed up.

I suspect when the CM mentioned that the reservations were flagged for cancellation that they rely on a CM actually spotting this and then manually cancelling them. There HAVE been reports that indicate that this can and does happen, but too few and far between to convince me that there is an actual automated system responsible for these cancellations. I would imagine it works on a similar principal to when you hit a delete key and your system asks you "Are you sure?"

 

[Tricia1972]

Just to verify that what TDC Nala (and others) are saying is the truth.

There is absolutely verification that calling and talking to CMs has resulted in "auto" cancels

The case of "auto" cancels is renegade CMs who are out to save the world from double booking ADRs, no matter if there is a valid reason for it or not. Insert double eye roll here > <

Your best bet is to never talk to a CM. Don't laugh, I'm serious. But, if you do call in and they threaten to cancel due to the 'double booking', I would definitely explain that you have two reservations because your party is splitting up. There is nothing in Disney's policy that prevents you from double booking like you do.

In fact, to be honest, I don't know that there is anything in Disney's policy that prevents you from double booking because you can't make up your mind.

Not double booking is a private and personal moral decision. (I say private because I hope this doesn't become yet another thread about the personal morals of individuals, which usually ends up closed due to heated debate and name calling)

 

[Brygida]

If they are booked under different names, you should not have a problem. Which they should be since different people are eating.

As stated above you might have to list a different phone number for each person that the reservation is booked for.

Is one person in your group eating alone?

As Nala said it is to prevent people from double booking, a reservation while they decide which one they really want. And I am glad they are attempting to control this.

I am all for control over double booking. However, it must be REASONABLY programmed. The system should, at an absolute minimum, allow you without any threat of cancellation, to make reservations for all members of your party. If I have 4 people in my party, then I should be allowed to make a dinner reservation for 2 and a dinner reservation for 1 person, without ANY threat of cancellation! (Which is what happened!). Their ADR program DOES have this information, since they have my WDW package confirmation # and know how many people I have on the DDP.

I admit, I am still fuming over this. I have done FREE DPP every year since its inception, and this is the first time I had heard of this.... I guess I am not as DIS-savvy as I thought.

 

[Brygida]

I believe it is if the two reservations are within an hour of each other.

One of the biggest perceived flaws in the ADR system is the ability for one party to make unlimited ADRS including several in one day to cover all possible bases, and then wait until they arrive at the park to decide which ones to cancel (or, quite possibly, not bothering to cancel). And yes you are allowed to split up your party. The solution is easy - book each reservation under the name of someone in the party who will be at the meal. The same person is not going to go to both meals and the system does not care whose name or phone number you put on the reservation.

TDC Nala are you able to add to the DDP sticky? Would you please add your advice about booking in separate names if your party splits-up?

I guess it never occurred to me to do this. It's funny, because the original CM who booked my 2 ressies for the same dinner night did not say anything about it. The CM invariably asks for your name & details.... it never occurred to me to book my husband's ressie under his name alone. In fact, shouldn't the original CM have "verified" (de-flagged the auto-cancel... whatever it is), when I told her my husband was eating at Sanaa and my son and I were eating at Boma that night? She booked the ressies that close in time!

Okay. Now I'm mad at the original CM too!

 

[ibela]

I am all for control over double booking. However, it must be REASONABLY programmed. The system should, at an absolute minimum, allow you without any threat of cancellation, to make reservations for all members of your party. If I have 4 people in my party, then I should be allowed to make a dinner reservation for 2 and a dinner reservation for 1 person, without ANY threat of cancellation! (Which is what happened!). Their ADR program DOES have this information, since they have my WDW package confirmation # and know how many people I have on the DDP.

I admit, I am still fuming over this. I have done FREE DPP every year since its inception, and this is the first time I had heard of this.... I guess I am not as DIS-savvy as I thought.

Your logic makes sense but requires a complicated level of programming (and "if" loop checks) which I don't believe the current system has.

I always log in online to make my reservations and wanted to switch my dinner ADRs but was only going to cancel the 1st after the 2nd was made. When I booked the 2nd, I got a red error message saying that it conflicted with another ADR, listed the 1st one, and requested that I cancel one of them "shortly". There was no warning message that either would be cancelled for me, just a request that *I* cancel one.

 

[Brygida]

Your logic makes sense but requires a complicated level of programming (and "if" loop checks) which I don't believe the current system has.

Thank you DIS Veteran.

I guess I didn't think it was complicated, because it is not rocket science. Oh wait.... I *ahem* do program "rocket science", hence I wouldn't think it is complicated.

OK. I'm less angry now. Thanks.

Hey Disney, do you want me to fix your ADR program for you?

 

[Tricia1972]

The problem is that it's not Disney's program that auto cancels the ADRs, it's CMs that randomly cancel what they perceive as double booked ADRs.

 

[dismom0204]

autocancel is an autocancel,not a "renegade" cast member. If I were to cancel a reservation it would have my name on it, why I cancelled it, and when I cancelled it. If I cancelled it, and you didnt want it cancelled, I could get into lots of trouble, I need my job. When the reservation is autocancelled, that means the computer system cancelled it. Also, as a cast member.It burns me to see duplicate reservations(same date,time,party). We are fine when you split your family. But, I have seen a family book four different dinners beacuse they could not decide where they were going to be. There are many families trying to get into the same places, dont do it.WE HATE IT!! That is also why you find alot of empty tables...people dont cancel the extra reservations in enough time(more that two hours out) or not at all.

 

[Lehuaann]

autocancel is an autocancel,not a "renegade" cast member. If I were to cancel a reservation it would have my name on it, why I cancelled it, and when I cancelled it. If I cancelled it, and you didnt want it cancelled, I could get into lots of trouble, I need my job. When the reservation is autocancelled, that means the computer system cancelled it. Also, as a cast member.It burns me to see duplicate reservations(same date,time,party). We are fine when you split your family. But, I have seen a family book four different dinners beacuse they could not decide where they were going to be. There are many families trying to get into the same places, dont do it.WE HATE IT!! That is also why you find alot of empty tables...people dont cancel the extra reservations in enough time(more that two hours out) or not at all.

Wow, thank's for the clarification Dining CM. Guess now we know.

Saw lots of empty tables at a few hard to get places on our last trip. Was disappointed since my brother/family was outside not able to get a seat.

 

[Brygida]

autocancel is an autocancel,not a "renegade" cast member. If I were to cancel a reservation it would have my name on it, why I cancelled it, and when I cancelled it. If I cancelled it, and you didnt want it cancelled, I could get into lots of trouble, I need my job. When the reservation is autocancelled, that means the computer system cancelled it. Also, as a cast member.It burns me to see duplicate reservations(same date,time,party). We are fine when you split your family.

Thanks Disney CM. Can you better explain my "autocancel scenario"? Why was I "flagged" for autocancel when the originating CM knew that an ADR was for 1 person and the other ADR was for 2 people? Shouldn't they have un-"flagged" it? Why isn't the computer program smart enough to at least check HOW MANY people are on the ressies before it summarily decides to CANCEL my split up party?

I am all for disallowing duplicate ressies, but that is NOT what I did. Nor, have I ever done so!

Hope you can shed more light....

 

[Tricia1972]

I appreciate you taking the time to post about the subject, but it still does not make sense that the computer can occasionally automatically do something.

My limited knowledge of computer programming is that things like this are all or nothing.

To me, because of the randomness, it sounds like a CM who is as frustrated as you are with the situation who is willing to go ahead and cancel some duplicates that they see.

You're right, they could get in a lot of trouble for doing it, but that's what it sounds like in this instance.

If it happened all the time, I'd totally believe that it was a computer generated auto canceling.

 

[Jingle]

I do not believe they auto cancel any reservations. For about three months I had three reservations for exactly the same time for a time during August 2010. None of them were auto cancelled. Once I knew what our situation would be I went on-line and cancelled 2 of the 3. But, they were not auto cancelled. I've also made double reservations by mistake, and none of them were ever auto cancelled either. Fortunately I caught that when reviewing my dining reservations so I did cancel one. I could also give a few more examples.

Sometimes I think people just say stuff like that on here to get people worked up. It's like they want to convince you this WILL happen. It has NEVER happened to me. By the way, before anybody gets too worked up, I always cancel double reservations by six weeks out. I try not to make double reservations, but there have been a few times I've had to do that for one reason or another.

 

[mcd2745]

autocancel is an autocancel,not a "renegade" cast member. If I were to cancel a reservation it would have my name on it, why I cancelled it, and when I cancelled it. If I cancelled it, and you didnt want it cancelled, I could get into lots of trouble, I need my job. When the reservation is autocancelled, that means the computer system cancelled it. Also, as a cast member.It burns me to see duplicate reservations(same date,time,party). We are fine when you split your family. But, I have seen a family book four different dinners beacuse they could not decide where they were going to be. There are many families trying to get into the same places, dont do it.WE HATE IT!! That is also why you find alot of empty tables...people dont cancel the extra reservations in enough time(more that two hours out) or not at all.

That's the thing I wish Disney could build something into their system to prevent.