Bummed about Ohana cancellation policy:(

[littlejewel]

I thought the cancellation policy fee only applied to character meals. I was so looking forward to dining at O'hana in September, but with it needing a cc for reservations, I don't think it is going to happen We are traveling with a 4 y.o. and 18 m.o. and I am scared to make any reservations with the cancellation policy tacked on. I am planning on making a ressie at Tusker House for breakfast with characters but that is it, I didn't want to be so tied to our dining reservations in case we have a meltdown, accident, etc. Why is the policy for O'hana for dinner when there are no characters? Anyone know?

 

[graceesmom]

I'm sure it's because it is one of the most popular dinners in all of Disney World and one of the most difficult to get an ADR for. I do understand your frustration when travelling with little ones. We've had to bob and weave before too when our daughter was younger. We've called to cancel the day of before and figured that our cancellation sprinkled some pixie dust on another family.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Do your best to keep them on their regular home schedule while on your trip so you can book Ohanas if you really want to dine there

If your kids normally go to bed for the night at 8:30, they'd probably be fine if you were able to book an early dinner, like at 5pm? You know your kids schedule and temperments so if they're getting adequate rest, even with all the excitement at WDW if you pace your trip around your home schedule, I'm sure everyone will do just fine.

I think when kids have meltdowns at restaurants and in the theme parks it's simply because they're overexcited, overstimutated and not rested enough. Move at their pace and plan your meals when they're generally used to eating anyway. Hope it works out for you

 

[MistressMerryweather]

You just go with it. We went with a 6 mos old, 2yo, 6yo and 8yo and had dinner reservations every evening. If someone gets *truly* sick or not feeling well, you can call and cancel and most likely won't be charged the fee.

 

[aubriee]

I thought the cancellation policy fee only applied to character meals. I was so looking forward to dining at O'hana in September, but with it needing a cc for reservations, I don't think it is going to happen We are traveling with a 4 y.o. and 18 m.o. and I am scared to make any reservations with the cancellation policy tacked on. I am planning on making a ressie at Tusker House for breakfast with characters but that is it, I didn't want to be so tied to our dining reservations in case we have a meltdown, accident, etc. Why is the policy for O'hana for dinner when there are no characters? Anyone know?

Any of the restaurants that have a character meal anytime during the day will charge a cc guarantee for any meals at that restaurant. Tusker House does if for dinner, Cape May does for dinner, as does Ohana, even though none of them have characters at dinner. The Signature meals also require a cc guarantee, so that includes Brown Derby, Flying Fish, Yachtsman, Jiko, Narcossee, Citricos, Artist Point, Le Cellier, and California Grill (and I think maybe Bistro de Paris and Fulton's now).

Since I like to dine mainly at Signature restaurants just about every night, I too am not happy with the cc guarantee they now require. I plan on keeping all my ADRs, but you never know what may happen and since almost all the places I am used to eating down there now require a cc guarantee, there is no way I'm willing to book them anymore (that'd be like 7-8 meals that would require a cc guarantee). For my upcoming May and Sept trips I refused to book a single ADR that required a cc guarantee, which means I am eating at places I don't normally eat at. For our upcoming Oct/Nov trip, my husband really wanted Ohana and Cape May Clam bake, so I agreed, but told him we absolutely had to keep those and I refuse to make any more that require the cc guarantee. Since they require at least one full day between the cancellation and the ADR, if one of us got sick we'd have to pay the cancellation fee for at least two meals, if we ate the way we normally do down there.

 

[littlejewel]

Don't get me wrong, I really do understand Disney's reasoning behind the cancellation fees, but it just doesn't work for us right now. And even in the future, I think I'll still want a little more freedom than making and keeping reservations I make months before our trip. I have no problem making one or two ressies with cancellation policies, but no more. There are still some great restaurants that don't require them.