Called Disney to Complain

[mel373]

I called Disney to complain about people double booking meals to have flexibility and the CM said that she "heard" that Disney was going to start doing something about the double bookings. I asked if they would automatically cancel reservations and she siad she didn't know specifics but apparently there have have numerous complaints and they are looking into it. Yeah Disney for doing the right thing. I have checked all my reservations again because I have been switching things as other become available but I wanted to make sure all the ones I cancelled are cancelled so the ones I want aren't automatically cancelled by Disney.
So for all of those who double and triple booked I would pick what you want now before Disney does for you!

 

[disneynutz]

This has been a common complaint and strategy for years. Disney has been talking about fixing it for years. We don't double book and always cancel unused ADR's, but based upon how screwed up the system is, I get the feeling that we might be in the minority.

 

[joecatz]

unfortunately, its next to impossible to monitor this. The system is extremely flawed, and unless the person making the ressie is dumb enough to link the double bookings to their resort reservation, impossible to track.

All you need is a different first name and phone number, and you can double book every meal.

 

[GovieMom]

I've been making (and already changing) ADRs all this week for our trip in January. When I do make changes I always call Disney Dining to cancel what I'm replacing. For some reason I figured they'd be appreciative of the fact that I'm taking the trouble to do this, but they really don't seem to care. At this point though I'm not taking any chances on having any of my ADRs cancelled, as some of them are too hard to come by!

 

[skier_pete]

What do I have to call Disney to complain about, I got all 9 ADRs I wanted at the times I wanted, including Le Cellier on a Friday night at 7:20 PM!

Personally, I think double-booking is not a major issue - Do you really think more than 5 % of people even know that they CAN double-book? But, if you consider that it is, there is only one way to eliminate this: Take a CC reservation for every ADR, and institute a 24-hour cancelation policy in which your CC will otherwise be charged.

Otherwise, as a PP said, if you want to double-book it is simple...you use two different names, you could have two reservations at the same restaurant at the same time and whose going to stop you.

SkierPet

 

[Snowgod]

What they are going to do is link a credit card to all reservations. It is going to happen. Then they can charge people who do not show up which will quickly solve this problem.

 

[Justin the Hook]

They could run it like the doctors office you can make as many appts as you want, but if you don't cancel they charge you for the most expensive meal on the menu.

 

[domesticking]

What they are going to do is link a credit card to all reservations. It is going to happen. Then they can charge people who do not show up which will quickly solve this problem.

What if people are then reluctant to make reservations because they don't want to link it to a credit card? What if this causes people to eat offsite in restaurants that don't require a credit card? What if this runs off the people who don't have credit cards but are happy to plunk down cash at Disney restaurants?

I don't have a good answer to this problem. With a reasonable cancellation policy, I don't have a problem putting down a credit card for every reservation. As with most things, though, I'm sure some people will feel differently.

Maybe Disney is busy working up picture packages for the most popular restaurants (Le Cellier, Ohana, etc.) so they can then require ccs like with CRT. I hope not!

 

[monkeyknuckler]

What if people are then reluctant to make reservations because they don't want to link it to a credit card? What if this causes people to eat offsite in restaurants that don't require a credit card? What if this runs off the people who don't have credit cards but are happy to plunk down cash at Disney restaurants?

Hey, if there are less people hanging around the parks and resorts, I'm totally fine with that.....Huh?.....time to wake up Monkey, it was only a dream

 

[zulemara]

I was under the impression that the online booking system would weed out some of the double bookings.

As for the CC thing, if people don't have a debit card(which can be run as credit) then there is an issue. This is 2009 not 1991.

 

[CiaoBelle]

As a Canadian, I can not use my debit card as a credit card!! I am lucky that I have acredit card that I only use for US vacations, but there are still many people who don't. It would be sad for those vacationers to miss out on some of the spectacular meals that I have had at Disney because they couldn't make a reservation. Please smile and think about some of the others out there who may not have it as good as you do!!! Also thanks for reading my rant

 

[schmitty]

As a Canadian, I can not use my debit card as a credit card!! I am lucky that I have acredit card that I only use for US vacations, but there are still many people who don't. It would be sad for those vacationers to miss out on some of the spectacular meals that I have had at Disney because they couldn't make a reservation. Please smile and think about some of the others out there who may not have it as good as you do!!! Also thanks for reading my rant

Can you use your debit card to buy things? If so then it would work with Disney.

 

[zulemara]

As a Canadian, I can not use my debit card as a credit card!! I am lucky that I have acredit card that I only use for US vacations, but there are still many people who don't. It would be sad for those vacationers to miss out on some of the spectacular meals that I have had at Disney because they couldn't make a reservation. Please smile and think about some of the others out there who may not have it as good as you do!!! Also thanks for reading my rant

point taken, so they can implement some kind of policy for international guests, but for US guests, there is no reason people can't come up with some sort of plastic to hold a reservation.

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

you've had way too much pixie dust. Disney overbooks dining ressies at every restaurant to cover for no shows. I have been waiting a half hour or more past our ADR time and watched dozens of people walk up hoping to get a table. If they require a credit card for ressies we will start eating at CS or off site. It's bad enough I have to pay 6 months in advance for dinner shows and Disney gets to use my money the whole time.

For our last trip I called to cancel a double booking for a dinner and they could not even find the original reservation even though I had a confirmation number. There will be a lot of people challenging any charges made for no showing with the charge card companies if they start something like this. Disney doesn't have their own ct together enough to manage this.

 

[disneynutz]

I know that there are usually empty tables at every restaurant when we are there and walk ups are being turned away. The common answer that I get from every CAST Member is that they have ADR's for the empty tables that may or may not show up.

 

[mel373]

you've had way too much pixie dust. Disney overbooks dining ressies at every restaurant to cover for no shows. I have been waiting a half hour or more past our ADR time and watched dozens of people walk up hoping to get a table. If they require a credit card for ressies we will start eating at CS or off site. It's bad enough I have to pay 6 months in advance for dinner shows and Disney gets to use my money the whole time.

For our last trip I called to cancel a double booking for a dinner and they could not even find the original reservation even though I had a confirmation number. There will be a lot of people challenging any charges made for no showing with the charge card companies if they start something like this. Disney doesn't have their own ct together enough to manage this.

I don't think they should charge your cc before the reservation but they should do like they do at The Princess meal at Epcot..they took my cc# and then if I don't cancel I will be charged $10 a person. What is wrong with that? I was hoping that that is what the CM meant when she said they are looking into it. I know it won't stop the double bookings but at least people will think twice and make up their minds and will cancel the unused reservations.
Everyone should have access to a cc otherwise how did they make a reservation to stay at Disney?

 

[vorpalswrd]

What do I have to call Disney to complain about, I got all 9 ADRs I wanted at the times I wanted, including Le Cellier on a Friday night at 7:20 PM!

Personally, I think double-booking is not a major issue - Do you really think more than 5 % of people even know that they CAN double-book? But, if you consider that it is, there is only one way to eliminate this: Take a CC reservation for every ADR, and institute a 24-hour cancelation policy in which your CC will otherwise be charged.

Otherwise, as a PP said, if you want to double-book it is simple...you use two different names, you could have two reservations at the same restaurant at the same time and whose going to stop you.

SkierPet

Well, I was going to comment but someone read my mind, lol. Thanks!

 

[MartinaC]

they could give up adr's all together. make it a first come first serve basis. lots of big chain restaurants do that.

 

[NonScents]

they could give up adr's all together. make it a first come first serve basis. lots of big chain restaurants do that.

They would wind up giving out restaurant FastPasses then!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

they could give up adr's all together. make it a first come first serve basis. lots of big chain restaurants do that.

that is how they use to be many many years ago and it should go back to that. While some feel that double booking might not be a problem, that is because they have 2 ressies and someone else cannot even make the one It should be first come, first serve... don't like it, eat somewhere else. Disney will fill all its tables that way