Canceling ADR day-of

[UrsulaTime]

On Sunday 3/20 I tried to cancel a dinner ADR the day of the reservation. Our plans changed during the day...I knew beforehand this was a possibility and I was at peace with paying the late cancellation fee if necessary. I was mostly trying to cancel so someone else could book the table.

I started in MDE. It told me to call to cancel a same-day dining reservation (which I expected). After calling and going through some prompts, a recording told me to use the chat feature in the app.
*let that sink in*
I tried the Chat feature, and no one responded. We were in HS and I was sitting while doing this, but after fifteen minutes I had to start walking again and I don't do the phone while walking. I checked it when we were on the bus and didn't have a response. At that point I decided that I wasn't going to waste the precious 90 minutes of rest at Fort Wilderness by constantly checking the app. When we arrived at the restaurant later that evening (I'd had two dinner times), the hostess CM told me that the only way to cancel day-of ADRs is in-person, at the restaurant.
Anyway, I'm confused. But so is Disney Dining!

 

[buzzrelly]

On Sunday 3/20 I tried to cancel a dinner ADR the day of the reservation. Our plans changed during the day...I knew beforehand this was a possibility and I was at peace with paying the late cancellation fee if necessary. I was mostly trying to cancel so someone else could book the table.

I started in MDE. It told me to call to cancel a same-day dining reservation (which I expected). After calling and going through some prompts, a recording told me to use the chat feature in the app.
*let that sink in*
I tried the Chat feature, and no one responded. We were in HS and I was sitting while doing this, but after fifteen minutes I had to start walking again and I don't do the phone while walking. I checked it when we were on the bus and didn't have a response. At that point I decided that I wasn't going to waste the precious 90 minutes of rest at Fort Wilderness by constantly checking the app. When we arrived at the restaurant later that evening (I'd had two dinner times), the hostess CM told me that the only way to cancel day-of ADRs is in-person, at the restaurant.
Anyway, I'm confused. But so is Disney Dining!

You could have modified the reservation to some point (any point) in the future and then cancelled it at your convenience...even upon arriving home. That way you don't get dinged with the no show fee.

 

[UrsulaTime]

You could have modified the reservation to some point (any point) in the future and then cancelled it at your convenience...even upon arriving home. That way you don't get dinged with the no show fee.

Oh! I wonder why I didn't think of doing that. Thanks!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

you can also cancel at Guest Relations. there's at least one inside and one outside each park. Also ask a concierge at a WDW resort. Just make sure it isn't within a couple of hours of the reservation.

 

[Adora]

You could have modified the reservation to some point (any point) in the future and then cancelled it at your convenience...even upon arriving home. That way you don't get dinged with the no show fee.

What if it's a restaurant that you had to book 60+ days before that you can't find a time in the future? Does that happen? thanks

 

[buzzrelly]

What if it's a restaurant that you had to book 60+ days before that you can't find a time in the future? Does that happen? thanks

It does get tricky and I've had a couple instances where this didn't work. Once at Sci-Fi because it was impossible to find any availability in the next 60 days, and once at Beaches and Cream, for the same reason. In both of those instances, we just went to the front desk at each of the restaurants and asked to cancel, or "walk the reservation away," which is what they call it so we didn't get the no-show fee. YMMV.

 

[BellaBaby]

What does "walk the reservation away" mean?

 

[buzzrelly]

What does "walk the reservation away" mean?

I'm not sure, but I heard more than one CM say it when we've walked up to the restaurant to cancel. I think it's whatever they do behind the scenes that doesn't end up with a cancellation fee.

 

[PepperjackDragon]

One other detail. If it is day off and I need to cancel first I will go into the reservation and modify it down to 1 person, which is always available for the same time. Then I will try to modify to a different date, I jusually use a separate device for that so I can quickly search and then k kw what day to modify it out too. However as was said above as long as you speak to someone at the desk they can get rid of it with no fee, but I still always change it to party of 1