Canceling your ADRS

[knebkagnau]

How do the restaurants feel about cancelations. We have a fair amount of ADR's for our upcoming trip but i know with young children involved there may be days where they are too tired or cranky to keep our reservations. Rather than subject other diners to this I will most likely cancel. Is this a problem?

 

[wannabebelle]

Along a similar vein, I just noticed that when you make ADR online, the policies that you must accept to get a reservation, say that your card will be charged if you don't cancel 24 hours ahead of time. I don't plan on canceling, but with a four-year-old, nothing is 100% concrete. I've never heard of this policy before. Do you really think we'll be charged if we can't make it?

 

[labmom67]

I know there's only a few ADRs that require a credit card on file (such as CRT) and I do believe you will be charged if you don't make it...I've never tested this out so maybe someone else can verify?

 

[juliemcalister]

Last year we had a dinner reservation scheduled for Akershus and there was a torrential downpour that lasted for quite a while. We sat in the car waiting for it to lighten up and decided we were willing to accept the penalty rather than get absolutely soaked getting from the parking lot to the restaurant. The choice was ours and Disney didn't cause the rain so we didn't let it bother us.

If we agree to a potential penalty when we make the reservation, it's probably best not to risk it.

 

[purple figment]

Thank you for thinking of others. I think that if you know you won't be able to go to a restaurant it's more courteous to call Dining Reservations and cancel the ADR. It will free up a table for someone else and/or the restaurant will be able to determine if they can accept walk ups.

One thing to note, however, if it's an ADR that required a credit card guarantee, most of those require a 24 to 48 hour advance cancellation notice or your card may be charged a no show fee or even the full amount. There aren't too many in this catagory - mainly shows or special dining experiences like CRT, Hoop de doo, Akershus, V & A, and several others.

 

[TDC Nala]

There are only a few restaurants (Akershus, California Grill, Victoria & Albert's, Fantasmic package, Candlelight Processional package, some various special meal events or packages) that require a credit card hold. CRT and dinner shows require either payment in full at booking if you are not on a dining plan at the time you book, or a credit card hold if you book while you are on a dining plan and intend to pay for the meal with dining credits.

No other restaurant has cancellation penalties of any type.

 

[Cafeen]

No other restaurant has cancellation penalties of any type.

Just to add, all restaurants do mention penalties in the policies thing. However, only those named above will actually do it. After all, if you don't give them the Credit Card in the first place, there's no way they can charge it . It's just a bit of standardized text that shows up and covers their behinds. (Except for the aforementioned locations which do take your credit card, of course).

 

[wannabebelle]

I agree that there are some places we know up front will charge for a cancellation (CRT, etc). However, as the PP said, there is standard text in ALL the reservations...at least for online reservations. Granted, I'm not entering a credit card for that reservation, but Disney obviously has my credit card number if I've book a vacation package. It's enough to make me a teeny bit nervous, but like I said, I'm not planning to cancel any reservations!