Cancelling ADRs (without being penalized)

[kayteekt]

So, in the past only the more expensive meals had a 24hr cancelation notice. Last time we went it seemed like they're all that way now?? Just thinking ahead since we'll be hopping this time...may want some flexibility in moving meals around,but may not know until that same day. Can anyone refresh me on their cancelation policy. Thanks!

 

[burne99]

You must cancel before midnight, the night before your ADR to ensure you are not charged a $10 per person cancellation fee.

 

[PoohsFan1]

If you want some flexibility in your touring, and you are not sure if you are going to park hop, I would then suggest not making any ADRs for that day. You may get lucky and be able to walk up to a restaurant (obviously not one of the extremely hard to get restaurants) with little to no wait for a table.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

If you want some flexibility in your touring, and you are not sure if you are going to park hop, I would then suggest not making any ADRs for that day. You may get lucky and be able to walk up to a restaurant (obviously not one of the extremely hard to get restaurants) with little to no wait for a table.

I agree with this, to a point. If you don't know what your hopping plans will be until day-of, I wouldn't make any ADR's until that day. Unless it's an incredibly busy time of year and if you are flexible with where you eat, you can typically snag something day-of once you know your plans. For example, we decided to go to EP one morning, without having any plans. I knew we would want to eat lunch there, so I got on the MDE app and found a 1 pm Via Napoli reservation. I didn't know if walking up would be a possibility and I hate spending time walking over to restaurants only to find they can't seat us! So, I would just wait until day-of and you know which parks you are visiting and then check the app, see what's available and snag the ADR then. Just know, once you make that day-of ADR, you will be subject to the no-show fee if you don't go, but I do find this gives us the most flexibility while still allowing us to secure a table at our desired meal time.

 

[Mlkim]

I've read a few places that the reservations have to be cancelled by 10:59pm, and other places that they have to be cancelled by 11:59pm. Which is right?

 

[supersnoop]

I've read a few places that the reservations have to be cancelled by 10:59pm, and other places that they have to be cancelled by 11:59pm. Which is right?

11:59pm Eastern time.

 

[Mlkim]

Thanks!

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

At 2:00 this afternoon I checked to see what is available at 5:00 tonight and in just the 4 parks I came up with 23 options. Unless you are trying to seat a very large party you should be able to find something.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I agree with this, to a point. If you don't know what your hopping plans will be until day-of, I wouldn't make any ADR's until that day. Unless it's an incredibly busy time of year and if you are flexible with where you eat, you can typically snag something day-of once you know your plans. For example, we decided to go to EP one morning, without having any plans. I knew we would want to eat lunch there, so I got on the MDE app and found a 1 pm Via Napoli reservation. I didn't know if walking up would be a possibility and I hate spending time walking over to restaurants only to find they can't seat us! So, I would just wait until day-of and you know which parks you are visiting and then check the app, see what's available and snag the ADR then. Just know, once you make that day-of ADR, you will be subject to the no-show fee if you don't go, but I do find this gives us the most flexibility while still allowing us to secure a table at our desired meal time.

Great information, and excellent point about checking day of reservations....I never seem to remember doing that myself, I will have to remember this for our next trip

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ADR "NO-SHOW" CANCELLATION FEES 411:
ALL Table Service eateries, both Disney-owned and non-Disney-owned are covered by this policy.
1) The rule says you are charged $10 per person for "no-show" ADR's.
. . . penalty applies when none of the party appears for the ADR
. . . penalty does not apply as long as some guests in party appear and someone eats
. . . if you show, do not eat, and leave, they have the right to charge you
2) The "no-show" penalty procedure
. . . podium person lists ADR as no-show (checks "On Hold" box in computer)
. . . usually after 30-minutes tardiness you are marked as a "no-show"
. . . once listed as "no-show", your name and number of your guests are listed
. . . the computer is reviewed by a manager at the end of the operating day
. . . the eatery manager SOLELY determines whether or not to charge you
. . . if charged, the cost penalty is on your credit/debit card immediately
. . . there are no exceptions for missing ADR's for such things as late flights
. . . if worried about late/delayed flights, don't book a TS meal until well after arrival time
. . . there are NO exceptons for being delayed due to crowded WDW rides or attractions
. . . it is up to you to plan you day to meet ADR times
. . . if you get there and decide not to wait for your ADR< you WILL be charged the no-show-fee
3) Exceptions - policy
. . . penalty is not assessed for cancellations made the day before ADR
. . . the ADR must be canceled by 11:59pm the previous day to avoid a no-show penalty
. . . for pre-paid meals, there are 24-48 hour cancel periods (eg. CRT, HDDR, Luau)
4) Exceptions - not policy, and at manager's discretion
. . . cancellations for lunch/dinner made early in the same day
. . . you come to the eatery ANYTIME during the same day and apologize
. . . a few minutes tardy, podium person usually will not denote you as "On Hold"
5) No-Show Penalty Trial Period Backstory
. . . this was done on a trial-basis for 4-weeks in Epcot
. . . cut down no-shows by over 75% at Epcot eateries
. . . Le Cellier cut daily no-shows to 1-page from 2-3 pages
. . . now a policy, as no-shows greatly can reduce eatery revenue
. . . a no-show takes a ressie someone else might have kept
. . . the policy was then trialled for character meals and signature meals
. . . being so successful, it is in effect for almost all table service meals across-the-property

NOTE1: During busy periods, there might not be a grace period and late-is-late, and they
might even cancel your ADR. However, whether the ADR was canceled due to tardiness or
not, the penalty fee USUALLY will not be imposed, as long as you showed at the podium.
.
NOTE2: Disney has no respect for people who decide to avoid an ADR at the last minute.
You an ADR time and are expected to use it. This is as it should be. This is exactly the
type of guest action the implementation of a No-Show Policy was supposed to halt.

 

[kayteekt]

Thanks everyone for the info!

 

[TrvlLin]

I have read accounts of people waiting 45 minutes or more to be seated even with an ADR. That could seriously throw off lots of FP+ plans. If the restaurant is running that late, and you showed up on time, will they still charge you? Doesn't really seem fair.

 

[Dentam]

I think it depends on the restaurant. We asked at CP the morning of our breakfast adr and were able to cancel on the spot without being charged a penalty. They told us that was only for no shows and we were fine since we showed up. We just weren't hungry enough to justify spending $30 each on the buffet.

 

[Minniesgal]

The days you want flexibility try booking a same day ADR that morning. Often most things are open. Only book in advance the places you really really want to go.

 

[happymommy]

One more reason I don't do many TS meals anymore.

It's too restrictive; we like to be more spontaneous on Disney trips (at least DD and I do; DH still likes to do one or two but often doesn't come along on our trips).

We've done many of the restaurants at Disney; some are great (Sci Fi) and fun, and some are just okay. There are many really decent CS places.

We've had luck just checking the MDE app same day. You're bound to find something. It may not be the more popular places, but it will give you an opportunity to try something new then!

 

[aaarcher86]

I have read accounts of people waiting 45 minutes or more to be seated even with an ADR. That could seriously throw off lots of FP+ plans. If the restaurant is running that late, and you showed up on time, will they still charge you? Doesn't really seem fair.

Just depends. Brown Derby was about an hour behind for seating and we had JTA lined up. The hostess said they could cancel us without penalty, so we did and just grabbed quick service.

I don't think you can bank on it, but I'm willing to bet they'll work with you majority if the time since it's helpful to both parties.

 

[GreatLakes]

We very rarely do ADRs on park days. We also hop and want the flexibility to change our minds on where we want to eat. We will sometimes check for day of ADRs later in the afternoon once we made our park decision for that time but thinking back on our last three trips we made a total of 2 advanced ADRs on park days and one of those two was the Luau at the Polynesian.

The necessity to make ADRs or not eat is overstated on these boards in my opinion. You may have to eat at an off time or go with a second or third choice but I'd prefer that to locking my park in even a day in advance. YMMV.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Love making adrs. Never had to cancel one day of. We plan our days around hard reservations so we don't need to worry about it.

 

[helenb]

FWIW, if you have a real problem, Disney can be flexible, but it is up to the individual CM with whom you speak. My 180 day window once opened up on Christmas Day. Since I am on the west coast, I was up at 3 am Christmas morning making reservations, and I accidentally made a reservation for the same day (since the current day is the default in the reservation system and I was so exhausted). I realized it right away, but the phone lines weren't open for another 45 minutes, and I was incredibly tired. So I went back to bed and called about 8 am (11 am on the east coast). I spoke to Disney Dining and explained the situation. They cancelled the ADR without penalty.

On another occasion, we had a dinner ADR and my daughter began feeling ill in the afternoon, so we cut our park day short and went back to the hotel. I called up Disney Dining and explained the situation, and again, there was a cancellation the same day with no penalty.

So while there is no guarantee, my experience has been that if you have a legitimate reason for not honoring the ADR, and you call in advance, Disney tries to be reasonable and help you out.

 

[disnut8]

I have read accounts of people waiting 45 minutes or more to be seated even with an ADR. That could seriously throw off lots of FP+ plans. If the restaurant is running that late, and you showed up on time, will they still charge you? Doesn't really seem fair.

More than likely, you will not be charged because YOU showed up. The cancellation fee was instituted for people who would make reservations for a restaurant in each of the four parks (and sometimes other places) for the same time and then just pick the one they wanted because they didn't know where they would be on that particular day but wanted to make sure they had a meal scheduled. So, at least three of those four reservations would go without people but those spots couldn't be given away so restaurants were being criticized for having open tables and people still waiting. Also, there weren't very many ADRs then available because of party who had booked four reservations, usually at the popular restaurants. So, Disney came up with, I think, a fair plan. You can make multiple reservations but if someone in your party doesn't show up at all, you will be charged $10/person. This has helped.

In your case - if you aren't seated in a timely manner and you will miss your FastPass time, just explain why you are leaving. It's not your fault, it's Disney's fault for the slower service.

But, I always make sure I have enough of a buffer around any ADR and any FastPass time. I wouldn't make an ADR for 2:00 PM and have a FastPass for 3:00 PM. Or even an ADR for 1:00 PM. I just like to sit back and enjoy my meal and not have time pressures to think about.