Cancelling ADRs (without being penalized)

[Misfit928]

I have been trying to find info on the cancellation policies. I appreciate the info.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . 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 . . .

1) If you fail to eat at the restaurant, they can still charge you the Non-Show fee.
2) After all, you did not eat.
. . . simply "showing up" and not getting charged is valid at only one eatery of which I know
. . . the manager on duty at the end of the day has the sole responsibility to charge or not charge you
. . . showing-up means showing up and eating, not just appearing at the podium
3) There have been MANY instances where people walked away from an ADR delay and were charged the fee.
4) It is not Disney's fault for "slower service" and delays in ADR seating
. . . in many cases, other guests just haven't left their tables
. . . Disney doesn't force anyone to leave when they have completed eating and are siting and talking
. . . people frequently take longer in order to rest and sit in the A/C
. . . or, the group just wants to catch-up and gossip a little while
5) One has to remember, ADR is not a reservation or appointment.
. . . it places you in a queue for the next available table for your group size
. . . this could be exactly at the time of the ADR, or anytime thereafter
. . . the restaurant is not at fault when your FP is so close to your ADR time
. . . it is your responsibility to allow ample time for eating and riding

 

[partyof2]

When we checked in at Sci-Fi last year we were told they were running very behind. I told them I had a FP+ booked for x time and they said if we were held up so long that our FP+ was going to be impacted we should ask to speak to a manager (at the restaurant) and they would be able to 'sort something out'.

Also we cancelled an ADR on the day last year at guest services. I fully expected to be charged but just wanted to give someone else the opportunity of my ADR, I made no mention of the charge whatsoever just said I wanted to cancel. The cast member gave me my cancelling number and told me there'd be no charge.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

1) If you fail to eat at the restaurant, they can still charge you the Non-Show fee.
2) After all, you did not eat.
. . . simply "showing up" and not getting charged is valid at only one eatery of which I know
. . . the manager on duty at the end of the day has the sole responsibility to charge or not charge you
. . . showing-up means showing up and eating, not just appearing at the podium
3) There have been MANY instances where people walked away from an ADR delay and were charged the fee.
4) It is not Disney's fault for "slower service" and delays in ADR seating
. . . in many cases, other guests just haven't left their tables
. . . Disney doesn't force anyone to leave when they have completed eating and are siting and talking
. . . people frequently take longer in order to rest and sit in the A/C
. . . or, the group just wants to catch-up and gossip a little while
5) One has to remember, ADR is not a reservation or appointment.
. . . it places you in a queue for the next available table for your group size
. . . this could be exactly at the time of the ADR, or anytime thereafter
. . . the restaurant is not at fault when your FP is so close to your ADR time
. . . it is your responsibility to allow ample time for eating and riding

2) To me, showing up should mean showing up at the restaurant at the time of the ADR (or most often 10+ minutes before) with the intention of patronizing the restaurant. If the restaurant cannot seat my party within 15-20 minutes of my scheduled time, I feel that I should have the option to cancel the ADR without penalty. Wouldn't that help the restaurant in catching up?
4) It's not really Disney's fault if people choose to linger, but it shouldn't be the responsibility of those who are unwilling to wait 30+ minutes past their ADR time to pay and compensate Disney for slow table turnover. And if it happens at certain locations all the time, it is at least partially Disney's fault for scheduling too many ADRs; off days happen, but a consistent pattern of issues should be fixed.

Thank you for your insight on the official policy. I will plan ample time for the ADRs I make, but if I encounter a worst-case scenario I will expect reasonable accommodation. We'll see how that works out!

 

[GreatLakes]

I thought ADRs weren't reservations in the traditional sense of the word. An ADR at 3:00 just means you are entered into the queue at 3:00 after check in. It could be a 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 60 minute queue. It doesn't mean you are seated at 3:00.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

I thought ADRs weren't reservations in the traditional sense of the word. An ADR at 3:00 just means you are entered into the queue at 3:00 after check in. It could be a 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 60 minute queue. It doesn't mean you are seated at 3:00.

You are correct and that's one of the things Rusty mentioned. I'm just saying, if it's a 60-minute queue, I should have the option to cancel without penalty. That is apparently not policy, but I think most people would agree that is reasonable.

 

[GreatLakes]

You are correct and that's one of the things Rusty mentioned. I'm just saying, if it's a 60-minute queue, I should have the option to cancel without penalty. That is apparently not policy, but I think most people would agree that is reasonable.

I agree. While I think just showing up to check in and cancel should get the penalty charged there should be a point in time where you waited for your seat in good faith and should be able to walk without a penalty. I think 30 minutes after check in should be the time but the current policy doesn't see it that way.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I don't know if this still works and wouldn't do it for an entire trip, but on our last visit in May, we had to leave 2 days early and had a dinner ADR scheduled for the day we left. I called Disney Dining in the morning and asked to reschedule it for the next day then cancelled it without penalty. I think I read that this loop hole was closed but I can't say for sure. Like I mentioned, I wouldn't expect this type of work around for an entire vacation but it worked great in a pinch and I was grateful we didn't have to pay the cancellation fee in addition to the costs involved with needing to end our trip early.

 

[bpadair32]

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.

This is what we do as well. I am far more willing to be spontaneous with rides and attractions than I am with dining.

 

[disnut8]

You are correct and that's one of the things Rusty mentioned. I'm just saying, if it's a 60-minute queue, I should have the option to cancel without penalty. That is apparently not policy, but I think most people would agree that is reasonable.

I agree. If my ADR is at 2:00 PM and I show up at 1:45 PM and have a FastPass at 4:00-5:00 PM, I do expect that I should be seated with enough time to make that FastPass. I do not expect to be seated at 1:45 or even at 2:00, depending on the restaurant, but if it's going on 4:00 and I'm still not seated, then something well out of MY control is going on.

In my experience, Disney will listen to WHY you were late for something and if it was something in your control, they aren't going to be all that forgiving. However, if it's because THEY had something to do with it, they will listen.

 

[Tozzie]

In my opinion Disney should have kept calling it priority seating if it isn't a reservation. Disney can do a lot of things but they don't get to change a definition of something because they want it to mean something else