Changes to Dining Including Several DVC Locations

[TDC Nala]

I didn't say the Angels took money. That is why "auction" was in quote marks. But they did have people posting with their stories about why their family deserved the reservation, and if they had reservations that weren't claimed they would use these stories to determine who most "deserved" the reservations. They were basically a redistribution center for CRT reservations.\

The linked article says that even after the CRT moved to a credit card guarantee they were still in operation, taking credit card information from their "clients" to make the reservation for them. In my opinion giving your credit card information to someone you don't know is not the wisest thing ever, but it's indicative of the frenzy that was built up around CRT reservations at the time - which has now kind of spread to other restaurants, like 'Ohana and Le Cellier and most character meals, likely at least partially because of the dining plan.

I wonder if someone somewhere is still doing this in light of the fact that CRT is now prepayment in full.

The whole thing is likely a reaction to the "popularity" of some WDW restaurant reservations - if you make one they want you to show up for it, or cancel it.

 

[Inkmahm]

I'm okay with this change as long as Disney keeps their menu information online current. If there is nothing on a menu that I want to eat when I get there, I want the ability to cancel my reservation if that menu wasn't posted online in advance. My example is the Brown Derby. We like the restaurant but I don't always love the menu. I have a reservation for next week for lunch but if I get to the restaurant and see the posted menu has none of my favorites on it, then I will cancel the ADR. Sounds like this won't be possible in the future as I won't be seeing the menu 24 hours in advance.

 

[edk35]

It is a shame that the Disney Dining computer system simply wouldn't just refuse to make multiple reservations, within say 3 hours, of the dining time another reservation. But, people would probably use different names when calling or different screen names when booking via the website.

Unfortunately, people will work the system unless there is a financial risk.

Usually for a 10 day stay I make 5 ADRs and the rest of the time just go with the flow. If we can get in, fine, if not, fine. There are plenty of options, including cooking in the villas or offsite. That is one reason I never purchase any of the DDPs.

We have never had a desire to do the dining plan. We will make a few ADR's for a trip but we like to go with the flow too.

 

[twinklebug]

I'm okay with this change as long as Disney keeps their menu information online current. If there is nothing on a menu that I want to eat when I get there, I want the ability to cancel my reservation if that menu wasn't posted online in advance. My example is the Brown Derby. We like the restaurant but I don't always love the menu. I have a reservation for next week for lunch but if I get to the restaurant and see the posted menu has none of my favorites on it, then I will cancel the ADR. Sounds like this won't be possible in the future as I won't be seeing the menu 24 hours in advance.

Curious now, Both the Dis and Allears have menus and prices, sometimes they fall out of date, but does Disney have their own online listings? I did a search over at Disney.com and only found articles about a few select places.

 

[Chuck S]

There are some menus listed on the Disney website. Look for dining, and select an individual restaurant. Some of them have a link to a menu, some do not.

 

[twinklebug]

There are some menus listed on the Disney website. Look for dining, and select an individual restaurant. Some of them have a link to a menu, some do not.

Ah, I see. Thank you!

 

[Sammie]

The online booking system will not let you make two ADRs within an hour of each, using the same name, or same email, or phone number.

Also if you try to make it in the name of someone else in your group it will catch that too, which is why they are adamant about knowing the names of the people in your group.

If you are within one hour it will give you the option to choose one or the other.

Also people have reported on the Dining forums when they got past the system and double booked that recently DRC seems to sweep every so often and some have had their ADRs cancelled without notice.

So yes they are trying to stop the problem.

However I was told by a source at Disney Dining that this was not about double booking of ADRs, this was about No Shows.

 

[Chuck S]

However I was told by a source at Disney Dining that this was not about double booking of ADRs, this was about No Shows.

Potatoes - Potahtoes. Disney-speak.

Without double/triple/quadruple bookings, there would be far fewer no shows. With the new deposits required, there will be fewer no shows & fewer double/triple bookings.

Wait until they "officially" announce it was done to enhance the guest experience.

 

[Sammie]

Potatoes - Potahtoes. Disney-speak.

Without double/triple/quadruple bookings, there would be far fewer no shows. With the new deposits required, there will be fewer no shows & fewer double/triple bookings.

Wait until they "officially" announce it was done to enhance the guest experience.

Well true it is an example of the chicken/egg.

 

[CarolMN]

The online booking system will not let you make two ADRs within an hour of each, using the same name, or same email, or phone number.

Also if you try to make it in the name of someone else in your group it will catch that too, which is why they are adamant about knowing the names of the people in your group.

If you are within one hour it will give you the option to choose one or the other.

Also people have reported on the Dining forums when they got past the system and double booked that recently DRC seems to sweep every so often and some have had their ADRs cancelled without notice.

So yes they are trying to stop the problem.

However I was told by a source at Disney Dining that this was not about double booking of ADRs, this was about No Shows.

Potatoes - Potahtoes. Disney-speak.

Without double/triple/quadruple bookings, there would be far fewer no shows. With the new deposits required, there will be fewer no shows & fewer double/triple bookings.

Wait until they "officially" announce it was done to enhance the guest experience.

Well true it is an example of the chicken/egg.

The more I think about this, the more I think it is about staffing.

People are expensive. Businesses want to have the right number of employees to serve the customers - not too many and not too few.

Must be getting difficult to predict the number of employees needed given the number of no-shows the various places are experiencing. I suspect that there isn't a good enough "pattern" of no-shows for them to accurately predict around them. It's costing them money.

I can easily believe the new policy will change the no-show rate enough to result in a better "pattern" (for predicting necessary staffing levels).

 

[DanenRox]

I don't like this one bit. I'm all about a charge for NOT cancelling a reservation you don't keep but not with a 24 hour deadline! Really? Disney will punish me if one of us gets injured or ill...if we choose not to head outdoors in a lightening storm or torrential rain....if there's a Disney transportation delay or a ride problem which interferes with our schedule........ Jeez, good way to amp up the stress levels on vacation! This is DDP is less and less appealing with every turn.

 

[nunzia]

I have no issue with this new policy. Be gone multiple-ADRs-at-the-same-time peeps.

 

[aan1701]

I love it. When I was just at WDW at Ohana a lot of empty tables and yet no reservations were open when I wanted to make a slight adjustment in time. This was at the 6 PM hour by the way. So I welcome it. I mean really is that hard to call or log in or visit Guest Services and make your cancelation?

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

 

[MiaSRN62]

With this change, if we need to cancel our single, legitimate reservations in the morning, (say if one, or all of us are sick) we'll be clobbered the $10 per person fee. I was always good about canceling as early in the day as possible if I thought we wouldn't make dinner, and would cancel fairly early the night before if it looks like someone was not going to make breakfast.

Since one of my kids tends to catch every germ at the airport on every third trip, this is a good reason NOT to book a signature meal within the first 48 hours of arriving.

I agree.....we booked CA Grill this past May (party of 4). Two of us were very ill when we woke up that morning (stomach thing), but we refused to have to pay $80 for nothing so we went to dinner ill. I barely ate a thing and the waiter was not too happy. I could tell.
So a "greater than 24 hrs notice" can be very difficult and costly if one truly is sick such as myself and another family member were in May. We ALWAYS cancel an ADR if we can't make it (anywhere from 2 hrs or way more in advance). One time we just couldn't get to the park in time and callled. I have WDW DIning on speed dial on my cell. This new policy REALLLLYYY makes me think. As an example, had ADR's at 50's Prime Time in August. Got there 20 min early and was told there was an hour wait which turned out to be 90 min ! Now can we turn around and charge THEM $10 person if we wanted to go somewhere that had less of a wait ?? We just had a big commute to Rose N Crown.....walked ALL THE WAY around to World Showcase in pouring torrential rain (if anyone was there on Oct 8). Got there and they told us they were closing and suggested other places to go. We were quite annoyed. Hmmm, wonder if they would be required to pay each of us $10 for cancelling at the last second on us.
Overall, it's not a bad policy, but I could see it affecting some negatively.

 

[jennypenny]

I agree with the policy in theory, but I can see some hiccups for us...
*We usually book a really nice the meal the first day because we just relax and skip the parks. I'd be afraid to book that now in case our flight was late.
*I'm curious to see what they do if some of the guests show up, but not all. We travel with extended family. Sometimes a kid gets ill or just tired (same for a grandparent ) and they skip dinner. The rest of us usually go. What then? My kids are older now, but I wouldn't want to be in the position of deciding whether to forfeit the $10 each or drag a screaming baby/toddler into a restaurant. It happens despite the best of planning sometimes.

I realize they need to crack down. I think the 180 days is too long and that adds to the problem. I can't book my dining until I book my flight but I don't book my flight 6 months out. It should be 90 days.

 

[hakepb]

I love it. When I was just at WDW at Ohana a lot of empty tables and yet no reservations were open when I wanted to make a slight adjustment in time. This was at the 6 PM hour by the way. So I welcome it. I mean really is that hard to call or log in or visit Guest Services and make your cancelation?

I am not sure the empty tables are double booking. To an extent, I think Disney decides what they want capacity to be in advance.

I remember wanting to add another Boma visit to a trip. I kept calling and was told no availability. Finally I took a split-table reservation. At check-in, I asked if we could be seated at 1 table. "no problem". Indeed, Boma was less than half full.

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

I'm ok with this change, but, Disney needs to add some flexibility to the cancellation policy. Otherwise, I see a lot of cranky/screaming/sick/tired kids that will be dragged to dinner/lunch, because, mommy and daddy are not going to loose $40 or $50. It is pretty bad now and it will get worst... This is coming from a mom of a 3yr old, who has had to cancel, at the last minute, more than a couple of times. We have made the decision to not buy the DDP next year, for the first time since the DDP began. We will only make 1 character dinner ADR and if DD is too tired to go, we will just loose $30-$40. DH is happy, he rather eat offsite or counter service anyway and not buying the DDP will save us thousands of dollars each year...

 

[CarolMN]

Since I think most everyone has now heard about the new credit card guarantee policy effective 10/26, I am going to close this thread. It's not a DVC topic.

Here's the thread on the Restaurants/Dining Reservations Forum for those who would like more info or want to continue the discussion:

New credit card guarantees. Restaurant list, policy & common questions in 1st post

Thanks, all.