Changing dining reservations w/in 24 hours?

[alvernon90]

I know you cannot cancel a dining reservation within 24 hours without paying the fees, but are you allowed to change the reservation in that time? For example, if we find we are in a long line and want to miss a Blue Bayou lunch on Sunday, can we use the app to change the reservation to Monday (assuming it is open)?

 

[5forMickey]

Nope, but if you were just a few minutes late you would probably be okay. That's kind of the reason they went to guaranteed reservations, too many people were not showing up because they were on rides etc.

 

[Astylla]

Actually I've had to cancel same day and never been charged due to unforseen issues ( illness usually) or once accidentally booked the wrong weekend and got a reminder and had to call. Just be honest and they've always waived the fee for me but I've also always given several hours notice too.

 

[heffalumpz]

I've heard that as long as you check in on that day, you don't have to be there at the exact time? Like if you stopped by in the morning to ask this same question, I think they can check you in and then you can show up later to avoid the fees? Don't quote me on that.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I've called last minute on a couple different occasions either because of weather or a child who won't participate and they've either moved or cancelled my reservations without issue. They never charged me for either even though I was expecting that.

 

[5forMickey]

I'd be interested in your outcome if it happens, come back and post.

I've never had it happen, but I watched a guy our last trip try everything he could to talk his way out of it at Carnations Station and they still made him pay?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

You have a 15 minute grace period on your reservation time. So that would give some flexibility. Same day/last minute cancellations appear to be handled on a case by case basis, so illness or emergencies can be accommodated, but carelessness or poor planning (e.g. booked several reservations just for fun, but didn't cancel in time; got into a 40 minute line 20 minutes before the reservation time, etc.) aren't always excused. We have seen people check in after the grace period and be told that they now count as walk ups, so their seating time could be 30-40 minutes away.

 

[alvernon90]

We have seen people check in after the grace period and be told that they now count as walk ups, so their seating time could be 30-40 minutes away.

This seems fair to me, making people who missed the reservation time wait like a walkup -- as long as they are not also charged the fee for missing the reservation.

That is interesting about the likelihood (but apparently not guarantee) that Disney does not charge the fee for missing a reservation. Honestly, most cancellations are doing Disney a favor, because they just make a party in the standby line very happy. I would imagine it is rare that Disney turns away a party due to a reservation, and then cannot fill the table because that reservation was missed. No harm to Disney, but they impose a fine anyway.

 

[jennilouwho]

This last summer we were trying to get from Sacramento to Anaheim. We left at 7 a.m. and had a dinner reservation at PCH Grill at 6:00, which I thought we would easily make. We got caught in the some crazy traffic, hardly moving at all for hours and hours. It was terrible. Anyway, I went on my phone and kept changing the reservation online, pushing it back a bit and it let me do that just fine.

 

[Ralphmiller007]

Last year I canceled Yak and Yeti same day because we decided to just stay at AKL and do Boma instead, and I got charged when I called to cancel. Yesterday I accidentally booked October 9th instead of December 9th for BOG. I immediately realized I had just made a reservation for within the next hour, and modified the date via the app then canceled that reservation. It allowed me to do that without charging me. I figured I hadn't really hurt Disney or another guest by changing it immediately after making an honest mistake. I even felt a little guilty doing that

 

[5forMickey]

Same day/last minute cancellations appear to be handled on a case by case basis, so illness or emergencies can be accommodated, but carelessness or poor planning (e.g. booked several reservations just for fun, but didn't cancel in time; got into a 40 minute line 20 minutes before the reservation time, etc.) aren't always excused.

Beautifully said!!!

IMO this is the whole reason both the resort hotels and restaurants went to a one night deposit/cc guarantee method was because some guests were making several different reservations and then waiting until the last minute to cancel what they didn't want.

I even felt a little guilty doing that

I don't think you should feel guilty that was an honest mistake

 

[SMD]

I would imagine it is rare that Disney turns away a party due to a reservation, and then cannot fill the table because that reservation was missed. No harm to Disney, but they impose a fine anyway.

It happens all the time at BB, especially when they're offering some kind of dining package. Switching an ADR to the next day isn't really changing a reservation, it's canceling one day and booking another day. When you do it day of, you've taken the inventory out of use for a long time and barely handed it back with a fair chance for anyone to use. Like the policy to start charging for missed reservations, the more people do it, and the more of a problem it becomes for Disney, expect the rules to eventually tighten. If you have an ADR coming up in 30 minutes, don't get in a 25 minute line on the other side of the park. It's really not that complicated.