Cost for reservations?

[marcar12]

I have never done this before, so I'm sorry if this is a totally "newbie" question!

When I'm on the Disney website and making dinner reservations, it asks for my credit card info. Is there a cost for making the reservations that will be charged to my card after I make them? If not, why do they request that info?

Thanks!

 

[OhThePain]

There are only a couple of restaurants that require your credit card information. Special meals like the Chef's Wine Tasting Dinner at Flying Fish, the Wanyama Safari, dinner shows, etc. require a pre-payment at the time you make the reservation. The restaurants that you are most likely talking about are the character meals, Signature restaurants and other very popular restaurants. They ask you for a CC to hold your reservation, this way if you do not show up without canceling you will be charged a no-show fee. People had a habbit of making several reservations for the same day and time this way they have an ADR for wherever they decide they want to be at that time (so they wouldn't have to worry about where they wanted to eat 180 days in advance). Disney is now doing what they can to cut that down so that the more desired reservations won't go to waste.

In other words, if you have no intentions on skipping out on an ADR and your ADR is not one of the pre-paid meals, you will not be charged anything (some people might get charged $1 to process the order depending on your CC, but you'll get that $1 credited back in a day or 2).

 

[marcar12]

Thank you! That was very helpful!

So if I make an ADR with every intention of being there, and then my plans unexpectedly change...is it easy to cancel the reservation?

 

[OhThePain]

Thank you! That was very helpful!

So if I make an ADR with every intention of being there, and then my plans unexpectedly change...is it easy to cancel the reservation?

It's very easy to cancel an ADR. You can call or do it on the internet, if you are already on vacation you can still call or use the internet (if you have a smartphone or laptop), go to guest relations at the park, concierge at your resort can cancel or even stop by the restaurant and cancel if you want. If you cancel but it is within 24 hours of your ADR (48 hours for some restaurants) you will still be charged the fee. So when you make your ADRs just make a note of the cancelation window and if you already made them it should be written on the confirmation e-mail.

 

[Hopefully]

As On the Pain said, it is easy to do, but be aware of the cancellation deadline. If you miss that you will be charged.