Did the new cancellation policy cause this?

[aaylasecura]

I just finished my dining reservations for my July trip. Don't judge me - it was the only time I could go. It was so easy to make the dining reservations, getting the time I want I mean, which has never been this way in the past.

Do you think this was caused by the new cancellation policy and people are afraid to make reservations or should I be expecting a lighter crowd in the middle of July?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I just finished my dining reservations for my July trip. Don't judge me - it was the only time I could go. It was so easy to make the dining reservations, getting the time I want I mean, which has never been this way in the past.

Do you think this was caused by the new cancellation policy and people are afraid to make reservations or should I be expecting a lighter crowd in the middle of July?

I think it definitely is caused by the new cancellation policy. I've been playing around with my May ADRs, tweeking days, times and locations. I've noticed a lot more availability than I've ever seen before so close to travel time. A few days ago I downloaded the Mobile Magic app and was checking out the dining reservation section of it. I found LeCellier lunch ADRs available for just two days later. Never expected to see those.

 

[candy0730]

I just finished my dining reservations for my July trip. Don't judge me - it was the only time I could go. It was so easy to make the dining reservations, getting the time I want I mean, which has never been this way in the past.

Do you think this was caused by the new cancellation policy and people are afraid to make reservations or should I be expecting a lighter crowd in the middle of July?

What is the "new cancellation policy"? I made a few ADRs this week and didn't notice a change so I want to be sure I am not missing something.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

What is the "new cancellation policy"? I made a few ADRs this week and didn't notice a change so I want to be sure I am not missing something.

Here's a link to a thread regarding the new cancellation policy. Starting last October, certain restaurants now require a cancellation one day in advance or you will be charged $10/person if you don't show or cancel less than a day in advance. It doesn't apply to all restaurants. If you had to provide a cc number to make any of your ADRs, those restaurants will have the cancellation policy.

 

[candy0730]

Here's a link to a thread regarding the new cancellation policy. Starting last October, certain restaurants now require a cancellation one day in advance or you will be charged $10/person if you don't show or cancel less than a day in advance. It doesn't apply to all restaurants. If you had to provide a cc number to make any of your ADRs, those restaurants will have the cancellation policy.

Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

I've also read a bit about the current price of the dining plan being the breaking point for some, so maybe the dining plan isn't selling as well as it used to - at least not in high summer, when there's no free dining offers.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've also read a bit about the current price of the dining plan being the breaking point for some, so maybe the dining plan isn't selling as well as it used to - at least not in high summer, when there's no free dining offers.

I'll agree that may be part of the issue. We barely broke even cost wise with the DDP on our last trip. I opted to skip it this time and am making fewer ADRs. We'll be there 10 nights, but I'm only planning 5 TS meals. Given that without the DDP we won't be ordering dessert at every meal, and I won't feel as much pressure to order the more expensive items to make the DDP worth the money, I expect to spend less on meals paying OOP than I would on the DDP.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I dunno but I've been having no trouble tweaking all my reservations and I leave in 3 days-- I've got some pretty popular restaurants on my list, too!

 

[bcrook]

I am going for two weeks may/June and we only have one ADR that required a credit card. I have noticed that it is harder to get some of restaurants that don't require the credit card, and places like le cellier are more available.

Kona seems to be the hardest ticket to find for my two weeks, and I have been tracking this are ages now! Or it seems like ages!

 

[miami305]

I just made my ADR's for July with no problem. There were plenty of open time slots available.

We won this trip or we would not be staying at a resort. It would be 10X easier for us to have light breakfast at a condo before heading to park and return for a quick dinner. Planning all these restaurant meals has stressed me!

We are all light eaters except for my husband. After seeing the various kid menus, I am bringing my own PB&J, carrots and grapes!

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

I just finished my dining reservations for my July trip. Don't judge me - it was the only time I could go. It was so easy to make the dining reservations, getting the time I want I mean, which has never been this way in the past.

Do you think this was caused by the new cancellation policy and people are afraid to make reservations or should I be expecting a lighter crowd in the middle of July?

We go in summer too, it's the only time we can go. I do think the new policy is making it easier to book an ADR, I was even able to jossle around Chef Mickey, CRT and Crystal Palace meals to suit our plans for August. That might not have happened before, although we're still 4 months out

I do not think you will find the crowds lower in July or for us, August (don't we wish) I think several things are happening: (1) people are no longer making multiple ADR's (2) people are actually canceling ADR's they don't intend to use (3) people are no longer making ADR's at restaurants requiring the credit card deposit (4) people are only making a couple of ADR's (5) people are no longer making ADR's at all and planning to do CS meals or (6) people are taking their chances for a day of ADR or drop in.

The result may be that counter services will be more crowded and/or it may possible to get more choices for a same day ADR or drop in for a formerly difficult to get TS. Hard to say at this point, but one thing I'm sure of is that the policy is a result of a financial decision to benefit disney

The only alteration to our plans was to not plan an arrival day TS but we went right ahead and booked TS for pretty much every day of our trip. We do single park day tixs, pick our parks in advance and then plan our meals around it. TS are DH's favorite part, he's more of a pool and relax guy vs. touring and doing rides.

 

[Allison]

Yes. Just listened to a wdw today podcast that talked about this some. They talked about how the average number of days ahead you needed to make an ADR for individual restaurants had dropped dramatically. They gave actual numbers based on their research which was interesting.

 

[rhodymom]

Interesting because I do not think the list is that exhausting...that it would cause a downturn in reservations (but I will be optimistic since my 180 day mark is tomorrow!!)

 

[Colleen27]

I think it has made a difference. Kona is the new Le Cellier, it seems - I couldn't get it at 4 months out when I booked for May!

I'm not booking CC ADRs any more so I'm one of those who used to be taking up tables that are now open - we used to book a signature dinner every night and a character meal or two per week, but after a mess of an experience at Crystal Palace in January and no response from guest services when I wrote to them about it I'm just not up for playing that game again.

 

[aubriee]

Interesting because I do not think the list is that exhausting...that it would cause a downturn in reservations (but I will be optimistic since my 180 day mark is tomorrow!!)

I think it has made a difference. Kona is the new Le Cellier, it seems - I couldn't get it at 4 months out when I booked for May!

I'm not booking CC ADRs any more so I'm one of those who used to be taking up tables that are now open - we used to book a signature dinner every night and a character meal or two per week, but after a mess of an experience at Crystal Palace in January and no response from guest services when I wrote to them about it I'm just not up for playing that game again.

I'm with Colleen. I go to WDW 4-6 times a year, am not a fan of counter service and prefer the Signature restaurants. I used to always make ADRs for an early TS lunch then do a Signature restaurant pretty much every night. No way, am I tying up a cc guarantee for that many ADRs. For both my upcoming May and Sept solo trips, I purposely did not book a single ADR that required a cc guarantee. Instead I booked at almost all the Swan/Dolphin restaurants and then filled the rest with restaurants that don't require the cc guarantee. I still have TS restaurants booked every day for lunch and dinner just like I always do though. When I get down there, I may try my luck as a walk up at my favorite Sigatures. I'll be able to make ADRs this coming Monday for my Oct/Nov trip. My husband is going on that trip and has said that he wants Ohana and Cape May Clam Bake. I did try to talk him out of them, but those were the two specific restaurants he wanted, so I told him I'd book them, but we absolutely must show up for them. The rest of the restaurants I'll be booking will not require a cc guarantee.

So as of next Monday I will have ADRs booked for three different trips (so about 42-43 ADRs) but only two of those ADRs will require a cc guarantee. The other 40 will all be at restaurants that don't require the cc guarantee. Prior to the cc guarantee about half of those would have been at restaurants that now require a cc guarantee, so it definitely effected the places I'll be eating at down there. Other than the Garden Grove, I have never eaten at any of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants, but now will be eating at all of them. I probably would have never tried Blue Zoo, Shulas, Kimonos, or Il Mulino if it hadn't been for Disney's cc guarantee policy. I'm just one person, so may not matter, but I'll be eating at least 20 less meals at a Signature (or even non signature if it requires a cc guarantee) over the next few months than what I normally would.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm with Colleen. I go to WDW 4-6 times a year, am not a fan of counter service and prefer the Signature restaurants. I used to always make ADRs for an early TS lunch then do a Signature restaurant pretty much every night. No way, am I tying up a cc guarantee for that many ADRs. For both my upcoming May and Sept solo trips, I purposely did not book a single ADR that required a cc guarantee. Instead I booked at almost all the Swan/Dolphin restaurants and then filled the rest with restaurants that don't require the cc guarantee. I still have TS restaurants booked every day for lunch and dinner just like I always do though. When I get down there, I may try my luck as a walk up at my favorite Sigatures. I'll be able to make ADRs this coming Monday for my Oct/Nov trip. My husband is going on that trip and has said that he wants Ohana and Cape May Clam Bake. I did try to talk him out of them, but those were the two specific restaurants he wanted, so I told him I'd book them, but we absolutely must show up for them. The rest of the restaurants I'll be booking will not require a cc guarantee.

So as of next Monday I will have ADRs booked for three different trips (so about 42-43 ADRs) but only two of those ADRs will require a cc guarantee. The other 40 will all be at restaurants that don't require the cc guarantee. Prior to the cc guarantee about half of those would have been at restaurants that now require a cc guarantee, so it definitely effected the places I'll be eating at down there. Other than the Garden Grove, I have never eaten at any of the Swan/Dolphin restaurants, but now will be eating at all of them. I probably would have never tried Blue Zoo, Shulas, Kimonos, or Il Mulino if it hadn't been for Disney's cc guarantee policy. I'm just one person, so may not matter, but I'll be eating at least 20 less meals at a Signature (or even non signature if it requires a cc guarantee) over the next few months than what I normally would.

That explains why both Shula's and Il Mulino have been busier! Il Mulino's is one of our favorites. Shula's is OK we prefer Yachtsman.

How about this for irony. We've been going to MORE signatures because of increased availablity. We've always filled in those night with at last minute walk up at the S&D since we stay half the time and the other half at BC.

You are zigging and I am Zagging.