Disney just cancelled my 3/17 Raglan Road ADRs

[scarlet_ibis]

And I'm mad. Obviously, we chose that specifically for the date and we have had these ADRs since the 180 day timeframe started. My DD is also into Irish dance, we have Irish heritage, and this was to be a treat.

Has anyone else had theirs cancelled? They told me that the restaurant is not Disney-owned, so they have no control over it, but the restaurant decided to do live music and walkups only. I think they just saw we are a large party (7) with kids and they'd either rather have the space for a band (I've never been there) or they'd rather have smaller parties of alcohol-drinkers. I'm very curious to see if everyone gets cancelled or they were fibbing. I would like to think that Disney is a company with integrity, but I am a cynic.

 

[squirrel]

Is there a way to contact the restaurant directly and speak with a manager or someone?

I thought there was a list of the restaurant phone #'s somewhere.

 

[phorsenuf]

You may have gotten bumped for a private party. I've heard of that happening before.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

You may have gotten bumped for a private party. I've heard of that happening before.

We got bumped for a private party from Wolfgang Pucks, but they admitted it when they called me (and it was WP, not Disney, that called).

 

[Pakey]

I don't see how Disney would have any control over a restaurant not owned/operated by them. I can see being mad at Ragland Road but not at Disney. I'm also not sure I'd want to be in there with children on that date anyway.

They already have a space for a band; I'm guessing they want more of a bar atmosphere that night; they will make a ton more money serving booze than they will serving dinners. The place will be packed.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

If they are going to take ADRs through Disney Dining, they should honor them. It's bunk for both parties to give just over 60 day's notice for cancellation of an ADR during peak season. It isn't like Raglan Road just got its Irish theme or St. Patrick's Day just became a holiday. If they didnt want ADRs for that date, they shouldn't have accepted them in September.

 

[vicki_c]

It's St. Patrick's Day and I'm sure they can make more money on liquor than dinners on that particular day by packing them in like sardines at the bar. Unfortunate that they accepted reservations, but like the others said, they are not owned by Disney, so there's not much to be done other than complain to Disney. Which won't do anything other than add you to any list of people complaining about the same thing at this point.

I'm sure they cancelled all dining - Irish bars are SRO and worse on St. Patrick's Day.

 

[sjs314]

And I'm mad. Obviously, we chose that specifically for the date and we have had these ADRs since the 180 day timeframe started. My DD is also into Irish dance, we have Irish heritage, and this was to be a treat.

Has anyone else had theirs cancelled? They told me that the restaurant is not Disney-owned, so they have no control over it, but the restaurant decided to do live music and walkups only. I think they just saw we are a large party (7) with kids and they'd either rather have the space for a band (I've never been there) or they'd rather have smaller parties of alcohol-drinkers. I'm very curious to see if everyone gets cancelled or they were fibbing. I would like to think that Disney is a company with integrity, but I am a cynic.

In all honesty growing up in the irish section of a large city, I have seen first hand how rowdy an Irish Pub can get on St. Patricks Day and I am sure Raglan Road is no exception.
It is probally a wise move on their part to cancel existing reservations for that day/night knowing from previous years the large influx of locals the holiday brings to DTD. I would imagine it might be something they have done in the past or if not they have suffered many complaints from families not prepared for the drunken festivities they encountered.

Did they offer any other times on days during your stay? If it were me I would rather go on another day/night than be surrounded by loud, drunken partiers on the 17th.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

It's DISNEY. We ate at the San Angel on Cinco de Mayo and there was no great fuss.

And why was my thread moved and where did it go?

 

[vicki_c]

It's DISNEY. We ate at the San Angel on Cinco de Mayo and there was no great fuss.

And why was my thread moved and where did it go?

I hope you're joking - I don't know how anyone could compare the St. Patrick's Day festivities with Cinco de Mayo - not even close. And it's not "Disney" like a park where admission is required - it's Downtown Disney, open to anyone.

I know you're mad, but I think the PP is entirely right - you really would NOT want to be trying to have a nice dinner in an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day, at least not any one I have ever been in on St. Paddy's. I love St. Patrick's Day - one of my favorite holidays for going out and celebrating, and I no longer overindulge, but you are kidding yourself if you think others won't because it's "Disney." It will be a lot of drunk, loud, partying people.

Your thread was moved to the Reservations board since it is about your reservation.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

I'm not joking at all. They booted McDonald's from Downtown Disney and closed Pleasure Island, for heaven's sake.

If Raglan Road wanted to have a drunken boozefest for St. Patrick's Day, they (1) should have opened somewhere other than a Disney property and (2) shouldn't have accepted dining reservations through Disney for that date.

Still, I wouldn't expect our early dinner reservations to have interfered with anybody's revelry.

 

[TinkerMouse]

I hope you're joking - I don't know how anyone could compare the St. Patrick's Day festivities with Cinco de Mayo - not even close. And it's not "Disney" like a park where admission is required - it's Downtown Disney, open to anyone.

I know you're mad, but I think the PP is entirely right - you really would NOT want to be trying to have a nice dinner in an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day, at least not any one I have ever been in on St. Paddy's. I love St. Patrick's Day - one of my favorite holidays for going out and celebrating, and I no longer overindulge, but you are kidding yourself if you think others won't because it's "Disney." It will be a lot of drunk, loud, partying people.

Your thread was moved to the Reservations board since it is about your reservation.

I agree. Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick's Day are two completely different events. It's like trying to compare apples to oranges. Yes they are both fruit but other than that you don't judge them against each other. Also, just because something is on Disney property doesn't mean it's operated by Disney which is what they already said. If something is not run by Disney then obviously it's not going to abide by or uphold all of Disney's standards.

 

[TinkerMouse]

I'm not joking at all. They booted McDonald's from Downtown Disney and closed Pleasure Island, for heaven's sake.

If Raglan Road wanted to have a drunken boozefest for St. Patrick's Day, they (1) should have opened somewhere other than a Disney property and (2) shouldn't have accepted dining reservations through Disney for that date.

Still, I wouldn't expect our early dinner reservations to have interfered with anybody's revelry.

Your frustration makes total sense in the sense that it's rude to accept reservations when you know that you're most likely going to chuck them in favor of something else. I would even call it unprofessional and a just plain mean tease. Unfortunately that is how a lot of businesses like that act.

In order to understand you have to think like a business. A lot of people will be on Disney property so you obviously want to be your business where all the people are. That is why they have a location in DTD. It is for profit. Putting a location in DTD is a smart move money wise but accepting reservations they know they will most likely cancel in favor of more lucrative options is a jerk move but they are going to make it.

I honestly don't know why their jerk move is necessary when they already know they're going to make the money through boozers. I guess they're trying to keep up appearances in the time before the unfairly cancel people's reservations.

 

[Leajess99]

I'm not joking at all. They booted McDonald's from Downtown Disney and closed Pleasure Island, for heaven's sake.

If Raglan Road wanted to have a drunken boozefest for St. Patrick's Day, they (1) should have opened somewhere other than a Disney property and (2) shouldn't have accepted dining reservations through Disney for that date.

Still, I wouldn't expect our early dinner reservations to have interfered with anybody's revelry.

Do you know that there are people that start partying early in the day and keep right on going into the night on St Patrick's Day?? I'm Irish and while I do not do it, I have seen many who take the day and party, quite loudly and obnoxiously I might add.

Sorry you lost your reservation but at the same time Raglan Road would be held liable if something were to happen to one of your children and they probably do not want that risk. Heck, they may have a new manager who has decided that this needs to be changed or any number of other things why the change now.

Alos, not everything on Disney Property is Disney Owned (Trex, Lego, Rainforest cafe, etc) and therefore Disney has no control over what they are doing. Maybe they asked Disney not to schedule on that day and Disney system did not comprehend. There really is not a lot that can be done to fix it and if you want to eat there so badly than maybe do it on a walk up basis.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't think I'd want to eat there that day with kids anyway. Irish pubs on St Patty's Day aren't generally known for a family atmosphere, and it is very possible that they intend to have a minimum age that day because of the holiday rather than being welcoming of all ages to begin with. That's what the restaurant/bar where we sometimes spend St Patricks Day does - 364 days a year they welcome families and are more restaurant than bar, but on St Patty's you have to be 18 just to walk through the door.

 

[Jokecrakker]

And I'm mad. Obviously, we chose that specifically for the date and we have had these ADRs since the 180 day timeframe started. My DD is also into Irish dance, we have Irish heritage, and this was to be a treat.

Has anyone else had theirs cancelled? They told me that the restaurant is not Disney-owned, so they have no control over it, but the restaurant decided to do live music and walkups only. I think they just saw we are a large party (7) with kids and they'd either rather have the space for a band (I've never been there) or they'd rather have smaller parties of alcohol-drinkers. I'm very curious to see if everyone gets cancelled or they were fibbing. I would like to think that Disney is a company with integrity, but I am a cynic.

I just received a phone call today from Disney saying that our reservations were cancelled as well. My wife and I were going there to celebrate our anniversary. We were married on St. Patrick's Day and this was going to be the first time we will be down there to celebrate.

 

[KBoopaloo]

I wonder if this actually may have been a mistake on Disney's part by offering ADRs on that day. We were in WDW last year during St Patrick's Day and ate at Raglan Road on 3/16. If I recall correctly, they said they were not taking any reservations for 3/17 at all. They were actually selling wristbands that let you come and go throughout the day for all the festivities.

They also had many kid friendly activities (and some children's Irish dancing groups, if I recall) so I doubt cancelling your ADR had anything to do with not wanting kids in the restaurant that day.

If I had to guess, I'd say that this was an oversight in the ADR system and WDW just shouldn't have been offering ADRs for this day at all.

Sorry for your disappointment though. I understand how frustrating it can be to have your carefully made plans thwarted.

 

[redzinner]

I wonder if this actually may have been a mistake on Disney's part by offering ADRs on that day. We were in WDW last year during St Patrick's Day and ate at Raglan Road on 3/16. If I recall correctly, they said they were not taking any reservations for 3/17 at all. They were actually selling wristbands that let you come and go throughout the day for all the festivities.

They also had many kid friendly activities (and some children's Irish dancing groups, if I recall) so I doubt cancelling your ADR had anything to do with not wanting kids in the restaurant that day.

If I had to guess, I'd say that this was an oversight in the ADR system and WDW just shouldn't have been offering ADRs for this day at all.

Sorry for your disappointment though. I understand how frustrating it can be to have your carefully made plans thwarted.

That's the correct answer ... it was a Disney muck-up not Raglan's. The festivities for the 17th of March are planned way in advance.
Original Poster, you can still go and have fun, just without a reservation.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I'm sorry your reservations were canceled and I can understand you being mad but it is possible that when you made your reservations Raglan Road had no concrete St. Patty's Day plans for their establishment. It is possible that once they got bands, etc into place they made the decision that they were going to do walk-ups only that day. You cannot be mad a Disney for this. They have no control over a company they lease space to. As long as Disney is getting their money from them and they are adhering to whatever rules Disney has set forth then they can decide not to take reservations on St. Patty's day - even if they decide on March 16th.

I am not Irish nor do I really celebrate the holiday but I know that unless I'm out to really party it up that day, you avoid Irish establishments. They're crowded and crazy!!! If it makes you feel better I would either call Raglan Road directly and speak to a manager about your disappointment or write a letter to their corporate headquarters.

 

[AquaDame]

IMO it is likely that they choose not to do ADRs for that day because people are not going to come and go like it is a normal dinner. People are going to come early and stay, stay, stay, stay drinking and having fun. They simply won't have the turnover and won't want to fight getting people who are willing to keep paying for beer to leave. Yes, it is an oversight and yes you should complain if you haven't already since they should NOT have this come as a surprise after all and should not have taken reservations. Perhaps something with the upgrade kept them from locking that date out, or perhaps Raglan did not have to inform disney of their plans until they 'opted in' to the DDP for 2011 since they seem to wait until the last minute. All these things aside I'm sorry they did that to you all.