DL eateries not following in WDW's footsteps on ADR Policy

[k5jm]

I find this interesting especially since upper management has stated that they want one, unified front for their "parks."

http://www.ocregister.com/news/eateries-324154-fee-reject.html

Disney eateries here reject cancelation fee
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim passes on policy established by its sister restaurants in Florida

By LOU PONSI / THE ORANGE COUNTY REIGSTER

Restaurants in Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort will not follow the lead of Disney’s Florida theme parks – which recently started charging a fee to cancel restaurant reservations at the last minute.
At some Walt Disney World signature restaurants, patrons who fail to cancel dining reservations without giving at least 24 hours notice are charged $10 per person, according to the theme parks’ website (Credit card information must be provided when making the reservation).

The policy, which took effect Wednesday, applies to about 20 restaurants in Walt Disney World Resort’s six theme parks. According to the Florida resort’s website, the move was taken “to ensure consistent guest service” – which apparently means to make sure people aren’t stuck waiting for tables reserved for parties that never show up.
There are no plans to establish such a fee here at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure or Downtown Disney, a Disney spokesperson said Thursday.
Sylvano Ibay, general manager of the Anaheim White House Restaurant – a popular, fine-dining spot about a mile from Disneyland – said the failure of guests to cancel reservations within a reasonable timeframe can put a business at risk.
“For holidays, it’s a huge problem,” Ibay said.
For example, the White House received 700 reservations for Valentine’s Day, Ibay said, but 200 of those patrons didn’t show up or cancel their reservations. And there wasn’t enough walk-in patrons to fill the void, Ibay said. Food can be wasted and staffers left standing around.
(For groups of 20 or more, the restaurant does require a non-refundable deposit.)

 

[FireDancer]

I could see there being policy differences between WDW and DL because the guest profile is so different. I would imagine, though don't know for certain, that since so many of the DL guests are locals who don't plan their trips months or years out that they don't have the same problem with multiple ADRs and no-shows.

 

[BriarRosie]

I could see there being policy differences between WDW and DL because the guest profile is so different. I would imagine, though don't know for certain, that since so many of the DL guests are locals who don't plan their trips months or years out that they don't have the same problem with
multiple ADRs and no-shows.

Exactly. DLR guests don't need to make ADRs that far in advance. As you said, the majority are local visitors.

But i think the biggest difference is that DLR doesn't have a prepaid dining plan. DDP is a big factor at WDW because people don't want to be caught short on table service reservations.

 

[OKW Lover]

There's a significantly different approach to dining reservations at DL than WDW.

Val & I are headed to DL in a couple of weeks and our one big dining event was going to be Napa Rose. Being accustomed to WDW practices it really felt weird to wait until just a couple of weeks ago (i.e. about one month before we wanted to dine) to make reservations.

We called (apparently you can't book DL dining reservations on line) and got through immediately, requested a reservation for 7:30 pm on a Friday night and got it with no trouble. No "we only have 7:25 or 7:45 available", no "we only have tables for 3 or more available", just "sure we will see you at 7:30". No deposit needed. And you don't even get a reservation number. Its just your name.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Good for DLR! That would be crazy if they started charging people! As it is you can make a reservation a few days in advance for most places or just walk up. I just don't see the need to do that at DLR. I like the relaxed dining at DLR.

 

[PeterPan09]

However, I can tell you that we are already seeing venues open up at WDW that have been previously impossible to book on late notice. I've booked people in Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's, CRT...all with only a day or two notice since 10/26. Last month, I had a guest who was staying 14 days and I could not find them ONE character meal in that entire period. The only thing that's changed is the new cancellation fee.

It's wonderful to be able to make a guest's day by getting them that character meal that they thought was impossible.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Frank, Lori, et. al. are totally correct on it being due to guest profile. Heck, I can walk up to most places in the park and get right in. Even the Napa (when it's not a holiday). Places like Cafe Orleans, if you see a line building 2 hours before you want to eat, just call the dining line and walk right in when it's your time.

Locals/day guests don't make reservations. They never have and never will. It keeps them from enjoying their spontaneous day and, in fact, most will simply eat counter service or even better - bring their own meals to the picnic area or even tailgate in the parking garage to make the day more affordable.

If they charged for that, there would be more outrage than that the Light Magic parade caused....

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Places like Cafe Orleans, if you see a line building 2 hours before you want to eat, just call the dining line and walk right in when it's your time.

We actually did this during ABD in August. Worked like a charm.