Double booked cancellations

[kwdreams]

I had a 6:20 at California Grill for dinner and a Kona at 9:05 at Kona for desert. They considered us double booked and cancelled without contacting us.

I explained to the rep on the phone our plans and she said they have no way of controlling this.



K

 

[lynninpa]

Unfortunately, many people "double book" 2 places for the same time just because they are "not sure where they want to eat, etc." Which is, in my opinion, selfish & unfair to others hoping to get an ADR at those places. It is also unfair to people like you who were NOT being selfish-just planning out a nice trip agenda. Sorry this happened to you! Did they cancel both?

 

[traveladdiction]

oh wow, that's nuts. I don't know how they can do that. That is just wrong. When was the ressie for? Did they tell you when that happened? Will they be able to re-book them for you since it was their mistake? I would be so MAD.

 

[traveladdiction]

oh and shouldn't they have just cancelled ONE? Unbelieveable.

 

[septbaby]

OP Did not say they cancelled both, just that they cancelled. I have no problem with automatic cancellations, particularly at high demand periods like Free Dining, holidays, etc. Disney has a responsibility to give guests, esp. DP guests a chance to use their credits. This is just one way they can help manage the process. The OP had two ADRs during the dinner hours on the same night, dinner seems to be any ADR past 4pm. Disney's position is to allow other diners a chance at that second dinner reservation. Obviously a way around this is to put the second ressie in someone else's name and phone number. Probably not in the spirit of the policy, but follows the letter.

Hopefully Kona was cancelled. I would suggest OP show up at Kona close to closing stating they just wanted to order dessert. If there are servers and seats open they'd probably take you as dessert and coffee are high margin products. Otherwise I hope you find something absolutely wonderful on the CG dessert menu.

Just keep in mind if you're on the other end of this, really want to eat and maybe really want to eat at Kona, you might be ecstatic to get an ADR, even at 9pm.

We have been fortunate in getting ADRs at every place we wanted and even adjusted times as our plans changed. Coral Reef was the toughest to get and I'm not sure if we received some auto cancellation pixie dust or what, but I am grateful that we'll get to have that lunch experience during our trip. Since getting that ADR I've called to add or verify what was on our list and several times the CMs said, "don't change that one", never our intent, "because there is nothing available".

 

[Skylarr29]

Hmmm.. I just had to add that it seems like a lot of headache to leave the Cali Grill ( with much better and AMAZING dessert) and go wait for another table to eat dessert at Kona I know that is not the point but still.

And yes, this is practice for Disney to cancel double ADR's and it is a good policy. How were they to know you only wanted dessert? You were double booked and the rule is not to double book. I am sorry they did this with out contacting you but it is procedure.

 

[Jubilee]

I disagree with the policy the way it is being that it seems this happens without people's knowledge. If you call to make a reso within the same "bracket" of meal and they tell you they'll have to cancel your previous one, then that's one thing... you can make a choice. But if they just cancel one or both without your choosing at a later date, I don't believe it's right.

I also heard of someone having a 10a and 3pm TS and the CM told them these were considered too close together. I think it's a bit rude and presumptuous.

 

[disnut8]

I can see the position Disney has to take here. There are certain parameters in the system and if something crosses those parameters, they have to do something about it. I don't think it would be very practical to call everyone that is going to have a reservation cancelled. In this case, the OP would have gotten a call saying a reservation or both were being cancelled. Then the explanation would be given and somehow that parameter would have to overwritten but only in this case. Then the Disney person would have to call the next person on the list, etc., etc., etc.

Computer systems see things in black and white, no shades of grey. And I don't think anyone wants a manual system for reservations to be in place.

 

[dburg30]

I cant believe they consider 6:20 and 9:05 double booking..

 

[mla973]

What if you had a travel party of four, and two wanted to eat at one place and two at another, around the same time. Would that be considered double booked?

I have never heard of Disney doing this. If they don't make this policy clear when people call to book ADR's, then there are going to be some upset people. Imagine calling 180 days ahead only to find out the day of that a reservation that was not a double booking was canceled.

 

[ncsastudent]

Yeah, I'm all for opening up the restaurants as much as possible so that everyone can get a reservation when they want one... but that's kinda nuts. I wouldn't think 6:20 and 9:05 is a double booking AND it's nuts that they didn't inform you before hand!

 

[Laurafoster]

The problem is that too many people try and make more than 1 reservation because they cant decide where they want to eat 180 days! which makes sense, but that means while so many people have 2 resservations some people cant get any which is not fair!

Unfortunately whilst so many people try and make 2 reservations thats going to be the way it works.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

I'm surpirsed they didn't "catch" it in the 1st place. I called to change and ADR 2 days ago from Boma to Saint Angel Inn and was hoping we could keep the Boma since we're going down as part of a grand gathering and someone else would have used it, but they wouldn't let me do it...I had to ditch the old one before they let me make a new one...

 

[kaytieeldr]

I disagree with the policy the way it is being that it seems this happens without people's knowledge. If you call to make a reso within the same "bracket" of meal and they tell you they'll have to cancel your previous one, then that's one thing... you can make a choice. But if they just cancel one or both without your choosing at a later date, I don't believe it's right.

I also heard of someone having a 10a and 3pm TS and the CM told them these were considered too close together. I think it's a bit rude and presumptuous.

Okay, see, you’re contradicting yourself. First you say, it’s not okay for Disney to just cancel a reservation without giving the Guest the choice of which one gets cancelled. Then you say, it’s rude for Disney to tell a Guest they can’t make two reservations for what’s considered the same meal period.

I have an opinion on the issue, but I’m not going to get into an argument. I will say, though, that Disney owns the reservation and can follow whatever procedure it wants/sets/determines – whether I agree with it or not.

I cant believe they consider 6:20 and 9:05 double booking..

6:20 = dinner
9:05 = dinner
Dinner + dinner = double booking.

but they wouldn't let me do it...I had to ditch the old one before they let me make a new one...

I’m surprised. They always let me make the new reservation before cancelling the old one – in case the new one ‘disappears’ in the minute or so it takes to process the cancellation.

 

[Eclpz314]

We're going in Dec. and when I called yesterday to add a meal on our list, I asked something about people double-booking and then deciding where the want to eat closer to time. She said the CMs are not allowed to do that and have been getting in a lot of big trouble for doing so. Maybe that's why ADRs are suddenly being cancelled by WDW?

 

[bzzymom]

That is a bummer. Maybe you can get into Kona for dessert without the ressies. We have eaten at several restaurants during the last seating time without ressies.

 

[asmit4]

First off, let me start of with saying that I feel the double booking ADR's for dinner is inconsiderate. However, your situation is a bit unique.

I am not saying that this is right or wrong,(considering it's just for dessert) but in the future, here is how you get around it.

Book 1 dinner with your name and phone #.

Call back and book 1 more place with another name and phone #.

I am told they track the double booking based on the phone #'s and names. If this is true, then you can tell them in ressie 1 that you are staying on site and when you call back give them a new name, new # and tell them you are not staying onsite.

 

[illiniowl]

I can see very easily how 6:20 and 9:05 could be considered double booking. I have no doubt that there are (rude) people who book an early dinner ADR and a late dinner ADR so they can be assured of eating dinner when it best suits their precious desires depending on how the day is going (with no care for how this practice affects other families wanting ADRs). I'm all for these people having their ADRs canceled, but unfortunately if you're that determined to be supremely selfish then you're probably not going to double book under the same telephone number, and then innocent parties like the OP are the ones who end up having the policy enforced on them. And contacting people in advance isn't much of a solution either: if Disney called your classic double booker (not the OP), they'd probably lie and say they're going to do what the OP had planned: dinner at the early one and dessert at the later one.

 

[hollieplus2]

First off, let me start of with saying that I feel the double booking ADR's for dinner is inconsiderate. However, your situation is a bit unique.

I am not saying that this is right or wrong,(considering it's just for dessert) but in the future, here is how you get around it.

Book 1 dinner with your name and phone #.

Call back and book 1 more place with another name and phone #.

I am told they track the double booking based on the phone #'s and names. If this is true, then you can tell them in ressie 1 that you are staying on site and when you call back give them a new name, new # and tell them you are not staying onsite.

So...is this what you do???

 

[asmit4]

HAVE I DONE IT? - No.

I have read on another board that this is how to "get around it"....

FOR THE RECORD:

I have NOT been to Disney since 2001. I was 21 then and I went with a friend for the day while visiting her in FL. I have NEVER made an ADR or planned a trip to disney on my own until about a month ago. I am taking a last minute trip with my parents in October who are "disney clueless" as I was and on a lot of levels, still am.

I made 2 ADR's recently, for different nights of our trip. I would NEVER EVER double book an ADR.

I am posting how she can "fix" her problem. It obviously means a lot to her to have 2 places, 1 for dinner and 1 for dessert. I can clearly read that she is upset. I was mearly trying to explain how the system worked and how she can get around it if she chooses to do so. I think it would be kinda fun to "restaurant hop" for dessert and I can understand her difficulty.

I have been on the dis boards for maybe a month if that. Just b/c I KNOW how to cheat the system doesn't mean that I have done it, would do it or condone it. (In her situation, I'm on the fence...she just wants dessert at another place for fun, I don't really see the big harm here, and since the system is set up against this type of eating, well, I'm just not sure how I feel about it)