Double booking ADRs???

[rstanley]

Does Disney "allow" booking two restaurants for the same night? I was able to do it but am not sure what the policy is or if other people have done this??? When I get to the hotel and they print out my reservations and see that I've done this will I be chastised?

The problem is...our trip is 6 months away! How can I possibly know for sure where we'll want to eat every single day???

For example...after spending all day at the Animal Kingdom we may go to Downtown Disney and eat at CapNJacks if we have energy left over...or if we're tired we may just want to eat close to our hotel at Chef Mickey's.

I'm scared that if I don't have a reservation we'll be SOL

Please let me know what everyone thinks of this...or if you've done it...

Thanks!

 

[embgrl]

I do know that if Disney sees that you have more than one ADR for around the same time on the same day they will cancel one of them. But I do have to add that it is unfair to other parties who are trying to book ADR's and none are available because people are double booking.

 

[Amy&Dan]

It is frowned upon and in many cases (I have had this happen) they have cancelled one of the ADR's. I don't double book, but I have been known to change my mind and when I call to make the new ADR, I do that first and a couple of times they have already gone ahead and cancelled the first one (at least thats what they tell me when I tell them I have one I need to cancel). Because of your logic (which I do understand) and the similar logic of other's Disney is cracking down. And even though I understand and I know its hard to plan so far out, its really inconsiderate to do it and I for one am thrilled Disney is cracking down.

It is hard to know what you want to eat six months out, but we all have to live by that mantra unfortunately! By having two ADR's you are taking away someone else's opportunity to book at a restaurant they may want to eat at. There are literally thousands upon thousands of people dining around WDW on any given day. If everyone double books that would be a real problem. Think of your Chef Mickey's thing. If you skip that one is that fair to the family who had a little kid that was dying to eat there and couldn't get an ADR? Only to have people double booking and then not even showing up?

If you decide on the day of you want to change, you can call Disney Dining or check with guest services or your concierge to see if you can change. If you can't you can always just cancel and grab counter service someplace you do want to eat.

My process is to book WHERE I want to eat. I look at the park schedules (which come out 180 days out and generally stay pretty constant) and then pick a place that works for that park touring plan. All parks have several restaurants inside or close by and all restaurants generally have a wide enough variety that I know I'll find something I like.

 

[Luv4Disney]

A lot of CM's catch it and won't let you, other times Disney will later go through the system and if they see you have two the same day close to each other, they will cancel one. It's not fair to other guests trying to book something they know they want. It's taking away from other guests. Disney is really cracking down on this.

 

[embgrl]

I do want to add that DH and I have done the free dining for the past 3 years and while it is really nice, you do have to book rather early since everything books up quick and I agree that what sounds good now is not neccesarily what you are going to want when that day arrives. I have told my husband many times that I think Disney should start leaving at least a quarter to a third of the seats open for walk ups and leave the rest ADR that way everyone has a chance of getting what they want.

 

[Kitzka]

Do you know at what point do they look at your reservations and cancel one if you are double booked?

I ask because right now I ahve 2 breakfast reservations on 8/29. I am using one but a friend might be using the other but I am waiting for her to decide. I don't want to risk losing my reservation if she takes too long to decide. I can push her but she is not sure she wants to get up for breakfast.

thanks

Lara

 

[Amy&Dan]

Do you know at what point do they look at your reservations and cancel one if you are double booked?

I ask because right now I ahve 2 breakfast reservations on 8/29. I am using one but a friend might be using the other but I am waiting for her to decide. I don't want to risk losing my reservation if she takes too long to decide. I can push her but she is not sure she wants to get up for breakfast.


thanks

Lara

Its really hard to say. I would get on the phone with your friend and tell her you have to cancel hers or lose your own. Point her to this thread as the written proof your adr could be nuked. She might still be able to get an ADR under her own name and number. If its a character meal she's wanting that could be tough but places that don't have characters at breakfast at the resort restaurants (Kona, Boatwrights, Olivia's, Maya Grill, etc) are usually easy enough to book, even quite close to the trip.

In the end if she doesn't know if she wants breakfast thats understandable. But you know you do so you have to have the "every gal for herself" attitude!

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Wow. You don't even feel a little bit guilty that you're taking a reservation from another family? Don't punish others for poor planning.

 

[embgrl]

I ask because right now I ahve 2 breakfast reservations on 8/29. I am using one but a friend might be using the other but I am waiting for her to decide. I don't want to risk losing my reservation if she takes too long to decide. I can push her but she is not sure she wants to get up for breakfast.

You could always call Disney Dining and change the other ressie to youf friends name and phone number and then if she decides she doesn't want it, she can then cancel it herself and it's off your hands and your ressie is safe.

 

[rstanley]

Thank you for all of your responses...you have been very helpful. I figured this would be controversial but I had to ask.

I double booked two of our meals but after reading your replies I'll take a chance and pick one or the other now. I'd rather choose now than have a CM do it for me.

Now here's another question...what are the most difficult restaruants to go to without a reservation?

The one I'm having the most difficult time with is Teppan Edo over Cinderella's Gala Feast for our last night...

We already have both of the princess breakfast meals planned (CRT and Akershus) and we are going to Teppan Edo for our first night...so we'll either be adding a third princess meal (for my 6 yr old daughter) or another steak meal for the adults

Also for our 2nd day we are planning on the Magic Kingdom all day (CRT for breakfast before the park opens) and then Chef Mickey's for dinner...should I schedule Chef Mickey's for a different day and plan on staying at the Magic Kingdom longer? I thought we'd get a lot of autographs out of the way by doing two character meals at the beginning of the trip.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you for all of your responses...you have been very helpful. I figured this would be controversial but I had to ask.

You are a new poster and its never wrong to ask any question! And thankfully even though many of have strong feelings about this issue, all the replies were nice!

Most difficult restaurants:
Character meals, esp. Chef Mickey's and CRT
Le Cellier
O'Hana
Coral Reef

There's probably others but that's what comes to mind.

What about eating at Liberty Tree Tavern on your MK day? Its a fun meal and while Mickey' isn't there, a few of the same characters that CM's has are (Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale). Its a fun meal and its not a buffet which makes getting autographs so much easier. It is very easy to get to the Contemporary from the MK and you can certainly go back after you eat if there are things you didn't get to during the day.

If you want steak in Epcot, I would suggest Le Cellier (but its a toughey to get) or Corral Reef. I know you wouldn't think of Corral Reef as a steak place but I have had their steak a few times and its wonderful. And the tank would appeal to your six year old very much. Le Cellier isn't so appealing to kids on the atmosphere scale. Corral Reef also has wonderful desserts!

I think if you have CRT and the Norway meal, you have enough princess meals. I love 1900 Park Fare but I would try something different. And I tend to say not to do a place twice. You can get steak at other places in and around Epcot besides Tepan Edo. Yachtsmen is supposed to be fantasic, but its two ts credits.

Hope that helps a bit. I think you are wise to cancel your double bookings because as you say, you want to do your own planning, not have somebody do it for you!

 

[Luv4Disney]

Thank you for all of your responses...you have been very helpful. I figured this would be controversial but I had to ask.

I double booked two of our meals but after reading your replies I'll take a chance and pick one or the other now. I'd rather choose now than have a CM do it for me.

Now here's another question...what are the most difficult restaruants to go to without a reservation?

The one I'm having the most difficult time with is Teppan Edo over Cinderella's Gala Feast for our last night...

We already have both of the princess breakfast meals planned (CRT and Akershus) and we are going to Teppan Edo for our first night...so we'll either be adding a third princess meal (for my 6 yr old daughter) or another steak meal for the adults

Also for our 2nd day we are planning on the Magic Kingdom all day (CRT for breakfast before the park opens) and then Chef Mickey's for dinner...should I schedule Chef Mickey's for a different day and plan on staying at the Magic Kingdom longer? I thought we'd get a lot of autographs out of the way by doing two character meals at the beginning of the trip.

Chances are if you can walk up to it, it isn't that difficult to get. Any difficult to get restaurants will most likely be booked up. If you DO want 1900 Park Fare, make an ADR as chances are your ability to walk up to it will be slim to none. Teppan Edo has also become more popular. Better safe than sorry. You can always make one that you might like and cancel during your vacation if you're not in the mood for that type of food.

 

[gatorfreud]

If you're at MK it's easy enough to get to Chef Mickey's so I would keep it. You can catch the monorail, or even walk... it's only like 10 minutes.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

We only book what we want, nothing extra, but once we had a problem with a rest we had booked but because we did make our ADR's 180 days out in advance the manager of the rest helped us get into another place with about a 5 minute wait, so if you do the right thing and something comes up someone will help you out. Another time we went for only a party but ended up winning a free day in the park. We chose Epcot (since the party was at MK) and the manager at the resort called and hooked us up with Princess Storybook Breakfast (first seating) and Garden Grill for lunch that day!!!! All you have to do is ask! Never hurts.

 

[jummies14]

I didn't double-book any ADRs except for one night this coming September. The CS rep I spoke with said it is no problem and that I could cancel the day of, but nice to cancel earlier if necessary. He said he has been a CS rep part time for 10 years. I don't want to keep others from getting in, but given my scenario, I booked 2 (one at Epcot) and one at Kona.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

I think it's a good idea to book your character meals at the beginning of the trip - for just the reason you stated. You can get a lot of the autographs right there at the meal.

We did 2 days at the parks in Jan - our breakfast in Norway was the 2nd day. If I had known what princesses we were going to see there, we would have been able to bypass some lines the day before.

 

[rstanley]

Thanks again...your responses are very helpful! I think I will cancel the Gala Feast since I have the other two Princess meals and try a new steak restaurant rather than dine at Teppan Edo twice.

I did look into Le Cellier and the Filet looks good...but...can you order this without mushrooms?

 

[RMulieri]

Does Disney "allow" booking two restaurants for the same night? I was able to do it but am not sure what the policy is or if other people have done this??? When I get to the hotel and they print out my reservations and see that I've done this will I be chastised?

The problem is...our trip is 6 months away! How can I possibly know for sure where we'll want to eat every single day???

For example...after spending all day at the Animal Kingdom we may go to Downtown Disney and eat at CapNJacks if we have energy left over...or if we're tired we may just want to eat close to our hotel at Chef Mickey's.

I'm scared that if I don't have a reservation we'll be SOL

Please let me know what everyone thinks of this...or if you've done it...

Thanks!

I don't recommend it.They cancelled my neighbors duplicate ressies on her and she had no idea which one.Plus it is rude and inconsiderate of others who do decide where to eat 6mos in advance and now can;t because you have 2 ressies, one of which you won't be using.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Thanks again...your responses are very helpful! I think I will cancel the Gala Feast since I have the other two Princess meals and try a new steak restaurant rather than dine at Teppan Edo twice.

I did look into Le Cellier and the Filet looks good...but...can you order this without mushrooms?

Yes, Disney is very good about accommodating things like this.

 

[Luv4Disney]

I didn't double-book any ADRs except for one night this coming September. The CS rep I spoke with said it is no problem and that I could cancel the day of, but nice to cancel earlier if necessary. He said he has been a CS rep part time for 10 years. I don't want to keep others from getting in, but given my scenario, I booked 2 (one at Epcot) and one at Kona.

You may find yourself with only 1 ADR and not necessarily the one you want for that day. Be careful, Disney is really cracking down on this.