Duplicate Reservations - Head's Up

[pilferk]

They already worked out all the kinks. They are already requiring CC for the highest demand restaurants (like California Grill) and it works great. Not too many duplicate reservations there.

But, yet, they chose not to do so with the rest of their facilities.

Wonder why?

CG (and V&A) are different animals, with slightly different business models than the typical Disney restaurant. They are effected by no shows in a greater way than your typical WDW eatery.

So it seems Disney has decided THEY are "worth" enacting that policy, while most are not. I'm sure a pretty gargantuan amount of cost analysis and market research went into that decision.

 

[pilferk]

Can you mail a check to Amazon.com?

More or less, yes.

Direct transfer from my checking account. Which creates a transaction for them to process...which for an item of merchandise that they're going to ship to me ASAP is par for the course.

For the "right" to eat at a restaurant, potentially 6 months from that date...not so much, especially considering Disney would HAVE to allow a reasonable refund/cancellation policy. Transactions aren't "free" (any of them, even CC transactions), either. Somebody's paying for them....and that "someone" would be Disney.

Again, nobody in this thread (and that includes me) has really thought this ALL the way through, doing a complete Business Analysis on this. There's a LOT of potential pitfalls, and....there's one thing we know: Disney hasn't done it.

Which means they either don't view it as a problem or think the cost of the solution outweighs the "benefit". Because nobody can convince me that the umpteens of MBA's working for the Mouse haven't thought of this, and identified this "kink" in the system.

 

[mcd2745]

Which, as laid out, causes other snarls in the system.

The point being: Solving this "problem" (which, really, doesn't cost Disney a thing) would cost them time, money, and resources.

For what benefit?

A more efficient system that results in less empty tables. That is the big problem for Disney at the moment. Restaurants booked to beyond capacity with ADRs, yet they end up with many empty tables. It's similar to "opportunity cost".

 

[pilferk]

A more efficient system that results in less empty tables. That is the big problem for Disney at the moment. Restaurants booked to beyond capacity with ADRs, yet they end up with many empty tables. It's similar to "opportunity cost".

Really? You're sure it's a problem?

Or you THINK it's a problem?

Because when we've visited, I rarely see empty tables during popular meal times, and usually see a line of walk-ups just WAITING to take any table available.

I don't have Disney's data...maybe you do...but it doesn't really seem like they're having much of a problem filling the tables left by no-shows. I'm not even sure how many "no shows" there really are.

I know it's possible to do what we're talking about. I know some people do it. But given the sheer numbers of folks in the parks, and eating in the restaurants, and making ADR's....my supposition is that it's a small % of folks working the system in the way we're discussing, here. So my "bet" is that the ACTUAL (and not just potential) lost opportunity cost is less than the cost of the proposed "solution". So far, that seems a safe bet because...to date...Disney hasn't done anything drastic to "solve the problem". And Disney DOES have their data, and an army of MBA's who comb over it, continuously.

 

[mcd2745]

I don't have Disney's data...maybe you do...but it doesn't really seem like they're having much of a problem filling the tables left by no-shows. I'm not even sure how many "no shows" there really are.

I'm pretty sure that I have read somewhere that the no-show rates average between 15-30% per month. I think January typically has the highest no-show rate and July the lowest.

 

[sandym718]

Making reservations for dinner 180 days in advance is just ridiculous.

Ridiculous to those that don't like to plan far in advance. Some of us like it. Do you not like to purchase concert tickets in advance either? Many of those sell out same day - way in advance of the actual concert. First come (via phone or online in this case), first served.

Actually, I suggested $2 per person. So, if they were a family of four, that would be an extra $240 in fees. But like the PP said, if you're doing a 14-day trip on the Deluxe plan, $240 is but a tiny fraction of the overall cost.

And if my child was too sick, and had to stay back at the room with one parent, I really wouldn't care about an additional $10 or $20 fee. My bigger concern would be my child.

Doesn't matter if it's a "drop in the bucket" or not - the charge is silly. If it's necessary - then it should come off the restaurant bill. And of COURSE the sick child is the greater concern, again, that's ridiculous. But a $20 fee PER PERSON, $40 because the kid got sick and you couldn't go to dinner? That's crazy.

Really? You're sure it's a problem?

Or you THINK it's a problem?

Because when we've visited, I rarely see empty tables during popular meal times, and usually see a line of walk-ups just WAITING to take any table available.

Exactly


I'm certainly no proponent of double booking, I don't agree with that at all. But to consider all these charges, etc to prevent the minority of people who do it? Unnecessary!

 

[TDC Nala]

They are already requiring CC for the highest demand restaurants (like California Grill) and it works great. Not too many duplicate reservations there.

California Grill doesn't have a CC guarantee because it's the highest demand restaurant. I can come up with a few where demand is higher and no CC guarantee (Le Cellier anyone? 'Ohana dinner?)

It has one because people were booking reservations just to get upstairs to watch the fireworks, then leaving without ordering anything. Nobody books Le Cellier just to walk in and look around.

 

[Oglet]

It's always a few who ruin everything for everyone

No matter what you do there will always be people who will exploit the system and by making it more difficult all your doing is making it harder for all the legitimate people to complete their ADR's, the exploiters will still find a way around the rules even with credit card requirements.

It's hard to get into anywhere decent without booking months and months out and a credit card hold wont stop that problem, all it will do is make lots of tables available within 24 - 48 hours prior to the ADR date.

I think a far easier and better solution is to give people the benefit of the doubt, if they are a multiple no call/no show with multiple ADR's simply cancel the reservations and open up the tables for their future dates.

something along the lines of "In a effort to provide the best guest dining experience available to our guests we ask that you limit the number of reservations you are making to the number actually needed and able to be fulfilled. If in the event of multiple no call/no shows we reserve the right to cancel any future ADR's."

Kind of like 3 strikes and your out.

 

[mcd2745]

Making reservations for dinner 180 days in advance is just ridiculous.

Ridiculous to those that don't like to plan far in advance. Some of us like it. Do you not like to purchase concert tickets in advance either? Many of those sell out same day - way in advance of the actual concert. First come (via phone or online in this case), first served.



Doesn't matter if it's a "drop in the bucket" or not - the charge is silly. If it's necessary - then it should come off the restaurant bill. And of COURSE the sick child is the greater concern, again, that's ridiculous. But a $20 fee PER PERSON, $40 because the kid got sick and you couldn't go to dinner? That's crazy.

1) If you like to plan way in advance, that's fine. No one is suggesting you shouldn't plan that far in advance if you so desire, just that you shouldn't be able to book ADRs that far in advance. You could still plan all you want.

2) The suggested no-show fee was not $20 per person, but rather $5 or $10, resulting in a total of $10 or $20.