Have the new credit card guarantee rules made it easier to find last-minute ADRs and

[vinotinto]

...less waits for tables?

I don't even know if we're going to WDW this year (depends on what type of room discounts come out). But despite that, I'm already thinking about food at WDW. Since we'll probably wait until last minute to book, I would like to hear experiences from those recently at WDW. So my questions are:

1) Were you able to find more last-minute reservations (and I don't mean at H&V, I mean at good places - Signatures, Cape May cafe, etc.).

2) Was your dining experience more pleasant? Less wait for tables with ADRs?

Yes, I'm toying with the idea of making just 2-3 key ADRs (places we must eat) and leave the rest to chance. Sounds liberating, n'est pas? But it will only work if the CC guarantee has actually deterred others from kaing ADRs or encouraged proper cancellations (instead of no-shows). TIA!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I can't answer your actual question but if it were me I would just go ahead and book some ADR's and then cancel if you aren't going.

 

[chartle]

...less waits for tables?

I don't even know if we're going to WDW this year (depends on what type of room discounts come out). But despite that, I'm already thinking about food at WDW. Since we'll probably wait until last minute to book, I would like to hear experiences from those recently at WDW. So my questions are:

1) Were you able to find more last-minute reservations (and I don't mean at H&V, I mean at good places - Signatures, Cape May cafe, etc.).

2) Was your dining experience more pleasant? Less wait for tables with ADRs?

Yes, I'm toying with the idea of making just 2-3 key ADRs (places we must eat) and leave the rest to chance. Sounds liberating, n'est pas? But it will only work if the CC guarantee has actually deterred others from kaing ADRs or encouraged proper cancellations (instead of no-shows). TIA!

1. It may for people that cancel right up to the deadline, but it may just stop people from making them in the first place so thats more ADR's available for those that book early.

2. Not sure if it would make a difference, the wait should be the same. May have to think about this a little bit more.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Its BETTER, but not that good. I just checked for one night next month that we are going to be there, theres still quite a bit available, but not the high demand ones.

 

[SEC71]

I think it is easier to get reservations. I am planning a trip the end of April. I was able to get everything I wanted when I made ADzrs in mid-February including dinner at CRT!

 

[Jeanieblue114]

i live about 2 hours away and do a lot of day trips.
i often go online and book something the night before i leave or morning of or call when i'm there.
i've noticed a bit more availability with the signatures popping up on the options as well as character meals.
but it's also been low season lately that i've been checking so that might be the reason as well.

i know that i have decided against making several reservations now based on having to put the cc hold on and not being more flexible with cancelling.

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

We just planned a last minute trip in late April/early May, and we got every single ADR we hoped for! It may not be as last minute as you are talking about, but 63 days out isn't too bad! There were even Ohana breakfast and dinner options available, but we are wanting to try some places we haven't been to before. So far we have made:

Whispering Canyon Cafe-D
Crystal Palace-B before park opening
Cinderella's Royal Table-L
Les Chefs de France-L
Prime Time Cafe-L
Tusker House-B before park opening
Boma-D
Cape May Cafe-B

I do think the new rules have been helping with ADRs. Good luck getting everything you want!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Have the new credit card guarantee rules made it easier to find last-minute ADRs

1) Yes, it has.
2) What happened was the amount of fake ADR's have reduced.
3) All senior food managers carry a DAILY list of no-shows.
4) The lists have shrunk to about 1/4 of the previous lists.

 

[pigletto]

I have a lot of experience with booking, checking, and re-checking for ADR's for multiple trips. In my opinion it has ABSOLUTELY made it easier to find ADR"s.
We added my inlaws to our trip at 65 days out and all of a sudden the reservations we had for four needed to be 6's.
Also, I hadn't booked many because I didn't really care this time. When the inlaws decided to join us I decided since it's their first time to book some of our favourites.
I had absolutely NO problem getting Ohana at 5:40 (was available two separate days), Chef Mickeys at 6pm etc.
As I check I notice more opens up every day, so I think it encourages people to cancel what they aren't using.

 

[UndercoverMama]

3) All senior food managers carry a DAILY list of no-shows. The lists have shrunk to about 1/4 of the previous lists.

Not surprising. Glad it is working out how intended.

 

[OKW Lover]

3) All senior food managers carry a DAILY list of no-shows.

How does this work? They won't know about no-shows until after they happen so the list would have to be updated in near real time. And what purpose would it serve?

 

[North of Mouse]

Was so happy when they started charging for no-shows. I have seen people (even on the dis) bragging how they made 2-3 ressies for same day dinners and would decide at last minute which one they'd do depending on what park they decided to be in - some not even bothering to cancel. That was SO wrong I do not mind at all giving my credit card for the ressies I make even though I don't make many, would rather "wing-it" It sure makes some of these "ressie hogs" think twice about taking time slots they can not use, and let others have them in time to use them.

 

[pumpkinmomma]

We just planned a last minute trip in late April/early May, and we got every single ADR we hoped for! It may not be as last minute as you are talking about, but 63 days out isn't too bad! There were even Ohana breakfast and dinner options available, but we are wanting to try some places we haven't been to before. So far we have made:

Whispering Canyon Cafe-D
Crystal Palace-B before park opening
Cinderella's Royal Table-L
Les Chefs de France-L
Prime Time Cafe-L
Tusker House-B before park opening
Boma-D
Cape May Cafe-B

I do think the new rules have been helping with ADRs. Good luck getting everything you want!

This is our experience as well. In 2010 we went in early may, booked our trip in February, and many restaurants were unavailable (crt, chef mickey, etc) at 3 months out.

We are going again in may, booked our adrs 2 weeks ago, there is still lots of availability. We got crt, too. And this time we were booking a party of 7.

I definitely think it has cut back on the "just in case" booking that many people do.

 

[megami]

I was just able to book a reservation for Le Cellier for March 7th today. Also saw a few reservations for Royal Table in early March as well. Not sure if you consider 9-10 days away "last minute" enough, but I was pretty excited to see them open up.

 

[vinotinto]

This all sounds very promising. Thanks for the feedback. I think we may try to wing it more next trip. It also 'buys' me time for booking our next vacation, since I don't need to book ADRs 180 days out.

And the reason why I thought there may be less wait is that I figured restaurants 'overbooked' thinking there would be a larger amount of no-shows, but on any given day, more people may show up, causing delays. I am hoping that as the people sho show up to a restaurant becomes more accurate to the number of reservations, perhaps there will be less 'overbooking' on the part of the restaurants? My logic may be waaay off, though.