How "bad" is it to cancel ADR'S at the last minute?

[Hemlock]

We will be using the DDP for the first time on our trip in May 2011 (we have used the QSPD before). I have made all our ADR's but I am concerned about planning where (and at what time) I might want to eat in 6 months time. What if we just aren't hungry at our ADR time? What if we are too tired or if someone is ill? What if we are having too much fun in the park and don't want to leave to make an ADR time? ............???

So how "bad" is it to call and cancel at the "last minute" (of course I would try to give as much notice as possible). Also, if you do cancel, what do you do about that TS credit? Do you just try to "walk up" to another restaurant and try to get in?

I am so nervous about this that I am considering doing the QSPD again, but I really want to try some of the Table Service Restaurants.

 

[sndral]

No reason to be nervous, it only works out to one table service a day, any meal. Perhaps you'd be happier scheduling breakfast, that way you can eat first @ your park for that day. If it's crowded, or during free dinning walk ups are less likely, that's the advantage of having ADRs. I try to schedule my ADRs for the park I'll be at that evening or for a resort nearby. In my case, for example, EMH -evening @ MK are on the 2 mondays of my trip, so I have a dinner scheduled in MK @ Crystal Palace one monday and dinner a monorail ride away @ the Contemporary for the next monday.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

While the uber planners of the world would prefer people to cancel well in advance, we also know that things come up and that's just not a reality in all situations. As long as you cancel- I don't see a problem. Hopefully someone trying to get a walk up or last minute ressie would score from it.

As for the table service credits, you don't burn them until you use them. So, canceling a dinner won't waste a TS credit (unless you're booked for something like Akershus or CRT where you need to cxl 2 days in advance), but you will be stuck trying to find a spot taking walk ups if you should cancel. If you're going during free dining, walk ups might be practically impossible- but you could scope out the WDW website just before you go to see which place still have availability each night so you have a back up plan. i.e. if you're at the MK and want dinner...places like The Wave in CR, Kona in the Poly, and Grand Floridian Cafe in GF may be good TS back up plans.

 

[clanmcculloch]

If you're flexible with your dining, then what you do to use up the credits is to go to the concierge at your resort or Guest Relations at the park you're in and ask what is available in the park. If nothing is available then ask about the nearby resorts. The more flexible you are, the more likely you'll find SOMETHING. If you're willing to eat at off times and you'll eat any style of food then you're more likely to find something. Note that this is only even necessary if you do actually cancel ADRs.

I personally like to book at least 1 more ADR than I have credits for. If I end up needing to skip a meal (I have kids with health problems so I never know what to expect) then I have those extra meals booked to cover the credits. If I don't end up skipping any meals then I just pay OOP for the last meals. I generally have a breakfast ADR near the end of my trip and those are cheapest so that's what I'd want to pay OOP for anyway.

 

[Hemlock]

Thanks for the tip about going to Guest Relations to inquire about dining availability. Can I also go to Guest Relations to cancel an existing ADR?

 

[Shelli_5]

If you need to cancel an ADR at the last minute, go for it! You're not committing a sin & you won't lose any money.

Unfortunately, we usually end up planning our day around our ADRs. It's sooo difficult to find a place to eat without reservations! That's really my biggest complaint about Disney Dining.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[walkdmc]

Not only do I think it's fine, it's considerate of you to call. You should know a couple of hours ahead of time and be able to cancel then, most times. Doing so will open up a reservation for someone who was hoping for a last minute reservation.

As someone who has done the DxDP twice, your concerns are valid. If you plan more than two TS meals/day, chances are you won't be hungry for a third. And, it's frustrating to have to build your park day around dining reservations. So, it's possible you may be having too much fun in one park and want to stay there, rather than attend a meal you're not hungry for anyway.

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[mrsltg]

I've canceled ADRs last minute and the CM is always grateful we bothered canceling at all! Don't sweat canceling - it just means someone else can get that table.

 

[JacksGirlz]

I agree, that calling to cancel (even just a few hours ahead) is considerate. Let's other people walking up or checking for ressies take your spot. As mentioned in a previous post, some ADR's (Akershus, CRT) that take a credit card # to reserve, have to be cancelled 48+ hours in advance or your card will be charged.

 

[Hemlock]

I won't actually have my cell phone with me for this trip, so can I go to Guest Relations at the parks to cancel an existing ADR?

 

[DisneyPups]

As someone who NEVER plans ADRs in advance (we just try different restaurants on a whim, or take QS), I would be HAPPY if you canceled last minute. But I do like the idea of calling (or having guest services cancel for you) so the restaurant does actually open up the spot that day!

 

[amamax2]

As others have said, it is not a big deal at all.

We were there last Sept for free dining...I got up at 3 a.m. PST to make all my ADRs six months ahead of time...but three of the days, with the heat and all, we just weren't hungry.

The one we called that morning to cancel and also to ask if anything was available later in the evening...nothing was, but we were able to walk up to (can't remember the name now, the Lady and the Tramp place) with no problem. The second my son was feeling ill about an hour before we were supposed to eat and I physically went to the restaurant (we were passing by) and cancelled. Both time the CMs were very happy that they had any notice at all, so they could take a walk-up. And the third was for breakfast on our very last day, which we early on decided we wouldn't try to make, so cancelled that from our hotel room pretty early in the trip.

BTW, we did see some walk-ups at different places almost every day of our trip...so they are available sometimes.

We did end up with two extra TS credits pp which we were able to use at CS places without a problem.

 

[Tricia1972]

I won't actually have my cell phone with me for this trip, so can I go to Guest Relations at the parks to cancel an existing ADR?

Yes you can. I have read that you can even cancel a reservation for any Magic Kingdom restaurant by going to ANY restaurant in the Magic Kingdom to ask them if you can cancel a reservation.