How good are people canceling or just no shows

[flipflopgirl]

We are going to Disney in a few weeks and I just found out that my brother and kids are joining us - I am unable to increase our reservation at Chef Mickey's.

How good are people at canceling their reservations (if their plans change) or do they just not show? I'm wondering if my brother should just arrive with us and see if he can get in.

 

[LilyWDW]

We are going to Disney in a few weeks and I just found out that my brother and kids are joining us - I am unable to increase our reservation at Chef Mickey's.

How good are people at canceling their reservations (if their plans change) or do they just not show? I'm wondering if my brother should just arrive with us and see if he can get in.

Keep trying every day to see if you can grab a reservation.

You can try and show up and see what happens... but have a backup plan. There is a chance that Disney could say they can not seat the extra party members.

Three things can happen:

1) Disney can seat you with no problem.
2) Disney can seat you but you will have to wait for a table of the correct size. This wait could be quite awhile (you may be treated as a walk up).
3) Disney says no space for any extra party members or walk ups and can not seat the extra people.

 

[Belleandtinker]

Can you get your brother and his kids a table? Or is it completely booked?

Go early for sure!

 

[Kimberle]

Since you already have a reservation, it should be no problem to have them join you. Many people have reported that as long as you're "in the system", it's no problem to show up with more people.

Also, many people have reported that they hold back some tables for walk-ups. You can't book them with ADR's. Your best bet is to go to the restaurant when it first opens.

 

[flipflopgirl]

I am going to keep checking every day to see if I can increase and/or get a table around the same time for my brother.

I haven't done the Disney thing in several years and it just seems with all the new changes you really need to plan plan plan. I'm sure it will work out!

Thanks!!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I can't say what others do but I will cancel my ADRs as soon as I know that my plans have changed. Occasionally this happens prior to my vacation (weeks or months before) but many times, our plans just change that day. I will call Disney Dining from my cell phone while we are on a bus but if the wait is longer than 5 minutes, I just hang up. So I try to tell them I won't make an ADR, but it does not always happen if they don't answer. So keep trying prior to your vacation and if you can't get it, have a back up plan (back up ADR if needed) and YES, try walking up while you are there!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

I can't say what others do but I will cancel my ADRs as soon as I know that my plans have changed. Occasionally this happens prior to my vacation (weeks or months before) but many times, our plans just change that day. I will call Disney Dining from my cell phone while we are on a bus but if the wait is longer than 5 minutes, I just hang up. So I try to tell them I won't make an ADR, but it does not always happen if they don't answer. So keep trying prior to your vacation and if you can't get it, have a back up plan (back up ADR if needed) and YES, try walking up while you are there!

I do the same thing... but I've been told twice they can't make changes or ADRs within a one hour span. There's probably lots of people who go thru travel agents that don't even know how to make an ADR, let alone cancel it. Plus you have your emergency kid situation and the last thing on your mind is to call Reservations and tell them you can't make it to Cape May Cafe. Things happen, but hopefully luck goes your way and you get the reservation for your whole family!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Judging by how many empty tables I have seen recently, people are pretty horrible about cancelling ADRs when they are not going to use them.

The best thing you can do is to keep checking for a table to open up. If you can make a new ADR for your new party size, that would be ideal. If that doesn't happen, try making an ADR just for the extra people, and then ask to be sat nearby each other. If that doesn't work, show up to your ADR early and let them know you have extra people. Hopefully they will be able to seat you. But keep in mind there are no guarantees. Chef Mickey's is very popular, and usually booked full. But you may get lucky.

 

[Havana]

Judging by how many empty tables I have seen recently, people are pretty horrible about cancelling ADRs when they are not going to use them.

This is so true! We were fortunate enough to get a Le Cellier reservation in Dec. and the restaurant was 1/2 empty.

 

[dancin Disney style]

There is a bit of inaccurate info here.

1.You can always try and just show up with extra people but you can be refused.

2. They no longer hold back tables for walk ins. Your best option for trying to get a walk in table is to arrive at the podium 30 minutes before the restaurant opens. So for dinner it could be 3:30.

3. They can not over fill the restaurant....they must stick to fire regulations. So just because you are 'in the system' you will not be given a table if it means exceeding the maximum capacity.


The best plan of attack is to continue trying to get a table for the full number in your party or to get a second table for the extras. If you manage to get a second ADR arrive early and explain the situation. If at all possible they will seat you together. Keep trying the online system as many times per day as you can but also call in once in a while. If that doesn't work then talk with the concierge at the resort as soon as you arrive and continue to call the dining line from your room.

 

[flipflopgirl]

Thanks everyone - I'm going to keep trying daily. I would rather have the reservation before, don't want to be a "walk up" and expect to be seated.

 

[nicole0992]

I just returned home from Disney. This weekend I went to guest services at EPCOT to cancel a dinner reservation. The cast member helping me looked at me like I was crazy to wait in line to cancel and ADR. He said it wasn't necessary to cancel if there wasn't a credit card guarantee. I told him I wanted to make sure to cancel so another party could get our table. He did it but repeated that it wasn't necessary. I walked out of there shaking my head!

 

[Tricia1972]

The best idea for your group is, of course, to keep on trying. People do cancel.

If you can't find a reservation for the group, try showing up early and see if you can walk in. We arrived at Disney two hours ahead of schedule when we drove down. Had Chef Mickey's reserved for 10:30 and walked in with NO problem at 8:30. Got up to go walk to the buffet at 9 and I doubt that we could have walked in at that time. We just got lucky. There is no reason you can't be lucky as well.

If they can't seat him, Contempo Cafe is right there. The food is surprisingly good for a CS, so your brother & kids could always grab a bite at Contempo Cafe and read a book or soak up the atmosphere while he waited for you guys to finish up breakfast. This depends on the age of his kids and if they are expecting to see Mickey though.

Good luck being seated with the extra member!

 

[mousefan1972]

I just returned home from Disney. This weekend I went to guest services at EPCOT to cancel a dinner reservation. The cast member helping me looked at me like I was crazy to wait in line to cancel and ADR. He said it wasn't necessary to cancel if there wasn't a credit card guarantee. I told him I wanted to make sure to cancel so another party could get our table. He did it but repeated that it wasn't necessary. I walked out of there shaking my head!

Thank you for being so conscientious!

 

[flipflopgirl]

Just got back from our Disney trip and happy to report that Chef Mickey's was a success. Upon check in to our hotel, I went to guest services and they were not able to increase my reservations, however when we arrived at Chef Mickey's they said it would be no problem. We arrived about a half hour before our reservation, the cm increased our guest count and we still got seated at our original time.

We had a blast!

 

[maxiesmom]

Just got back from our Disney trip and happy to report that Chef Mickey's was a success. Upon check in to our hotel, I went to guest services and they were not able to increase my reservations, however when we arrived at Chef Mickey's they said it would be no problem. We arrived about a half hour before our reservation, the cm increased our guest count and we still got seated at our original time.

We had a blast!

That is great news! I'm so glad for you!

 

[flipflopgirl]

Thanks! We did have some magical moments

 

[mousefan1972]

Awesome! Glad to hear you were able to all get in.