I Lied for the Princesses

[shannonstar]

Okay, so I got desperate. I really wanted to eat at Akershus. There were no openings before 11 am. It was depressing.
So, I changed my number from 3 to 4 and low and behold I get a reservation. It also got me an earlier reservation for Crystal Palace.
I guess I should feel bad, but I don't. I got the princesses!!

 

[npcougar]

Congrats I guess. I feel sorry for any family of four you just kept out.

 

[MHSweb79]

Relax- you didn't keep out any family. A party of 3 is going to be seated at a table for 4 anyway- that's just the way it is.

And, BTW, I was told to do JUST THIS by a cast member when I was making dining reservations by phone. She said it's just the way the system is set up and they do it all the time. So please don't flame the OP!

 

[shannonstar]

Thanks! I do feel bad for any party that misses out, but I don't feel I should be punished for only having 3 in my party. That's a bit unsporting don't you think?

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

For Princess dining: don't you need to put a CC guarantee for $20/person?

So, when you show up with only 3 people, I think you'll be charged $20 for the "no show"

Not 100% sure about this, though.

 

[npcougar]

Relax- you didn't keep out any family. A party of 3 is going to be seated at a table for 4 anyway- that's just the way it is.

And, BTW, I was told to do JUST THIS by a cast member when I was making dining reservations by phone. She said it's just the way the system is set up and they do it all the time. So please don't flame the OP!

Interesting because I was told it was setup differently for 3 and 4 party groups. That is why you get different times when try to do a 3 or 4 person reservation. My family has 3 so I was curious.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

For Princess dining: don't you need to put a CC guarantee for $20/person?

So, when you show up with only 3 people, I think you'll be charged $20 for the "no show"

Not 100% sure about this, though.

Yes, they will be charged for a no show.

The OP needs to call and try to modify that ADR, pronto!

 

[shannonstar]

You can call up to a week before and not be charged. Since the reservation is during the Thanksgiving week, I will call in November to update.
It is actually my hope that I will get a new reservation for three and then put this up on the November ADR cancellation for some deserving family.

 

[n2mm]

Yes, they will be charged for a no show.

The OP needs to call and try to modify that ADR, pronto!

Yep, I was going to post the same thing. Last year we didn't know if my GS was going with us on the trip and we needed to book the story book meal for 6, but if he came it would be 7. I asked the CM and was told that if I try to modify from 6 to 7 I would lose the reservation, but if I booked 7 and only 6 came, I would INDEED be charged the $10 no show for my GS not coming. So I booked 6 and my grandson ate at Hurricane Hannas back at the resort by himself. OP, you need to look into this to see if you're going to be charged a no show for your 4th person.

OP, normally when you need to make a change to your ADR, they will cancel the old one and book a new one. Please double check that this policy has changed, because it didn't work like that for us last spring.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

You can call up to a week before and not be charged. Since the reservation is during the Thanksgiving week, I will call in November to update.
It is actually my hope that I will get a new reservation for three and then put this up on the November ADR cancellation for some deserving family.

I wasn't making a judgement about your practice.....I actually have a reservation for 1 more than I need in September at Ohana. Why should someone who trys to get a reservation after you get one because they have another person. First come, first served, IMO. and a CM made the ADR for me.
I just didn't want you to have to pay for the extra person. You CAN call and get it modified.....not cancelled and rebooked. Not all CM's know how to do this. Keep calling until you find one who can. They'll probably have to transfer you to a supervisor but IT IS POSSIBLE.

 

[glasslipper]

Thanks! I do feel bad for any party that misses out, but I don't feel I should be punished for only having 3 in my party. That's a bit unsporting don't you think?

The reservation system isn't perfect, I have a party of 5 and it was difficult finding openings! What I really take issue with are the people who make multiple ADRs for different restaurants for the same day! Then they don't bother to cancel, which prevents others from enjoying that reservation. IMO, that is where a big problem lies, not with a 1 or 2 person difference in party size.

 

[DaParkers]

Congrats I guess. I feel sorry for any family of four you just kept out.

Oh please. What about feeling sorry for the countless number of people that can't get an ADR because of this stupid system? Disney can build Soarin, but can't get a more common sense reservation system.

The reservation system isn't perfect, I have a party of 5 and it was difficult finding openings! What I really take issue with are the people who make multiple ADRs for different restaurants for the same day! Then they don't bother to cancel, which prevents others from enjoying that reservation. IMO, that is where a big problem lies, not with a 1 or 2 person difference in party size.

I agree.

 

[npcougar]

Oh please. What about feeling sorry for the countless number of people that can't get an ADR because of this stupid system? Disney can build Soarin, but can't get a more common sense reservation system.


I agree.

Go ahead and judge. I have a family of 3 and have to live with the system too. I choose to follow the rules even if it means I don't get all my ADRs. Rules, even if flawed, are there for a reason.

I wish they would change the system to one or two reservations a day. It is hard to compete with people who put 4 or 5 up so that they can finalize there schedule later. Then they don't bother canceling. Guess it helps walk ups.

 

[ChrisHartman]

Don't feel bad, I told the same lie for Mickey Mouse.

 

[barbarabini]

Those rules exists for a few reasons:

Mainly, for Disney to optimize the profit out of each table top. Three people don't spend as much as four. The threes will either have to wait till the end to see if the ressies are released or lie. Hell, who cares if you have to pay a $20 no show fee. You got the princesses and it was easier than trying everyday.

2. for fire safety occupancy counts. Since you overcounted and are going to show up with fewer people, thats not a problem.

Kudos to you for finding a work around.

 

[glasslipper]

Those rules exists for a few reasons:

Mainly, for Disney to optimize the profit out of each table top. Three people don't spend as much as four.

Not necessarily true. Depending upon ages of the diners or appetites or alcoholic beverage consumption, a party of 3 could easily outspend a party of 4.

 

[chottsy]

wouldn't booking an extra 1yr. old /infant not require the additional $20 per person no show fee??
infants are free.
just a suggestion.

 

[ShellyShellfish]

wouldn't booking an extra 1yr. old /infant not require the additional $20 per person no show fee??
infants are free.
just a suggestion.

Just going along with this point, ALL of my ADRs are for 4 people....2 adults, 1 3 year old and a 14 month old. She will probably not eat much of anything since she's so young. We won't be charged for her at the restaurants (she'll eat off our plates) but she DOES need a seat to sit in.

 

[mcd2745]

.

I wish they would change the system to one or two reservations a day. It is hard to compete with people who put 4 or 5 up so that they can finalize there schedule later. Then they don't bother canceling. Guess it helps walk ups.

Exactly. And they do those 4 or 5 ressies for each night of their stay.

Disney needs to charge a fee on every no-show. And limit you to one ressie only for each meal preiod (bkfst/lunch/din).

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

wouldn't booking an extra 1yr. old /infant not require the additional $20 per person no show fee??
infants are free.
just a suggestion.

This would work for CRT and the dinner shows, but not here. The reservation asks the number of people, and figures the guarantee based upon that, and does not ask for a breakdown of adults/children.

When you pay your bill, they will not charge for the infant even though they were included in the reservation.