Hello all, So sorry if I caused controversy by creating this post. I was not going for that. I didn't' get to read all 100 posts but I did want to point out some things that might have been overlooked or i didn't mention:
1 - when I was referring to the old policy changing to the new 2hr, i was actually referring to the 24hr rule, Upon reading more, I understand there were multiple changes in between the 24hour cancel rule and the 2hr rule which changed more than 2 times. Several yrs ago, we were actually able to change reservation times/dates within 24hr window. I was not really aware of this new restriction for being able to change within the cancel window.
2 - We initially booked Chef Mickey's, and always intended on going to it. We merely saw an opportunity! perhaps from SOMEONE who had canceled their Artist point ADR just before 2 hours?? So we thought this was be a great opportunity for us. Our last trip we tried get an ADR at Artist Point but was never successful.s
3 - I fully understand the purpose of a cancellation policy. This is to prevent deliberate abuse of the system. But i'm confident i'm not who WDW is trying to go after with this NO-SHOW policy. We always show up for our ADRs that we book, and upon reading I now understand a bit more on why this rule was implemented. I guess there was a loophole that allowed people to park at resorts for free? 100% not my case either - we didn't even have car on our trip.
4 - the fact is we were attempting to move from 1 WDW restaurant to ANOTHER WDW restaurant. It's not like we canceled and left WDW property to eat somewhere else.
5 - MOST IMPORTANTLY - The 1st CM was extremely RUDE and was accusing and blaming ME as to why restaurants were 1/2 empty. It would have been much different if he said, So sorry, I'd like to make the change, but current policies prevent me from doing so. What possible reason to add those accusations to the conversation? he was very blunt, rude, and lied when he offered to move our reservation time but said none were available when indeed there was an opening for an hour later. This is where my post was mostly getting too.
I think with ADR cancellation/changes, there are lots of variables that can come into play that could easily allow a change outside of standard policies. Perhaps someone got sick/fever, transportation issues, etc.
Lastly, I think WDW should reconsider guests who want to modify from one WDW restaurant to another WDW restaurant. I think it's not totally unreasonable. At the end of the day, the other restaurant had an ADR opening which wasn't being filled, I'm now offering to fil it, i just transferred the opening to the other. It was a NET ZERO loss. Unless someone can explain otherwise.