Interesting no-show statistics....and a bit of advice!

[emma'smom]

We're just back from 5 days and I confirmed every single ADR by date/time/reservation # right before we left. Everything was set...and we showed up for our breakfast at Askershus (with a two princesses all dressed up) and they couldn't find our reservation. We tried all different spellings, etc. and they finally found it for the DAY BEFORE!! The CM checking us in did nothing to assist us.....really a bit rude. I'm not sure why or how Dining changed things around.

However, the manager, Susan, was incredibly helpful and managed to find a table for us (and checked that the no-show charges hadn't been charged to our credit card- which I had forgotten that we had given them in the first place). Anyway, she also told us that the average restaurant (non-credit card reservations) have about a 25% no-show rate. The credit-card reservations are about a 5% no-show rate and only 1-2 reservations a day are no-shows at CRT.

Anyway, we used this knowledge of the 25% to see if we could do a "walk-up" to Ohana (we had been checking for a cancellation everday and nothing, of course). However, they got us in as walk-ups in less than an hour. We even had a prime table to see the fireworks from the P and P party (which they piped the music in for). So....walk-ups are possible!! Note- we had an ADR for Kona in place which we cancelled once we picked up the beeper for Ohana......so we don't go without a lifeline.

 

[Bama_C]

I had wondered about that. I had booked all my ADRs back in May for our trip in Sept., but had a couple we couldn't decide on and were double booked. I called yesterday to cancel since we finally nailed it down. It's pretty interesting to me, knowing that they can see all your reservations at a time, that they allow people to double book so many like that. I had read somewhere on DIS that they were starting to cancel people's ADRs who had double booked. I am still a little skeptical about that, but it would make sense, with those no-show figures, if they did.

PIXIEDUST!!

 

[just another guy]

I would believe it. The people making reservations and not showing up, and ruining it for those who didn't make reservations, and just want to walk in and dine. I wish disney would ONLY do reservations with credit cards, and then charge people for not showing.

 

[JTsBoys]

and frequently make last minute trips to Disney. At each resort restaurant that we have walked up to, we have never been refused service. The most we have had to wait is 30 minutes. One time we did a walk up at boma, and there was an unknown wait, so we went to Jiko and they got us right in. I am not saying not to make ADR's, but there is hope in trying for walk ups!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I also want to add to this thread...when you check into a WDW resort, go to the "concierge" desk and ask them to print up your ADRs. I do that on the first day. That way, I can remedy any descrepancies right away. I keep it in my purse or backpack and at least I know if I get somewhere and they say they don't have my ADR, I can show them the printout.

 

[DisneyJimbo]

I would believe it. The people making reservations and not showing up, and ruining it for those who didn't make reservations, and just want to walk in and dine. I wish disney would ONLY do reservations with credit cards, and then charge people for not showing.

I agree...it sounds like that would make it alot easier to get ADRs and would stop inconsiderate people from making reservations they aren't sure they will use.

Of course, it would add a layer of complexity for Disney to have to refund people's credit cards when they have legitimate reasons to miss an ADR.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Or even an illegitimate reason. I can see lots of folks just not showing up because they found something better to do. Then challanging the card bill and having Disney give in anyway.

 

[clownfish1452]

I have to say I did do some no-shows for my last trip, but I tried to call the reservation line atleast 4 times to cancel them and was told to call back later because the line was very busy. How much time do you really want to take out of your trip to keep calling back?

Sarah

 

[lpizzuro123]

I believe you can also cancel a reservation by going to any guest services desk at a resort or the check in desk at any restaurant - so you do not have to wait on hold on the phone

Linda

 

[Tink415]

Disney doesn't always refund credit card deposit if a ressie is cancelled for a legitimate reason. A few years ago my DD 4 was up vomiting during the night and when I called to cancel Princess breakfast I was told the deposit would not be refunded. It bothered me because $40 is a lot and I knew the table wouldn't stay empty! But those are the rules No way was I going to drag a sick child out to breakfast even if it was with princesses! If something goes wrong with a ressie getting it fixed depends on someone wanting to help you and someone doesn't always want to, that's life.

There's always going to be no-shows because things happen. People get sick, tired, caught up in something else, make a mistake with dates and times. Charging a credit card deposit for all dining ressies would add a whole layer of headache for Disney, and the public, to deal with IMHO. I don't like it for the "special" dining places either but I understand why its done.

 

[clownfish1452]

I believe you can also cancel a reservation by going to any guest services desk at a resort or the check in desk at any restaurant - so you do not have to wait on hold on the phone

Linda

I called the desk and they would just tell me would you like me to transfer you to the reservation line.

Sarah

 

[PottersMom]

I have been thinking about this a lot lately
FOr our next trip we are going with three families, for a total of ten people, (including 4 children under ten).
We have made double reservations on more than a few nights. Before you blast me, consider the logistical problems of trying to meet the needs of a group that size. We plan to go to TL one day and have dinner at a resort, but if it rains, we obviously wont go to a water park, right? So we will go to epcot. Why should we have to leave the park and go to a restaurant on the other side of "the world', just to make a resrevation we booked 4 months ago?! No -we have a backup in Epcot. We are not going to wait an hour to get a walk in table (with all of those children), when we can just as easily have a backup plan. If it is sunny and beautiful that day, we will cancell at Epcot, if the forecast is for rain, we will cancel the other ressie. Simple.
I think disney counts on those no shows to keep room for the walk ins. This way they can't overbook, because they know that even on a "bad day" there will still be a good percentage of no shows. Where it really counts at the hard to get restaurants, they have insurance in the form of your credit card.
Think about it.
Taking everyones credit card and charging a no show fee- that's just crazy. Can you imagine being charged a cancellation fee at the sci-fi dine in- maybe they should do this at TGI Fridays and Outback too?! They have the same "reservation" system. (only they call it call ahead seating)
That kind of practice is only used at the finest restaurants.
In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with having a backup plan- (within reason; it would be wrong to have 2 or 3 dinner ADR's for every day of your trip).
Like I said, I'm sure the restaurants bank on the no shows to save a little breathing room for the walk ins. And itsn't that nice, if you decide to walk in, when they say... "we have had a few cancellations today, hopefully we can have you seated in 30-40 minutes"
Or even better- a nice couple wals through the door and says, "we have changed our plans, would you like our reservation?"
that's happened to me twice!

 

[missypie]

Interesting about people being allowed to double book. Do they book under two different names and phone numbers?

Yesterday I made an 8:10 ADR for Chefs de France. At the end, the CM said she noticed that I ALREADY had an ADR for that day...she was trying to get me to cancel one of them, but I pointed out that one was for 1:10 pm and the other was for 8:10 and I was pretty sure we've be hungry again by then.

 

[thunderbird1]

25%? I would have thought it would be higher.

But this still doesn't mean that 25% of their tables are available for walk-ups. At Le Cellier, we were told that they overbook by 30% to cover cancellations. In that case, even after the 25% no-shows, they're still overbooked by 5%, hence the long waits and not taking any walk-ups at all.

Thanks for the info!

 

[AlDubya]

I had read somewhere on DIS that they were starting to cancel people's ADRs who had double booked. I am still a little skeptical about that, but it would make sense, with those no-show figures, if they did.

PIXIEDUST!!

The only question I would have on that is about how they list ADR's... meaning, is it by person or by room. I would assume it's by room (or, if you use DVC points, is it by who owns the points?). If it's by room, then I don't see how they can justify canceling ADR's for double bookings.

Let me give you an example as to why. My family and I (family reunion trip; 2 grand villas, 2 1 bedroom units, and 1 studio at BWV), on a few nights, are eating at different restaurants. I believe that, on one night, one group of us have reservations at Teppanyaki, another group at Captain Jacks, and yet another group at Le Cellier. Now, all rooms were booked under my parents DVC points, but at a minimum, I know that some of us that are in one of the Grand Villas are going to one ADR, and some are going to another.

In that case, I'm unsure how they could justify canceling an ADR (or, to be more specific, how they could figure out whether or not they should cancel an ADR.. i.e., that we double booked and will end up canceling one anyway, or that some people are going to one and some are going to another).

 

[Piglet42]

There is a huge difference in being a "no-show' and cancelling, even if it is the day of. And yes, you can walk up to guest services and they will cancel/make a reservation for you. There is also a difference, in simply not being able to make it, due to as someone said, a sick child. Although, it would not surprise me if there are people out there that do double book and go to wherever they feel like it that day. I know most people, myself included, hate the idea that most meals have to be planned out day and time and don't like such rigid schdedules. But lets face, anyone who has ever tried to do Disney w/o some type of plan, quickly learns from their mistake.

 

[dkostel]

On my last trip, I canceled / changed all but one reservation. There were a couple that I just didn't show for, after waiting on hold for a LONG time to try to cancel. Sometimes you just aren't near guest services. It seems to me, that when you use the within 7 days option, you are put on hold for a longer time. I never seem to have to hold when using the option for an upcoming trip. Maybe I'm just more patient when I don't have so many fun things to do.