Just Back: How the New Credit Card Guarantee Did and Did Not Affect Our Trip

[Mjkre]

Some background: the CCG came into play after I made most of my reservations. The only ones I had to deal with were last minute additions of Ohana and Cape May. We are a family of five. We were on the Dining Plan (last time doing that, btw).

It all started about a week before when the family decided they did not want Ohana. I posted the ADR change on the cancellation board and happily handed it off to someone else. I have to admit, although I wanted to go to Ohana, part of me was feeling a sense of relief that some unknown pressure was lifted off...

First stop was 1900 PF on our arrival day for dinner. This will be our last time making an ADR like this. No way I will again make a reservation on arrival day for a $190 meal with a $50.00 cancellation fee if our plane is delayed or worse.

Second day: oldest DD wakes up with a severe sore throat. Major problem for her and frequently ends in the hospital. Wants to try to plug along and see how it goes. With a worried look, we leave SSR and board the bus. Before I left, I took the kids Keys to the World out of my pocket and leave them on the table in the room, saying, "we don't need them....we can just use our adult ones to pay for dinner."

At the last bus stop in SSR, suddenly I am thinking to myself, wait, "we can't get fast passes for them....!@#$% they can't get in the park !@##$%" . "DH stay put, take the kids to Ohana Bfast....I will meet you. " Hop off bus, run like an idiot across the resort (do you all know how big SSR is?), up to room and back to hop on bus...I picked Epcot figuring I could get on the Monorail... which I did...which broke down. Next, got off at TTA and ran to Ohana. They were backed up a bit so I made it!

Ok, my own stupidity caused that one...

While at MK: Splash Mt, Space Mt, and Big Thunder Railroad all break down. The Haunted Mansion stops five times while we are riding it.

That night, the monorail broke down again as we were waiting for it to take us to Narcossies. 25 minutes later, we switched to the boat line...which was huge. 40 minutes later, we boarded a boat. Monorail arrived as we left the dock. We had planned to a swim at GF before our reservation, so the delay did not effect our ADR...just our swim time. BTW: DD throat improved slightly during the day.. it turns out to be allergies and not the dreaded strep throat that has plagued our family.

Next day: Epcot. Spaceship Earth. Stopped. Dead. Not one of those slight delays while someone in need of assistance boards. But one of those, you are on the backwards tilt and mulitple cast members going up and down the stairs with flashlights searching for the person who jumped ship. Began texting my DH that I really should have brought a cocktail on to the ride....After about 30 minutes the ride resumes. Now youngest DD has to go to the bathroom. We sprint to take care of that and back in time to sprint across EPCOT to Tutto. You see, I am really not the kind of person to be late for things or not show up at an ADR. We are 15 minutes late for our ADR, but we get to eat anyway. OK, we were a little hot and sweaty, but ate anyway.

Back at our room: I cancel the remaining Cape May ADR with the CCG: my FIL was waivering about joining us and the the stress of the CCG is not worth the dinner. Especially not with the way things were going.

The rest of the trip was filled with more transporation delays and ride issues. We spent more and more time at the resort, enjoying each other and the all the great pools.

Conclusion: unless we really, really want to have dinner at a specific spot on site that requires a CCG (and Narcossies may be one of those), I will absolutely not be booking those that require a CCG. For me, it was not worth the added stress to wonder whether a cast member would find my excuse "good enough." Any one of the above coud have, and indeed did, cause us significant delay. I am giving serious thought to renting a car next year and going off site for sometimes better and most often cheaper food with no 180 day CCG required. The Disney Dining Plan is not worth it anymore now that two out of three kids will be "disney adults" who eat like "disney kids."

For me, that will make my vacation a vacation and not a stress filled run to get to an ADR.

 

[akeogh]

Just reading your note, I could feel your stress at making a certain ADR by a specific time. I have held several restaurants with a CCG for our December trip, and I'm starting to feel very nervous. Your experience is exactly what I am worried about. It would be just my luck to get charged for missing a meal (or being too late to one), due to something out of my personal control. With five people in my party, including three kids, you could absolutely have someone that gets sick, or a ride that gets delayed, and so forth. It's not easy trekking around a huge theme park, and having your enjoyment of the day kind of taken hostage by the fact that you have to be at Point B within 45 minutes, and you are nowhere near Point B! I think the $10 pp charge is just too high, and makes the whole thing feel oppressive - definitely guest-unfriendly. I would much rather that they utilize dining reservation kiosks in the park, where you can drop a reservation with no penalty, so that others would be free to take your place.

 

[Pinkgirl]

Thank you for posting. We need to have more views on this new and disturbing addition to Disney Dining.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, I feel the same way I will NOT be making any more Dining reservations when we are a group of 5. Joan

 

[christine*]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Sounded like you had more than your share of transportation/ride breakdown issues. I actually lol-ed when reading how you had to run across SSR. Unfortunately, I do know how big that resort is.

 

[Mikey'swife]

sorry you had this stress. The ccg sounds like as usual it help disney a lot more then guests.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Sorry, a bit out of the loop on the CC policy. I saw the policy, but does it affect ressies made before the policy went into effect? Our they linking your hotel credit card then to your ressies?

Reason I am asking > was not sure when we go in March, if I need to give CC info for that too, or do something else to the adr's I made before the policy went into effect.



Thank you for your help. mky

 

[mkymouse4ever]

oops just found the big thread, never mind.

 

[aubriee]

I just got back from WDW this past Sunday (was down there Nov 26th-Dec 4th). I'll be taking my 3 y/o grandson down there Feb 4th-11th and will be back down there solo May 5th-13th. I made all of my ADRs for the Nov/Dec trip and most of the ADRs for our Feb trip, before the credit card guarantee started. As soon as I read about the ccg being instituted, I immediately went online and made sure I had three TS meals a day booked. We have the DxDDP, but had planned on just winging a few meals. I decided to go ahead and add the other ADRs before the ccg came into effect, because I didn't want to take a chance of deciding to add a couple between now and then and having to give that ccg.

I couldn't make ADRs for the May trip until after that ccg was instituted. I'm not a breakfast eater, am not fond of most CS restaurants, love the signature restaurants, and so usually do an early lunch TS restaurant and then a Signature restaurant at night. Even though I make alot of ADRs, I also keep almost all of them, but still hate this new ccg policy. With this new ccg policy, I made a point of making ADRs only at restaurants that don't require the ccg and made them all for around 7:30pm. Once I'm down there, I'll try my luck at getting into my favorite Signatures as soon as they open about 5:00pm and if I can then will call and cancel the other I have for that night. I'll also no longer be using the DDP or DxDDP (after my Feb trip). The TiW seems like a better deal for what and where I want to eat. The basic DDP does not include enough TS credits, but too many CS credits. The DxDDP is too much, unless you do alot of Signature restaurants, which with the ccg policy, I won't be doing any more, so neither plan works for me anymore.

Something, I saw last week that I thought was rather sad: I was waiting in the Ohana waiting area for the Sushi bar to open. There was a young family (parents and three kids) that came up and asked if the seats around me were taken. I told them no and we started talking. I noticed the middle child was laying with her head on her mom's lap and thought she was just tired, but then she started complaining that she had told the mom she really didn't feel good and wanted to go back to the room to lay down. The mom snapped at her, that she couldn't, saying that they'd be charged as a no show if they didn't keep the reservation. A few minutes later, the little girl suddenly lunged up and threw up all over the mom, seatee, and floor. The mom took her to the restroom, cleaned themselves up as best she could, but then came back and sat down. The little girl was crying as the mom told her they didn't have a choice, she didn't have to eat, but no way were they being charged for not showing up. The dad reminded her that they'd still be charged a dining credit, even if the little girl didn't eat. The mom said that'd be better than their credit card being charged. I couldn't believe they were taking that little girl in there as sick as she was.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Some background: the CCG came into play after I made most of my reservations. The only ones I had to deal with were last minute additions of Ohana and Cape May. We are a family of five. We were on the Dining Plan (last time doing that, btw).

It all started about a week before when the family decided they did not want Ohana. I posted the ADR change on the cancellation board and happily handed it off to someone else. I have to admit, although I wanted to go to Ohana, part of me was feeling a sense of relief that some unknown pressure was lifted off...

First stop was 1900 PF on our arrival day for dinner. This will be our last time making an ADR like this. No way I will again make a reservation on arrival day for a $190 meal with a $50.00 cancellation fee if our plane is delayed or worse.

Second day: oldest DD wakes up with a severe sore throat. Major problem for her and frequently ends in the hospital. Wants to try to plug along and see how it goes. With a worried look, we leave SSR and board the bus. Before I left, I took the kids Keys to the World out of my pocket and leave them on the table in the room, saying, "we don't need them....we can just use our adult ones to pay for dinner."

At the last bus stop in SSR, suddenly I am thinking to myself, wait, "we can't get fast passes for them....!@#$% they can't get in the park !@##$%" . "DH stay put, take the kids to Ohana Bfast....I will meet you. " Hop off bus, run like an idiot across the resort (do you all know how big SSR is?), up to room and back to hop on bus...I picked Epcot figuring I could get on the Monorail... which I did...which broke down. Next, got off at TTA and ran to Ohana. They were backed up a bit so I made it!

Ok, my own stupidity caused that one...

While at MK: Splash Mt, Space Mt, and Big Thunder Railroad all break down. The Haunted Mansion stops five times while we are riding it.

That night, the monorail broke down again as we were waiting for it to take us to Narcossies. 25 minutes later, we switched to the boat line...which was huge. 40 minutes later, we boarded a boat. Monorail arrived as we left the dock. We had planned to a swim at GF before our reservation, so the delay did not effect our ADR...just our swim time. BTW: DD throat improved slightly during the day.. it turns out to be allergies and not the dreaded strep throat that has plagued our family.

Next day: Epcot. Spaceship Earth. Stopped. Dead. Not one of those slight delays while someone in need of assistance boards. But one of those, you are on the backwards tilt and mulitple cast members going up and down the stairs with flashlights searching for the person who jumped ship. Began texting my DH that I really should have brought a cocktail on to the ride....After about 30 minutes the ride resumes. Now youngest DD has to go to the bathroom. We sprint to take care of that and back in time to sprint across EPCOT to Tutto. You see, I am really not the kind of person to be late for things or not show up at an ADR. We are 15 minutes late for our ADR, but we get to eat anyway. OK, we were a little hot and sweaty, but ate anyway.

Back at our room: I cancel the remaining Cape May ADR with the CCG: my FIL was waivering about joining us and the the stress of the CCG is not worth the dinner. Especially not with the way things were going.

The rest of the trip was filled with more transporation delays and ride issues. We spent more and more time at the resort, enjoying each other and the all the great pools.

Conclusion: unless we really, really want to have dinner at a specific spot on site that requires a CCG (and Narcossies may be one of those), I will absolutely not be booking those that require a CCG. For me, it was not worth the added stress to wonder whether a cast member would find my excuse "good enough." Any one of the above coud have, and indeed did, cause us significant delay. I am giving serious thought to renting a car next year and going off site for sometimes better and most often cheaper food with no 180 day CCG required. The Disney Dining Plan is not worth it anymore now that two out of three kids will be "disney adults" who eat like "disney kids."

For me, that will make my vacation a vacation and not a stress filled run to get to an ADR.

This is where we are as well. Two of my kids will soon be "Disney adults" with "kid" appetites which doesn't make the DDP a great value to us. Also, the only TS restaurants that interest us are those with the new CCG cancellation policy. So even if we were to get the free dining promotion, I still don't think it would work out for us with that new cancellation policy because a lot can happen in a 24 hour period with four young kids that can cause plans to change unexpectantly; and being subject to those cancellation fees would cost us $60 for one meal. We liked the flexibility of the QSDP, but since they are taking away one snack per day from this plan I don't think that plan will be a good value for us anymore. We have been looking into the option of renting a condo or townhouse offsite for our next WDW trip, or if we can get a really good room only discount we may look into getting a cabin at the Fort Wilderness resort since it has a full kitchen and barbecue grill. We will probably just budget to pay OOP for all those great snacks in the parks we enjoyed.

 

[VanessasMom]

Something, I saw last week that I thought was rather sad: I was waiting in the Ohana waiting area for the Sushi bar to open. There was a young family (parents and three kids) that came up and asked if the seats around me were taken. I told them no and we started talking. I noticed the middle child was laying with her head on her mom's lap and thought she was just tired, but then she started complaining that she had told the mom she really didn't feel good and wanted to go back to the room to lay down. The mom snapped at her, that she couldn't, saying that they'd be charged as a no show if they didn't keep the reservation. A few minutes later, the little girl suddenly lunged up and threw up all over the mom, seatee, and floor. The mom took her to the restroom, cleaned themselves up as best she could, but then came back and sat down. The little girl was crying as the mom told her they didn't have a choice, she didn't have to eat, but no way were they being charged for not showing up. The dad reminded her that they'd still be charged a dining credit, even if the little girl didn't eat. The mom said that'd be better than their credit card being charged. I couldn't believe they were taking that little girl in there as sick as she was.

As a very "informed" person, I must say that dining agents have the option to choose a cancellation purpose of seriously ill and not charge the cancellation fee depending on the situation. That is too bad they didn't call dining to see what would happen.

 

[Shih-Tzu]

Used the DDP once - I just didn't like being tied to reservations (although we didn't miss any) there were a couple that I could have skipped...there was one day that we were watching performances in Epcot and had to cut it short to make sure we made it over to Germany in time for the ADR. Another time, we checked in the 15 minutes early (which is what is recommended) at the Coral Reef and were over and hour late being seated...so I wouldn't want to probably risk being charged for something that was out of my control....Now that DH is diabetic, we wouldn't be able to sit and wait for a meal running that late....

That having been said, I did overhear one lady talking at the resort pool one afternoon and she mentioned to another lady that they make a couple of ADRs for each meal and then decide which one to go to depending on where they are and what mood they're in that evening....THAT may be the reason why they have instituted the CCG? I do remember there being empty seats at many TS restaurants and wondered why - were they holding them for someone with an ADR?? ( I'm not sure how the other guest made multiple ADRs...wouldn't that be tied to your ressie, or maybe various family members made the ADRs???). Would people really do that??

 

[Missyrose]

I do remember there being empty seats at many TS restaurants and wondered why - were they holding them for someone with an ADR?? ( I'm not sure how the other guest made multiple ADRs...wouldn't that be tied to your ressie, or maybe various family members made the ADRs???). Would people really do that??

Nope, that's not why there are empty tables. ADRs are not like normal restaurant reservations where they hold a table for you. An ADR only assures that you will get the next available table for your party size. So if you never show, you will never be put in the queue to be seated.

 

[Colleen27]

As a very "informed" person, I must say that dining agents have the option to choose a cancellation purpose of seriously ill and not charge the cancellation fee depending on the situation. That is too bad they didn't call dining to see what would happen.

Or maybe they did. I've had a CM waive the cancellation fee because of illness (at Akershus, which has had the CC policy for years) but others have reported being told "too bad, we have to charge you". It is CM roulette now, like so much else about Disney - get the right cast member on the line and you're golden, but get the wrong one and you're out of luck.

 

[PixieDustFanatic]

Something, I saw last week that I thought was rather sad: I was waiting in the Ohana waiting area for the Sushi bar to open. There was a young family (parents and three kids) that came up and asked if the seats around me were taken. I told them no and we started talking. I noticed the middle child was laying with her head on her mom's lap and thought she was just tired, but then she started complaining that she had told the mom she really didn't feel good and wanted to go back to the room to lay down. The mom snapped at her, that she couldn't, saying that they'd be charged as a no show if they didn't keep the reservation. A few minutes later, the little girl suddenly lunged up and threw up all over the mom, seatee, and floor. The mom took her to the restroom, cleaned themselves up as best she could, but then came back and sat down. The little girl was crying as the mom told her they didn't have a choice, she didn't have to eat, but no way were they being charged for not showing up. The dad reminded her that they'd still be charged a dining credit, even if the little girl didn't eat. The mom said that'd be better than their credit card being charged. I couldn't believe they were taking that little girl in there as sick as she was.

Wow,,I think I'd rather pay the $10 than do that to my child. WTH??

 

[aubriee]

Wow,,I think I'd rather pay the $10 than do that to my child. WTH??

In this family's case with two adults and three kids, it would have been $50.00, but I agree. I would have just paid the $50.00 cancellation fee and took my kid back to the room.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I just got back from WDW this past Sunday (was down there Nov 26th-Dec 4th). I'll be taking my 3 y/o grandson down there Feb 4th-11th and will be back down there solo May 5th-13th. I made all of my ADRs for the Nov/Dec trip and most of the ADRs for our Feb trip, before the credit card guarantee started. As soon as I read about the ccg being instituted, I immediately went online and made sure I had three TS meals a day booked. We have the DxDDP, but had planned on just winging a few meals. I decided to go ahead and add the other ADRs before the ccg came into effect, because I didn't want to take a chance of deciding to add a couple between now and then and having to give that ccg.

I couldn't make ADRs for the May trip until after that ccg was instituted. I'm not a breakfast eater, am not fond of most CS restaurants, love the signature restaurants, and so usually do an early lunch TS restaurant and then a Signature restaurant at night. Even though I make alot of ADRs, I also keep almost all of them, but still hate this new ccg policy. With this new ccg policy, I made a point of making ADRs only at restaurants that don't require the ccg and made them all for around 7:30pm. Once I'm down there, I'll try my luck at getting into my favorite Signatures as soon as they open about 5:00pm and if I can then will call and cancel the other I have for that night. I'll also no longer be using the DDP or DxDDP (after my Feb trip). The TiW seems like a better deal for what and where I want to eat. The basic DDP does not include enough TS credits, but too many CS credits. The DxDDP is too much, unless you do alot of Signature restaurants, which with the ccg policy, I won't be doing any more, so neither plan works for me anymore.

Something, I saw last week that I thought was rather sad: I was waiting in the Ohana waiting area for the Sushi bar to open. There was a young family (parents and three kids) that came up and asked if the seats around me were taken. I told them no and we started talking. I noticed the middle child was laying with her head on her mom's lap and thought she was just tired, but then she started complaining that she had told the mom she really didn't feel good and wanted to go back to the room to lay down. The mom snapped at her, that she couldn't, saying that they'd be charged as a no show if they didn't keep the reservation. A few minutes later, the little girl suddenly lunged up and threw up all over the mom, seatee, and floor. The mom took her to the restroom, cleaned themselves up as best she could, but then came back and sat down. The little girl was crying as the mom told her they didn't have a choice, she didn't have to eat, but no way were they being charged for not showing up. The dad reminded her that they'd still be charged a dining credit, even if the little girl didn't eat. The mom said that'd be better than their credit card being charged. I couldn't believe they were taking that little girl in there as sick as she was.

Poor little girl. If the CM said no to cancelling with no charge, I'd have let my husband take the kids that were fine into the meal and gone back to the room with the sick child. That way you only lose 20.00.

I hate the smell of sick and wouldn't have been able to eat anyway unless I'd have had a shower and change of clothes after getting thrown up on.

 

[Mjkre]

First of all, despite that fact that I am the OP, that woman with the sick child is nuts. I happen to a have a child who is frequently sick. As a result of her illness, we have had to cancel several vacations, holiday meals, birthday celebrations. Never once have I ever considered going ahead with our plans. Wished she would get better, yes. Actually gone ahead so we could avoid all the fees? Absolutely not. Either the whole family or one parent and the daughter should have left Ohana. No debate there. Fee or no fee, that woman gives mothers a bad name.

But see, that is why I will not be making many reservations that require a cancellation fee if you do not show. I would be the one to suck up the $50-60 fee (depending on whether grandpa joins us). Having experienced many of the Disney restaruants, with rare exceptions, I do not think any Disney table service restaurant is worth it. Then again, I have now done most of the character meals. So I do not have a need to do them again, and the so so food is certainly not going to get us there. Maybe I will now do one signature meal per trip. Dealing with the added layer of stress one time or more per day? No way.

I do, however, feel really sorry for the people who will be bringing the kids to Disney for that once in a life time trip. To not be possilby able to appreciate the exhaustion, ride lines, illness potential and transportation difficulties and yet be forced to balance those realties with being charged a ton of money for a cancelation in less than 24 hours has got to stink. All while trying desperately to give you kids "the world," which should include some fun dining experiences. Disney has put parents in one hell of a difficult position.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Poor little girl. If the CM said no to cancelling with no charge, I'd have let my husband take the kids that were fine into the meal and gone back to the room with the sick child. That way you only lose 20.00.

I hate the smell of sick and wouldn't have been able to eat anyway unless I'd have had a shower and change of clothes after getting thrown up on.

I agree - poor little peep. Who gives a rats tail about $50 when your kiddo is so sick? Let's not blame Disney for their new policy..this one falls on the parents who cannot make sensible choices. The poor kid was obviously so sick..she doesn't have to eat but has to sit around food so they don't loose out on 50 bucks?!?!?! - who wants to be around food when they were just physically ill?!?

 

[bjakmom]

We made very few ADRs for our May trip. There will be 5 - 7 of us and that's too much charge risk for me if someone is not feeling well or if we get busy doing something else or decide to do a different park that day. It's the 24 hour limit that I don't understand. I always call and cancel if our plans change, but that is usually more like 4 - 10 hours out - they can still fill those seats with walk ups. I'm betting that by May this new policy will make it easier to get ADRs on the day you want them - I think people will stop booking ADRs months in advance with a 24 hour $10 pp cancellation fee tied to them - we have.