Making and Cancelling Dining Reservations - My Ethical Dilemma

[Bill From PA]

When it comes to table service meals at WDW, usually dinner in Epcot, we've had no problem walking into Teppanyaki, Le Cellier, Ahershus and others on the spur of the moment on our March trips, except for this year. We were lucky to get Le Cellier and the Italy restaurant but got shut our of others. For March 2007 I'm thinking of reserving something for each of our nights and cancelling those we don't want, certainly at least 24 hrs. in advance. What are your thoughts on the fairness of this? We can't know 6 months out exactly what we'll want to do on each and every day but I don't want to scramble for a table at a choice spot either.

Bill From PA

 

[cdntourguide]

There is nothing wrong or unethical about you booking ADR's and then cancelling them later if you do not wish to dine at that particular restaurant.
Better to have something than nothing.

 

[Kitka]

I'd put together a tentative plan and make one reservation per meal where you think you'll be eating. I don't think it's right to make double reservations, but I don't think it's wrong to make a reservation somewhere you're not quite sure about yet but think you may want to eat at.

I do think that as your trip gets closer (within a month/a couple weeks) you should (even if just for your own planning sake) reexamine your choices and cancel whatever you don't plan on using.

 

[Sammie]

At least you plan to cancel, more than some do.

 

[knovak]

I've booked and cancelled quite a few ADR's in the past few weeks.

I just make sure to cancel the ones I don't plan on using! Knowing how difficult it is to get into certain restaurants at certain times - it's the right thing to do and cancel.

Hoping I have luck with a Chef Mickey's dinner cancellation to get in earlier than 7:50 when we go!

 

[abaldacci]

I do that! nothing wrong with it you just have to with the dining plan now. I over slept one morning and called just before our ressie and canceled and resched to 1030. this was pre dining I bet I could not do it now with dining plan. but no one knows what they want that far in advance. go for it.

 

[bicker]

I'm thinking of reserving something for each of our nights and cancelling those we don't want, certainly at least 24 hrs. in advance.

This is what most veterans are actually recommending folks do. I see nothing wrong with it, as long as you're limiting yourself to holding no more than one ADR per meal, at a time.

 

[debbiedoo]

We book our ressies out 6 months prior, readjust if needed the closer to the arrival date. Then if something does come up at last minute we will cancel 24 hours prior -- and that is only IF I have another ressie. With the DDE and the dining plan I do not want to NOT have a decent place to eat.

 

[01Sweetpea]

This is what I'm planning on doing. We're going for Thanksgiving and I know if I don't have ADRs we'll be out of luck. So at 180 days I'll call and book 1 dinner per night for everyplace I "think" we want to eat.

AS we get closer I'll re-examine, and if I have to cancel I will.

 

[majortom]

When it comes to table service meals at WDW, usually dinner in Epcot, we've had no problem walking into Teppanyaki, Le Cellier, Ahershus and others on the spur of the moment on our March trips, except for this year. We were lucky to get Le Cellier and the Italy restaurant but got shut our of others.

Thanks to a combination of 180 day reservations and Disney's Dining Plans, people now feel locked in to their reservations and are in general, less likely to change them.

For March 2007 I'm thinking of reserving something for each of our nights and cancelling those we don't want, certainly at least 24 hrs. in advance. What are your thoughts on the fairness of this? We can't know 6 months out exactly what we'll want to do on each and every day but I don't want to scramble for a table at a choice spot either.

Bill From PA

That is exactly what Disney is now expecting you to do. As to when you cancel, it just depends on whom you want to benefit most: cancel earlier if you want to benefit those that are informed enough to book reservations, or cancel later (same morning, one-two hours before or even fifteen or twenty minutes before) if you want to benefit those with less knowledge or that like to plan less (as you used to do) by letting them open these slots to people without reservations. Unless your time in a last seating, or is at an unpopular restaurant, your slot will get filled (either just due to Disney's overbooking), or by someone who has just decided that they want to have dinner in a table service restaurant.

/carmi

 

[mjmcca]

Over Easter I canceled several ADRs last minute cause the kids didn't want to leave a theme park or were too tired to go. I was lucky to get some winners intheir place including Raglan Road which was awesome. On Easter itself I didn't dare try to change my plans however and we ate at Bomas. Had a great trip.

 

[Skwinkles]

I don't think that there's anything wrong with what you are suggesting. I think the 'ethical' dilemma comes in when someone books more than one restaurant for dinner on the same night, etc. So, plan away, and happy eating!

 

[Schachteles]

I've booked and cancelled quite a few ADR's in the past few weeks.

I just make sure to cancel the ones I don't plan on using! Knowing how difficult it is to get into certain restaurants at certain times - it's the right thing to do and cancel.

Hoping I have luck with a Chef Mickey's dinner cancellation to get in earlier than 7:50 when we go!

Keep trying on the CM ressies...I was in the same prediciment for our trip coming up in two weeks...I could only get 7:40 which was far too late with little ones...so whenever I had a free minute at the office I would call to check and see if anything opened up...well to my luck someone cancelled a 5:30 ressie on the day that I wanted one...so we totally lucked out...KEEP TRYING and good luck!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I think this is the wave of the future for Disney Dining.. I was never one to make ressies until I got there, now I am rethinking that as it is difficult to get what I want.....I can still get to eat at most restaurants, but I have to be real flexible with the time.. If you have a specific time in mind, then you need to make a ressie.