New ADR Cancelation Policy

[DisneyKevin]

I do this.

I cancel when it rains.

I wouldn't cancel a hotel restaurant reservation for rain, but I leave the parks when the rain comes.

I never worried about it before because I don't make multiple reservations, but now I'll be in the group trying to figure out how to beat the system because I don't want to be forced to hang out in the parks for hours in the rain just to eat at the Crystal Palace.

I also got sick at Disney once and sat in a room for two days.

I canceled an entire trip with less than 24 hours' notice due to major and sudden illness/surgery in the family. I've always given Disney a lot of credit for how efficiently and kindly they handled it. I forgave a lot of their stuff (like not getting a water view I paid for at BWI) because of it.

I can't predict rain or illness.

I don't know if I can find a way to beat the system or if I should just give up on making reservations.

It seems to me that this is fairly simple.

If there isn't an extenuating circumstance like illness or an accident or a monorail breakdown, then you will pay a cancellation fee for not showing up.... whether it's because of weather or any other reason.

It's my opinion that people who tried to beat the system or take advantage of the system are the reason for this new policy.

 

[DavidandLeahZ]

My two cents:

Something had to be done.

It (like any other policy) is not going to be perfect: (1) exceptions will be made for extenuating circumstances and (2) something will fall through the cracks.

That said, just because a policy isn't perfect doesn't mean it shouldn't be enacted. If that were the case...things would never improve.

- D

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

Wish there was a "like" button.

 

[Danibelle]

I think it's a great idea.

And it's long overdue!!

 

[LMO429]

It seems to me that this is fairly simple.

If there isn't an extenuating circumstance like illness or an accident or a monorail breakdown, then you will pay a cancellation fee for not showing up.... whether it's because of weather or any other reason.

It's my opinion that people who tried to beat the system or take advantage of the system are the reason for this new policy.

Kevin I agree with you.

If someone is concerned about rain, monorail breakdowns, flight being late or any other doubts, then the bottom line is do not book a reservation. Or the other choice is very clear make the reservation and be prepared for the consequences if you do not show up.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Changing all three (who I like) seems to be a bigger hassle than making sure I show up for an appointment I've made.

I had no problem finding a new doctor I like better, who has reasonable policies, and is less arrogant. (The policy I faced was also not a 'no show/no call' policy - it was 'you will get charged if you are more then 15minutes late' charge.)

I don't consider my time less valueable than the doctors, or Disney's.

Doctors and Disney have no business holding me - the customer -to a higher standard than they maintain. Disney makes me wait PLENTY.

If I have to regularly wait OVER AN HOUR to get a bus back to my resort, and they expect me to be flexible and patient with their mediocre system- then they can be flexible too.

 

[BriarRosie]

I am glad to see this happening, hopefully it will free up some signature dining for last minute reservations. I don't plan 6 months out, so often can't get the signature dinners we want.

I have found alternatives to eating at signature restaurants. Because I've often gone solo, I'll just sit in the restaurant's bar and order food from there. It's been great for last-minute meals. But if I want an ADR with other people, I hope the new policy makes it a viable option for better chances of availability.

So, I agree the policy should be enforced but like all policies, it will need to be tempered with a measure of good sense.

I think Disney's going to allow a lot of exceptions for cases of last-minute illness/injury or transportation issues.

As for rain....that's a different story.

There are several examples of this in other parts of life. Theater tickets, concert tickets, sporting event tickets....all of these are paid in full in advance and non-refundable. Imagine buying a theater ticket (or any other ticket) and explaining to the manager that you didn't attend that performance because of rain. I'm not sure you'd get very far.

And it's not like people can't use an umbrella or rain poncho, sheesh.

I've had this kind of prepaid scenario back around 2005, for an Epcot food and wine event, a wine pairing dinner. I was at Pop Century and had to get to Epcot. I was at the bus stop, in the rain, holding my umbrella. I was wearing a cocktail dress and had a few strange stares.

But there was no way I was going to skip out on this dinner because I was looking forward to it, and it was really expensive. I knew they were going to drive us to the back of World Showplace from outside Guest Relations, so that helped. And the event, called Exquisite Evening at Epcot, was really good. The venue was full. I did not see any empty seats at tables. There didn't appear to be any no-shows due to the rain.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

My regular DR, my eye DR and my dentist all have a very similar policy.

Changing all three (who I like) seems to be a bigger hassle than making sure I show up for an appointment I've made...

There you go. In your case the policy of the dentist and Dr. is working out.

If a patient does not show up, doesn't have a valid reason for it, or objects to the fee and goes elsewhere, then the dentist/Dr. policy works equally as well by steering those patients away from the practice. They won't become rich on your cancellation fee, they just want patients to show up.

Hopefully the same will apply to the new ADR system.

 

[dvcHammer]

I personally can't wait for this to go into effect. About time something was done to stop people from making multiple reservations on the same day. It will free up the better restaurants from the free dinning over-bookers.

I would add to it that if you are not there 5 minutes before your ADR time, that your place in line goes to the "stand-by" line.

Maybe once again you can go to one of the nicer restaurants and not have to fight through a crowd. Maybe even free up some space so that you are not having to plan all your meals 180 days out.

People will whine, but let them.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I understand what you are saying, but each and every restaurant on Disney property is responsible for their own bottom line (budget, food cost, profit margin etc).

Making a reservation and not showing up means that that table makes no money for the time you reserved it.

Dining at another location doesn't mean that there is not an empty table in the restaurant you reserved.

Yes, you are spending your money on Disney property, but now you are taking up two table and Disney is being paid for one.

You have not only cost Disney the opportunity to fill that empty table which has been held for you, but you have taken that opportunity away from another guest who might have been told "no tables for tonight's dining" because you made a reservation that you didn't keep.

I'm not advocating two reservations at 180 days....I mean I stop by my concierge desk at 5pm, explain the situation - and swap my 7pm for a 6pm reservation.

I also used the specific examples for a reason. Teppan Edo is usually full, while Shutters is not. The table I'm requesting at Shutters would not have been filled, otherwise it would have been empty. Meanwhile, odds are pretty good, that a walk up guest will ask for my former table at Teppan Edo. In that case, Disney has no business charging me for my last minute cancelation, since they were able to now fill both tables and otherwise they would have only filled one.

Again, this is if the new policy includes cancelations under 24 hours.

Disney is Disney. It all goes into one pot at the end of the day. I'm positive, shareholders don't care where on property I dine - only that I dine on property.

As for the day DH cut his foot, I don't recall every detail of the conversation, but I know I did not specifically demand a refund of the dinner show money. I did ask lots of 'what can we do now?' kinds of questions, and no refund or compensation was ever offered by the manager. The man even hemmed and hawed over giving us a baggie of ice. I remember thinking mayb ehe was worried about liability,as that seemed the only explanation for his utter lack of sympathy. Clearly, the injury happened on his front sidewalk.

One nurse at HS's first aid station WAS especially kind the day after the cut.
Most Dinsey employees are great. Indeed, all the other staff at that resort were outstanding, including everyone we met before the accident.

I also brought up the example of our dog dying because of all the things that have gone wrong on various visits to WDW, that was a particularly sensitive one.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I had no problem finding a new doctor I like better, who has reasonable policies, and is less arrogant. (The policy I faced was also not a 'no show/no call' policy - it was 'you will get charged if you are more then 15minutes late' charge.)

I don't consider my time less valueable than the doctors, or Disney's.

Doctors and Disney have no business holding me - the customer -to a higher standard than they maintain. Disney makes me wait PLENTY.

If I have to regularly wait OVER AN HOUR to get a bus back to my resort, and they expect me to be flexible and patient with their mediocre system- then they can be flexible too.

It strikes me as odd that you find arrogance in a DR charging a cancel fee, but don't seem to see any in leaving a table empty or having a part in another family unable to secure a reservation.

It seems that this new policy is just not going to work out for you.

Personally....I hope it does exactly what it's meant to do.......free up reservations for people who want them and intend to keep them.

And while we all know that there are extenuating circumstances....I'm not sure I agree with rain being one of them.

I'm also glad that you found a DR with no cancellation policy who doesn't keep you waiting. You are very lucky.

 

[k5jm]

Kevin, I hope you are not holding all your eggs in one hand

and I found the Queen's eggs

 

[slapwhitey]

Definitely a step in the right direction. I've been looking for something like this for a long time. I'm sure I won't be too pleased the first time it happens to me but on the other hand then I will most likely only be making ADR's that I really want to keep.

Great start.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I also used the specific examples for a reason. Teppan Edo is usually full, while Shutters is not. The table I'm requesting at Shutters would not have been filled, otherwise it would have been empty. Meanwhile, odds are pretty good, that a walk up guest will ask for my former table at Teppan Edo. In that case, Disney has no business charging me for my last minute cancelation, since they were able to now fill both tables and otherwise they would have only filled one.

Again, this is if the new policy includes cancelations under 24 hours.

Disney is Disney. It all goes into one pot at the end of the day. I'm positive, shareholders don't care where on property I dine - only that I dine on property.

These are assumptions and not facts and the fact that Disney has instituted a policy penalizing guests who do as you have described leads me to believe it's bigger issue than you think it is.

As I've explained, each restaurant is responsible for it's own budget, food costs, scheduling, profits etc. Each manager is responsible for answering why his dollar per seat percentage has gone down.

Again, it seems that this new policy is probably not going to suit you.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm not sure that people understand that only a few restaurants will be subject to this policy. At least for now. There is still plenty of opportunity for folks to make multiple ADR's.

This will only affect the high $ places. Which should tell you something right there.

 

[FireDancer]

I am 100% for this. I make very few ADRs because I think it is ridiculous to try and determine not only when you will be hungry 90 or 180 days out but what you will be hungry for and where you will be at the time you are hungry. I wait until I am hungry and decide where I want to eat based on what I have a taste for and I think this will help free up walk-ups.

If you are going to make a reservation you still have a day to cancel and once you are in that 24 hour period it is up to you to make sure you get to where you have promised to be.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I'm not sure that people understand that only a few restaurants will be subject to this policy. At least for now. There is still plenty of opportunity for folks to make multiple ADR's.

This will only affect the high $ places. Which should tell you something right there.

But you don't see posts complaining that a lack of available reservations at Olivia's is going to ruin anyone's vacation.

Disney is targeting those "must have" restaurants

 

[DVC Kathy]

I'm not looking forward to dealing with the new policy, but I've seen way too many empty restaurants that don't have any available reservations.

DH and I have been making fewer ADRs each trip, but we have a rental car and don't use the dining plan. I'm guessing we'll ratchet back to 3 or 4 ADRs over an 8 night stay, and just go with the flow for the rest.

Disney is doing what they need to do, and so will we. If we're not willing to take a $20 risk, we won't make an ADR. Luckily there are only the two of us, so the risk isn't bad for us.

I hope this makes restaurants more available for everyone.

Kathy

 

[mjp12831]

people talk about doing this right here on the boards.......if you confront them they get all up in your face about how it is thier business how many ressies they make and they dont care about others..........it is right up there with the table saving and line cutting......its ok till it happens to them

This is a huge issue of mine as well, this new policy may make this less frequent.

There is even a ADR cancellation thread where people think they are doing you a favor by posting the ADR's they cancelled - many of these people are guilty of making multiple adr's on the same day because they admit it or they post that they cancelled two adr's on the same day.

I wish there was a way to prevent the multiple adr, but in lieu of that at least this may cause people to pause when trying to double book.

 

[FireDancer]

I wish there was a way to prevent the multiple adr, but in lieu of that at least this may cause people to pause when trying to double book.

Personally, I would limit ADRs to 7 days out but that's just me. I find it ridiculous to micro-manage your vacation to the point where you are deciding half a year in advance where you are going to eat. On the vast majority of days I don't know what park I am going to until I wake up that morning so there is no way in heck I'll know where I will eat. I travel quite a bit and no where else would I make a reservation that far out, why would I do it at Disney?