New ADR Cancelation Policy

[john1928]

If the "non-uber planner" that you mention, is concerned enough about a cancellation fee to not book a reservation, than this new policy is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. It is keeping people from making frivolous or duplicate dining reservations that aren't sure they are going to use.

In my mind the risk to Disney isn't at the time time of ADR placement, it's at the time of DDP selection. Right now with some work the DDP can be a moderate "value" (compared to Disney list prices). The real world evaluation seems to show it as a push bet at best on average (and this makes sense as there is no incentive for Disney to offer it otherwise).

That DDP buy-in is a large chunk of incremental revenue (or discount avoidance) for Disney. If the ease of making same-day/walk-up reservations really does improve then this may be a net positive.

However, it's very well demonstrated that people are far more adverse to the risk of loss than they are drawn to acquiring gains. The psychological math that goes into win/lose thinking isn't rational. People who were weighing potential gains (savings from list costs) vs. limmited flexibility, and now a penalty may opt to keep their money in their pocket until it's time to eat. We KNOW most of the time this means they will spend less with Disney.

Will filling previously full tables with short-term reservations offset that difference? Maybe. Disney must think so, they must have plenty of stats folks.

Of course it also means they're leaving money on the table. They just need to decide if it's worth going after by increasing capacity, managing their walk-up (non-reserved)capacity, releasing dining slots incrementally instead of all at 180 days, breaking out the DDP ADR pool from general ADRs (this makes it trivially easy to limit multi-booking or offer a single "vacation-your-way" penalty exception), and so forth.

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[Sammie]

I am all for it, surprised it did not happen sooner and Kevin has bascially very articulately stated how I feel about it, to the tee.

Disney changes policy for two reasons, money or overwhelming guest complaints which basically is money.

Be thinks those that have been guilty protest too much.

If I have a major emergency, a $10 dollar no show fee is not going to be even thought of.

The other reasons listed why this won't work, sound more like excuses.

 

[ConnieB]

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.

Yes, the sad part is that this MAY free up reservations at those expensive places but as someone who tends to only do one or two of those in a several week long visit (we can afford to go for long periods because we budget our food costs if we don't have free dining). Now the ones that are into multiple reservations are going to be taking a step down to the moderate priced places....and those are going to be more difficult to come by.

I wish there was a definite way to ensure that each person only had one account with Disney. Unfortunately, as with the multiple email users there are families with multiple credit cards that can still make multiple reservations. The good news that this may mean we can all try for those hard to get reservations at 23 hours out and there may be availabity, lol.

 

[Sammie]

Yes, the sad part is that this MAY free up reservations at those expensive places but as someone who tends to only do one or two of those in a several week long visit (we can afford to go for long periods because we budget our food costs if we don't have free dining). Now the ones that are into multiple reservations are going to be taking a step down to the moderate priced places....and those are going to be more difficult to come by.

I wish there was a definite way to ensure that each person only had one account with Disney. Unfortunately, as with the multiple email users there are families with multiple credit cards that can still make multiple reservations. The good news that this may mean we can all try for those hard to get reservations at 23 hours out and there may be availabity, lol.

Actually with the new LILO systems there is a way to stop this, I am not giving out the inside info though as then someone will come up with a way to circumvent it.

I personally just think Disney is finally getting to the point that letting guests walk over them in many ways because of their good nature is going to end.
For one thing when a guest does this, it not only affects Disney, it affects others guests as well and I think those guests are tired of it and letting it be known.

 

[ConnieB]

I think it should probably be $15 per guest at casual sit down, $25 at signature and $35 at high end. I also think it should apply to all reservations, it might make getting dining reservations easier.

I think this would prove to be more of a deterrent to people just making multiple reservations and not canceling.

For those wondering what happens if you get sick, we almost had this issue with CRT, they assured us that if we couldn't make it, we would not be charged. From what we were told, they have the same policy for transportation issues and for things like not being let in the parks because they are too full. In other words, they will make reasonable exceptions to charging you. Now I am sure if they started finding a pattern of you doing it all the time, they would have a different attitude about it, but all in all, I think they will be reasonable.

Well, I guess that means the incidence of "my child is sick" are going to increase a great deal, lol. At some point Disney is going to have to get more strict about this too, which means those that DO actually have an illness or an accident are going to be on the losing side. Me, I'll tell the manager to feel free to come over and hold my child's head while they barf, lol.

I'm feeling like this is akin to those that use a scooter when they don't need it....makes things bad for those that truly need it, even if their need is not visible to the bystander. Anyone have a link to the chick standing on the scooter watching a stage show and be-bopping while standing on that scooter? It's a classic.

I think Disney needs to upgrade their computer system to catch instances of duplicate reservations held with credit cards. While my husband and I have several cards between us, there are all in either his name or mine, so we could only do two reservations at most if Disney could trace reservations by the name on the card. Although it would seem that common names would trigger this incorrectly, there is only one John Smith living at 123 Main Street....and the credit authorization process includes the billing address, so it IS possible to coorelate these....but it takes a new technology to do so. Places like Living Social and Groupon apparently have this based on the complaints on boards about not being able to do multiple purchases with the same name on a credit card, lol.

This won't solve it completely....but it would at least limit the average family to two reservations. Unless you can convince your parents, inlaws, etc to get in on the scam too. Sadly, there may be families that this wouldn't even cause a blink in the eye. Me...I'd never give my family my credit card number any more than I would give it to any of you, lol. But, then I have zero balances on my cards...most of my family just get a new card when they run out of credit, lol.

 

[ConnieB]

My daughter is reading over my shoulder and came up with a solution. Stop taking reservations. Popular local restaurants don't take reservations because they know they're popular enough to always have a line out the door. Even places like Olive Garden are this way on the weekends.

Then everyone could decide when to eat and where based on their stomach growling and then looking to see what's nearby.

Yeah....she's a dreamer. But wouldn't that be nice?

Of course, now that I think of it, they'd have to do Fast Passes for some places because a 2 hour wait for dinner is just as ridiculous as 2 hours to see Star Tours.

 

[schoen]

I am annoyed by this because it is creating more work and more thinking while I am on vacation. I don't want to spend my days agonizing over what we think we'll be doing tomorrow, and wondering if we'll feel like the dinner we have scheduled. I am annoyed that if I DO determine that I don't want to keep an ADR I will have to spend time on my phone in a park (likely) rather than in the comfort and quiet of my room in the AM.

I always cancel ADRs if I am not going to use them, but I don't always do it exactly 24 hours ahead of time. I often do the morning of. We wake up and plan out our day, and decide what to do.

This policy is just making me spend more time on my vacation scheduling, which is precisely what I DON'T want to do on vacation. We do tend to generally stick to our plans, but there is comfort in knowing we can change them if we feel like it.

Also, I am with everyone on the rain thing. I am SO not going to get drenched in order to pay $100 for crappy food! I would likely just pay the fee, since it is just my husband and myself.

Oh well :-(

 

[ConnieB]

I don't know why Disney didn't think of this before. Instead of charging $10 for missing an ADR, guests will be forced to eat all remaining meals at Shutters.

Honestly, instead of being forced to pay $10, I'd rather be banned from those restaurants for a decade.

Now THIS I like. Except that people would then assume fake identies.

Actually, how about this.....charge people $50 for a special number that they need to put into the system to make all there reservations. If you show up for all your reservations, we'll refund the $50. If you cancel more than a certain percentage we're going to keep that $50. This will stop the multiple email/multiple credit card folks if it costs them a deposit to make reservations and then cancelling too many means they lose that $50, lol. But, it also means that the person who doesn't want to go to ONE meal because of illness or rain or a sore toe, whatever, one miss isn't enough to keep your deposit. Because those that are experts at mutliple reservations also noshow or cancel multiple and I'm sure if someone took the time to look at those (i.e. said expert calls and complains about not getting $$ back) it's obvious they're serial reservationists......or more likely they're not going to call because they know they've been beat!

 

[ConnieB]

I don't know why Disney didn't think of this before. Instead of charging $10 for missing an ADR, guests will be forced to eat all remaining meals at Shutters.

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Or Nine Dragons.

 

[2Epcot]

Hey! We like Nine Dragons. You know why? Because we don't need an ADR to eat there.

 

[mkymouse40]

I just tried clicking on the link for the list and it is gone. Does anyone have the list of which restaurants are included?

 

[jeanigor]

I just tried clicking on the link for the list and it is gone. Does anyone have the list of which restaurants are included?

Try the link to the blog post on page #2 by Webmaster Leah

 

[Sammie]

I just tried clicking on the link for the list and it is gone. Does anyone have the list of which restaurants are included?

Pre-Paid Locations

• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
• Mickey’s Backyard BBQ

Credit Card Guarantee Locations

• 1900 Park Fare
• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
• Artist Point
• California Grill
• Cape May Café
• Chef Mickey’s
• Cítricos
• The Crystal Palace
• Flying Fish Café
• The Garden Grill
• Hollywood & Vine
• Jiko – The Cooking Place
• Le Cellier Steakhouse
• Narcoossee’s
• ‘Ohana
• Tusker House Restaurant
• The Hollywood Brown Derby
• Victoria & Albert’s (cancellation policy is $25/per person)
• Yachtsman Steakhouse

 

[ConnieB]

Hey! We like Nine Dragons. You know why? Because we don't need an ADR to eat there.

Nope, just a very strong stomach and lots of TUMS. Ewwww. That was the only meal at Disney where I ever got up and walked out the food was absolutely inedible, disgusting. Told the manager why I was leaving and he didn't bat an eye.

Now...in this restaurant's defense, this was before it's big "remodel" so I hope they did something about the food, but the reviews are still awful so I'll never find out for myself, lol.

 

[dansyr2514]

I think this policy is a good idea. However, I think the window of time you have to cancel should be more like 2 hours prior. If people are aware of this, walk ups will still be able to get a table. If i were in MK for example, I would have no problem stopping in at crystal palace to see if anything is available later that day. It would also give those who had made an ADR a little more flexibility if something came up sorta last minute. I cancel ADR,s 99% of the time rather than not showing up but I'll be honest, it's not always 24 hours ahead of time. For example, we had an ADR at narcoossees. Dbf was taking a nap while I was getting ready to go. When he woke up, he was feeling nauseous. I re scheduled, but it was probably more within a 2 hr window. Alot of things can happen within 24 hrs. I do wish there was a more accurate way to stop people from making multiple ressies for the same time period.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I'm feeling like this is akin to those that use a scooter when they don't need it....makes things bad for those that truly need it, even if their need is not visible to the bystander. Anyone have a link to the chick standing on the scooter watching a stage show and be-bopping while standing on that scooter? It's a classic.

This infuriates me.

How in the heck do you (or anyone else)know who does and doesn't need a scooter?

You think the woman doesn't need scooter because she stood for a while?

Or danced?

Did you see her whole day?

Do you know if this was the only time she stood all day? all week? all month?

Do you know if she has a heart condition and that was her 20 minutes of joy for the day?

My Mom could get out of her wheel chair and walk for about 20 feet.

Had you seen her during that time, you might have decided she didn't need a scooter or wheel chair

What you didn't see was the heating pads and muscle relaxers and pain killers that were necessary to walk that 20 feet, but to her it was a major accomplishment.

It's none of anyone's freaking business why someone is using a scooter.

Judge not, lest be judged.

 

[WaltD4Me]

This infuriates me.

How in the heck do you (or anyone else)know who does and doesn't need a scooter?

You think the woman doesn't need scooter because she stood for a while?

Or danced?

Did you see her whole day?

Do you know if this was the only time she stood all day? all week? all month?

Do you know if she has a heart condition and that was her 20 minutes of joy for the day?

My Mom could get out of her wheel chair and walk for about 20 feet.

Had you seen her during that time, you might have decided she didn't need a scooter or wheel chair

What you didn't see was the heating pads and muscle relaxers and pain killers that were necessary to walk that 20 feet, but to her it was a major accomplishment.

It's none of anyone's freaking business why someone is using a scooter.

Judge not, lest be judged.

Exactly this. ^ Thank you.

 

[DisneyKevin]

ConnieB....

I just went back and read my post.

I'm sorry for blasting you. I apologize for that.

I do not apologize for the sentiment behind my post.

No one knows what another person is dealing with in life.

I have also asked this before and I will ask it again....

I defy anyone to go into a park and come back out and tell me how much easier it is using a scooter / wheelchair / ECV.

When judging whether someone is "scooter worthy".....ask yourself if your problems show. Is everything going on in your life visible to everyone else?

Can we see why you need to take the medications you take?

If the answers to these questions are no, then why does anyone think they know what problems anyone else is facing?

 

[2Epcot]

I totally agree with Kevin on this point. We took my parents to WDW a few years ago. They're both in their 70's and my mom just couldn't have even imagined coming if they didn't have scooters for her to rent to get around. She can walk but with her breathing problems and arthritis she never would have made it from the front gate of the parks to the first bench. We need to give people the benefit of the doubt.

 

[MelissaFromRI]

ConnieB....

I just went back and read my post.

I'm sorry for blasting you. I apologize for that.

I do not apologize for the sentiment behind my post.

No one knows what another person is dealing with in life.

I have also asked this before and I will ask it again....

I defy anyone to go into a park and come back out and tell me how much easier it is using a scooter / wheelchair / ECV.

When judging whether someone is "scooter worthy".....ask yourself if your problems show. Is everything going on in your life visible to everyone else?

Can we see why you need to take the medications you take?

If the answers to these questions are no, then why does anyone think they know what problems anyone else is facing?

I'm going to throw my 2 cents in on the scooter / wheelchair debate....

The day after Thanksgiving , I came down with a horribly painful swollen right foot. I went back and forth to doctors , getting tests and shots and ended up in a cast
Before I knew it , my December 2010 trip had rolled around. I wanted to cancel because I figured Disney in a wheelchair would for lack of a better term , SUCK !!! My family was looking forward to the vacation so we went.
I spent the WHOLE trip in a wheelchair. I had little independace outside my hotel room. I was stared at , jumped in front of , banged into , you name it. I would cry at the end of everyday.
Thank God , up until this vacation I was always able to walk around freely like a "normal" tourist. Boy did I get a nasty dose of reality
Being in Disney without your mobility is not fun or easy. It's limiting and embarrasing. The worst thing is the bus stop , where people suck their teeth and roll their eyes and make nasty comments because God forbid they have to wait for the busdriver to strap you in. Sometimes I wonder if people even realize how they act & how they make others feel
It is my opinion that nobody is in a scooter or a wheelchair for "fun" , because guess what , IT ISN'T FUN , IT STINKS !!!!
My foot has gotten a little better but is still not 100% and we're supposed to return to Disney in January. I'm already having anxiety about what I will do if I can't walk....my wheelchair trip was so horrible , I don't think I ever want to go through it again.
Please , next time you want to make fun of someone in Disney , STOP , be thankful #1 that you're alive & #2 that you're in Disney and simply MYOB