New credit card guarantees. Restaurant list, policy & common questions in 1st post

[TDC Nala]

Except that MOST of the desirable character meals are indeed buffets.

ALL character meals are buffet, family style or fixed price. So the full price must be paid at any of them, no matter how much the guest intends to eat (or not to eat).

 

[TDC Nala]

So what if I book 15 ppl and lets say at the last minute one person cant go. If I show up with 14 do you still have to pay the $10?

One poster called Disney Dining after the announcement was made and was told that any party member who didn't show up was to be issued the no-show fee. This is just what Disney Dining told one person. That information is in the first post.

Good because the other family that we are going with doesnt know if her mother is going til last minute and I dont want that to kill our ADR's. I still wanna book at 180 days-not wait til she makes her descision. After the first time they are at Disney, they will understand why u need to plan everything far in advance!

You can still book. If the above is true, though, you will have to remove her mother from the reservation no later than 24 hours prior. So the only way it really affects you is if you are not told until within a day of the reservation whether or not her mother is coming.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Just a note: not everyone can split up. I'm a single parent with 2 children. If one person can't move, nobody moves. Heck at their current ages, if I have to go to the ice machine everyone goes.

I do everything I can. I don't book breakfasts the day after I plan to see fireworks. I book dinners at my children's regular meal time. Even though she was fine at bedtime, dd tossed her cookies at 1am. When she threw up again at 3am, I paid for internet and logged in and cancelled my breakfast reservation at 4am once I got her settled since I had my laptop. The breakfast was at 9am. I know they could not fill the table with a walk-up at 9, but probably could by 9:30, or someone else with a laptop could have logged on at 6am and gotten it, so I feel that was plenty of time. It also happened to be the only day of the trip we had two reservations. I ended up cancelling the dinner as well, also 5 hours ahead. Now not only would I be out 2TS credits, I'd also be out $60.

Oh well, 7 or 8 of the 9 I want (6 of which are at the request of my dd) for our next trip are on the list. My only recourse will be to avoid booking more than one of these restaurants on a given day. At least then if we lose a day, it's only 1TS credit and $30 lost instead of 2 or 3 and $60 or $90.

 

[Mkrop]

I quoted you, although my post isn't just directed to your point.
As a guest:

1. Disney no longer has an reason to overbook. I'll complain, and expect compensation, if I have to wait more then 10 minutes. You don't have to wait at the Lua. Disney books as many people as it has seats for each showing.
2. I'll now blame Disney, not the parents, for screaming kids. Again I'll be complaining and looking for compensation if I'm bothered by a screaming kid.

I don't know in what world posters live in but in my world a store doesn't typically charge a customer who accidentally breaks something in the store. Goodwill. The cost of doing business. In my world a company helps a customer who breaks a part in assembling an item. Generally offers a replacement part. Sometimes only charging for shipping but usually no charge. Assemble furniture and you'll find an 800 number. Call and they don't care if the part is missing, if you lost it or broke it. They'll send you what you need. They want a satisfied customer.

People are on vacation. Sleep late. Lines longer then anticipated. Not feeling well. Soaking wet from rain. Stinky sweaty from the heat. Reasons not to dine. Most companies wouldn't look at those guests as a new revenue source but want them to enjoy their vacation.

People want ideas. Allocate a % for walk ups. That will offer an option to people who don't want to make plans 6 months out. More importantly it will ensure a pool of "standby diners". Hold an ADR for 10-15 minutes then release it. The only issue might be park restaurants, prior to park opening.

Many people are wondering how Disney will replace a missing diner for breakfast. The current price (Cape May) is $29 A, $16 C and free under 3. The cancellation fee for a family of 4 (2A1C1free) is $40, more then half the cost of the meal. In my world that's an excessive penalty, particularly if there is as shot the restaurant will be able to fill the table with another guest. Take the opposite case. Slow time of year. Restaurant is half empty. The guest who didn't show didn't cost Disney additional revenue.

Too many guests are no-show.

Is the problem with the guests? Silly guests who don't want do dine soaking wet. Sweaty and smelly. Screaming kids. Guests who decided to allow 45-60 minutes rather then the 90 minutes Disney is now suggesting for transportation.

OR

Is the problem with Disney thinking it's appropriate for guests to commit to a real reservation for these kinds of meals?

If Disney can't project a "no-show", and overbook accordingly, then maybe Disney shouldn't be taking reservations. Restaurants like Outback don't generally take reservations. They might let you call ahead and put your name on a list.

Southwest gives "no show" passengers a 100% credit.

Excellent post

 

[Colleen27]

LOL......I said the exact same 2 things a few pages back. Someone will complain regardless of the amount of time prior the cancellation has to be made.

With the exception of a party of 2 or 3, I don't understand not sending the rest of the party to the ADR while the sick child & parent or just the adult stays back at the resort.

Of course someone will have a complaint regardless of the policy, but that doesn't address why a shorter window wouldn't accomplish the same goals.

Personally I think it would be logical to base it not on time but on the start of the meal period - three hours before an 8pm dinner is still within the dinner period which might make it less likely that the slot would be filled, particularly if it is still the case that restaurants get a final ADR list in advance of the seating (I've heard that's changed with the new system but I'm not sure). But if dinner ADRs have to be cancelled before dinner seating begins, the restaurant would know how many vacancies they have and would be able to accept a limited number of walk-ups to fill them.

As far as cancelling a meal rather than going as a partial party, sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. When I was sick DH took the kids to the park and kept our reservation at Brown Derby, just one short. But when DS got sick in the middle of the night no one in the family slept and getting to the park in time for breakfast the next day just wasn't happening (and bad luck - that was the morning of one of only two breakfast ADRs we had all week). And for my family, character meals are mostly for DD3 so if she's not going to be there no one really wants to go - we don't like buffets and the big kids (10 & 13) aren't into characters, so it is a waste if the baby is too sick to attend.

 

[Lewisc]

Of course someone will have a complaint regardless of the policy, but that doesn't address why a shorter window wouldn't accomplish the same goals.

Maybe the real goal is to generate revenue. To pay part of the cost of the online reservation system. Maybe Disney doesn't think it should be losing meal revenue just because driving rains is sending guests back to their resorts, or staying in their resorts, rather "enjoying" a character meal soaking wet.

In my world I can call a restaurant, any time--even after my reservation, and tell them someone in my family isn't feeling well. In my world the employee will say something like Thanks for calling. Hope you'll be able to dine with us after she's feeling better. In the world of some of the posters the CM will be asking for a copy of an ER bill or will be charging us.

 

[tley]

I think folks are getting tied up in knots for nothing...if you look at the list on the 1st post, it has the Signature restaurants and character dining. I'm not sure about others, but I don't normally load my ADRs with many multiples of the above...maybe one or two.

I like this change, but don't think it'll have an effect on the rest of the locations that aren't included in the list. Disney is taking steps to weed out the multiple reservation problem and I'm sure we'll be at a point soon when the baddies will have their day and the rest of us will enjoy the timeslots they've been hoarding

Another poster speculated that they won't charge you if you call to cancel, but are trying to focus the attention on no-shows. I think the price to no-show should be higher (pending a justifiable reason from the person who made the booking) to further discourage this kind of behaviour.

 

[dismommom]

Another scenario has come to my mind. What if the guest wants to change to a new reservation? While I have never personally done this, I would think it would be somewhat commonplace and I'm wondering what the response would be on Disney's part.

Example 1: The Incredible family is staying at POR. (With free dining to make this easier) They have an ADR that evening at Chef Mickey's. They decide (for whatever reason, you decide) that it would be better for their family if they stay at their resort. Boatright's is able to fit them in. Their resort concierge is able to cancel their CM's ADR WITHOUT penalty and they eat at Boatright's that evening. Meanwhile, the Darling family, who has been trying unsuccessfully to get an ADR at CM's suddenly finds that their luck has changed and they are now in having scored the Incredible's canceled ADR.

The winners in this scenario:
1) The Incredible family
2) The Darling family
3) Disney - they still get their CM's $ plus they get the additional Boatright's revenue

Example 2: Same background as above, only this time, the resort concierge tells the Incredible family that there will be a $50 cancellation charge. Since they are on a tight budget, they keep the ADR in the hopes that they will be able to make it. But, they end up not being able to make it and eat their garden grocer food in the room. Upset at the loss of the $, they don't call and cancel.

The winners in this scenario:
Nobody - You could argue that Disney wins, but they really don't since they could have made more $ the other way.

Another scenario:
Your reservation for O'Hana is at 7 IT ends up your hungry early and go to O'hana when they open at 5. They can fit you in. Will you be charged for the 7 pm reservation?

Yet another scenario:
You have a 7 o'clock for O'Hana with little children. Show up at 6:30 and ar told there is over an hour wait. Little ones are cranky and starving. Since O'Hana overbokked will you still be charged if you decide to forgo and CS?

Just wondering when we'll get the fine tuned details

 

[Mkrop]

I know that someone said before that new vistors will just accept this new policy but once again I think if they wind up cancelling due to life getting in the way, like wet kids or sick or too tired etc., that is going to leave a sour taste in their mouth.

I already hear people coming back underestimating the size, the heat, transportation etc. I have people say they are never going back etc. I think if a first timer (even with the policy fully explained at the time of booking) is told they cant cancel without a $40 fee bc Susie woke up at 8am with a fever and they are not allowed to cancel a 1pm ADR at CP, that is going to tick them off and they might not want to come back.

 

[Mkrop]

Maybe the real goal is to generate revenue. To pay part of the cost of the online reservation system. Maybe Disney doesn't think it should be losing meal revenue just because driving rains is sending guests back to their resorts, or staying in their resorts, rather "enjoying" a character meal soaking wet.

In my world I can call a restaurant, any time--even after my reservation, and tell them someone in my family isn't feeling well. In my world the employee will say something like Thanks for calling. Hope you'll be able to dine with us after she's feeling better. In the world of some of the posters the CM will be asking for a copy of an ER bill or will be charging us.

No you MUST now buy rain ponchos and stand out there at the bus stop in the pouring rain with no cover at ASSp, so you can get to Tusker House and walk through puddles up to your ankles... or you will coughing up some cash how dare you want to stay dry!

I agree with you this is going to get ridiculous

And to other poster, when my kids were little we scheduled a TS meal at least once a day. Most were character meals bc no way DH was standing in line, so yes those fees could add up quickly.

 

[dismommom]

One poster called Disney Dining after the announcement was made and was told that any party member who didn't show up was to be issued the no-show fee. This is just what Disney Dining told one person. That information is in the first post.



You can still book. If the above is true, though, you will have to remove her mother from the reservation no later than 24 hours prior. So the only way it really affects you is if you are not told until within a day of the reservation whether or not her mother is coming.

If this is true it would be lovely. I thought if you canceled one person you cancelled the group and had to hope there was an opening for the smaller group. We have a person in our group that doesn't eat often. It would be great if we could cancel that one person a day ahead (but 6 - 3 hours would really make me happy) and not lose our ADR

 

[TDC Nala]

If you were to add a person it would mean cancelling and rebooking.

Not so sure about removing a person. I have seen a lot of persons talk about being able to remove someone. But you must do it by phone. To do it by internet would mean cancelling and rebooking.

 

[NLD]

You know, I really hope they get their online ADR system straight before rolling this thing out.

Earlier this month I got FOUR emails after booking a Whispering Canyon breakfast. Three of the emails had as subject lines "Walt Disney World Dining Reservation Cancelled." All three of the emails then proceeded to tell me my reservation at Whispering Canyon was CONFIRMED.

The fourth email actually had the correct subject header and also confirmed the dining reservation.



So then today, I log in to the website to look again at the ADRs. Whoa, what's that? Tokyo Dining? I didn't book Tokyo Dining, I booked Teppan Edo.

So I comb through emails and sure enough, there's a confirmation email for Teppan Edo. And then there's also a cancellation for Teppan Edo and a confirmation for Tokyo Dining.

It's certainly possible I accidentally did this... it's the most reasonable explanation, after all. (But it's WEIRD because at no time--none--was I playing that evening Epcot reservation, and not ONCE did I consider Tokyo Dining--always wanted Teppan Edo. And I doublecheck the page with the confirmation number on it, and everything, because I copy and paste info straight from there into my planning spreadsheet. And my planning sheet says Teppan Edo too.) <---Despite that though I do think it's got to be some error on my part...

But anyway. Point is... the online ADR system is not great. Sending me four emails about one ADR--three of them with the wrong subject header?

And even in cases where it IS the guest's fault and the book the wrong dinner, thinking they booked something different--UGH! People who accidentally book Chef Mickey's when they meant to book Crystal Palace, and then show up at Crystal Palace... will be charged a no-show fee for Chef Mickey's?

And okay, you can say tough luck in the case of online ADRs--customer's mistake, they pay price. What about when a phone CM makes a mistake? (There's a thread not too far down about exactly that.)

The whole system is just so buggy and IMO untrustworthy--can't believe they're now going to add cc-holds on top of that.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Wow, 30 pages before someone brought up those who go to WDW with health issues.

I'm sure there are lots of folks who go to WDW with somewhat frail health. DIsney has always been good to folks with health issues. Is Disney now going to ban thoe folks with health issues from making ADR's (i.e. if they rack up too many cancelations?)

I've been many times with two seniors (okay, they weren't always seniors). Sometimes they wake up in pain. Sometimes a hip acts up inthe middle of the day. Even witha scooter, the prospect of getting from your resort to halfway across property is kind of daunting. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, Disney doesn't usually lose a dime. We SWAP ADR's for something closer to our resort.

Conversely, having to explain this - even once - is degrading. I'm sure some folks have no problem telling WDW all abbout their health issues to get the disability card at WDW, but not everyone feels that way. Another family member has severe food allergies. Simply put, people with food allregies seriously do everythign they can to avoid getting a reaction. It isn't always possible - even at WDW. Sticking it to guests who are ill seems like REALLY BAD POLICY.

The other thing that's kind of thowing me off....the dining plan. If you have the dining plan - you kind of HAVE to book an ADR each day. IF you have deluxe DDP, then you really have to book multiple reservations (WAY too much food for us!)

I can't see how Disney is going to come out ahead with this plan.

Surely many folks, like us, will rethink making dining plans for every day. That means no more DDP. It might also mean no more club level - as help getting ADR's is one of the perks of club level. Indeed, the dining plan is a big part of why we choose to stay onsite. Hmm...I'm betting this is going to be HUGE boost for the Swan/Dolphin, and ohter nearby offsite places. Before the DDP, we usually stayed there. (or a place like the Mariott World Center)

I also think locals are a big part of WDW customer base, and that this is going to hurt that part of their business. I'm sure lots of them have TiW and AP's and are currently willing to come to WDW just for dinner. The locals I know have done this. I just don't see local folks coming to WDW for dinner and risking the $20+ when they could eat offsite for much less and no fee, at least not nearly as frequently.

Further, even if some of you love this policy - lots of folks don't. It makes little sense to implement such an unpopular policy when the economy is so bad. I just don't see how this is going to BUILD customer support.

OH, and this past spring: TWICE during a week long visit we waited more than an hour past our ADR time (even thoughwe showed up early). We also had multiple incorrect charges on our bill. I have lots of experience with WDW putting incorrect charges on our bill.

 

[MSLRAC]

I think folks are getting tied up in knots for nothing...if you look at the list on the 1st post, it has the Signature restaurants and character dining. I'm not sure about others, but I don't normally load my ADRs with many multiples of the above...maybe one or two.

But some people do especially if they prefer the DxDP. If I look at my list of what we had planned for our next trip, we had 14 character or signature meals out of 21 meals total. So over half of our meals would have a cc linked to them. So just because this new policy would not effect everyone, it does effect many of us and it could end up being quite costly in the event of illness, accident or whatever else might cause a change in plans.

 

[Cafeen]

So what if I book 15 ppl and lets say at the last minute one person cant go. If I show up with 14 do you still have to pay the $10?

It's been responded to later on, but according to the CMs, yes, you will be charged for that one person.

Just like with Cali Grill, as long as most of your party is there, they wont charge. Its only 1 person, i really dont think they'd charge you the $10. I think that applies only if your ENTIRE party is a no show (just like at Cali Grill as i had mentioned).

And this is where part of the problem lies with the partial party situation. Under the current policy, it is a game of CM roulette if you get charged or not. We've seen it for BOTH CG and Akershus (the only 2 guaranteed reservations right now). Partial parties being charged, and not charged. If they can straighten this out, either way, it would be a bonus. I have doubts though.

I think this is one of those things where no matter how many hours in advance Disney sets the cut-off time for, someone will not be happy. Say it was 7 hours, as sure as I am typing this someone would post "Hey, why is the cut-off time 7 hours? Why not something that makes sense like 4 hours?"

I still don't understand why everyone has to cancel if one person is sick. Are we the only family who splits up ever? I can't imagine making a whole family miss a character meal becasue one person was ill.

It's the process of balancing customer satisfaction and service with what their desired intent is. Right now, it seems to lean way too far to one side. A 3hr window, while not perfect for everyone, would help more customers out and still be reasonable for Disney to replace that person's ADR.

I think folks are getting tied up in knots for nothing...if you look at the list on the 1st post, it has the Signature restaurants and character dining. I'm not sure about others, but I don't normally load my ADRs with many multiples of the above...maybe one or two.

Except, many people do. A typical DxDDP itinerary is full of Signatures and other 2 credit events, as doing 3 meals a day is rough for the majority. Also, there are MANY instances of people doing several character meals per trip as well. We see it all the time on these boards, and I'd suggest that us on the boards aren't the only ones doing it.

Just because your planning happens to not include them, doesn't mean there aren't many others who do include several signatures and/or character meals per trip.

I like this change, but don't think it'll have an effect on the rest of the locations that aren't included in the list. Disney is taking steps to weed out the multiple reservation problem and I'm sure we'll be at a point soon when the baddies will have their day and the rest of us will enjoy the timeslots they've been hoarding

Another poster speculated that they won't charge you if you call to cancel, but are trying to focus the attention on no-shows. I think the price to no-show should be higher (pending a justifiable reason from the person who made the booking) to further discourage this kind of behaviour.

The thing is, it will have an effect on reservations not in the list. They WILL be tougher to get. Those who aren't willing to put a CC down for half (or more) of their meals will now have to book these other locations, draining the pool of available ADRs from them (and some of which are already pretty low, Teppan Edo for example).

The second effect is that the hoarders will not be stopped, merely slightly inconvenienced. They will be the ones canceling (or doing other not-so-kosher methods) to avoid the fees at the last minute (in this case "full day" out). Unless you plan your trip one day at a time the day before you go to that particular park, you're unlikely to see a massive increase in available ADRs.

They will charge for No Shows and late cancellations. They do now for the 2 guaranteed reservations, why would they change it?

You know, I really hope they get their online ADR system straight before rolling this thing out.

I quoted this just to get the multiquotes into the reply, but this is a huge point. The ADR system is kinda wonky right now, with cancellations not working right and a severe disconnect between the Disney Dining CMs and how it actually works. Now that we have money tied to two entire categories of dining, this will only be worse. Before, it was a risk for 7 basic reservations and a few special events that someone may pull one or two of their entire trip. Now it's possible that someone could touch one of the affected reservations every single day of their trip.

---
There was a quote I forgot to grab, but it was about Disney still losing out if someone cancels "late" or no shows.

The thing with that is, if I cancel 3 hours ahead of time, that's plenty of time for Disney to add a walk-up to take my reservation. So now, at 6pm, we see x number of slots due to said cancellations and they know they can fit y number of walk-ups in that place. For every walk-up they add (or late ADR if made through the system) under the prospective policy, they are now gaining my $10pp plus that new party's bill. Maybe they'd waive the fee if they fill my spot right? Since many think that it's all about the restaurants making up for some lost income?

 

[maxiesmom]

I dunno, I think it is hard to claim that customer satisfaction will not be good when this hasn't even had time to fly yet. Don't forget that for all of our thoughts on the subject, Disers are actually a very small percenage of the people that go to WDW. Maybe this whole thing will crash and burn once put into practice for a few months. Maybe things will work out great. Hard telling. But we sure can't claim that this idea is too one sided as of now. To do so is only opinion, and not even a majority opinion.

 

[TDC Nala]

Just because your planning happens to not include them, doesn't mean there aren't many others who do include several signatures and/or character meals per trip.

There was some speculation awhile back that Disney may be trying to discourage this. I know there are a lot of dining plan users who load up on these two types of meals, because character meals are a good deal on the basic plan and signature meals are a good deal on the deluxe plan. (And sometimes they get tired of all this food - and decide they're not going to show up for one or more of the meals they booked.)

Maybe Disney intends as part of this policy to nudge the users of the dining plan into cutting down on the number of character and signature meals (and ultrapopular meals like Le Cellier lunch and 'Ohana dinner) and booking something else that isn't quite so popular - or isn't as good a deal.

I'm sure lots of them have TiW and AP's and are currently willing to come to WDW just for dinner. The locals I know have done this. I just don't see local folks coming to WDW for dinner and risking the $20+ when they could eat offsite for much less and no fee, at least not nearly as frequently.

They will still come. But they will either pick restaurants that aren't on the list (Sanaa is a favorite of some of my local friends, no risking money there), or book the ones on the list at the last minute - when they know they'll be coming.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Wow, 30 pages before someone brought up those who go to WDW with health issues.

I'm sure there are lots of folks who go to WDW with somewhat frail health. DIsney has always been good to folks with health issues. Is Disney now going to ban thoe folks with health issues from making ADR's (i.e. if they rack up too many cancelations?)

I've been many times with two seniors (okay, they weren't always seniors). Sometimes they wake up in pain. Sometimes a hip acts up inthe middle of the day. Even witha scooter, the prospect of getting from your resort to halfway across property is kind of daunting. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, Disney doesn't usually lose a dime. We SWAP ADR's for something closer to our resort.

Conversely, having to explain this - even once - is degrading. I'm sure some folks have no problem telling WDW all abbout their health issues to get the disability card at WDW, but not everyone feels that way. Another family member has severe food allergies. Simply put, people with food allregies seriously do everythign they can to avoid getting a reaction. It isn't always possible - even at WDW. Sticking it to guests who are ill seems like REALLY BAD POLICY.

This policy definitely has potential to hurt those who are most vulnerable in our society. While I am definitely grateful for my own families health (and as I've said before, this policy shouldn't have much impact on my particular family) it could be a huge issue for those who deal with day to day limitations that most of us are fortunate enough to not deal with. This new policy is potentially a lawsuit waiting to happen, IMO.

 

[Colleen27]

I think folks are getting tied up in knots for nothing...if you look at the list on the 1st post, it has the Signature restaurants and character dining. I'm not sure about others, but I don't normally load my ADRs with many multiples of the above...maybe one or two.

Well, with the DxDDP loading the itinerary with signatures is pretty common. We have one almost every night; Epcot days are really the only time we book one-credit dinners. So between a signature dinner 5 nights out of 7 and one or two character breakfasts/lunches for our toddler, our itinerary has FAR more cancellation fee meals than not. I'm still fine-tuning our Jan plan but right now 10 of our 16 ADRs are on that list.