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

[pinkerbell]

again I am sorry, I was "late to the party" and have not read the entire thread, so this may have already been mentioned (but I am trying to get through it all) say someone now goes JUST to avoid the $10 charge but really doesnt want to. Maybe they only order a drink and a desert. they take up the table and the servers time and now disney and the server make less money. I'd rather get something for my $10 bucks than nothing. We once cancelled an ADR less than 24hrs because we ate too much during the W&F festival. If I was going to get charged anyway, I'd probably still go and do this. Of course this yr the lines were huge. We got a few things we didnt like (being from NewEngland we are lobster snobs and were not fond of the many lobster items we tried ) and were more than ready for our ADR!!! I try to be a responsible person, but throwing away $40 like so many are saying is not acceptable to me. a dollar is a dollar and has the same value wether it's 5, 50 or 100 all to be spent wisely!

Also, since disney is charging me for a no show, IF I SHOW and then take my table, do I have to order for everyone, say two are not hungry. I have not done this before because we are careful how we plan other meals, but again, I can see this happening. again, diseny losses.

What I'm saying is, People dont like to be forced into somthing, especially at a place that calls itself, The happiest place on earth, and is supposed to be child and family friendly. As others have pointed out, no warm fuzzy there is the potential for this policy to do some harm to their business. I stateed earlier the dining plan (since we first used it yrs ago) has lost much of it's apeal and value. Steps like this for our family at leat make those off property stays and trip to other park much more appealing. The kids are dying to do sea world. Less WDW dining opens up going off site, therefore staying offsite. We also hold an AP we'll need less days at Disney so scaling down our passes would be fine.... yup for families like ours, this could be a dealbreaker

 

[maxiesmom]

I would think that it would be at the buffets that you would be charged for everyone. They charge you for whoever is there, because the food is out, accessible, and they can't watch who is eating. And aren't most of the restaurants on the list buffets?

I mentioned this whole thing to my dad, who has been my travel partner to WDW a couple of times. He said to think of it this way: The money you lose by not making your ADR is not extra money. It is money you would be spending anyway. And you would really be spending more than that at the restaurant.

I can't think of anyone who likes to go around, throwing away $10 bills, for no reason. But I think in the overall scheme of a Disney vacation it is a rather small amount, but still one that people would notice if they had to give it up. Which is probably the point. Have a fee for missing ADRs that is small enough that it is pretty affordable, but large enough that people will think twice about losing it.

 

[miprender]

again I am sorry, I was "late to the party" and have not read the entire thread, so this may have already been mentioned (but I am trying to get through it all) say someone now goes JUST to avoid the $10 charge but really doesnt want to. Maybe they only order a drink and a desert. they take up the table and the servers time and now disney and the server make less money. I'd rather get something for my $10 bucks than nothing. We once cancelled an ADR less than 24hrs because we ate too much during the W&F festival. If I was going to get charged anyway, I'd probably still go and do this. Of course this yr the lines were huge. We got a few things we didnt like (being from NewEngland we are lobster snobs and were not fond of the many lobster items we tried ) and were more than ready for our ADR!!! I try to be a responsible person, but throwing away $40 like so many are saying is not acceptable to me. a dollar is a dollar and has the same value wether it's 5, 50 or 100 all to be spent wisely!

Also, since disney is charging me for a no show, IF I SHOW and then take my table, do I have to order for everyone, say two are not hungry. I have not done this before because we are careful how we plan other meals, but again, I can see this happening. again, diseny losses.

What I'm saying is, People dont like to be forced into somthing, especially at a place that calls itself, The happiest place on earth, and is supposed to be child and family friendly. As others have pointed out, no warm fuzzy there is the potential for this policy to do some harm to their business. I stateed earlier the dining plan (since we first used it yrs ago) has lost much of it's apeal and value. Steps like this for our family at leat make those off property stays and trip to other park much more appealing. The kids are dying to do sea world. Less WDW dining opens up going off site, therefore staying offsite. We also hold an AP we'll need less days at Disney so scaling down our passes would be fine.... yup for families like ours, this could be a dealbreaker

ITA with everything. I hope you send them an email to complain too. More complaints to Disney may result in them scraping the whole idea.

 

[Lewisc]

Also, since disney is charging me for a no show, IF I SHOW and then take my table, do I have to order for everyone, say two are not hungry. I have not done this before because we are careful how we plan other meals, but again, I can see this happening. again, diseny losses.

Most (all?) character are either buffet or served "all you care to eat". Every guest seated pays. AFAIK Signature dining has no per person requirement.

We recently got back from our first trip w/ a VERY sick child. My dauther (5) had no symptoms to speak of other than a temp that fluctuated on and off over several days up to 103.8! Yes we were ice bathing her and in touch with our Dr's and First aid etc. While I can say that fist aid and the resort were EXCELLENT! We did have trouble trying to obtain Rest info while near P of the C. I wanted to call the resturant and after talking to 3 peolpe was told it was not possible. I was trying to get info on if we could push back the ressie how late could we be etc. Unless you can actually contact the rest. to obtain info I don't think they should charge a fee if you can't make it. I wish I could predict the future and know 24 hrs in advance if my daughter was going to be better.. but illness doesnt work that way.. Inor do you want to make everyone else sick by brining out a sick child this will put a lot of people in a tuff position
The other issue (and I am new to this thread so this may have been discussed) is we waited for over 30 min on 2 of our FP's. There is no time indicator for fastpasses and it seem's that there was defiantely an issue executing them since we saw people getting on rides before us who were not FP's holder but got to the attraction at the same time as us. These were very slow days and I think the FP is of best use during busy days. Or at least based on this past expereience.
ANd then there's transportation, I can't wait to red the entire thread and see how that will play into this. We usually have a car but use both methods and I have had some very long waits for busses.
We, maybe if desire for the DDP goe down, maybe they will offer it FREE when we go in APril

People who think CM will be accepting (legitimate) excuses may be surprised.

Someone in your family is nauseous. Explain the situation to the hostess. Tell the CM you didn't want to pay a cancellation fee. Ask for some kind of bucket in case the sick person can't make it to the bathroom.

 

[maxiesmom]

Someone in your family is nauseous. Explain the situation to the hostess. Tell the CM you didn't want to pay a cancellation fee. Ask for some kind of bucket in case the sick person can't make it to the bathroom.

Yeah, because being smart mouthed or sarcastic is a great way to get the CMs to want to help you.

I am interested to see if the CMs do have any leeway in this rule, or not, once it is actually in practice. Disney is pretty good with recovery when things go wrong for their guests. Hopefully they have something up their sleeve, and if they do, hopefully people don't abuse it to the extent that they ruin it.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I am interested to see if the CMs do have any leeway in this rule, or not, once it is actually in practice. Disney is pretty good with recovery when things go wrong for their guests. Hopefully they have something up their sleeve, and if they do, hopefully people don't abuse it to the extent that they ruin it.

This, I think, is the million dollar question. If the answer is yes, then I think that everyone may end up benefiting from the new rules. If the answer is no, then I think everyone will end up being hurt by them.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I mentioned this whole thing to my dad, who has been my travel partner to WDW a couple of times. He said to think of it this way: The money you lose by not making your ADR is not extra money. It is money you would be spending anyway. And you would really be spending more than that at the restaurant.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Completely depends on the situation. Here's two easy examples, without running the actual numbers.

Family one: (2A, 2C, 1 infant) is paying OOP at a signature meal dinner. They amount they would spend on their meal + tip is likely more than what the cancellation fee ($50 ) would be. Add in a CS meal since they still have to eat (approx. $30-$35) and they would still likely not be spending more since a signature meal for 4 (+ baby) would cost more than $80 -$85.

Family two: (2A, 2C, 1 infant) is on free dining at Crystal Palace having breakfast. The cost if they make their ADR: $20. (Assuming 20% tip) Cost if they miss their ADR: $50 + using their CS credits or paying OOP for a CS meal at approx. $25. So, if they miss their ADR, they are paying more than 3 times what they would have paid if they had gone to the ADR.

 

[Mkrop]

I would think that it would be at the buffets that you would be charged for everyone. They charge you for whoever is there, because the food is out, accessible, and they can't watch who is eating. And aren't most of the restaurants on the list buffets?

I mentioned this whole thing to my dad, who has been my travel partner to WDW a couple of times. He said to think of it this way: The money you lose by not making your ADR is not extra money. It is money you would be spending anyway. And you would really be spending more than that at the restaurant.

I can't think of anyone who likes to go around, throwing away $10 bills, for no reason. But I think in the overall scheme of a Disney vacation it is a rather small amount, but still one that people would notice if they had to give it up. Which is probably the point. Have a fee for missing ADRs that is small enough that it is pretty affordable, but large enough that people will think twice about losing it.

I am amazed at your outlook on money, you keep tossing around this "small" fee. $40 is not a small fee to me.

Can you tell me how I would be spending this money anyway? If I have a sick family member, they might not be eating at all, or some of us might wind up with CS or a pizza, certainly not what I would be spending at Le Cellier.

Or if the heat got to a family during the summer and they did not feel like eating or just wanted to get something small, they certainly would not be paying the same amt. I know this happen to us, we didnt cancel an ADR but if we had one at that time, I am sure we would have bc we did not want that big heavy meal. We had ice cream for dinner, the meal that my kids still think was the best "dinner" ever in WDW.

And I can also say that if WDW does get my money for a missed ADR bc of sickness etc, that I cancelled in a reasonable amt of time. They wont be getting much more of my money bc then I will be scaling back on other things like souvienors. So yes WDW still gets my money, begrudingly, but then they probably wont get the more $$$$$$ I would have spent in the gift shop.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

As for some of the family eating and the others staying at the hotel, I would never do that either. This is a family vacation so we all stick together.

We wouldn't split up either. We'd order room service, if one of us was unable to leave the room. If I was that upset about paying a fee for everyone, we would split up though.

again I am sorry, I was "late to the party" and have not read the entire thread, so this may have already been mentioned (but I am trying to get through it all) say someone now goes JUST to avoid the $10 charge but really doesnt want to. Maybe they only order a drink and a desert. they take up the table and the servers time and now disney and the server make less money. I'd rather get something for my $10 bucks than nothing. We once cancelled an ADR less than 24hrs because we ate too much during the W&F festival. If I was going to get charged anyway, I'd probably still go and do this. Of course this yr the lines were huge. We got a few things we didnt like (being from NewEngland we are lobster snobs and were not fond of the many lobster items we tried ) and were more than ready for our ADR!!! I try to be a responsible person, but throwing away $40 like so many are saying is not acceptable to me. a dollar is a dollar and has the same value wether it's 5, 50 or 100 all to be spent wisely!

Also, since disney is charging me for a no show, IF I SHOW and then take my table, do I have to order for everyone, say two are not hungry. I have not done this before because we are careful how we plan other meals, but again, I can see this happening. again, diseny losses.

What I'm saying is, People dont like to be forced into somthing, especially at a place that calls itself, The happiest place on earth, and is supposed to be child and family friendly. As others have pointed out, no warm fuzzy there is the potential for this policy to do some harm to their business. I stateed earlier the dining plan (since we first used it yrs ago) has lost much of it's apeal and value. Steps like this for our family at leat make those off property stays and trip to other park much more appealing. The kids are dying to do sea world. Less WDW dining opens up going off site, therefore staying offsite. We also hold an AP we'll need less days at Disney so scaling down our passes would be fine.... yup for families like ours, this could be a dealbreaker

People post on here all the time about making an ADR to only order dessert & drinks. I'm sure it's happened often. As has been mentioned, the character meals would charge you full price regardless though.

ITA with everything. I hope you send them an email to complain too. More complaints to Disney may result in them scraping the whole idea.

Feedback is good. Those who agree with the change need to send in emails too. Thanks for the reminder for all of us.

This, I think, is the million dollar question. If the answer is yes, then I think that everyone may end up benefiting from the new rules. If the answer is no, then I think everyone will end up being hurt by them.

I think many will benefit, even if they don't make considerations for those who are sick. I agree it would be nice though. Unfortunately, it would probably be abused, so it wouldn't last long. That said, I'd love for people to prove me wrong. If only people would have considered them a commitment in the first place, this probably wouldn't have happened. Some people have to ruin things for all of us.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I am amazed at your outlook on money, you keep tossing around this "small" fee. $40 is not a small fee to me.

Can you tell me how I would be spending this money anyway? If I have a sick family member, they might not be eating at all, or some of us might wind up with CS or a pizza, certainly not what I would be spending at Le Cellier.

Or if the heat got to a family during the summer and they did not feel like eating or just wanted to get something small, they certainly would not be paying the same amt. I know this happen to us, we didnt cancel an ADR but if we had one at that time, I am sure we would have bc we did not want that big heavy meal. We had ice cream for dinner, the meal that my kids still think was the best "dinner" ever in WDW.

And I can also say that if WDW does get my money for a missed ADR bc of sickness etc, that I cancelled in a reasonable amt of time. They wont be getting much more of my money bc then I will be scaling back on other things like souvienors. So yes WDW still gets my money, begrudingly, but then they probably wont get the more $$$$$$ I would have spent in the gift shop.

I'm not the one who posted that, but I think I get what she was saying. If you had have shown up for the ADR, you would have been spending that money anyway. It had to be in the budget. Of course, this doesn't apply, if you're on free dining.

 

[Mkrop]

I cant quote for some reason.

Yes it is my vacation budget, but like real life my budget changes all the time. If I wind not having to spend so much on one thing, then maybe I have more money to pay for something fun. Maybe it is just me, if I have to waste money on a fee, on top of anything else I might have to spend for my sick kid, I am going to be annoyed, and WDW will get less of my money. Maybe I would have sprung for extra snacks one day or for a new sweatshirt, something that wasnt in the original budget, but no way will I do it if I have to pay $40 bucks for a meal we couldnt eat. I see that as "lost" money bc I am getting nothing for my money, so now I am going to be tighter with my funds.

 

[Mom of 2 Wife of 1]

I cant quote for some reason.

Yes it is my vacation budget, but like real life my budget changes all the time. If I wind not having to spend so much on one thing, then maybe I have more money to pay for something fun. Maybe it is just me, if I have to waste money on a fee, on top of anything else I might have to spend for my sick kid, I am going to be annoyed, and WDW will get less of my money. Maybe I would have sprung for extra snacks one day or for a new sweatshirt, something that wasnt in the original budget, but no way will I do it if I have to pay $40 bucks for a meal we couldnt eat. I see that as "lost" money bc I am getting nothing for my money, so now I am going to be tighter with my funds.

Why would you make an ADR if you already know without a doubt that your child is going to get sick? Do you go through life not doing things on the off-chance that something bad is going to happen? Help me to understand...

 

[NancyIL]

I didn't see this until today, and I haven't read past the first page, but I say "BRAVO" to Disney!

 

[SmallWorld71]

If only people would have considered them a commitment in the first place, this probably wouldn't have happened. Some people have to ruin things for all of us.

You know, I think this is what bothers me the most about this policy. I feel like I'm (and lots of others) being punished because of someone else's wrong doings. It reminds me of when there are a few disruptive children, but the whole class has to miss recess. I (and most others on both sides of this debate) haven't done anything wrong. I only make ADR's I intend to keep and I've kept all but one.
I am trying to take extended family, who don't travel to WDW with the frequency I do, on a trip next summer and now I've got something else to worry about. Do I make the Chef Mickey's ADR for my nephew on the spectrum even though his mother, who struggles with excrutiating pain daily might not be able to make it last minute? What about my sister with the will be almost 2 year old, or my mother with her diabetes? etc... etc... etc...
I know many of you don't feel that their disabilities or issues should be an issue and that since there are too many risks that we don't make the ADR's or just "suck it up". And that is a choice that we will have to make. BUT, it is a choice we are having to make because of other selfish people, and that just plain old stinks.

 

[pinkerbell]

You know, I think this is what bothers me the most about this policy. I feel like I'm (and lots of others) being punished because of someone else's wrong doings. It reminds me of when there are a few disruptive children, but the whole class has to miss recess. I (and most others on both sides of this debate) haven't done anything wrong. I only make ADR's I intend to keep and I've kept all but one.
I am trying to take extended family, who don't travel to WDW with the frequency I do, on a trip next summer and now I've got something else to worry about. Do I make the Chef Mickey's ADR for my nephew on the spectrum even though his mother, who struggles with excrutiating pain daily might not be able to make it last minute? What about my sister with the will be almost 2 year old, or my mother with her diabetes? etc... etc... etc...
I know many of you don't feel that their disabilities or issues should be an issue and that since there are too many risks that we don't make the ADR's or just "suck it up". And that is a choice that we will have to make. BUT, it is a choice we are having to make because of other selfish people, and that just plain old stinks.

ITA! and feel angry just at knowing you now have this added stress to deal with. I too have always tried to keep every ressie I made and in the rare instance we had to cancel, would call, so also feel like I am being punished. My call may not have been 24 hrs in advance though and this is the kicker.. we don't just blow off reservations, it is for a reason, often those reason's do not present themselves 24 hrs in advance. Good luck! and I hope you have a wonderful time

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I had to give my cc# yesterday for a ressie I made at Cali Grill.
I thought the policy wasn't going into effect until Oct. 26.

 

[rlovew]

I had to give my cc# yesterday for a ressie I made at Cali Grill.
I thought the policy wasn't going into effect until Oct. 26.

Cali Grill has had a credit card guarantee in place for awhile now. It is not a new one to have to give the cc info for. There have been a few for at least a year now with that policy.

 

[PirateD]

This is poor decision making by Disney. To the average person, they just look greedy. I don't like the policy myself. but as a Disboard member, I can at least understand the issues surronding it. When I mentioned the change in policy to some of my family members, though, they blasted Disney for getting more and more greedy. They go to WDW, and they see how Disney can easily fill their restaurants with walk-ins. When they go or we go together, I do all of the planning and make the reservations. They don't understand the problems with the reservation system. I think this is true of most guests at WDW.

I hate this policy because of the added stress it adds. One year when we visited at Christmas, the only time we could get for CRT was the day after our arrival. I can't tell you how stressed I was flying across the country with connections and hoping and praying we wouldn't encounter any problems. It takes away a lot of the magic when you have to worry about penalties whether it's last minute changes in transportation or illness. I would personally flip out if we ended up having to pay $110 for our party of 11 if an emergency came up.

The ironic thing was that I found myself trying to defend Disney to my family members. I completely lost the argument in the end, though, because it's not a smart decision. Disney does look greedy, and it really doesn't solve the problem of hoarders. They can still make the reservations and then cancel them later.

I love you, Disney, but you're on your own on this one. I'm not defending you anymore, and we won't be making any future ADR's at those restaurants anytime soon.

 

[SmallWorld71]

ITA! and feel angry just at knowing you now have this added stress to deal with. I too have always tried to keep every ressie I made and in the rare instance we had to cancel, would call, so also feel like I am being punished. My call may not have been 24 hrs in advance though and this is the kicker.. we don't just blow off reservations, it is for a reason, often those reason's do not present themselves 24 hrs in advance. Good luck! and I hope you have a wonderful time

Thanks!

 

[Mkrop]

Why would you make an ADR if you already know without a doubt that your child is going to get sick? Do you go through life not doing things on the off-chance that something bad is going to happen? Help me to understand...

I am not going to make an ADR is I am certain my child is going to get sick.


I have only booked two things at WDW that required a CC and that was La Nouba and the Candlelight Processional. I went in knowing that if someone got sick we would lose out but that is a big thing to book and we tailored our day around it. For example, La Nouba was an early pool day and then just chilling out. I dont want to do that everyday and the one time we were at on the dining plan we had at least one sit down a day.

I dont go through life never booking anything on the off chance my child might get sick. If I am going to gamble, it better be worth it.

May I remind you these are MEALS!!!!! Breakfast, lunch and dinner. MEALS! I dont want to have gamble my entire trip on MEALS.

Plus I book things all the time that I take risk for, Phillies games etc. But I also know about a dozen people who would buy them from me(even last minute), or I could give to as a gift. That isnt going to happen with my ADR (unless a black market start ) so if we cant go bc life gets in the way I am out money for nothing.

Like the pp poste said, I am being punished for others who have either hoarded or been no shows. I have done neither. If we ever had to cancel, which is rare, I have always called, not within 24 hours but certainly in a reasonable time to WDW to fill that spot with a walkup.

I will say this again, charge for the true no shows! Allow walkups for those who call and cancel...win/win!