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

[maxiesmom]

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.

I think part of the problem is that Disney can't fill those empty tables with walk-ins. When people don't cancel their ADRs, how does Disney know if they are coming or not?

Of course Disney wants to get what money they can. They are a business! How long are they supposed to let there be empty tables at the restaurants because people can't be bothered to cancel their ADR's?

I've been at the Crystal Palace when they have been turing people away, yet been sat in an area with lots of empty tables. If it were my restaurant and that happened, I would be plenty upset. If that made me greedy, then I guess I would be greedy. No restaurant anywhere could allow that to continually happen, and still expect to stay in business.

It would be beyond stupid of any restaurant to accept empty tables when they are supposedly booked and not try to do anything about it.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

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!

Now those who aren't going to let life get in the way (unless someone is very sick) can book the ADRs, & those who only want meals can find one. For most who always show up for their ADRs, this is the way it should have been all the time. Those who would definitely have gone were being shut out, by those who book months in advance "just in case" life didn't get in the way. If everyone would have only booked the ADRs they were totally committed to planning around, this policy wouldn't be necessary. The change probably doesn't make sense to those who book months in advance & get everything they want. Why would they want to mess with a good thing? It's the people who are often shut out of the most popular restaurants who will like the change.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Hey everyone. Sorry if this has been covered but I read quite a few pages and didn't see the info I wanted.

I am only planning on making 1 lunch or dinner ressie per day so the policy is fine with me BUT how does this work when you're on the DDP? I still have to use my CC to pay CRT in full before hand? Or does it just put a hold to take the $10 if we didn't make it? (which won't happen! lol) So every single ressie I make will have to be reserved on a CC? Does this affect usage of the CC? I don't make my ressies until April but I'm trying to learn as much as I can before it's time to do it so I do it right.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Except I have never been to a character meal that was empty, maybe it is the time of year I go, even though we usually go the first week in Dec and we schedule at least one character meal, we have been in spring and summer as well and they have always been filled with people walking up as well.

Like I said I have no problem charging with no shows, I think $10 per reservation is more reasonable than $10pp, that to me gets pricey.

Well, $10 (or any fee) per party instead of per diner unfairly discriminates against small parties. Where's the incentive for [general] your party of ten to cancel if the penalty is only $1.00 pp, vs. my penalty of $10 as a solo diner?

 

[Snurk71]

I think part of the problem is that Disney can't fill those empty tables with walk-ins. When people don't cancel their ADRs, how does Disney know if they are coming or not?

Of course Disney wants to get what money they can. They are a business! How long are they supposed to let there be empty tables at the restaurants because people can't be bothered to cancel their ADR's?

I've been at the Crystal Palace when they have been turing people away, yet been sat in an area with lots of empty tables. If it were my restaurant and that happened, I would be plenty upset. If that made me greedy, then I guess I would be greedy. No restaurant anywhere could allow that to continually happen, and still expect to stay in business.

It would be beyond stupid of any restaurant to accept empty tables when they are supposedly booked and not try to do anything about it.

We've offered an alternative (less advanced cancellation time) time and time again that resolves everything you've just posted. If Disney can't resolve fill their tables with a 3 hour cancellation window (please don't mention breakfast again - we've covered that too), they are just poor managers of the business.

 

[Colleen27]

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.

That's how my lunch conversation went today too. DH & DM both feel this is a significant enough change that we should stay at Bonnet Creek or the Swolphin next trip (not Jan, which is already booked and ADRs made, but beyond that). The all-inclusive nature of the DxDDP is the primary reason we stay on site, even though as a family of 5 or 6 our lodging options are limited and less than ideal, and the cancellation fee for the signature restaurants we dine in nearly every night is reason enough for both of them to feel like the plan is no longer an advantage. It is one thing to plan around/accept the risk of Cali Grill and maybe CRT or Akershus over the course of a trip, but to do so every night is just inviting trouble.

 

[Colleen27]

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.

But the thing is, a LOT of us use one of Disney's dining plans so we wouldn't be spending that money anyway. We've already paid for our meals and are likely losing some/all of that credit's value anyway by not being able to make it to the meal for whatever reason, and now they're adding a fee on top of that. I did the math in an earlier post on this thread; it isn't losing $50. It is losing $50 to the fee plus $120 (or $240 for a signature) worth of meal credits we've already paid for because it is very unlikely that we'll have the time to "make up" for the missed meal later in the trip. And frankly, I think a lot of the support for this policy is coming from people who resent/dislike the dining plan (esp when free) and want to see it go away because this does have some pretty serious ramifications for the desirability of those plans.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We've offered an alternative (less advanced cancellation time) time and time again that resolves everything you've just posted. If Disney can't resolve fill their tables with a 3 hour cancellation window (please don't mention breakfast again - we've covered that too), they are just poor managers of the business.

Well, they obviously don't see that as long enough for whatever reason. I don't work there, so I don't know. It would benefit walk-ups, but wouldn't help those calling early in the morning looking for same day ADRs, before deciding which park to go to. It also wouldn't help locals who call early, before deciding whether to go to the parks at all. So no, it isn't enough time for everyone.

As far as breakfast, I don't remember there being a resolution on here that would help those looking for early morning ADRs same day. There's been a lot of speculation, but I haven't seen a solution. Maybe, I missed it. It's been suggested that the cut-off wouldn't help with those ADRs anyway, but we don't know that for sure at this point. I can't imagine why they would be willing sacrifice those times in the new policy, but they very well may be willing to do so. We'll just have to wait & see.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

And frankly, I think a lot of the support for this policy is coming from people who resent/dislike the dining plan (esp when free) and want to see it go away because this does have some pretty serious ramifications for the desirability of those plans.

I can't speak for others, but that's not the case for me. I think the dining plan has hurt quality & selections in the restaurants, but I don't see that reversing now, whether they continue to offer the plan or not. Now that the damage has been done, I think they should continue to offer it to those who prefer it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And they need to add free wireless internet in the mods and value resorts so people can cancel online without yet another nickel, dime ten dollar bill flying out the window.

Or, people can use the existing technology - the telephone along with the special cancellation phone number. Not even an additional penny 'flies out the window', much less those larger coins or bills.

 

[Colleen27]

Or, people can use the existing technology - the telephone along with the special cancellation phone number. Not even an additional penny 'flies out the window', much less those larger coins or bills.

But time is money, especially on an expensive vacation. Maybe the dedicated cancellation line will be better but on our last trip it took me forever on the phone to cancel one unneeded ADR when our plans changed. I dialed WDW-DINE from the bus stop at Epcot and was in the Pop Century lobby before hanging up. I think that's a big part of why people haven't been more proactive about canceling all along - you have to get through all the data-collection prompts, phone number, reservation number, how many times have you been to WDW, say and spell your last name (which never takes for me, but repeats for three attempts before transferring to a live person), etc.

 

[Cafeen]

Hey everyone. Sorry if this has been covered but I read quite a few pages and didn't see the info I wanted.

I am only planning on making 1 lunch or dinner ressie per day so the policy is fine with me BUT how does this work when you're on the DDP? I still have to use my CC to pay CRT in full before hand? Or does it just put a hold to take the $10 if we didn't make it? (which won't happen! lol) So every single ressie I make will have to be reserved on a CC? Does this affect usage of the CC? I don't make my ressies until April but I'm trying to learn as much as I can before it's time to do it so I do it right.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Even with the DDP, all guaranteed reservations will require a CC to be placed when you make the reservation.

CRT and the 3 dinner shows will not change from how they are now, which is full payment at time of booking if you do not have a confirmed resort reservation with an appropriate dining plan attached, or if you do, it's a guarantee for the full price per person (so for these 4 it's not $10 per person!)

 

[alice99]

I am not a dining reservation hoarder. I barely make enough reservations for the week.
We do a lot of walk up, because I don't plan my Park days even a week in advance!
We have left the room, in our car, and seen lots of traffic heading toward MK, then we fork right for Epcot!
I will then end up eating in Epcot and not my original MK reservation..... that spontaneity will be impossible.... or become expensive.

I can't imagine making a week of dining reservations 6 months in advance, and actually KEEPING all of them. I always cancel when I realize I won't make it.
I would say if I am there for a week 2-3 of my reservations end up changing, not so much at the last minute, but the morning of the reservation.

I have done much tweaking of my reservations at the Guest Relations booths at Epcot and Hollywood Studios..... not really last minute, but the morning of the reservation. Ridiculous that I should be charged 25$ when I do some changes 8 hours in advance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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,

The Most Magical Place on Earth (you're thinking of Disneyland).

But nobody is forced into anything. Nobody has to get the Dining Plan, or make ADRs, or make ADRs at the affected restaurants. Everybody who does make reservations at those 19 restaurants, though, will be advised of the cancellation policy and can choose to continue withe the reservation or not, and then choose to cancel it at least a day before it's scheduled or not.

It's all choice. Nothing is forced.

 

[maxiesmom]

And frankly, I think a lot of the support for this policy is coming from people who resent/dislike the dining plan (esp when free) and want to see it go away because this does have some pretty serious ramifications for the desirability of those plans.

I don't know where you are getting that idea from. I actually just booked a Free Dining trip for next March. I have, and had no problem in the past, booking meals where they charge a cancellation fee.

I never felt Disney was trying to gouge me, or get one over me because of the fee, and I don't feel that way now that they have added more restaurants to the fee list. I think it is pretty despicable that so many tables were sitting empty, when it was obvious people would have liked to be at those tables, but were being turned away because the restaurant was booked. It would simply not be a smart business move for Disney to continue to turn a blind eye to it. And we can all debate how large the window of time should be for cancelling an ADR, but Disney has set it at one day, and that is the reality of it. You can't control it or change it, you can just control how you react to it. If you react by not booking those restaurants, that is your choice. Maybe enough people will do that that Disney will change their new policy, but as of right now, it is what it is.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We've offered an alternative (less advanced cancellation time) time and time again that resolves everything you've just posted. If Disney can't resolve fill their tables with a 3 hour cancellation window (please don't mention breakfast again - we've covered that too), they are just poor managers of the business.

An alternative that works for you-the-customer -- not necessarily one that works for Disney-the-business.

 

[miprender]

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...

Believe me I don't book with the intent of thinking my child is going to get sick but life happens and while on vacation most likely any plan changes are taking place less than the 24 hr notice they are imposing.

And quite honestly I had a mini melt down the day I needed to cancel my ADR at Garden Grill because we got stuck in a downpour at MK. So I get that life is a gamble but we are talking eating at a restaurant not a Broadway show.

And I have no problem charging me if I was a no show I just think they need a more resonable time to cancel.

 

[mousefan1972]

What I'm saying is, People dont like to be forced into somthing,

I am confused; who forced you to make an ADR at a restaurant with a clearly stated cancel/no show fee?

 

[Lewisc]

An alternative that works for you-the-customer -- not necessarily one that works for Disney-the-business.

I've been at hotels which charge for internet access, but allow free access to the hotel's website and a few basic sites such as weather.com Disney could charge for internet access but allow any guest to access a Disney website. People shouldn't think a perceived need to offer online access to dining (not a real need) would translate to free internet access. Getting people on the internet, to check on their reservations and check weather might lead people to pay for internet access for other sites. Good promotion.

The purpose of the holiday surcharge was to generate revenue. It's certainly possible that additional revenue was one of the reasons for this policy. Prepares any alternative, which doesn't generate equivalent revenue wouldn't be of interest to Disney. A family will find the cancellation fee is 30-50%. SW gives no show passengers a full credit. Many hotels let you cancel up to 5p on the day of your arrival. There are very few restaurants that charge a cancellation or no-show. There are several alternatives Disney could have chosen, if necessary, to deal with no-shows. It seems obvious, to some of us, that Disney-the business, decided a new revenue stream makes sense.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've been at hotels which charge for internet access, but allow free access to the hotel's website and a few basic sites such as weather.com Disney could charge for internet access but allow any guest to access a Disney website.

Internet access is a whole different issue, and free access is a different matter still. But it's moot if the guest doesn't have a computer or other Internet-capable device.

I find the assumption that everybody travels 'connected' fascinating.