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

[waynesgirl]

Do we want those guests keeping their ADRs? Going through the buffet line? Disney should be thanking, not charging, a guest who is concerned about infecting guests at a buffet.

Disney has allowed you to come into the "world" by offering things that you obviously wanted. They don't have to thank you. They are providing exactly what they said they would and you bought it- the same applies with ADRs-now you know the rules and you have a right to contribute or not. I see your point and that of many other posters as well but I think this is trial and error. By instituting this, I think it is to discourage the ppl that truly don't follow courtesy, like not booking 5 ADRs in a day or by reserving big tables and not bothering to cancel. I don't think it is to punish the entire Disney-going people, but unfortunately, you cannot pick or choose how you do this in an overall sweep. Instead of being upset, see how it is going to work. Calmly express your views in an email and Disney will listen if enough speak.

I guess I just don't like situations where I have no control. And trusting a company known for milking every dime possible out of people does give me a certain sense of unease about this change.

I, too, am a control freak (except where vacation is concerned-I would lose my mind ) so I understand you. However, I don't think Disney is milking people for every dime. We know what we sign up for- it is generally all over these boards and in the fine print that people don't like to read many times. Everyone has a right to refuse to stay on-site, or to make ADRs, to get a FP, or to even go for that matter.

Because I am becoming obsessed with this thread, I made two more calls to Disney dining.

I think I am going to write another letter to Disney letting them know how displeased I am with the implementation of this dumb policy.

I, too, am becoming obsessed. It is really quiet an interesting thread. The policy might not be to your liking, but to say it is dumb isn't really nice. I see where Disney is trying to go and I see the frustration of parents.

Sadly, this thread is much like the FP arguments. People do not like change overall, and don't typically handle it well. Well, let me say Adults don't. It seems like we are forgetting the little ones in this equation. I don't make promises to my children I cannot keep. I don't even say for certain we are going to do something at Disney- things happen. My kids roll with it, and most of the children I have seen at Disney seem to be rolling with it. It is mostly the parents that have a problem because it goes against what they expected from themselves, not Disney.

So many parents (and yes, this is who I blame) have made a Disney vacation something less than it should be by demanding that Disney continue something they obviously do not want to continue. Look at the FP return times- if there is any weight to those threads, the adults are going to have pitchforks and torches after the CMs. This ADR thread is pointing out it isn't fair. Fair to whom? I think it is fair to me to be able to walk up to a podium and get a seat at a great restaurant that I want to eat at without having to hope and pray or make a reservation 180 in advance and change my mind 100 times before I go. I think it is fair to Disney to be able to plan for walk-ups or eliminate the "greedy" people (not my words-paraphrase from the threads) who overbook them in the first place. I do not use the DPs...I am always OOP. It is really sad that when I sit at a table, the first thing they ask me if I am on a DP and when I say I am not, they perk up. I have had conversations with off-duty CMs that tell me they dread it when people are on DPs because they have to hear the complaints about the DP being lousy, and it not being fair, and it is overpriced. Maybe that is the next step- eliminating something that so many on these boards alone have complained tirelessly about. Removing the cause instead of the symptoms.

Sorry, I'll get down now...I just find this thread by far the most interesting one in terms of debate. It really is amazing.

 

[mom2rtk]

If it's like on a cruise ship, it's impossible to miss. Norovirus spreads rampantly. People are getting sick (vomiting & other) everywhere. Odds are many people around you would be sick too. Often all or most kids in the family would have the same thing. Adults, who wash their hands diligently, are less likely to get it, but some do. The elderly, kids, & those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible. There's no mistaking this for a common cold or something you ate that didn't agree with you. Any family that gets Noro on vacation has my most sincere sympathy & deserves a do-over.

Well, if that's what it takes to get excused from the penalty....... I'll pay up!

But honestly, just because it's not an epidemic does not mean someone did not have an illness "worthy" of exusing the penalty. Nor should it require a trip to the doctor. There's nothing a doctor can do with a virus anyway, so we only go if we suspect a bacterial infection or if the fever spikes out of control.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Well, if that's what it takes to get excused from the penalty....... I'll pay up!

No kidding! It always scares me to be boarding a ship that has had reports of Norovirus. As a side note, they still require you to go on the cruise too. I always feel for the elderly & those with weakened immune systems who are forced to go or lose all their money.

But honestly, just because it's not an epidemic does not mean someone did not have an illness "worthy" of exusing the penalty. Nor should it require a trip to the doctor. There's nothing a doctor can do with a virus anyway, so we only go if we suspect a bacterial infection or if the fever spikes out of control.

ConnieB made a good point earlier. If someone is unable to use their park ticket all day, they will be able to make a better case to not be charged, due to illness.

 

[Marshay]

Because I am becoming obsessed with this thread, I made two more calls to Disney dining. I worked in statistics before i became a SAHM, and used to work for a major polling company, so I know that how you ask the question effects the answer. I asked if there was a 24 hour cancelation window for these reservations. This first CM I talked to was totally on top of things. She told me that it was NOT 24 hrs, but one full day, and explained the scenario. I was pleased.

I tried it again, asking the same question. This time the CM told me yes, it is 24 hrs. I asked again to be sure, something like "if I have a reservation at 11 am today, and I cancelled at 11 am on Friday, I would not be charged" and she said yes. I then told her about the conflicting information I had been receiving and asked her to double check her answer. Well she went and asked, and when she came back, she told me that I had taught her something today, and I was indeed right, it was ONE FULL DAY, NOT 24 hrs. I was not pleased.

I am not surprised that CM have the wrong answers, and I am really upset that I have to call back multiple times to get to the bottom of this.

I think I am going to write another letter to Disney letting them know how displeased I am with the implementation of this dumb policy.

Hey, you may have a new job here -- Disney Training!! You can train all the CM!

Thanks for looking into this more.

This whole policy just amazes me (in a negative way).

I really do hope that reservations will be easy to come by now under this new policy. If I really don't have to plan 180 days in advance but can get an ADR same day for the specific place I want -- then I'll come back on here and sing the praises!

BUT

the chances of that happening are similar to it snowing in Northern Virginia in October!! (wait! .... hmmm, it is possible)

 

[Colleen27]

ConnieB made a good point earlier. If someone is unable to use their park ticket all day, they will be able to make a better case to not be charged, due to illness.

I very seriously doubt that the CMs who handle dining cancellations have any way to see that information, though.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I very seriously doubt that the CMs who handle dining cancellations have any way to see that information, though.

You're probably right, but you could challenge it with guests services. They would have the info.

 

[Colleen27]

Yep, pity anyone going next winter...I'll have the Filet Mignon and a side of norovirus please!

And that's us... DH's line of work comes with serious limits on traveling during the spring/summer/fall. We take all of our major family vacations in Dec, Jan, or Feb, prime season for those bugs running rampant.

 

[Colleen27]

Thank you...I wish I could plan it down to the wire but I can't do it. I tried the first few vacations and it doesn't work. I get too stressed, they get irritable (when they are normally fabulous kids, at least at the parks), I tend to get migraines in stressful situations and I never have my medicine at Disney, so it is no big deal. I hate to say it but I seen a lot of my parent friends try to stuff so much into a vacation that it is overload for the kids. I learned, after all the kids and vacations we have had, that if they are happy and stress-free, then my vacation will be better. I might not get the meal I want, or to ride all the rides I want, but my kids are happy. They tend to enjoy riding the rides and eating at CS anyway. No character dinners for us, which probably makes it easier in the long run as well.

For us it was just the opposite - the more planning and the less on-the-fly decisionmaking, the smoother the trip. That's a big part of why the DxDDP works out so well for us, because planning two meals per day is just enough structure to keep things moving without feeling rushed or pressured.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Hmm. This policy is interesting and so is this thread. I can understand the problem with "no shows" and people making "back up" or "just in case" ADRs, especially during free dining; but a 24 hour cancellation requirement would definitely create a problem for my family, not just because someone might "get sick" but because when you have young children or are on a fun but very exhausting trip like Disney, a lot of plans can change in less than 24 hours, even for those of us who have every intention to keep every ADR we have scheduled. I can understand charging for "no shows" or people that aren't courteous enough to call and cancel an ADR at least a couple hours beforehand so that there can be seats available for "walk ups" during that time slot; but a 24 hour cancellation window seems a bit much. I am glad we did our "must do" character meals on our last trip because I don't think we will be doing anymore ADRs with Disney, except for maybe at the places in DTD like T-Rex or Rainforest Cafe. If we stay onsite again with Disney, it will be the QSDP all the way again for our family, and there are some really great counterservice places too. I think this policy is going to make people look at the QSDP and/or counterservice dining options a little closer

 

[Marshay]

Hmm. This policy is interesting and so is this thread. I can understand the problem with "no shows" and people making "back up" or "just in case" ADRs, especially during free dining; but a 24 hour cancellation requirement would definitely create a problem for my family, not just because someone might "get sick" but because when you have young children or are on a fun but very exhausting trip like Disney, a lot of plans can change in less than 24 hours, even for those of us who have every intention to keep every ADR we have scheduled. I can understand charging for "no shows" or people that aren't courteous enough to call and cancel an ADR at least a couple hours beforehand so that there can be seats available for "walk ups" during that time slot; but a 24 hour cancellation window seems a bit much. I am glad we did our "must do" character meals on our last trip because I don't think we will be doing anymore ADRs with Disney, except for maybe at the places in DTD like T-Rex or Rainforest Cafe. If we stay onsite again with Disney, it will be the QSDP all the way again for our family, and there are some really great counterservice places too. I think this policy is going to make people look at the QSDP and/or counterservice dining options a little closer

and from what Candle on the water is hearing, it's not just a 24 hour cancellation but a FULL DAY, meaning more than 24 hours!

 

[Mkrop]

No kidding! It always scares me to be boarding a ship that has had reports of Norovirus. As a side note, they still require you to go on the cruise too. I always feel for the elderly & those with weakened immune systems who are forced to go or lose all their money.



ConnieB made a good point earlier. If someone is unable to use their park ticket all day, they will be able to make a better case to not be charged, due to illness.

But not all health problems present themselves first thing in the morning...kids can spike a fever midday, asthma can flare up after being outdoors for awhile, grandma pushed herself too hard in the heat. Or when my mom came with us, she made it to a certain point during the day and then she would feel really sick, so she would go back to the hotel, sometimes she was able to join later, other times not so much....little did we know at the time that diverticulitis was brewing and she would have to have 6 inches of her colon removed after we got home.

So once again people with the best of intentions of enjoying their trip and keeping ADRs, like my mom who did not want to miss a minute of it with her grandkids, can have health issues pop up they may not warrant a doctor but certainly could warrant some downtime at the hotel.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

But not all health problems present themselves first thing in the morning...kids can spike a fever midday, asthma can flare up after being outdoors for awhile, grandma pushed herself too hard in the heat. Or when my mom came with us, she made it to a certain point during the day and then she would feel really sick, so she would go back to the hotel, sometimes she was able to join later, other times not so much....little did we know at the time that diverticulitis was brewing and she would have to have 6 inches of her colon removed after we got home.

So once again people with the best of intentions of enjoying their trip and keeping ADRs, like my mom who did not want to miss a minute of it with her grandkids, can have health issues pop up they may not warrant a doctor but certainly could warrant some downtime at the hotel.

As I've said, I know all about chronic health problems. I'm truly sorry your mom has to deal with them too. I've found planning for the ADRs & fitting in what I was able to do other than that is what works for us. Sometimes, those of us with chronic health issues have to set priorities. I know it's not fun. I live it, but that's the way it is.

 

[Colleen27]

You're probably right, but you could challenge it with guests services. They would have the info.

That's true, and probably a good thing to keep in mind just in case.

The last time we had someone sick enough to cancel a day's plan I asked the resort concierge to handle cancelling the day's ADRs since I was in the main building anyway picking up a few things for my non-sick kids, and if we have a similar issue in the future I think I'd do the same simply because the concierge would have easy access to housekeeping records involving the "protein spill" should there be any need to prove illness. Besides, I've found dealing with actual CMs in person to result in much better service than dealing with their phone lines.

 

[wdwlinz]

What's more disturbing than the lack of flexibility in this new policy is the number of people who have indicated they will go to their ADR knowing full well they have a contagious illness just to avoid paying a penalty. And those same people will say 'well, Disney's policy sucks and I was basically forced to go or pay a cancellation fee'. Yikes! Is there no common sense out there anymore?! I wouldn't be happy having to pay a cancellation fee if one of us got sick, but I sure wouldn't take an ill family member to a crowded restaurant (especially a buffet) and expose everyone else to the illness. Why ruin someone else's family vacation?

 

[Mkrop]

As I've said, I know all about chronic health problems. I'm truly sorry your mom has to deal with them too. I've found planning for the ADRs & fitting in what I was able to do other than that is what works for us. Sometimes, those of us with chronic health issues have to set priorities. I know it's not fun. I live it, but that's the way it is.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that not everyone who has a chronic issue is going to know when they will have difficulties, some may have it maintained in normal everyday life and then have something flare up when climate and other conditions change. It would be a shame that a family who travels with someone like this has to either limit their ADRs or be charged if something related to the vacation itself arrgravates a health issue.

 

[MELSMICE]

What's more disturbing than the lack of flexibility in this new policy is the number of people who have indicated they will go to their ADR knowing full well they have a contagious illness just to avoid paying a penalty. And those same people will say 'well, Disney's policy sucks and I was basically forced to go or pay a cancellation fee'. Yikes! Is there no common sense out there anymore?! I wouldn't be happy having to pay a cancellation fee if one of us got sick, but I sure wouldn't take an ill family member to a crowded restaurant (especially a buffet) and expose everyone else to the illness. Why ruin someone else's family vacation?

 

[Cafeen]

What's more disturbing than the lack of flexibility in this new policy is the number of people who have indicated they will go to their ADR knowing full well they have a contagious illness just to avoid paying a penalty. And those same people will say 'well, Disney's policy sucks and I was basically forced to go or pay a cancellation fee'. Yikes! Is there no common sense out there anymore?! I wouldn't be happy having to pay a cancellation fee if one of us got sick, but I sure wouldn't take an ill family member to a crowded restaurant (especially a buffet) and expose everyone else to the illness. Why ruin someone else's family vacation?

Disney made the decision for us when they said that their money is more important than our health.

While it's a bit of an hyperbole to say everyone, even myself, but I would assume that there will indeed be some who will do just this. It's bad enough being sick and missing out, now to get punished for it is just salt in the wound.

 

[Marshay]

So I just wasted $40 for NOTHING, but the rest of my family still needs to eat something so we get CS and bring it back to the room -- another $30-40.

Wow -- it just cost me $80 for a CS meal.

and that's just one meal...what if I had another ADR the next day? Now we're out $160 to repeat that process.

Sorry, but we're going to those ADRs.

I don't have $80 - $160 to just waste like that...sure wish I did, though! Must be nice...

 

[Colleen27]

Disney made the decision for us when they said that their money is more important than our health.

While it's a bit of an hyperbole to say everyone, even myself, but I would assume that there will indeed be some who will do just this. It's bad enough being sick and missing out, now to get punished for it is just salt in the wound.

Exactly. Most people won't admit to it but many, many people do this every day - they go to work sick because they don't have paid time off to take, they send their kids to school sick they can't/don't want to pay for (or simply don't have) alternative child care, etc. Certainly this is an angle Disney is aware of and still they chose to design a policy that "will have teeth", no exceptions, knowing full well that it will encourage people to keep those reservations no matter what. The bottom line is more important than guest comfort, both the guests who are sick and would rather be resting and those who will be exposed to whatever germs the sick guests brought along to dinner.

 

[mcd2745]

What's more disturbing than the lack of flexibility in this new policy is the number of people who have indicated they will go to their ADR knowing full well they have a contagious illness just to avoid paying a penalty. And those same people will say 'well, Disney's policy sucks and I was basically forced to go or pay a cancellation fee'. Yikes! Is there no common sense out there anymore?! I wouldn't be happy having to pay a cancellation fee if one of us got sick, but I sure wouldn't take an ill family member to a crowded restaurant (especially a buffet) and expose everyone else to the illness. Why ruin someone else's family vacation?

Agreed - sort of. And the main reason why is, that the new policy does not take away someone's flexibility. That "flexibility" is gone the moment you decide to make your ADRs. But that just illustrates why Disney had to do something. Clearly, far too many people felt that there was zero obligation on their part to show up for their ADRs. Too many people had the attitude of "If all goes right, we'll make that ADR. Otherwise, we'll just blow it off - it's no big deal."