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

[NLD]

Sometimes business need to take a stance on things & then they need to follow through with them. If they don't follow through then what does it show the guest...........it shows them that they are not serious about their policy and there is a way to get around it. Soon, there will be many sick guests in WDW unable to make their ADR's.


I don't think that hurt, tired, cranky or hungover would fall under the "sick" category. My guess is that this is one of the reasons that Disney has made this change.........guests cancel because they may be hurt, tired, cranky or hungover.

But the thing is... so what? So what if being hurt, tired, or cranky is why people don't show up or cancel last-minute?

IMO it is just flat-out bad customer service to tell a customer "Sorry you are exhausted / your two-year-old is overstimulated / it's pouring and you decided to skip AK--you still owe us money for a meal you didn't eat." That is flat-out horrible customer service.

 

[lovin'fl]

I like it. If 1 person in our group can't make an ADR because they are tired/ill or just want to go do something else, then it's only $10 we are out...no reason to get all up in arms over $10. If I booked, say, Cape May and also Ohana and maybe another place becuase we didn't know where we'd end up that day(so I booked 2 or more ADRs to cover all the bases)...under this new policy I wouldn't be able to 'cover the bases' like that, so I'd be ticked. But I only book 1 place at a time(per meal) and make that 1 place work when we are in Disney.

 

[nancytoby]

Except that there are NO character restaurants on that list.

Yes, so I think the problem that WDW is trying to address is to leave the limited booking slots for character meals for the people who are going to make sure they make the reservation or cancel it at least 24 hours out and allow other people in. Or else be willing to hazard the $10 per person if they're going to make ADRs at that location rather than a non-character meal. As opposed to people who are going to no-show at character meal ADRs or cancel at the last minute.

Disney customers have every right to vote with their feet on this policy and not make ADRs for character meals. It will be interesting to see if there are more last-minute openings for people who do decide to attend character meals at the last minute.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I know many people are happy about this, many are not happy about this

Personally, I think Disney is 'Netflix'ing' themselves on this one

Disney is a vacation destination, the happiest place on earth

now, if you run late, get sidetracked with a parade, a store, a ride, a character or just decide I am having too much fun it will cost you money.

For many, Disney is a one time trip. Not everyone lives on the boards (shocking , I know). Things change. I want vacation to be easy going and not regimented

I am disillusioned with Disney and its prices and now this policy. The prices are through the roof, the quality in many cases is subpar and now if you miss a reservation, you will be fined. Really? Where did the go?

This will impact our trips. We will be dining less at the places listed and if we can't get a same day ressie we will adapt. We will find other options and retain flexibility. I want vacation to be the time that I do not have to schedule the world (PM by day ) and relax.

Be interesting to see the long term impact from this. Maybe time to try Universal

 

[vinotinto]

There are already restaurants that require a credit card pre-payment or guarantee. In the last two years, we have dined at Cali Grill 3 times, Akershus 3 times, HDDR once and CRT once, all with a credit card guarantee and we have not missed any of those meals, nor was it a big inconvenience to put the credit card as a guarantee. I have also forgotten to cancel in those two years two early morning breakfasts - H&V and Cape May - because we simply got up too late and by the time we were up, it was basically already the time for the ADR. So, based on my experience, putting your credit card down will commit you to making that ADR on time. It will also make folks more aware of situations that may impact making that ADR and force all of us to make decisions slightly further in advance. For example, instead of waiting until the morning of the ADR, you may have to look at the weather forecast in advance and make a decision about whether you are really going to visit a park on a particular day. If kids are looking like they are coming down with something, we may be forced to cancel early, rather than taking the chance that someone will not be up for the ADR.

I can understand why many find this inconvenient - I don't particularly like having to guess 30 hours in advance if my kids are going to be up for a meal - but I understand why Disney is making this change. Clearly, simply expecting people to cancel in advance has not worked, and in the end, this will likely make it a little easier to get reservations at the last minute. Too many have taken advantage of the system and now even those who would have legitimate reasons for cancelling at the last minute will have to pay the consequence (pun intended). Again, as much as I don't like to think ahead during my vacation, I think this change is for the best. And, I would just factor into my vacation budget one missed meal.

 

[Sammie]

I am trying my best to see how this is a bad thing. For those of you against it as you say you can't know 24 hours prior whether you will show, what have you done in the past.

Have you been not showing up or cancelling at the last minute and letting tables set empty, preventing others from dining, costing Disney lost revenue which results in higher prices for you and the rest of us.

Honestly and I am not judging, I just can't seem to grasp not living in a world where this is already common practice.

I mean Disney has very strict policies for rooms cancellations that are much more expensive, require a credit card or debit, and much further out than 24 hours, how do you handle that?

I guess short of dire emergency which I would at that point care less about money lost, I can plan 24 hours out, as I do it all the time in my daily life.

Don't any of you take other vacations where advance reservations are a necessity? I know we do.

 

[lovin'fl]

I know many people are happy about this, many are not happy about this

Personally, I think Disney is 'Netflix'ing' themselves on this one

Disney is a vacation destination, the happiest place on earth

now, if you run late, get sidetracked with a parade, a store, a ride, a character or just decide I am having too much fun it will cost you money.

For many, Disney is a one time trip. Not everyone lives on the boards (shocking , I know). Things change. I want vacation to be easy going and not regimented

I am disillusioned with Disney and its prices and now this policy. The prices are through the roof, the quality in many cases is subpar and now if you miss a reservation, you will be fined. Really? Where did the go?

This will impact our trips. We will be dining less at the places listed and if we can't get a same day ressie we will adapt. We will find other options and retain flexibility. I want vacation to be the time that I do not have to schedule the world (PM by day ) and relax.

Be interesting to see the long term impact from this. Maybe time to try Universal

Disney should just only take ADRs 24 hours ahead of time. Why don't they do that? They could have kiosks set up in the parks where you could make an ADR for w/in the next 24 hour period and also keep the online and phone ADR resie systems, but you can't book until the 24 hour window.

 

[Colleen27]

We travel as a large group alot. It would cost us $70 to cancel now... no way will be even entertaining making them. We will no longer be doing deluxe for sure and I'm not sure we will do ddp at all. There was some flexibility with it before in that if I needed to cancel I could and still be ok. It also meant that if I wanted to change parks I could and not worry about that credit I'd do cs. But now it will be an expenditure to us if we have to cancel. It could easily cost us $200 over the course of our normal 10 trip ... no way!

That's making me uneasy too. We're 5 at least/7 at most, depending on the trip, and for a typical trip we have signature dinners nearly every night. That's a lot of potential for cancellation fees. Toss in the fact that we have obligations that limit us to winter travel - the time of year when you find a new thread about illness going around WDW about every other day on the theme parks board - and it seems like a recipe for headaches trying to get the fees waived at best and shelling out a fair bit of cash for nothing at worst.

Fortunately it won't matter for our January trip - I'll just make sure our plans are finalized before 10/26 so we're grandfathered in under the current rules - so I'll have time to wait and see how it works out before deciding if/how much it will effect my planning habits for our late 2012 and 2013 trips.

 

[fla4fun]

I would like clarification on a couple issues. In the article posted on the Orlando Sentinel website, it mentions the 24 hour cancellation and then gives a "for example" of making an ADR for October 30th that would have to be cancelled no later than October 28th to avoid the fees. Is it 24 hours from your specific ADR time, or do they want a full "business day" in between when you cancel and when your ADR is scheduled? I didn't see any detail in what has been posted as directly from Disney - just the wording of cancelling 24 hours in advance. Also, although many people have mentioned being charged for party size changes, was that mentioned in the Disney information? If the majority of your party shows, will they charge you for the missing person or not? I didn't see anything related to party size changes - just parties not showing up. Maybe one of the CM's here can give me some input on these questions.

I don't really have a dog in the fight on this one, because I tend to be a very spontaneous vacationer and if I want a TS meal, I check and see if anything is available last minute knowing I'll be dining CS as a backup (I do that wherever I travel - I hate being tied down to a schedule when I'm supposed to be relaxing). I do think there will be a lot of tweaking of the policies once this is rolled out and they see what kind of challenges crop up. I think we can all agree that the system as it currently stands is far from perfect, or there wouldn't be half empty restaurants that no one can book.

 

[Keke]

Okay, I am REALLY stressing about this right now. I got ADRs at 'Ohana and Tusker House breakfast almost 6 months ago for our November trip. At the time, there were 6 of us going. But recently our traveling companion lost his job. Therefore, there are now only 3 of us. I have been able to change every ADR with the exception of those 2 b/c there are no more available.

Now I feel I am going to be forced to give up those ADRs or have to pay a fee. They have my cc on file for our Akhershus dinner. What should I do? This is so unfair. I am so mad right now. I am being penalized b/c my poor cousin lost his job and they won't let my family of 3 sit at a 6-top.

 

[lovin'fl]

Okay, I am REALLY stressing about this right now. I got ADRs at 'Ohana and Tusker House breakfast almost 6 months ago for our November trip. At the time, there were 6 of us going. But recently our traveling companion lost his job. Therefore, there are now only 3 of us. I have been able to change every ADR with the exception of those 2 b/c there are no more available.

Now I feel I am going to be forced to give up those ADRs or have to pay a fee. They have my cc on file for our Akhershus dinner. What should I do? This is so unfair. I am so mad right now. I am being penalized b/c my poor cousin lost his job and they won't let my family of 3 sit at a 6-top.

You won't be charged...it's for resies made after 10/26(or whatever the date is). You're safe.

 

[Colleen27]

I think the people who are concerned about not making their reservations (or not knowing within 24 hours if they can make it) should simply book at one of the long list of restaurants that apparently will not be subject to this policy. Problem solved.

Yeah, that's a great solution. No character dining and no nicer restaurants for relaxing in the evening. But hey, you can still book Tony's or Nine Dragons...

 

[Sammie]

Everyone, Reservations already booked will not be affected.

ADRs booked before October 25 will not be affected.

It is not when your ADR is, it is when you call to book.

On October 26 when you call to book going forward they will be affected.

 

[MELSMICE]

But the thing is... so what? So what if being hurt, tired, or cranky is why people don't show up or cancel last-minute?

IMO it is just flat-out bad customer service to tell a customer "Sorry you are exhausted / your two-year-old is overstimulated / it's pouring and you decided to skip AK--you still owe us money for a meal you didn't eat." That is flat-out horrible customer service.

My guess is that it's because of reasons like the one you stated (which I bolded) is why Disney has had to change this policy. Too many people that were hurt, tired or crank just didn't show up.

It affects more than people obviously thought it did. Just not showing up has more repercussions than you'd imagine.

Also, you might think it's bad customer service but I believe it would be common courtesy to call and cancel. In the case of inclement weather, I'd say that people will be watching the weather more closely. If it looks like it might rain & they have ADR's at a park they will cancel them 24 hours prior.

Okay, I am REALLY stressing about this right now. I got ADRs at 'Ohana and Tusker House breakfast almost 6 months ago for our November trip. At the time, there were 6 of us going. But recently our traveling companion lost his job. Therefore, there are now only 3 of us. I have been able to change every ADR with the exception of those 2 b/c there are no more available.

Now I feel I am going to be forced to give up those ADRs or have to pay a fee. They have my cc on file for our Akhershus dinner. What should I do? This is so unfair. I am so mad right now. I am being penalized b/c my poor cousin lost his job and they won't let my family of 3 sit at a 6-top.

I would call and ask, explaining your situation, before thinking you're being penalized because your cousin lost his job.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Have you been not showing up or cancelling at the last minute and letting tables set empty, preventing others from dining, costing Disney lost revenue which results in higher prices for you and the rest of us.

No, I cancel in the morning, as soon as we decide we've changed our plans (and that's for a dinner ADR).

And these restaurants are the most popular--they turn walk ups away. Even when we travel in the slowest weeks of January, they are packed and have a wait. Those tables are NOT going empty.

And as for living in a world where this is not the norm, I don't think anywhere in Houston, TX would charge me if I canceled a reservation the morning of.

 

[tone.def]

Okay, I am REALLY stressing about this right now. I got ADRs at 'Ohana and Tusker House breakfast almost 6 months ago for our November trip. At the time, there were 6 of us going. But recently our traveling companion lost his job. Therefore, there are now only 3 of us. I have been able to change every ADR with the exception of those 2 b/c there are no more available.

Now I feel I am going to be forced to give up those ADRs or have to pay a fee. They have my cc on file for our Akhershus dinner. What should I do? This is so unfair. I am so mad right now. I am being penalized b/c my poor cousin lost his job and they won't let my family of 3 sit at a 6-top.

Why are you stressing? it's for reservations MADE AFTER October 26. Sit back and relax.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I am trying my best to see how this is a bad thing. For those of you against it as you say you can't know 24 hours prior whether you will show, what have you done in the past.

Have you been not showing up or cancelling at the last minute and letting tables set empty, preventing others from dining, costing Disney lost revenue which results in higher prices for you and the rest of us.

Honestly and I am not judging, I just can't seem to grasp not living in a world where this is already common practice.

I mean Disney has very strict policies for rooms cancellations that are much more expensive, require a credit card or debit, and much further out than 24 hours, how do you handle that?

I guess short of dire emergency which I would at that point care less about money lost, I can plan 24 hours out, as I do it all the time in my daily life.

Don't any of you take other vacations where advance reservations are a necessity? I know we do.

I can't speak for everyone, but I've only ever canceled one ADR in many years of going to WDW. The morning we were supposed to drive up to WDW from my grandparents (we were visiting them in SW FL) DS12 (then 10) woke up and was the same color as a tomato. Went to CVS and bought a thermometer and his temp was 105.Spent the next four hours finding a clinic that would take a walk-in from out of state, getting him checked, getting the meds etc. He had strep throat. We ended up heading to Disney much later than originally planned.

I had an ADR planned for 'Ohana that night which I canceled.

Not sure how I was supposed to know the night before that DS was going to get sick the next day. There were no symptoms until that morning.

What is interesting to me, is that all the restaurants that I've been to that are on the list (primarily the character meals and 'Ohana) are notorious for long waits. Even with the no-shows, I think Disney often has more people than they should at these places. They don't need to fill the tables at these places - they are full! It just sounds like another way to nickel and dime people to me.

Count me in with those who think this idea is going to punish "the good" people more than it does "the bad" unless some major kinks are worked out.

 

[Sammie]

I know the calaber of Disney dining can not be compared to other restaurants in such places as NYC, etc. but this pay for no shows is not uncommon in the restaurant business.

Fees can range from $25 to $175 per person and from 24 hours notice to 3 days.

While many will not like, many will.

And Disney is obviously losing money over this, and/or a large number of complaints or it would not have changed.

 

[MELSMICE]

And Disney is obviously losing money over this, and/or a large number of complaints or it would not have changed.

Agreed!

 

[Keke]

Well, thank you for talking me off the ledge, but the release was quite confusing to me. It could have been worded a bit better to stress that they mean reservations BOOKED after that date. That's just my opinion, of course, but it was not clear to me when all I saw was that a new cancellation policy starts in late October. Again, just my opinion.