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

[SLJ6974]

I agree with the other poster. Probably not significant BUT too many gamesters?

Disney might only accept ADRs linked to your resort reservation. No-Show fees would be charged back to your resort.

Not staying at a WDW resort? Disney will either make you pre-pay for your meal or pay a deposit of ($20 /head). Actual credit card charge.

Being made to pre-pay for a meal they could do. But really? I know some of them require that but when it gets to the point where most do I will just choose to vacation somewhere else. And your ADRS do not have to be linked to your resort reservation. They don't even have to have your real name on them.

 

[waynesgirl]

I'm going to pick on you here for a moment. My company works in education web-based software tools. So everything we do is internet bowser-based. When bugs pop up in IE (which they often do), the developers always say that the system's designed for Firefox/Chrome and IE is garbage and it's not their fault some dopes are still dumb enough to use IE (gotta love IT know-it-alls). But the reality is that something like 90% of K-12 education uses IE as their browser. So is our responsibility to code and work around what our customer's actually use or tell them it's their fault that they're using a buggy browser (most of the time of which they have no control over - it's the IT department's control what's loaded/used)? If we want those customers, yes it is our responsibility to work around the tools our customers use.

Transferring this to the Disney discussion, the age on smart phones is here and Disney should be making all of their web-based applications compatible with the leading tools used to access their tools. And what % of smartphones are running IE?

Again, this is a different view of customer service that NLD or someone brought up pages ago. Do you try to understand your customer and develop your service/systems around their behavior patterns or do you try to force your customer's behavior patterns into the square box you believe in?

I agree with you to a point. Unfortunately, like many other hotels and other entities, IE is the only thing that I can use at work as that is what my hotel's PMSOP functions on without problems. So, I have to use it at home as well, to make everything seamless. (I do switch at home.) So, maybe there is a reason that Disney uses it. Also unfortunately, Disney has to use the approach of "it is good enough for most" as you cannot make everyone happy. As far as my personal ethic goes, I will bend over backwards for my customer- but when do I draw the line of infringing on my personal space and time when they expect more than I can give? This is what I think it has come to with Disney.

I really don't have a horse to lead to this glue factory- I make a few ADRs and if I want more, then I try walk up. But, much like many different topics, there are the have and have nots and nobody's ever going to agree, until EVERYONE loses an eye, so to speak.

True, but guest services has its issue as well - namely, having to stand in a physical line to cancel an ADR. At least in the virtual line of a phone queue we could get back to our resort while waiting. Not so with getting in line between 3-4 other people at the guest services counter.

I do agree with you on this. It is frustrating to stand in line. If they made it where there was a 2 hour window and then a penalty, would you have a problem standing in a line if that was the only option? Not being snarky, just trying to wrap my mind around all the scenarios. If it was pre-paid, would you?

They accept them now for room reservations and KTTW charging privledges. If that hasn't caused problems, why would using them for dining be the thing that causes them to disallow the use of pre-paid cards?
Receiving money up front is the key. With a pre-paid card, the money has to be taken, as there is not actual account it is drawn on-and then Disney makes sure that you have the money when you arrive-they also use a "transfer" for the money on the KTTW card that tecnically refunds the money that you do not use, instead of waiting until the end to take it . If you are on site, you are "available" should you try to cancel the card-like my example, a rental car can be stolen and since the money is only "authorized" and not actually secured, you have lost money. For a reservation that you have to show up to, such as an ADR, you can cancel that card at anytime before and voila, no money. KTTW card can be charged on the last day as well (as it usually is by midnight) with the guest still in-house. If it is a cancelled card, believe me, WDW will know it. And I have a feeling that the use of pre-paid cards will rapidly come to a close if more people decide to use them on the ADRs and cancel...

I doubt it, at least for people with bigger families. Because now you're talking about tying up hundreds of dollars for 6 months just to be able to have a few nice dinners or character meals on vacation.

I doubt it for the bigger families as well, but I think that many families will, especially those that want that coveted reservation above anyone else.

Being made to pre-pay for a meal they could do. But really? I know some of them require that but when it gets to the point where most do I will just choose to vacation somewhere else. And your ADRS do not have to be linked to your resort reservation. They don't even have to have your real name on them.

And that comes back to the whole point. I see many solutions but none are perfect, like:

1. Linking to your resort reservation is a must, especially if you have DPs. That way, the "punishment" could be losing your TS credits if you are a no-show or a 2 hour or less cancellation. Of course, if you switch reservations to another place, then that is different.

2. APs should have it linked to their "account" and a penalty added, like no ADRS for 60 days if you cancel, etc....

3. If you do not have a resort res or AP, then you should have to leave a $10 per person deposit, refundable if you cancel within 2 hours or whatever....

Again, I hope this works in everyone's favor....or at least a workable solution for some satisfaction.

 

[Snurk71]

I agree with you to a point. Unfortunately, like many other hotels and other entities, IE is the only thing that I can use at work as that is what my hotel's PMSOP functions on without problems. So, I have to use it at home as well, to make everything seamless. (I do switch at home.) So, maybe there is a reason that Disney uses it. Also unfortunately, Disney has to use the approach of "it is good enough for most" as you cannot make everyone happy. As far as my personal ethic goes, I will bend over backwards for my customer- but when do I draw the line of infringing on my personal space and time when they expect more than I can give? This is what I think it has come to with Disney.

I have all 3 browsers (IE, Firefox, Chrome) on my PCs and laptop. But when you make an IE-only site you're killing all of the smartphone users (relatively speaking) - at least I don't think Microsoft has or is making an IE version for Android or iOS. That's what doesn't make any sense. Everyone is developing mobile sites and they design them for iOS and Android - except apparently Disney. That just seems dumb. How much of the smartphone market is running Windows - like 7%?

I know we're branching OT here a little. But it's a sign of the proper thought process in rolling things out to your customer base.

 

[housemouse]

Here's another wrinkle. What if you're cc expiration date is before your ADR's? As an example, I booked my last trip in January for a September stay. The card I used to book the trip with expired in June. Therefore that card couldn't be accepted on my reservation for charging privileges even though it automatically renews with the same #. I had to wait until I received the new card in June to have it added. So what happens to people who want to make an ADR 180 days out but their card expires in 170 days. Do they have to wait until 10 days out when they have a new card in hand to make ADRs now?

 

[waynesgirl]

That just seems dumb. How much of the smartphone market is running Windows - like 7%?

I know we're branching OT here a little. But it's a sign of the proper thought process in rolling things out to your customer base.

Funny you should say that....I loved my Windows smartphone that I had a couple of years ago, but the platform just wasn't strongly built at the time. I feel the same way about my HP touchsmart laptop...had it 5 years and still think it is an amazing piece of machinery.

And I do understand what you are saying, and definitely what everyone else is saying, but it also seems like a way to shuck the blame for the ultimate responsibility to Disney and not to the ADR holder.

Case in point, I had a guest who had a small ladybug in her room. In my mind, not a big deal. Her mind, huge. I am very customer service oriented...did everything I could. She didn't want to move rooms, I even offered her another night at a different hotel at my cost. She stayed and I offered her 50% off her next night. She was happy....or so I thought.
She then smoked, in my non-smoking hotel, had a trace-sized illegal substance in the room, and checked out 3 hours late. Then she sent my brand a nasty letter wanting all of her money back. Who was in the wrong? (We are still in a discussion about this.)

This is my point with Disney. I even had a problem with travel insurance recently. They refunded my money, even when they have it posted that it is non-refundable and technically, it is MY responsibility to make sure my reservation is right. They didn't have to because it is posted and if it is posted, it is hard to fight....but they did it to make me happy. When does the happiness stop and the business side start?

Same with your business. It is so hard for some of us to agree or disagree with every point.

Being in the business, I see it fom both sides. I am a self-proclaimed cheapskate, and do the best to make sure I stay that way but I also try not to push it either....

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Here's another wrinkle. What if you're cc expiration date is before your ADR's? As an example, I booked my last trip in January for a September stay. The card I used to book the trip with expired in June. Therefore that card couldn't be accepted on my reservation for charging privileges even though it automatically renews with the same #. I had to wait until I received the new card in June to have it added. So what happens to people who want to make an ADR 180 days out but their card expires in 170 days. Do they have to wait until 10 days out when they have a new card in hand to make ADRs now?

What happens if you use a card that you cancel? I just made ADR's using a card that was compromised a couple days later. The credit card called me, cancelled my card, and sent me a new one. All future activity on that card will be decline. So now what???

And also, as far as the $10 pre pay thought... NO WAY! We have 7 people going. We do 2 ADR's a day. We go for 10 days..... that would tie up $1400! And since I'm on the dining plan it's not even money I would be spending!

 

[333disneymom]

I'd limit early ADRs, to guests with a WDW hotel reservation (OK include DVC reservations). Link it to your reservation number. That means only 1 or 2 ADRs per day. Cancel your hotel reservation and all your ADRs go with it. Otherwise open up reservations at 30 or 45 days.

I like the idea of linking ADRs to a reservation, however l don't think Disney would ever limit ADRs to 1 or 2 a day, as the Deluxe Dining Plan allows for 3 meals a day. Based on the dining reviews I've read, many people do in fact book and use 3 ADRs a day.

 

[Colleen27]

So, maybe there is a reason that Disney uses it. Also unfortunately, Disney has to use the approach of "it is good enough for most" as you cannot make everyone happy.

"Good enough for most" would be a generic, non-browser specific web portal that will function for most. I get that there are reasons people still use IE, but it isn't as though inclusive web design excludes those people. And particularly at this point in time, with so many people using mobile browsers in their touring/travel habits, optimizing for a browser that holds about 5% of that market is indicative of slow-to-adapt IT habits at best.

I do agree with you on this. It is frustrating to stand in line. If they made it where there was a 2 hour window and then a penalty, would you have a problem standing in a line if that was the only option? Not being snarky, just trying to wrap my mind around all the scenarios. If it was pre-paid, would you?

I did even when there was no money attached, but clearly many people did not and in fact some CMs even advised that there was no need to cancel. To me, this is an issue no matter what the penalty or cancellation window is - if Disney wants to get people to cancel unused ADRs they should make it simpler to do so. And in the name of good customer service, they should have done that before resorting to ways to make failing to cancel more painful than navigating the flawed cancellation system.

Receiving money up front is the key. With a pre-paid card, the money has to be taken, as there is not actual account it is drawn on-and then Disney makes sure that you have the money when you arrive-they also use a "transfer" for the money on the KTTW card that tecnically refunds the money that you do not use, instead of waiting until the end to take it . If you are on site, you are "available" should you try to cancel the card-like my example, a rental car can be stolen and since the money is only "authorized" and not actually secured, you have lost money. For a reservation that you have to show up to, such as an ADR, you can cancel that card at anytime before and voila, no money. KTTW card can be charged on the last day as well (as it usually is by midnight) with the guest still in-house. If it is a cancelled card, believe me, WDW will know it. And I have a feeling that the use of pre-paid cards will rapidly come to a close if more people decide to use them on the ADRs and cancel...

Disney actually doesn't pre-authorize any fixed amount at check in. I leave a debit card with virtually no balance for my room key, because I pay at check out with gift cards (school fundraiser) and don't want them charging my on-file card before I get to the desk (we've had them send charges to the card on file as early as 10ish on the day before check-out). They ping the card for $1 at check in to verify the card's validity they do not check for available balance. I don't imagine they'd be more aggressive with ensuring payment of $10 per person ADR no-show fees than they are in assuring the guest has the funds to cover KTTW purchases.

 

[racefanof88]

I would think that Disney will eventually not allow these ressies to be made with a prepaid card. I mean cant you see people doing that with a card that has ten bucks on it. Ya I would love it too but Disney would not be able to get their revenue in that way. And this all boils down to them needing to bring in more revenue. They have to pay for free dining somehow.

At that point Disney cuts out a whole group of people. Everyone doesn't have a credit card, nor do they want one. I have used prepaid cards at Disney many times because I don't use my credit card while traveling(too many people end up with fraudulent charges). Just because someone has a credit card that ISN'T prepaid doesn't mean that card isn't charged up to the limit by the time they get to Disney.

If Disney cuts out prepaid cards then they would likely cut out Disney gift cards, and that would be hurting themselves. Disney gift cards can be used to pay for anything at Disney.

WOW...after reading this WHOLE thread and really evaluating what everyone has posted, I will now say it is starting to fall apart rapidly. There are many posts on here that are shocking in what they have said...bluntly, I might add. Now, in order to buck the system that you don't like, many on here are not using courtesy and common sense, but mean-spirited ideas. Many people are forgetting that Disney is a business- they pay for the gas in the buses that people use (as a convenience) as a small example. At an average of $4 per gallon, let's try to understand this.

Sorry to have "shocked" you, but I don't believe in candy coating anything, so yes I am pretty blunt in what I have to say. Leaves no room for misinterpretation that way. I honestly don't see how my comments are mean spirited either, as I don't think Disney has a right to take money that they have NOT earned, that is mean spirited on Disney's part. I do use common sense and I am a very courteous person, but there are limits to what I will stand for. Disney isn't being courteous by charging for something they haven't earned. I work hard for my money and I am very careful how I spend it. I haven't forgotten that Disney is a business, but I think Disney has forgotten how to treat people who are bringing them their business. Disney has to remember that without customers, they are out of business. Now with all that said I have never made an ADR, or any type reservation, that if unable to keep, I did not cancel as soon as I knew I wouldn't make it.

Two years ago my son and I both came down with Swine flu while at Disney. Would you have wanted me sitting next to you at CP? OR touching the serving utensils that your child came behind me and picked up? While I was not showing symptoms yet, I was still shedding the virus. I did not have 24 hours to cancel my ADR because we woke up and my DS was showing symptoms. We left and drove home that day so there was no "proving" our illness to Disney.

As for the $4 per gallon of gas for the buses, well that is the cost of doing business. Disney could charge off property guests a small fee to ride the transportation as I feel I MORE than pay for the privilege in my high room cost and my AP prices. We don't use ME since we drive to Disney, but I pay for it when I stay on site.

Originally Posted by racefanof88
As Disney continues to kill what little bit of magic is left; they are encouraging people to pick a different vacation option. Some see this as a good thing, and I have tried to see it from Disney's perspective, but I can't.

There have been those saying that it hurts the servers if tables sit empty. Well, that may be so, but does anyone really think Disney is going to give that server the $10 per person fee?

I think it might- I eat OOP. I also tip VERY well, being a former server and I have children that the server has to clean up after. I tip, based on the cost of the bill and the service I receive. At a TS place, this does mean a lot to the servers- that guest that does not show for your table has to be replaced. Example: I am a walk up at San Angel at 4:55. No tables available- I don't go back to see later. You don't cancel you 5PM ADR- they hold that table for 20 minutes. That table sits empty.

So you think Disney is going to give the $10 fee to the server? NO they are not. The server won't see a penny of that money as it would change the pay scale and Disney would have to hold out taxes on that money, thus creating a whole new accounting issue.

By your example you are assuming that you would be the ONLY person in all of Disney World that walked up to San Angel that day for an ADR. When you walk away someone else walks up behind you looking for a table. There have been several posts on this thread that states people have been turned away as a walk up, only to call/login and get an ADR.

I will also use a prepaid card to make any ADRs that require a CC hold because I have encountered a few not so bright workers at Disney.

THIS is what has really rankled me- we do not accept pre-paid cards where I work for this reason. We are trained to be able to tell in person, and our system is specific enough to tell us it is a pre-paid card and will refuse it as a valid card for reservations. By stating you will do this, for whatever reason, you have thereby made yourself, by your own words, look like a cheat. I am on the fence about the ADR policy but THIS will ultimately make this a concrete policy and you, and the others who are planning this, will make it so, not the other people on this thread.

Rankled you? WOW, you must own stock in Disney for it to bother you that much. How I conduct MY business should cause you no resentment or irritation. If I want to use a prepaid card to make my reservation I think that is MY business. I have never, nor would I ever cheat anyone or any business out of money they have EARNED. By assuming I would ever cheat a business out of money makes you look judgmental. I don't think I said anywhere in my post that I would make the ADRs and just blow them off, did I? NO, I said Disney has some workers who are not the brightest bulbs in the pack, and I will NOT give them access to my bank account/credit card information so they can "make an honest mistake" and charge me a no show fee when I am at the restaurant. The length of time for Disney to credit my card back could be 7-10 business days and that money is my vacation money.

My response to Disney's new policy is to not make ADRs at the affected restaurants and eat off site for more meals. We have 3 ADRs for our March trip with only Le Cellier falling on the list of restaurants affected, but we made the ADR before the new policy took effect. If I can't keep my ADRs I will cancel them as soon as I know I won't make it. Will it be within the new cancel window? I don't know as I don't know what will be going on in March.





I know Disney would refund a fee charged by accident, but when? I may have plans for that money, likely to pay for that meal. I budget my vacation, and it is a different fund from my household budget. I don't dip into one to fund the other.

Then maybe the ADR plan isn't for you.

Again, I am still on the fence about the ADR plan. It really doesn't affect me at all, but I can see the pros and cons for it. But I do see why, after reading some of these posts, that Disney would have to go to these drastic measures. There have been a lot of selfish posts- both for and against the plan- and I am really surprised. It is like the FP threads, except where food is concerned. Sad, really.

So you're assuming, since some of us are against Disney's policy, we are the reason for said policy? You are jumping to all kinds of unfounded conclusions. Like I said I have NEVER blown off an ADR, nor have I ever cheated Disney, or anyone else, out of money. Disney has, as other have said, found a new revenue stream.

Look for more and more of these type charges to come. I can see them instituting a fee for off property guests to use Disney transportation, ie: $1 per person per day and you get a boarding pass for all Disney transportation. If you are a resort guest you just show your KTTW card, AP holders show their AP and DVC members show their membership cards. Mark my words, it is coming.

 

[waynesgirl]

I did even when there was no money attached, but clearly many people did not and in fact some CMs even advised that there was no need to cancel. To me, this is an issue no matter what the penalty or cancellation window is - if Disney wants to get people to cancel unused ADRs they should make it simpler to do so. And in the name of good customer service, they should have done that before resorting to ways to make failing to cancel more painful than navigating the flawed cancellation system.

I have heard the same thing but also at Biergarten, I was thanked by the podium staff for making a cancellation (4 hours prior) as they said NO ONE cancelled ahead of time.
Disney actually doesn't pre-authorize any fixed amount at check in. I leave a debit card with virtually no balance for my room key, because I pay at check out with gift cards (school fundraiser) and don't want them charging my on-file card before I get to the desk (we've had them send charges to the card on file as early as 10ish on the day before check-out). I do understand this...but as a business owner, it seems one thing and it is actually another. It is different for every account that it is drawn on ....
In a case of charge for note showing, it will be instabt instead of late.


They ping the card for $1 at check in to verify the card's validity they do not check for available balance. I don't imagine they'd be more aggressive with ensuring payment of $10 per person ADR no-show fees than they are in assuring the guest has the funds to cover KTTW purchases.

As a owner of a SMALL business, I did insist that money was good. But it was not BILLIONS either.

At that point Disney cuts out a whole group of people. Everyone doesn't have a credit card, nor do they want one. I have used prepaid cards at Disney many times because I don't use my credit card while traveling(too many people end up with fraudulent charges). Just because someone has a credit card that ISN'T prepaid doesn't mean that card isn't charged up to the limit by the time they get to Disney.

If Disney cuts out prepaid cards then they would likely cut out Disney gift cards, and that would be hurting themselves. Disney gift cards can be used to pay for anything at Disney. But these go thru Disney mostly...they can track these.

Sorry to have "shocked" you, but I don't believe in candy coating anything, so yes I am pretty blunt in what I have to say.

Two years ago my son and I both came down with Swine flu while at Disney. Would you have wanted me sitting next to you at CP? OR touching the serving utensils that your child came behind me and picked up? While I was not showing symptoms yet, I was still shedding the virus.

I do hate that. As a Mom, of 4 from ages 22-5, I understand. I will do my best to help to prevent the spread, but...

As for the $4 per gallon of gas for the buses, well that is the cost of doing business. Disney could charge off property guests a small fee to ride the transportation as I feel I MORE than pay for the privilege in my high room cost and my AP prices. We don't use ME since we drive to Disney, but I pay for it when I stay on site. No, but you pay for e-EMH and the recognition of being there early....
I do apprreciate it. 2 years ago, ALL 3 of my children that went and got sick when we got home with the flu....and then me. I had to go to work, and it was a yanker of a week.

So you're assuming, since some of us are against Disney's policy, we are the reason for said policy? You are jumping to all kinds of unfounded conclusions. Like I said I have NEVER blown off an ADR, nor have I ever cheated Disney, or anyone else, out of money. Disney has, as other have said, found a new revenue stream.

Look for more and more of these type charges to come. I can see them instituting a fee for off property guests to use Disney transportation, ie: $1 per person per day and you get a boarding pass for all Disney transportation. If you are a resort guest you just show your KTTW card, AP holders show their AP and DVC members show their membership cards. Mark my words, it is coming.

I hope it is not coming... not just for me but for others. That's not fair. But, me, and others that pay a premium for a resort fee. You pay a premium for an AP fee, etc....IT has to balance somewhere. It cannot be all to all people. I am in the middle of the changes.

 

[Colleen27]

Here's another wrinkle. What if you're cc expiration date is before your ADR's? As an example, I booked my last trip in January for a September stay. The card I used to book the trip with expired in June. Therefore that card couldn't be accepted on my reservation for charging privileges even though it automatically renews with the same #. I had to wait until I received the new card in June to have it added. So what happens to people who want to make an ADR 180 days out but their card expires in 170 days. Do they have to wait until 10 days out when they have a new card in hand to make ADRs now?

Up to this point all that matters is that the card is valid at the time of booking, so I don't assume that has changed. I'm sure Disney realizes that with a 6 month booking window there are bound to be people who have cards expiring within that time, and that not everyone carries multiple cards to just choose another one.

 

[Cafeen]

"Good enough for most" would be a generic, non-browser specific web portal that will function for most. I get that there are reasons people still use IE, but it isn't as though inclusive web design excludes those people. And particularly at this point in time, with so many people using mobile browsers in their touring/travel habits, optimizing for a browser that holds about 5% of that market is indicative of slow-to-adapt IT habits at best.

One thing to keep in mind. "Good enough for most" would mean that more than IE works.

IE holds roughly 39% of the market share according to Wiki (which isn't the best source, but it's roughly the same I've seen in the past over several other polls, plus that data is super easy to collect). While FF and Chrome hold 46% combined . (-source-). So it seems that the good enough for most would mean that FF and Chrome should work.

The problem lies in their development staff/managers and their QA team/managers. IE allows for shortcuts that other browsers don't. It's obvious they utilize these shortcuts and do not code to W3C standards. QA should be testing on more than just IE and forcing the issue of multiple browser support (trust me on this one, I do this exact thing all the time, the words [Firefox] or [Chrome] or [MSIE] are placed in front of several of my bugs on each release cycle for my company!)

As an interesting aside, I also work for a software company that distributes web-based solutions to school districts... just a strange coincidence. The reason why districts, and many businesses, use MSIE is not out of any special reasoning other than it's what comes on Windows based machines and IT doesn't want them to download anything or have to support the multiple browsers that do indeed work better. (Well, Firefox's memory management has been crappy lately...) My company, for all it's faults, is the opposite. We're encouraged to utilize all the different browsers we can get our hands on. But, as a software company, we do try and make sure our products work across the different platforms. (And we actually fix bugs that are MSIE specific! Sometimes...)

 

[racefanof88]

I hope it is not coming... not just for me but for others. That's not fair. But, me, and others that pay a premium for a resort fee. You pay a premium for an AP fee, etc....IT has to balance somewhere. It cannot be all to all people. I am in the middle of the changes.

The way Disney is nickle and diming everything, they will impose more and more fees/charges/price increases until attendance drops off drastically. It is like they are trying to sqeeze every penny they can out of guests until there are no more guests with pennies. Kinda like a squirrel storing away nuts for the winter. Maybe Disney sees something coming in the economy that the rest of us aren't privy too and they are getting it "while the getting is good"

 

[Fire14]

Just made my Dining ressies under new rules today (11-05-11) I did all but one online, I had to put in CC info for each one that required CC. And For CRT, Fanamtasic Dinner pkg. I had to give cc garantee but wasn't charged as I'm on DDP.
And If anyone cares I was booking for more people than were in my Room/ressie as we have friends traveling with us as their room is only on hold not booked yet.

 

[Colleen27]

The way Disney is nickle and diming everything, they will impose more and more fees/charges/price increases until attendance drops off drastically. It is like they are trying to sqeeze every penny they can out of guests until there are no more guests with pennies. Kinda like a squirrel storing away nuts for the winter. Maybe Disney sees something coming in the economy that the rest of us aren't privy too and they are getting it "while the getting is good"

I don't think it is that. I think it is the fact that they've reported high occupancy and attendance but lower per-guest spending in several quarterly reports of late and they're looking for ways to separate guests from a few more of their dollars.

 

[Cafeen]

Disney wouldn't have to resort to "nickle and diming" people over ADRs if their guests could be counted on to only book the ADRs that they intended to use, and to cancel the ones they didn't plan on using. It is a pretty sad reflection on people as a whole that it has come to this. I don't blame Disney. I blame all the loosers who booked multiple ADRs and couldn't be bothered to cancel them once they knew they were not going to use them.

Here we go again...

The no shows are a symptom, not a cause. They are treating the symptom and alienating a good portion of their loyal customer base in an attempt to scoop up some extra cash in the short term. In the long term, their customers will be less likely to spend more extra money due to these types of measures, and thus Disney will have to find even further nickles and dimes.

A long term solution would have been to address the issues inherent in the base system first, seeing how that works, and then seeing if stricter measures needed to still be done. Of course, since Disney isn't thinking long term right now (at least financially), that's not the path they took. They went the route of "moar monies now!!!" Chances are, it's going to bite them in the behind in the not too distant future. We'll see how they react at that time, but my guess will be to scoop out more nickels and dimes rather than address the actual problem.

I don't think it is that. I think it is the fact that they've reported high occupancy and attendance but lower per-guest spending in several quarterly reports of late and they're looking for ways to separate guests from a few more of their dollars.

Of course, the better solution is to provide more value for those dollars (unique and better quality merchandise, food, etc), but this is the easy short-term "solution" instead.

 

[SLJ6974]

I don't think it is that. I think it is the fact that they've reported high occupancy and attendance but lower per-guest spending in several quarterly reports of late and they're looking for ways to separate guests from a few more of their dollars.

 

[maxiesmom]

Here we go again...

The no shows are a symptom, not a cause. They are treating the symptom and alienating a good portion of their loyal customer base in an attempt to scoop up some extra cash in the short term. In the long term, their customers will be less likely to spend more extra money due to these types of measures, and thus Disney will have to find even further nickles and dimes.

A long term solution would have been to address the issues inherent in the base system first, seeing how that works, and then seeing if stricter measures needed to still be done. Of course, since Disney isn't thinking long term right now (at least financially), that's not the path they took. They went the route of "moar monies now!!!" Chances are, it's going to bite them in the behind in the not too distant future. We'll see how they react at that time, but my guess will be to scoop out more nickels and dimes rather than address the actual problem.



Of course, the better solution is to provide more value for those dollars (unique and better quality merchandise, food, etc), but this is the easy short-term "solution" instead.

I don't agree with you at all. You are entitled to your opinion, and I am entitled to mine. I think they are trying to fix a problem that was losing them money, and upsetting a large number of guests.

I can tell you that when I went to book an ADR yesterday I was thrilled at the number of choices I had. Le Ceiller, Chef Mickey's, and The California Grill all had availability. So from where I am sitting, the fee is already healping. People are not being ADR hogs like they were in the past, which is fine by me.

 

[MELSMICE]

I don't agree with you at all. You are entitled to your opinion, and I am entitled to mine. I think they are trying to fix a problem that was losing them money, and upsetting a large number of guests.

I can tell you that when I went to book an ADR yesterday I was thrilled at the number of choices I had. Le Ceiller, Chef Mickey's, and The California Grill all had availability. So from where I am sitting, the fee is already healping. People are not being ADR hogs like they were in the past, which is fine by me.

I agree with you, specifically the part I bolded.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't agree with you at all. You are entitled to your opinion, and I am entitled to mine. I think they are trying to fix a problem that was losing them money, and upsetting a large number of guests.

I can tell you that when I went to book an ADR yesterday I was thrilled at the number of choices I had. Le Ceiller, Chef Mickey's, and The California Grill all had availability. So from where I am sitting, the fee is already healping. People are not being ADR hogs like they were in the past, which is fine by me.

We can't have an intelligent opinion unless we have access to information not publicly available.

We have no idea if there is an issue with "losers" who hog ADRs. Not sure how the new system will help. The same "losers" can still hog ADRs, as long as they remember to cancel a calendar day in advance.

We have no idea if the issue is with the "losers" with a family member who got sick on vacation. Losers who got soaking wet and prefer to go back to their resort and change rather then dine soaking wet. Losers who are smelly sweaty and would rather go back to their resort and shower rather offend other restaurant guests with offensive BO.

We do know Disney decided to increase $$$ with dining surcharges. We do have information which suggests Disney is looking for ways to extract $$$ from dining guests. Assuming the new policy is a "money grab" is supported by looking at Disney's recent actions. Any other conclusion can only be supported by "internet facts" but nothing else.