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

[starousse]

I could not have said it better...this is an ADR...not a contract or moral commitment and time in Disney is a VACATION. We have cancelled ADRs many times while on VACATION ....not because of illness but because we are having fun in the moment and just don't feel like going to dinner. My every day life is so scheduled - down to the minute - what I love about VACATION is not having a schedule. We have cancelled because we are hanging by the pool and just want to stay, because we are at a lounge and want to have apps and drinks for dinner, because we want to order room service and stay in, or because we had too much fun during the day and maybe over indulged in some yummy snacks. That is what is great about VACATION.

Since I know if I want to have a table service meal I must have an ADR that is booked months out, I make them (one a night - not multiple) but we do end up canceling about half of them - I always cancel them - I have never been an no show. When I do this at the hotel, the cast members just love it because they know that they will get to make some magic for the next guest looking for an ADR!

I am against this fee - I would agree with a no-show fee however. This will change the way we vacation and we will make sure to not book a dinner that has a fee unless we are sure that is one of the 1 or 2 that are "must do's" for us.

I do question a dining policy that forces people to try to "game" the system which has resulted in this new fee. Disney is addressing the symptom - not the problem. They created this mess and are now are removing some of the magic associated with a Disney Vacation.

We have 8 Dinner ADRs for our upcoming trip and 3 or 4 will be cancelled - probably within 2 or 3 hours of our schedule time. Oh the horror - someone who did not plan 6 months ago will benefit from our change of plans!

I may be in the minority, but I agree with you 100%.

 

[Song of the South]

Okay, some one may have already posted about this but I made reservations for January at Ohana via the WDW website *last week* (so post 10/26) and wasn't asked for my cc info and as far as I am aware Disney doesn't have it already (when I call I've been asked to put one on file and have declined). So, what's the deal? Has the policy changed or is the website not up to date?!?

Thanks!
SotS

 

[pinkerbell]

I could not have said it better...this is an ADR...not a contract or moral commitment and time in Disney is a VACATION. We have cancelled ADRs many times while on VACATION ....not because of illness but because we are having fun in the moment and just don't feel like going to dinner. My every day life is so scheduled - down to the minute - what I love about VACATION is not having a schedule. We have cancelled because we are hanging by the pool and just want to stay, because we are at a lounge and want to have apps and drinks for dinner, because we want to order room service and stay in, or because we had too much fun during the day and maybe over indulged in some yummy snacks. That is what is great about VACATION.

Since I know if I want to have a table service meal I must have an ADR that is booked months out, I make them (one a night - not multiple) but we do end up canceling about half of them - I always cancel them - I have never been an no show. When I do this at the hotel, the cast members just love it because they know that they will get to make some magic for the next guest looking for an ADR!

I am against this fee - I would agree with a no-show fee however. This will change the way we vacation and we will make sure to not book a dinner that has a fee unless we are sure that is one of the 1 or 2 that are "must do's" for us.

I do question a dining policy that forces people to try to "game" the system which has resulted in this new fee. Disney is addressing the symptom - not the problem. They created this mess and are now are removing some of the magic associated with a Disney Vacation.

We have 8 Dinner ADRs for our upcoming trip and 3 or 4 will be cancelled - probably within 2 or 3 hours of our schedule time. Oh the horror - someone who did not plan 6 months ago will benefit from our change of plans!

I agree also. I still believe this is for revenue and nothing to do with people canceling ADR's, which many have posted aren't even real reservations. Bean couters are taking away the magic and it is becoming less of a vacation and more of an obligation. Sad for those who like disney but also want some felxibility. I can't seee how this doea anything other than make disney $$. It would not discourage me from booking extra ressies and then just canceling 24 hours out. so that does nothing for the person who plans a trip 100 days out as I have all my ressies at the 180 mark. And many have stated they don't to be connected to technology to be made aware of a ressie opening. Maybe a few, but then will that guest need to cancel another existing ressie to get one that just opened up? I wouldnt pay a any fee per person just to switch a ressie. Especially if I went to antoher park that day to get to a ressie I did make. The entire thing is just crazy and certianly does not show a commmitment to the guests in a guest centered industry.

 

[Forever Fairy]

Ok, I'm probably the minority here - and I'm not sure if it's been said. I think the original intent with this new policy was the fact that there were a lot of people making multiple reservations for the same time and then not canceling the ones they didn't use.

As a result, many restaurants had tables not in use and were losing revenue, because they were holding the ADR expecting people to show up.

I do agree they may need to tweak the cancellation policy, but I'm overall grateful for now possibly having opportunities to get reservations at places I previously could not because of multiple bookings.

 

[krmlaw]

i like the idea .. but upset bc sometimes Big Brother decides that morning he doesnt want to get up and come to the character bfast, so its 3 and not 4. do i have to pay for him? that seems CRAZY.

 

[mcd2745]

i like the idea .. but upset bc sometimes Big Brother decides that morning he doesnt want to get up and come to the character bfast, so its 3 and not 4. do i have to pay for him? that seems CRAZY.

Based on what info we have so far, you would not be charged if you only show up with 3 instead of 4.

 

[nancytoby]

So has anyone had real first-hand experience with problems getting charged for non-cancellation or no-shows at WDW from the new system to tell us about?

 

[AWHOFAN]

Ok, I'm probably the minority here - and I'm not sure if it's been said. I think the original intent with this new policy was the fact that there were a lot of people making multiple reservations for the same time and then not canceling the ones they didn't use.
As a result, many restaurants had tables not in use and were losing revenue, because they were holding the ADR expecting people to show up.


I agree with you. These post have gone so far off track. Its all about the people that double book and never cancel their reservations. Please think of others.

 

[SLJ6974]

I still think it has a great deal to do with the money Disney will make.

 

[smidgy]

Ok, I'm probably the minority here - and I'm not sure if it's been said. I think the original intent with this new policy was the fact that there were a lot of people making multiple reservations for the same time and then not canceling the ones they didn't use.

As a result, many restaurants had tables not in use and were losing revenue, because they were holding the ADR expecting people to show up.
I do agree they may need to tweak the cancellation policy, but I'm overall grateful for now possibly having opportunities to get reservations at places I previously could not because of multiple bookings.

actually, the bolded part is not true, Disney doesn't set aside a table, leaving it empty for an ADR. as stated earlier, an ADR is not a truereservation, in that sense. you will get the next available table for your party size.. and after 20 minutes, .... you won't, they'll seat someone else.

I'm kinda in the middle on this one. I think it's really is poor taste to book multiple reservations becuase you aren't sure where you want to eat that night, or which park you will be in. OR, you know you want to eat at XXXX restauratn, but you're not sure which night. and I am glad they are trying to stop this behavior.

on the other hand, the 24 hour thing kinds bites for those who are sick, etc. and no, if little susie is sick on tues., you don't know if she wil be feeling better or not for wednesday's princess breakfast... how could you?

maybe if they charged just $10 per ADR, not $10 per person?

I do feel that those cancelling ressies (there! I used that word many hate) on the same day are doing a favor for those who don't plan to the nth degree 180 days out.. leaves room for walk-ins.

or, maybe charge the fee if you don't cancel 2 hours ahead of time?, not 24 hours.. I think a lto of people are caling on the cell phones, a few hours ahead of time looking for reservations...

 

[krmlaw]

i wonder if they are going to hold you to the 24hr rule ... and maybe allow for refunds within a couple of hours? will be interesting to see.

 

[aubriee]

Based on what info we have so far, you would not be charged if you only show up with 3 instead of 4.

Are you sure about that? A few years ago we were charged for one person when we showed up one short at Akershus. I woke up sick that morning and sent my family on without me, thinking that as long as the party showed up we wouldn't be charged. When we got back home, I went online to pay my CC and found we'd been charged the no show fee for one person.

 

[mcd2745]

Are you sure about that? A few years ago we were charged for one person when we showed up one short at Akershus. I woke up sick that morning and sent my family on without me, thinking that as long as the party showed up we wouldn't be charged. When we got back home, I went online to pay my CC and found we'd been charged the no show fee for one person.

No one is sure yet. That was just what people have been told by dining line CMs. We all know how that goes, though. That's why I didn't answer very definitively.

 

[Colleen27]

Are you sure about that? A few years ago we were charged for one person when we showed up one short at Akershus. I woke up sick that morning and sent my family on without me, thinking that as long as the party showed up we wouldn't be charged. When we got back home, I went online to pay my CC and found we'd been charged the no show fee for one person.

Right now all we've got to go on are dining line CM answers and so far I've gotten 3 different explanations of "one day prior" and both yes & no answers to the partial no-show question, so all I'm willing to say definitively is that Disney is at consistent only in their lack of consistency among front-line phone CMs.

Given the fact that there wasn't a consistent policy for Akershus and California Grill when they were the only no-show-charge restaurants makes me think even first-hand reports won't mean a whole lot. It could very well come down to the whim of the specific CM that you encounter.

 

[smidgy]

Right now all we've got to go on are dining line CM answers and so far I've gotten 3 different explanations of "one day prior" and both yes & no answers to the partial no-show question, so all I'm willing to say definitively is that Disney is at consistent only in their lack of consistency among front-line phone CMs.

Given the fact that there wasn't a consistent policy for Akershus and California Grill when they were the only no-show-charge restaurants makes me think even first-hand reports won't mean a whole lot. It could very well come down to the whim of the specific CM that you encounter.

truer words were never spoken!

we stayed at BLT just after the new policy of the monorail closing one hour after regular park closing. which meant no monorail for emh... or.. maybe, for the resort monorail.. oops maybe not... it was the week of night of jy.. did the monrail run for that? MNSSHP? espress monorail? resort monorail?

NO ONE knew! not kidding.. we were staying at a "monorail" resort, and would call front desk in the AM to get the monorail hours.. got a dif. answer every call. same morning!! at check in, one Cm didn't even know the monorail hours had changed. another did, but didn't know the hours.

this new ADR concellation policy should be.. um.. interesting..

 

[aubriee]

This may have been posted somewhere already. I did not read the whole thread. But I finally got around to making my ADRs for my upcoming May 5th-13th trip yesterday. I go to WDW 4-5 times a year. I currently have ADRs booked for three different trips (Nov-26th-Dec 4th, Feb 4th-11th, and May 5th-13th). I'm not fond of most CS, so usually do an early TS lunch around 11am-12pm, then a Signature restaurant every night about 7:30pm. Knowing that there was no way I was willing to give a cc guarantee for almost all of my ADRs, I went in knowing that I would not be making any ADRs at my favorite Signature restaurants. I usually keep all my ADRs, but you never know what may happen. Anyway I was surprised to find lunch at Tusker House and Le Cellier both required a cc guarantee. Le Cellier is not Signature at lunch and Tusker House is not a character meal at lunch is it? Both were available at the times I wanted, but I passed on both and chose restaurants that did not requite the cc guarantee. Even though I know Brown Derby is a Signature at both meals, for some reason I wasn't thinking about it requiring a cc guarantee for lunch either. I went with MM and will try my chances as a walk up at Brown Derby when I get down there, then cancel MM at the last minute if I get in. I'll be doing the same thing for Tusker House--see if I can get in as a walk up when they first open and if I do, cancel my Y&Y ADR at the last minute. I'll also be checking with my favorite Signature restaurants once I get down there either just as they open or during the day that I want them. If I can get in, I'll be canceling alot of ADRs last minute, when normally I would make my ADRs at 180 days out and keep them.

I also made alot of ADRs at nonDisney restaurants that I normally don't: Bistro de Paris, Il Mulino, Shulas, Bongos, Blue Zoo, and Portobellos. I'll also be eating at Kimonos in May. Normally Disney would get my money at dinner time, but now nonDisney restaurants will be getting more of my money.

 

[Colleen27]

Anyway I was surprised to find lunch at Tusker House and Le Cellier both required a cc guarantee. Le Cellier is not Signature at lunch and Tusker House is not a character meal at lunch is it?

Rather than differentiate by meal, the new policy applies to all meals at restaurants that have characters or are signature for any part of the day. So Le Cellier lunch, Ohana and Cape May dinner, etc. all have the CC requirement and cancellation policy.

BTW, Tusker House is a character meal for lunch starting next week. No characters at dinner, but still requires a CC for booking because of the way this policy is designed.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'll also be checking with my favorite Signature restaurants once I get down there either just as they open or during the day that I want them. If I can get in, I'll be canceling alot of ADRs last minute, when normally I would make my ADRs at 180 days out and keep them.

I think a lot of other folks will be doing this exact same thing.

 

[Marshay]

Normally Disney would get my money at dinner time, but now nonDisney restaurants will be getting more of my money.

Good for you!!

We, too, are trying a new non-Disney character meal: Garden Grove over at the Swolphin. Disney normally would have gotten our money for 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey or Garden Grill but not this time.

We ate at BlueZoo before and enjoyed our meal. Perfect for adults...although we did see kids there too -- after all it is Disney!

You can also get a Restaurant dot com gift certificate for some of the other restaurants at the Swolphin (or at least you could in the past).

If you are unfamiliar, you pay like $2 for a $25 gift certificate (if you buy during an 80% off sale). Check the rules carefully, most say you have to purchase two entrees or have a minimum dollar amount excluding alcohol, so if you are an app/dessert person, this may not work.

But it can save you money, lets you experience a new restaurant/foods/hotel and not have to worry about paying $10/pp for whatever reason works for you or befalls on you during your vacation.

 

[Colleen27]

I think a lot of other folks will be doing this exact same thing.

And over time that will likely be the justification for expanding this policy to all restaurants.