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

[eliza61]

Frustrated restaurateurs reserve right to charge fees for no-shows
http://www.nrn.com/article/frustrated-restaurateurs-reserve-right-charge-fees-no-shows


Nojo: Charging for no-shows
http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2011/07/18/nojo-charging-for-no-shows/


Chefs and Restaurateurs Weigh In on No-Show Customers
http://eater.com/archives/2011/09/30/chefs-and-restaurateurs-weigh-in-on-noshow-customers.php

If Disney has lousy food then why would you care if they do this since you would not be dining there anyway. It is only 19 restaurants out of hundreds, I don't think anyone will not be able to find places to eat if they avoid these restaurants due to the policy.

DisneyKevin of the Podcast Team and who does many of the wonderful restaurant reviews for the DIS has shared his thoughts in this thread and pretty much very succiently explained the point I have tried to make, that this is not uncommon policy.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2815922

Actually I really don't care. I was just contributing to the general theme of the conversation.

And your links kind of prove what I was saying. for the most part restaurants don't charge for no shows. If you notice all the articles make some type of reference to this being "new" policy. Also the article with the chefs complaining. not one of them mentioned even thinking about adding a fee.
The one guy who was from Jersey and said it maybe a good idea also mentioned he wouldn't risk ticking off return customers.
Summary: they may not like "no shows" but they are not about to potentially invite bad will but trying to enforce a no show charge.

Llastly supposedly reservations are different from ADR's according to disney an adr does not "hold" open and empty table. they will seat you at the first available table. that is a bit different than holding open a table thereby losing revenue. according to disney they don't do this.

Now I don't know about the west coast but in NY and Philly, its uncommon.

But you are right, I have no pony in this race. I will still make a few adr's, I have double booked I try not to but I have done it (and this new policy does nothing to stop that) and I have a car when I travel so this new policy really doesnt effect me.

I'll leave now

 

[CandleontheWater]

I think what really gets me is that this change (and others that Disney has instituted recently) is taking the "vacation" out of a Disney vacation.

Now, instead of absorbing the magic, and enjoying my time without a care in the world (which is what a vacation is supposed to be about, right?), I have to be watching the clock, militantly herding everyone over to the restaurant at the prescribed time. This is sounding more like work than my average day at work.

I understand that people are angry when they can't get into the restaurants they want. I take many last minute vacations, and I understand the frustration, but I still don't see how this is a good change. It will be nice if I can book CP at 2 months out, but it won't be nice when I get the park and have the threat of a dining penalty hanging over my head if something veers off track.

Disney has other options to handle this, and I don't understand why they haven't taken advantage of it. I'm sure that they have statistics that break down what percentage of ADRs are no shows, and can use that knowledge to better manage the dining situation on property. Instead of using the information they have at hand to work to make the situation better for guests, they instead decide to institute a restrictive, revenue generating policy that penalizes guests.

Other restaurants around the globe manage to integrate a reservation system with walk up diners and staff accordingly without inconveniencing guests. I would expect as much from a leader in the hospitality industry.

Maybe it is morally wrong to make an ADR and not show up, regardless of the reason, but that is not why Disney created this policy. Disney does not care about the DIS morality police, they care about creating revenue with the least inconvenience to them, and this is once instance where it has the potential to hurt many guests.

 

[ccgirl]

I'm really not seeing an issue here. If you don't like being tied to ADR's don't make them. If there is an unforseen sickness, call them with as much notice. For those vacations I don't want to interrupt our time in the park I either go for a CS meal or hope for a walk up. I actually consider it more relaxing to take time out of the touring and sit for a leisurely meal.

Bottom line, WDW is out to make money. That's what business is all about.

 

[mcd2745]

I'm all for a no-show fee. I just think a 24hr window for cancellations is excessive because of all the reasons already brought up - illness, travel delay, weather, etc. that don't necessarily give a 24hr heads up. The ADR system recognizes cancelled reservations as available immediately, so the tech is there for a system that would allow for more flexibility to deal with the unexpected by implementing a shorter cancellation period.

The biggest problem with a cancellation window less than 24 hours are the breakfast reservations. If it were say a 3-hour cancellation window, you then would be able to cancel, let's say, an 8:30am ADR at Tusker House by 5:30am. So even if you wake up at 5am to cancel in time...how can they replace that party with walk-ups? There can't be any walk-ups because you can't get into the park without an ADR.

 

[Tricia1972]

The biggest problem with a cancellation window less than 24 hours are the breakfast reservations. If it were say a 3-hour cancellation window, you then would be able to cancel, let's say, an 8:30am ADR at Tusker House by 5:30am. So even if you wake up at 5am to cancel in time...how can they replace that party with walk-ups? There can't be any walk-ups because you can't get into the park without an ADR.

There can never be a walk-up for a breakfast reservation, regardless if the poicy is 24 hours or not. As you said, you can't get into the park wtihout an ADR.

Walk-ups not being an issue, you can book online anytime day or night, so a person at Disney could grab the reservation online at 5am or they can call the call center when they open to try to grab a breakfast ADR.

 

[lebeau]

Just for future reference, you - they - won't get sick from being wet, even drenched, by rain as long as you're otherwise healthy. Illness is caused by germs, bacteria, viruses. While being unintentionally wet from the rain is annoying, it's not unhealthy.

From an intellectual stand-point, I am aware of that. But emotionally, I still feel the need to get the kids out of the rain while they are shivering.

Old wives tales die hard!

 

[eliza61]

Other restaurants around the globe manage to integrate a reservation system with walk up diners and staff accordingly without inconveniencing guests. I would expect as much from a leader in the hospitality industry.
Maybe it is morally wrong to make an ADR and not show up, regardless of the reason, but that is not why Disney created this policy. Disney does not care about the DIS morality police, they care about creating revenue with the least inconvenience to them, and this is once instance where it has the potential to hurt many guests.

Bottom line, WDW is out to make money. That's what business is all about.

ding, ding, ding.

Sad thing about it IMO, I've read at least 3 threads where people are all ready thinking up ways to circumvent the system and knowing disneys track record with enforcing their rules (rarely to never). All I see this doing is being an inconvenience for the guest.

 

[lebeau]

I don't know if this question has been answered yet in this thread, but I thought I'd share my findings.

I called the hotline and asked if some members of my party were no-shows and they didn't tell me so I could cancel, would I be charged. The answer was affirmative.

You will be charged for any members of your party who do not cancel 24-hours in advance. So be careful about making reservations that include unreliable friends and family!

 

[HelenParr]

My initial reaction was negative, almost exclusively because of the "what if I get sick last minute?" issue. My Yankee sensibility (read as I'm cheap) makes my cringe at losing $20 for two of us to cancel late for a legit reason...which is sort of insane since we usually stay a week at a Deluxe -- so another $20 is sort of lost in the mix. But it's the point of it.

But after reflection, I thought about the many times we had zero trouble walk-up to Flying Fish even though we could not get ADR day before or same day.

They have to find a way to "encourage" people to cancel if they are not going to show. It'll be interesting to see if it sticks. Could be a misfire on their part.

 

[mcd2745]

I'm really not seeing an issue here. If you don't like being tied to ADR's don't make them.

Exactly.

If you fully intend to use all your ADRs, this policy should not bother you one bit. Seems like all the people playing the sick kids card here (and I have two young kids myself, 9 & 6 years old - so I'm not one of these persons who never had kids and who can't understand what that's like) remind me of all the people who would constantly bring up the split-parties card when there have been discussions here about the multiple-bookings. IMO, most of these people are just trying to find an excuse to justify and allow practices that they know deep down is wrong.

 

[lebeau]

Exactly.

If you fully intend to use all your ADRs, this policy should not bother you one bit. Seems like all the people playing the sick kids card here (and I have two young kids myself, 9 & 6 years old - so I'm not one of these persons who never had kids and who can't understand what that's like) remind me of all the people who would constantly bring up the split-parties card when there have been discussions here about the multiple-bookings. IMO, most of these people are just trying to find an excuse to justify and allow practices that they know deep down is wrong.

The people who are cheating the system will continue to do so. They are saavy enough not to get charged the fees.

The fees will only hit the honest folks who fully intend to use all their ADRs and have a bit of bad luck.

Speaking as someone that has happened to in the past, it's not a magical experience at all. Especially when Disney charged me $10 for a baby who wouldn't even have eaten a meal.

 

[bookworm75]

I don't know if this question has been answered yet in this thread, but I thought I'd share my findings.

I called the hotline and asked if some members of my party were no-shows and they didn't tell me so I could cancel, would I be charged. The answer was affirmative.

You will be charged for any members of your party who do not cancel 24-hours in advance. So be careful about making reservations that include unreliable friends and family!

I have been refreshing this thread all day to see this answer. This is my dilemma. We are planning to travel with family next May, so our 180 day is after the new policy takes effect. Two of the experiences we want are Chef Mickey and Ohana. I'll be making reservations for 7. Now, at this point in time, my DH and I believe there is a strong possibility that our family members will figure out that they cannot afford to go on the trip at all. But if you ask them right now, they insist they are going. Fast forward to April and they decide no, they aren't going. I will have two reservations for 7 at very popular restaurants that I can a) call Disney to cancel and try to rebook for 4, at which point I'll probably be out of luck or b) I can keep the reservations and pay $60 for my no-show guests (two meals). What other choice do I have? This is causing me more stress than it's worth. I'm upset that my options seem to be either lose out on experiences that we'd like to have, or pay extra to keep the ADRs I make in good faith 180 days out because that's the only chance I have to get in.

 

[maxiesmom]

full thoughts[/URL] on the subject at my blog.

It has a huge benefit for guests. It will make getting an ADR easier, because people will be deterred from double-booking, or just plain not showing up for an ADR. It also gives hope to people doing walk-ups. I've been in many a Disney restaurant that was turning away guests, yet had empty tables.

The only way this is at all negative is if you make it a habit to not show up to ADRs. And that is the whole point of it! People need to stop booking meals they really don't want, just to have an ADR. Disney IS a business, and it is bad business to have empty tables, and yet be turning away guests.

If people were more responsible this wouldn't even be a problem. It was made an issue by people being thoughtless . Just my opinion.

 

[mcd2745]

The people who are cheating the system will continue to do so. They are saavy enough not to get charged the fees.

The fees will only hit the honest folks who fully intend to use all their ADRs and have a bit of bad luck.

Speaking as someone that has happened to in the past, it's not a magical experience at all. Especially when Disney charged me $10 for a baby who wouldn't even have eaten a meal.

I doubt all of them will. Many will not want to deal with the hassle of cancelling. But even for those who still do it and then cancel in time (and probably, many of them probably never bothered to canceled the "extra" ADRs in the past) that alone would be seen as an improvement. Also, many do it so that they can decide "day of" where they want to eat from amongst their multiple ADRs. Now, even those who continue to do it have to decide at least a day in advance. So their whole motivation to do it in the first-place gets compromised.

I gotta think Disney's main motivation here was to reduce the number of no-shows. Everyone has seen first-hand (I certainly have) or have read the numerous reports here of fully-booked restaurants with tons of empty tables. Yes, everything comes down to $$$. But I'm sure they would rather you show up at your ADR and spend $150-$200 than charge you a $40-$60 fee depending on how many in your party.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have been refreshing this thread all day to see this answer. This is my dilemma. We are planning to travel with family next May, so our 180 day is after the new policy takes effect. Two of the experiences we want are Chef Mickey and Ohana. I'll be making reservations for 7. Now, at this point in time, my DH and I believe there is a strong possibility that our family members will figure out that they cannot afford to go on the trip at all. But if you ask them right now, they insist they are going. Fast forward to April and they decide no, they aren't going. I will have two reservations for 7 at very popular restaurants that I can a) call Disney to cancel and try to rebook for 4, at which point I'll probably be out of luck or b) I can keep the reservations and pay $60 for my no-show guests (two meals). What other choice do I have? This is causing me more stress than it's worth. I'm upset that my options seem to be either lose out on experiences that we'd like to have, or pay extra to keep the ADRs I make in good faith 180 days out because that's the only chance I have to get in.

Make 2 seperate ADRS for each place. You do one for your family, and the other family can make their own, but have them for as near to the same time as you can get. That way if they cancel you won't have to try and down-size your ADRs. And if they do end up going you can ask to be seated together.

 

[bookworm75]

Make 2 seperate ADRS for each place. You do one for your family, and the other family can make their own, but have them for as near to the same time as you can get. That way if they cancel you won't have to try and down-size your ADRs. And if they do end up going you can ask to be seated together.

I didn't know the bolded was an option, so thank you for that. We might have to do it this way, but there are concerns there as well. One being they don't have a credit card (but they do have debit cards so I'll have to do more research as to how that might affect them). Another being that they've left it up to me to make reservations because they don't understand the system. I guess I could try to walk them through it on the phone while we're both online making reservations in the early morning hours of day 180.

ETA: We are sharing a DVC 2 bdrm and therefore have the same reservation number, would that cause a problem with us both making reservations for the same time? I apologize for my ignorance, I've always made just one reservation for the entire group before.

 

[TDC Nala]

So is anyone here intending to stop booking reservations at character meals or signature restaurants? Le Cellier lunch? 'Ohana dinner? Most of you will probably still book them because you want them. Except if you don't want to pay $10 the option of just deciding you don't feel like going that day isn't there anymore.

Put that 407-WDW-CNCL or whatever it is number in your phone, and if you are sick or your child is sick on the same day call that number and explain why you are needing to cancel. That's the biggest difference is that you will now have to make a call to do that and explain to a cast member why you're cancelling on such short notice, then see if the cast member will waive the no show fee for you.

Disney apparently believes that they have now had too many guests who just did not show up to popular restaurants.

 

[NLD]

I have been refreshing this thread all day to see this answer. This is my dilemma. We are planning to travel with family next May, so our 180 day is after the new policy takes effect. Two of the experiences we want are Chef Mickey and Ohana. I'll be making reservations for 7. Now, at this point in time, my DH and I believe there is a strong possibility that our family members will figure out that they cannot afford to go on the trip at all. But if you ask them right now, they insist they are going. Fast forward to April and they decide no, they aren't going. I will have two reservations for 7 at very popular restaurants that I can a) call Disney to cancel and try to rebook for 4, at which point I'll probably be out of luck or b) I can keep the reservations and pay $60 for my no-show guests (two meals). What other choice do I have? This is causing me more stress than it's worth. I'm upset that my options seem to be either lose out on experiences that we'd like to have, or pay extra to keep the ADRs I make in good faith 180 days out because that's the only chance I have to get in.

Ironically, with the new policy these kinds of situations could lead to people who wouldn't have double-booked ADRs to do exactly that. Because there is a solution, as has already been pointed out earlier...

Book two reservations, one for the larger party size and one for the smaller party size. Once you know for sure if your family is coming, cancel the one you don't need.

I am not saying this is the morally correct thing to do. I am not making a moral statement or judgment at all.

I am just saying that, if the point of this new system is to discourage double-bookings, it has just created a situation where people who wouldn't have done so in the past may now feel the need to double-book.

 

[NLD]

Put that 407-WDW-CNCL or whatever it is number in your phone, and if you are sick or your child is sick on the same day call that number and explain why you are needing to cancel. That's the biggest difference is that you will now have to make a call to do that and explain to a cast member why you're cancelling on such short notice, then see if the cast member will waive the no show fee for you.

See, but that's NOT the biggest difference. In fact as far as I'm concerned, it's not even a difference at all. Because the two times I did not make ADRs in the past, I called. (I did NOT just no-show.)

The difference now is that I'm at the mercy of a CM to decide whether they'll waive the cancellation fee. And if the CM isn't willing to waive it, I'm out $$ for a meal I didn't attend.

THAT'S the difference.

 

[Cafeen]

Exactly.

If you fully intend to use all your ADRs, this policy should not bother you one bit. Seems like all the people playing the sick kids card here (and I have two young kids myself, 9 & 6 years old - so I'm not one of these persons who never had kids and who can't understand what that's like) remind me of all the people who would constantly bring up the split-parties card when there have been discussions here about the multiple-bookings. IMO, most of these people are just trying to find an excuse to justify and allow practices that they know deep down is wrong.

The thing is, even if I fully intend to use the ADRs and something comes up, unless it comes up the day before, I'm out of money. Even if I call and cancel the same day, I'm getting charged.

Meanwhile, someone booking multiple reservations and canceling (or cheating the system in another way that's entirely possible), still hoards reservations and doesn't get charged.

How is this not punishing those attempting to be honest while having little to no effect on those abusing the system?

The people who are cheating the system will continue to do so. They are saavy enough not to get charged the fees.

The fees will only hit the honest folks who fully intend to use all their ADRs and have a bit of bad luck.

Speaking as someone that has happened to in the past, it's not a magical experience at all. Especially when Disney charged me $10 for a baby who wouldn't even have eaten a meal.

Yep.

Gaming the system is very easy and this is only adding stress to those intending to work it properly.

Of course, you could just decide never to do a character meal again, since that's several people's solutions on here .

It has a huge benefit for guests. It will make getting an ADR easier, because people will be deterred from double-booking, or just plain not showing up for an ADR. It also gives hope to people doing walk-ups. I've been in many a Disney restaurant that was turning away guests, yet had empty tables.

I believe that most here are truly overestimating the effect this will have on reservations between 180 and 30 or so days out. There will still be people double-booking just like they do now, especially at the edge of the window. These are the first round that wait until hours are settled before deciding which to cancel. These people can, and will still do the same thing, without any deterrent, as they know they're going to cancel anyway. This means that getting that elusive 'Ohana dinner reservation is not going to magically become 100 times easier.

This "Magic Bullet" expectation is setting everyone up for disappointment (note: by far not just you, I've seen the same thing in MANY replies about just how easy it'll be to get a reservation, even people claiming 'Ohana at 5-10 days out should be cake).

The only way this is at all negative is if you make it a habit to not show up to ADRs. And that is the whole point of it! People need to stop booking meals they really don't want, just to have an ADR. Disney IS a business, and it is bad business to have empty tables, and yet be turning away guests.

If people were more responsible this wouldn't even be a problem. It was made an issue by people being thoughtless . Just my opinion.

So, (and nothing personal here) you are ok with locking people out of ALL character meals and sigs because either they did not want to be charged if the unexpected happened, or if they simply do not wish to give a CC number? Not just some, but EVERY SINGLE character meal and signature restaurant. This is one of the things that bothers me and I do consider it a negative.

The inflexibility of the system (and again, we don't know how often those Guest Recovery things will be given out, nor do we know the consequences of them) is also a negative. If I get the sniffles and my appetite goes away at noon, I'm not likely going to want to go to my 7pm ADR. However, if I'm going to be charged anyway, I may as well show up sick right? Don't worry, I'll at least bring a tissue.

Of course, if I weren't one that intended to use every ADR I've made, I'd have worked around this already, so I wouldn't be charged at all, and still would have blocked someone else from getting an ADR (or worse).

The poor implementation of this is what bothers me, and, I'm sure, several others. The intent is solid, and I think most of us agree, but the implementation of it is going to catch more of those following the "rules" than those abusing the system.