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

[Tricia1972]

I need to piggyback on what TDC Nala posted and say

ENOUGH with the sweeping generalizations about people in general because they don't adhere to your personal belief system. Both sides of the debate. Though there are posters that are more guilty than others in this.

This has, overall, been an interesting conversation. Mostly civil on both sides of the issue, and a good read. Many seem to see that there is no right or wrong, only their perception on the issue and sharing their perception has been interesting.

It would be a shame to close the discussion entirely because a few people can't refrain from personal attacks/character attacks.

 

[Lewisc]

Break an item, some items/some stores, and the store will refuse your offer to pay. Good will. Cost of doing business.

Hit an end cap with a shopping cart and items fall then break. I'd be surprised if any supermarket expects the customer to pay. It's even possible the way the items were stacked was the cause.

Drop a piece of crystal. Item was carefully placed on a display shelf. Signage. Even there a store might not charge a regular customer. Might accept wholesale price as payment. I'd not only offer to pay but would expect my offer would be accepted. I'd hope the store would accept something approaching the cost to replace the item, not necessarily the retail price.

Some of us don't put an ADR, not even a real reservation, at a causal restaurant in a vacation destination as the kind of "commitment" requiring "personal responsibility" that a few posters think.

The penalty is about 30-50% the cost of the meal for a family.

I guess that's just a (sad) commentary on society in general these days. Nobody ever thinks they should have any personal accountability for their actions.

 

[mcd2745]

Break an item, some items/some stores, and the store will refuse your offer to pay. Good will. Cost of doing business.

Hit an end cap with a shopping cart and items fall then break. I'd be surprised if any supermarket expects the customer to pay. It's even possible the way the items were stacked was the cause.

Drop a piece of crystal. Item was carefully placed on a display shelf. Signage. Even there a store might not charge a regular customer. Might accept wholesale price as payment. I'd not only offer to pay but would expect my offer would be accepted. I'd hope the store would accept something approaching the cost to replace the item, not necessarily the retail price.

Some of us don't put an ADR, not even a real reservation, at a causal restaurant in a vacation destination as the kind of "commitment" requiring "personal responsibility" that a few posters think.

The penalty is about 30-50% the cost of the meal for a family.

There's a HUGE difference IMO between those examples, which are accidental in nature, and the behavior involved with people who are blowing off ADRs.

 

[racefanof88]

When you make your resssie on Wed you'll be asked to provide a CC and if you don't show up for the ressie you will be charged $10/pp UNLESS you call the cancellation number and have a CM that is sympathetic to your plea of sickness.

It's really no different than calling prior to 24 hours -- the same rules would apply:

1) Make ressie with CC hold
2a) Cancel prior to 24 hours/full day for no penalty *OR*
2b) Cancel less than 24 hours or no-show = $10/pp penalty *OR*
2c) Call 407-WDW-CNCL and plead your case if extenuating circumstances arise (or go to the podium of restaurant and do the same). No guarantee you won't be charged ... IMHO, it'll be up to the individual CM.

This is just how I understand the policy to be ... someone please correct me if I stated anything wrong.

According to the policy, anytime you make a reservation you will be asked for a CC hold. Even if you make it a few hours before the meal. If you don't show up, you will be charged, unless you call or go to your resort concierge and find someone who is willing to waive the charge for you.

I went to the online system and ran through a reservation for Yachtsman Steakhouse for tonight at 7:30 and it did ask for a credit card guarantee. (Yachtsman was the first restaurant I found that had reservations available. None of the in-park ones I tried had reservations available for the entire day.)

Thanks Y'all!! I was just wondering how that would work! I knew they would want a CC to hold, but I didn't know if the rules for canceling would be different since we would already be out of the safe cancel time window. We have outgrown the character meals(well DS has, not me )and Le Cellier is the only restaurant on the list that really effects us. I loved 'Ohana dinner, but DH is of the hamburger every meal set, so don't know when, or if, I will get to go there again .

 

[Marshay]

Thanks Y'all!! I was just wondering how that would work! I knew they would want a CC to hold, but I didn't know if the rules for canceling would be different since we would already be out of the safe cancel time window. We have outgrown the character meals(well DS has, not me )and Le Cellier is the only restaurant on the list that really effects us. I loved 'Ohana dinner, but DH is of the hamburger every meal set, so don't know when, or if, I will get to go there again .

Yeah, basically if you make a ressie less than 24 hours you are committed to going or pay the penalty.

It actually may be the best way IF the risk of penalty is more important to you than the risk of not getting your favorite restaurant and/or time.

I, like many others on this thread, are just anxiously waiting to see how it'll play out.

 

[Lewisc]

There's a HUGE difference IMO between those examples, which are accidental in nature, and the behavior involved with people who are blowing off ADRs.

That's the exact reason why many of us don't share your opinion.

Many of us think the two situations are similar. Guests don't plan on someone getting sick. Is getting sick an accident? Technically not but in this context similar. Is lines running slower then indicated on the board an accident. Technically not be again close.

I have an issue with people who make ADRs "on spec". More meals then they can or will use. Multiple time slots for the same meal/restaurant. Multiple restaurants for the same meal. More meals per day, or trip. then they have credits or money budgeted to pay.

I briefly thought this new policy was good until I relaized it does very little to prevent those rude guests from hogging ADRs.

This new policy does nothing to help me. It looks like Disney wants to rebook the ADRs and not hold back for walk ups. I'm certainly not going to be constantly checking a web enabled phone to try to grab an ADR released as the result of a cancellation.

 

[mcd2745]

That's the exact reason why many of us don't share your opinion.

Many of us think the two situations are similar. Guests don't plan on someone getting sick. Is getting sick an accident? Technically not but in this context similar. Is lines running slower then indicated on the board an accident. Technically not be again close.

I have an issue with people who make ADRs "on spec". More meals then they can or will use. Multiple time slots for the same meal/restaurant. Multiple restaurants for the same meal. More meals per day, or trip. then they have credits or money budgeted to pay.

I briefly thought this new policy was good until I relaized it does very little to prevent those rude guests from hogging ADRs.

This new policy does nothing to help me. It looks like Disney wants to rebook the ADRs and not hold back for walk ups. I'm certainly not going to be constantly checking a web enabled phone to try to grab an ADR released as the result of a cancellation.

It does nothing to help me as well (it also doesn't do anything to hurt me either). However, I don't think that is the criteria on which it should be judged. As long as someone's intentions are pure, it's unlikely this policy will have any effect on them. There are only a very small number of "legitimate" reasons for missing an ADR (and yes, a sick child would be one of them) and I think they happen a lot less frequently than one would think after reading this thread and that Disney will at least try to be sympathetic. Lines running slower than posted (your example)? Nobody should probably be cutting it that close to begin with. Others have mentioned travel delays - particularly in winter. If you're coming in from a cold-weather city in winter, it's probably a good idea not to make an ADR from the fee list for your arrival night dinner. If the policy causes guests to apply a little bit more of a common sense approach toward their ADR strategies, that's cartainly a good thing in my book.

As for "those rude guests...hogging ADRs"? Will it stop all of them? Of course not - there will always be a small segment who will go to any lengths to "beat the system". However, I think it stops a lot of them. I think there will be plenty who fall into one of these categories:

• just don't want to give CC info
• just don't want the hassle of canceling all the extra ADRs
• after going through the hassle of canceling all the extra ADRs the first time around, they decide for the future that it's not worth the hassle
• some may forget to cancel and then after they get hit with the fees decide not to bother doing it again

Beforehand, Disney made it far too easy to "abuse" the system without penalty. It required basically no effort at all. Now it requires some effort - that alone will eliminate some. Most of us would have liked to have them require even more effort (Cafeen and others had good ideas toward that end). We can probably all agree that the system is far from perfect, but in all likliehood, none of us would agree on what the "perfect" system would look like.

 

[Snurk71]

Hey - we hit 100 pages!!!

mcd - I think it's safe to say that your views/beliefs of what is considered "legitimate" or "personal accountability" ot "blowing off" differ greatly from quite a few of us here. You're word is not law, and neither is ours. We could probably argue until the cows come home and we're still going to be that far apart on the subject. So I would encourage you to think about tempering your comments about those with a different perspective than your own - we're not causing the downfall of society. We too could make some pretty unflattering comments about your side of thought, but rarely have.

I do have a question that I don't recall seeing answered. I remember when CRT first started with the CC prepay there were people up in arms about the CC part - people that don't have a CC, people who don't put out their CC online or over the phone, etc. I never did it, but Disney offered some way to make the ADR and mail in the deposit instead. So how is this working with the new policy for the non-CC group? Are they SOL or is there a similar mail-in function for them? This new policy isn't quite prepay like CRT - it's just a form of guaranteed payment on file in case of late cancellation/no-show.

 

[Lewisc]

As long as someone's intentions are pure, it's unlikely this policy will have any effect on them.

I don't think most of us want a CM to be judging our purity or if a member of our family is "sick enough" to qualify for an exception.

The policy will have an effect on any family who has something come up at the last minute.

It will have little effect on people with "evil intentions" who cancel their excess ADRs as per Disney's deadline.

 

[mcd2745]

I guess the thing I'm struggling with is that so many of you seem to think it's a given that all sorts of bad things are going to happen to you during your vacation. I always assume the exact opposite, and if in the unlikely scenario something unfortunate does happen, I just take it in stride and deal with it as best as we can.

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess the thing I'm struggling with is that so many of you seem to think it's a given that all sorts of bad things are going to happen to you during your vacation. I always assume the exact opposite, and if in unlikely scenario something unfortunate does happen, I just take it in stride and deal with it as best as we can.

Why struggle with that? It's about human nature. People are inherently different. Some plan and worry. Some leap through life not caring about or anticipating the things that might go wrong. Many who are one way could benefit from a dose of the alternate approach. But alas, it's just who they are...... different personalities. And different life experiences. Those who have encountered bumps in the road in the past perhaps anticipate that possibility more in the future.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I guess the thing I'm struggling with is that so many of you seem to think it's a given that all sorts of bad things are going to happen to you during your vacation. I always assume the exact opposite, and if in the unlikely scenario something unfortunate does happen, I just take it in stride and deal with it as best as we can.

I, for one, don't think it's a given. I've been on lots and lots of vacations and most have gone off without a hitch. But, there have been a couple (one involving WDW) where sickness hit, some with travel delays, some with unexpected meltdowns etc... I certainly don't think it's a given, but I think it would be awfully naive of me to think that nothing could ever go wrong just because I'm on vacation.

 

[maxiesmom]

I guess the thing I'm struggling with is that so many of you seem to think it's a given that all sorts of bad things are going to happen to you during your vacation. I always assume the exact opposite, and if in the unlikely scenario something unfortunate does happen, I just take it in stride and deal with it as best as we can.

That is how I look at it too. It is very unlikely that a family member will get sick to the point they have to skip a meal. So it is no big deal to me if we have to give Disney a credit card to hold a meal, odds are good that we will make the meal. And if something comes up, like you, we will take it in stride and deal with it as best we can.

As far as being wet or too tired for a meal, those are all to an extent preventable. And if I have an ADR ahead of time I will plan on not being either of those things. And if something does happen anyway, we will deal with that too.

Some posters make it sound like they can't make 9 out of 10 ADRs. And that would be a lot of money to lose.

 

[Mkrop]

I guess the thing I'm struggling with is that so many of you seem to think it's a given that all sorts of bad things are going to happen to you during your vacation. I always assume the exact opposite, and if in the unlikely scenario something unfortunate does happen, I just take it in stride and deal with it as best as we can.

Most of ours have gone off without a hitch but we have had family members get sick, so although I dont go in thinking this is definitely going to happen, I also no longer go in with blinders that no one can get sick on vacation.

That is how I look at it too. It is very unlikely that a family member will get sick to the point they have to skip a meal. So it is no big deal to me if we have to give Disney a credit card to hold a meal, odds are good that we will make the meal. And if something comes up, like you, we will take it in stride and deal with it as best we can.

As far as being wet or too tired for a meal, those are all to an extent preventable. And if I have an ADR ahead of time I will plan on not being either of those things. And if something does happen anyway, we will deal with that too.

Some posters make it sound like they can't make 9 out of 10 ADRs. And that would be a lot of money to lose.

And I do think $40 is a lot to lose if someone is sick.

 

[Colleen27]

Most of ours have gone off without a hitch but we have had family members get sick, so although I dont go in thinking this is definitely going to happen, I also no longer go in with blinders that no one can get sick on vacation.

That's it for me too. We've had a couple of trips hit by minor illness issues and didn't let that ruin those trips, but having had to cancel one of the coveted ADRs I woke up before dawn six months in advance to book was lesson enough. I don't go into a trip thinking someone will get sick, but neither do I go in thinking it is impossible.

The fact is, we travel from a cold climate in peak cold/flu season; the possibility is always there. (Look at the family board... There's already a thread with a half-dozen reports of "the pukey bug" at WDW over the last couple weeks, and the season hasn't even gotten started yet).

And I do think $40 is a lot to lose if someone is sick.

It isn't that I think we'll miss "9 out of 10" of our ADRs, it is that in my world $50-70 for nothing is a lot of money to lose, and that's what we'd be out if illness gets in the way of a single meal.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's it for me too. We've had a couple of trips hit by minor illness issues and didn't let that ruin those trips, but having had to cancel one of the coveted ADRs I woke up before dawn six months in advance to book was lesson enough. I don't go into a trip thinking someone will get sick, but neither do I go in thinking it is impossible.

The fact is, we travel from a cold climate in peak cold/flu season; the possibility is always there. (Look at the family board... There's already a thread with a half-dozen reports of "the pukey bug" at WDW over the last couple weeks, and the season hasn't even gotten started yet).



It isn't that I think we'll miss "9 out of 10" of our ADRs, it is that in my world $50-70 for nothing is a lot of money to lose, and that's what we'd be out if illness gets in the way of a single meal.

Ditto to all of that.

And it's more than $10 a head. It's the loss of the dining credit and the additional cost of buying CS for everyone, maybe the price of a taxi to Wal-mart for needed meds, etc.

The $10 a head just seems to be salt in the wound.

And possibly unnecessary.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

That is how I look at it too. It is very unlikely that a family member will get sick to the point they have to skip a meal.

Then you are very fortunate!

Not everyone who visits WDW is fortunate to have your perfect health.

In effect, I think you are saying that kids with cerebal palsy, autism, food allergies, asthma, and most seniors, etc should not make ADR's at any character meals.

Shame on Diney if that's the case.

Those of us who have family members with any chronic health conditions ALWAYS have to think ahead; always have to worry about flare ups.


Perhaps I'm misreading you, but the implication of your words is that you think it's okay for Disney to start excluding all guests who aren't 100% healthy. (or at least charge them $10 a head everytime they have a bad health day.)

 

[Mkrop]

And it just doesnt have to be cold/flu season to have sick family members.

I just thought about all of trips and every trip we have had something come up that if we had an ADR at that time we might have had to cancel.


My mom went with us, she had just gotten over bronchitis but it flared back up, costly visit for the inroom Dr.

My mom again having diverticulitis issues, but we did not know at the time that this was what was causing her upset stomach.

MIL brusied a rib in the BW pool.

DS#1 had an asthma flare up, had to leave the parks, due to wildfires.

DS#2 threw up bc of too much chocolate cake at 4am but at the time we did not know if it was that or the start of a bug.

And when we went to Vegas, DH got very ill we think from food he ate at the Grand Canyon.

So not even stuff that we might have picked up at WDW, some of these were chronic things that flared up.

So yes I go into each trip thinking no one will get sick this time, but I also pack a mini pharmacy with liquid Advil, cough meds, a thermometer etc so I dont have to pay gift shop prices. But I dont want to have to be charged if my family member has a medical issue crop up, or have to worry about that so I wind up not booking ADRs.

 

[maxiesmom]

Then you are very fortunate!

Not everyone who visits WDW is fortunate to have your perfect health.

Wow, assume much?

My health is not perfect. I have 4 perscriptions for my allergies/asthma alone. Not to mention arthritis, and other assorted goodies. However, as I have been dealing with those conditions for a while, I have a good idea how much I can push myself. And I know that if I try and do too much, or am unfortunate enough to stand downwind of the fireworks, that I am going to have to deal with the fallout from those bad decisions.

Even so, I know that sometimes I can make all the right decisions and suddenly have a bad day. And I would be upset to have to miss a meal and pay a service fee. However, those times are the exception, and not the norm. Odds are if book and ADR, and make the right decisions concerning my health, I will be able to enjoy my meal. I would think most people who deal with cronic or severe conditions have the same awareness, and also the same understanding that even if they do everything right, sometimes crap happens and you have to miss out. Still, I think those times in most instances are not as common as people are trying to make out.

I also think my 70+ dad knows how far he can push himself at WDW too. Being older does not mean you are suddenly so frail that you stand a good chance of missing your ADR. Being older is not an illness.

No matter who you are, it comes down to being comfortable with a small chance that you may lose what, in the large scheme of a Disney vacation, is a small penalty. If you are not comfortable with the risk, then choose to book at one of the many restaurants that still don't charge the fee. It is pretty simple.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Wow, assume much?

My health is not perfect. I have 4 perscriptions for my allergies/asthma alone. Not to mention arthritis, and other assorted goodies. However, as I have been dealing with those conditions for a while, I have a good idea how much I can push myself. And I know that if I try and do too much, or am unfortunate enough to stand downwind of the fireworks, that I am going to have to deal with the fallout from those bad decisions.

Even so, I know that sometimes I can make all the right decisions and suddenly have a bad day. And I would be upset to have to miss a meal and pay a service fee. However, those times are the exception, and not the norm. Odds are if book and ADR, and make the right decisions concerning my health, I will be able to enjoy my meal. I would think most people who deal with cronic or severe conditions have the same awareness, and also the same understanding that even if they do everything right, sometimes crap happens and you have to miss out. Still, I think those times in most instances are not as common as people are trying to make out.

I also think my 70+ dad knows how far he can push himself at WDW too. Being older does not mean you are suddenly so frail that you stand a good chance of missing your ADR. Being older is not an illness.

No matter who you are, it comes down to being comfortable with a small chance that you may lose what, in the large scheme of a Disney vacation, is a small penalty. If you are not comfortable with the risk, then choose to book at one of the many restaurants that still don't charge the fee. It is pretty simple.

I think this is where I (and some others) disagree with you. If you need to cancel an ADR because of your asthma, allergies etc... I think Disney should show you some compassion and not charge you. Whereas you are more of the "Suck it up, Buttercup" opinion and feel that you should be charged. (To quote a great trip report. )

The big question for all of us will be what Disney's take will be. As I've posted, in the past I've found them to be compassionate and understanding (not referring to ADR's but in general) which is one of the reasons why they are still my favorite vacation destination after 35 years. Although I consider my immediate family to be very low risk when it comes to missing ADR's (no small kids, no chronic conditions w/ the exception of DD's asthma, travel in summer so no climate change etc...) I would be very sad if Disney were to lose some of what makes it so special over food!