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

[maxiesmom]

Although this is a relatively new policy, I was wondering if anyone has seen a change in your ability to get an ADR for one of the listed restaurants...just curious.

Within the last couple of weeks I started to book ADRs for a March 6-13 trip. And I was pleasantly suprised at the restaurants that popped up available, for a family of 6 no less! I was able to get Le Ceiller, The Crystal Palace, The Garden Grill, and The California Grill. Chef Mickey's also showed availability, as did Akershush. It has been a very long time sense I have had that many character meals to choose from. Usually I have to check for openings on an almost daily basis.

 

[Colleen27]

Within the last couple of weeks I started to book ADRs for a March 6-13 trip. And I was pleasantly suprised at the restaurants that popped up available, for a family of 6 no less! I was able to get Le Ceiller, The Crystal Palace, The Garden Grill, and The California Grill. Chef Mickey's also showed availability, as did Akershush. It has been a very long time sense I have had that many character meals to choose from. Usually I have to check for openings on an almost daily basis.

I'll (somewhat reluctantly) chime in on that one too. We might have a change of dates because a relative invited us to visit her in FL in Feb so we're debating combining the two trips, and looking at the week leading up to Presidents' Day the restaurants are wide open... Even Le Cellier for 7 turned up a number of available times. There are some odd ones unavailable, though... Kona for dinner, Yak & Yeti for any meal, etc (all non-guarantee restaurants, FWIW).

 

[maxiesmom]

I'll (somewhat reluctantly) chime in on that one too. We might have a change of dates because a relative invited us to visit her in FL in Feb so we're debating combining the two trips, and looking at the week leading up to Presidents' Day the restaurants are wide open... Even Le Cellier for 7 turned up a number of available times. There are some odd ones unavailable, though... Kona for dinner, Yak & Yeti for any meal, etc (all non-guarantee restaurants, FWIW).

And honestly, who knows if from Disney's point of view if it is going to turn out to be a good thing, or a bad thing? Will the restaurants be full of people happy they could get their coveted ADR, or will they be half empty because people are peeved at the fee?

Though it sounds like it might be that people are booking non fee restaurants instead. I wonder if people will then cancel or no show at those and instead be grabbing last minute ADRs for character meals, once they are pretty sure they will make them?

 

[mom2maggie]

Within the last couple of weeks I started to book ADRs for a March 6-13 trip. And I was pleasantly suprised at the restaurants that popped up available, for a family of 6 no less! I was able to get Le Ceiller, The Crystal Palace, The Garden Grill, and The California Grill. Chef Mickey's also showed availability, as did Akershush. It has been a very long time sense I have had that many character meals to choose from. Usually I have to check for openings on an almost daily basis.

We're going that same week, and when I was scheduling breakfasts, CRT was available - for 4-5 time slots! I never would have expected that. And great time slots - like at 8:05am!

 

[mom2rtk]

Within the last couple of weeks I started to book ADRs for a March 6-13 trip. And I was pleasantly suprised at the restaurants that popped up available, for a family of 6 no less! I was able to get Le Ceiller, The Crystal Palace, The Garden Grill, and The California Grill. Chef Mickey's also showed availability, as did Akershush. It has been a very long time sense I have had that many character meals to choose from. Usually I have to check for openings on an almost daily basis.

Unless this is during free dining, I'm not surprised at this. I had no trouble moving ADR's around and booking things for December right up to the point they announced free dining the end of August. Then....... POOF! They all went away.

 

[maxiesmom]

Unless this is during free dining, I'm not surprised at this. I had no trouble moving ADR's around and booking things for December right up to the point they announced free dining the end of August. Then....... POOF! They all went away.

Funny enough, it is during Free Dining.

There is no way we would be doing all those character meals otherwise, I'm to cheap!!!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

We're going that same week, and when I was scheduling breakfasts, CRT was available - for 4-5 time slots! I never would have expected that. And great time slots - like at 8:05am!

Since CRT has always been pre-pay or cc guarantee if on the dining plan, this policy change has nad no effect on that location.

Also, keep in mind that since they changed dinner over to a full character meal, the demand there is nowhere the issue it once was.

 

[diskids2]

Ok great...thanks for the feedback. Since I usually make my ADR's early and keep them or at least change them a million times before my trip, but cancel the old ones, I'm glad to see there is some slots opening.

 

[mcd2745]

And honestly, who knows if from Disney's point of view if it is going to turn out to be a good thing, or a bad thing? Will the restaurants be full of people happy they could get their coveted ADR, or will they be half empty because people are peeved at the fee?

Though it sounds like it might be that people are booking non fee restaurants instead. I wonder if people will then cancel or no show at those and instead be grabbing last minute ADRs for character meals, once they are pretty sure they will make them?

That's an interesting thought and one I wouldn't be surprised if it started happening a lot. Such as people making an ADR at, let's say Liberty Tree Tavern, for their MK day. Then while in MK, they keep checking their smartphone or going to guest services to try for a last-minute ADR at Crystal Palace, 'Ohana, or Chef Mickey's. If they get one, then end up no-showing at LTT (although if you're at guest services, I'd like to think they'd have them cancel LTT). If this starts happening regularly, it will just accelerate the fee being applied to all restaurants.

 

[Colleen27]

Unless this is during free dining, I'm not surprised at this. I had no trouble moving ADR's around and booking things for December right up to the point they announced free dining the end of August. Then....... POOF! They all went away.

The early '12 free dining doesn't seem as popular as the "usual" fall free dining period. We changed our dates to Jan well after the 180 mark and had no problem getting everything we wanted, even Ohana and Le Cellier, and the same looks to be true for the week before Presidents' Day even though free dining is being offered for those dates too.

 

[Marshay]

There are some odd ones unavailable, though... Kona for dinner, Yak & Yeti for any meal, etc (all non-guarantee restaurants, FWIW).

Yeah, I expect these restaurants to see increased business/ADRs.

Though it sounds like it might be that people are booking non fee restaurants instead. I wonder if people will then cancel or no show at those and instead be grabbing last minute ADRs for character meals, once they are pretty sure they will make them?

Yeah, this will be interesting to see...

 

[NLD]

The early '12 free dining doesn't seem as popular as the "usual" fall free dining period. We changed our dates to Jan well after the 180 mark and had no problem getting everything we wanted, even Ohana and Le Cellier, and the same looks to be true for the week before Presidents' Day even though free dining is being offered for those dates too.

Have to agree with this. We've been booked for last week of January/ first week of February. We booked AFTER the 180-day mark, AFTER free dining was announced, and BEFORE the credit card policy went into place.

I had zero problems getting reservations when we booked, despite free dining having already been announced, and despite booking after the 180-day mark. And I'm talking... multiple time slots for availability at Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, CRT and Akershus (not effected by new cc policy anyway), Tusker House, Le Cellier, Ohana, etc etc.

Late January / early February is a really slow time of year.

In short, I don't think looking at availability for that time of year is a good indicator of the effects of the cc policy. All that same availibility was there before the cc-hold went into effect, and it was after the 180-day mark so people DID have the opportunity to book.

I think we have to wait a while to see how this really shakes out. Early winter timeframes... well, some people were already booked before the cc-policy went into effect.

 

[TeresaWen]

I'm tired of being told that if I'm spending $3500 for a trip, then $30-$50 shouldn't matter to me.

The fact is it DOES matter to me. Period. Whether you think it should or not.... it DOES.

Therefore I don't like the possibility of getting charged for services not rendered.

I'm also tired of the implications that just because I don't view an ADR as a strict moral obligation, I've got an entitlement issue. If you knew me in real life, that thought wouldn't cross your head. If anything I've got a tendency towards over-responsibility, making way for others even at cost to myself, and being too much of a people-pleaser. It actually took work and some serious life experiences to realize that it's okay to stand up for myself sometimes and it's okay to voice an opinion and it's okay to do what's best for me sometimes.

If you are walking in front of me at MK and stop in the middle of the path to look at something or have a conversation, I don't get annoyed. If you're walking ten abreast taking up a whole path, I go out of MY way to avoid running into you, even if it's your group taking up the whole path. If you are standing behind me at a parade and I see you have a small kid with you, I'm likely to offer your kid a spot in front of me. If you're my coworker and you want vacation the same week I do, and we can't both get it, I'm likely to tell you "Go ahead we're flexible, you take that week." If you're in front of me at the grocery store hogging the aisle with your cart, I'm likely to wait patiently while you pick your brand of spaghetti, or if it goes on a long time, to VERY nicely say excuse me and give you a sincere smile and "Don't worry about it" when you move your cart and apologize.

This is how I operate in life. I try not to be entitled and try to think of others and try to be responsible.

Cancelling a reservation (which is not really even a reservation) on vacation, with notice, is simply NOT a moral issue in my book.

I don't think I'm entitled. I don't think I'm a sign of what's wrong with society today. And I don't think I'm silly for disliking the thought of paying $10 per head for cancelling a reservation that isn't even a real reservation.

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!

 

[mcd2745]

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.


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.

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.

WRT the bolded sentence...that reinforces my opinion that the policy is a good one.

You're right, an ADR is not a moral obligation or an iron-clad contract. However, there's something just not right IMO with having a bunch of ADRs, knowing you're going to be cancelling half of them. In your first paragraph, you speak about not wanting to be tied down to schedules while on vacation and how you may just want apps and drinks at a lounge or may just want to hang at the pool longer. That is all completely understandable...but then why make ADRs at all? It's a contradiction.

 

[maxiesmom]

WRT the bolded sentence...that reinforces my opinion that the policy is a good one.

You're right, an ADR is not a moral obligation or an iron-clad contract. However, there's something just not right IMO with having a bunch of ADRs, knowing you're going to be cancelling half of them. In your first paragraph, you speak about not wanting to be tied down to schedules while on vacation and how you may just want apps and drinks at a lounge or may just want to hang at the pool longer. That is all completely understandable...but then why make ADRs at all? It's a contradiction.

Exactly. That poster illustrated perfectly why the $10 fee is needed. We are not talking about normal restaurants who accept walk-ups on a regular basis, or who have to work hard to fill their tables. We are talking about restaurants that almost always have to turn away guests. If you book an ADR there should be a good chance you will use it. Booking them as back up, or just in case you feel like eating at that restaurant is what causes so many problems.

Not cancelling ADRS may not be a moral issue, but it is something Disney finds problematic. Apparently enough people fail to cancel Disney feels they have to do something about it. Now you just have to decide a day ahead of time if you still want your ADR or not. If that is to constrictive to you, then don't make so many character ADRs.

 

[maxiesmom]

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.

I don't agree that Disney created a mess. And even if they did, it is just a different mess thant the one they had when they didn't charge a fee for no shows for the character meal. That was a mess with people double booking, and making ADRs they really didn't want, or making ADRs and gifting them to people they deemed worthy.

People were gaming the system before, so how exactly is that changing?

If someone's idea of magic is making 10 ADRs but only using 5, then that is pretty lame magic. It is more magical to me that people leave the ADRs for people who really want them! I wouldn't dream of calling a bunch of restaurants by my home and making reservations, only to call (if I could be bothered to) and cancel a bunch of them when I finally decided what I really wanted to eat. I don't think many people would. Yet somehow that should be acceptable behavior when you are at WDW? A vacation isn't magical if someone can't make a bunch of throw-away ADRs? Makes no sense.

 

[Lewisc]

Restaurants which almost always have to turn away guests should have no trouble filling empty tables with walk ups. Your post illustrates perfectly why the $10 fee isn't required.

We don't know if Disney sees the no-shows as a problem or merely a new source of revenue, similar to the holiday surcharges.

I'll speculate Disney will add the $10 charge to more restaurants if too many guests cheat Disney out of the fee by booking alternate restaurants.

Exactly. That poster illustrated perfectly why the $10 fee is needed. We are not talking about normal restaurants who accept walk-ups on a regular basis, or who have to work hard to fill their tables. We are talking about restaurants that almost always have to turn away guests. If you book an ADR there should be a better than 50/50 chance you will use it. Booking them as back up, or just in case you feel like eating at that restaurant is what causes so many problems.

Not cancelling ADRS may not be a moral issue, but it is something Disney finds problematic. Apparently enough people fail to cancel Disney feels they have to do something about it. Now you just have to decide a day ahead of time if you still want your ADR or not. If that is to constrictive to you, then don't make so many character ADRs.

 

[Marshay]

We are not talking about normal restaurants who accept walk-ups on a regular basis, or who have to work hard to fill their tables.

but this is one of my whole points -- IMHO Disney WILL start applying this to all restaurants if everyone, or a large majority just accept this new policy. Only, if people complain and/or reduce their ADRs plus TS eating dramatically will Disney understand that they went too far.

Oh, and when they do change the $10/pp charge to all restaurants, they will also market it that "our guests have asked for this" ...

 

[maxiesmom]

Restaurants which almost always have to turn away guests should have no trouble filling empty tables with walk ups. Your post illustrates perfectly why the $10 fee isn't required.

We don't know if Disney sees the no-shows as a problem or merely a new source of revenue, similar to the holiday surcharges.

I'll speculate Disney will add the $10 charge to more restaurants if too many guests cheat Disney out of the fee by booking alternate restaurants.

I agree that if too many people start booking alternate restaurants, and then not showing up for those meals, Disney will more than likely start having a fee for them as well.

I don't believe that Disney handles walk-ups the same way as real world restaurants do. I know they hold ADRs for a while before they bump people from their time slot. It just makes sense that they still lose a lot of money by having that period of time where the ADR family hasn't shown up, but they don't yet want to give the table to another guest. A table in limbo, if you will. So if a $10 a person fee keeps those tables full and turning, then it Disney will see the new policy as a success. If not, maybe it will be thought of as a failure and go away.

 

[Mkrop]

I agree that if too many people start booking alternate restaurants, and then not showing up for those meals, Disney will more than likely start having a fee for them as well.

I don't believe that Disney handles walk-ups the same way as real world restaurants do. I know they hold ADRs for a while before they bump people from their time slot. It just makes sense that they still lose a lot of money by having that period of time where the ADR family hasn't shown up, but they don't yet want to give the table to another guest. A table in limbo, if you will. So if a $10 a person fee keeps those tables full and turning, then it Disney will see the new policy as a success. If not, maybe it will be thought of as a failure and go away.

once again this can be accomplished by a true no show charge....that will deter plenty of people of blowing off their ADR, they will truly cancel bc they dont want to be charge, but give a more reasonable window is what most are asking for