New Reservations Cancellation Policy

[Granny square]

Sigh! we did check...we thought we could do it, we thought oh we will just bundle up but when our room was ice cold all night bc the wind and cold was blowing through the glass door even with the cushions and blankets piled against it and the addl blankets we asked for, we knew that a day in 30 degree weather at AK was out of the question. This was BLT studio room, first floor viewing the marina. Also to add insult to injury, DS10, he was 7 at the time, yakked all over the sofa bed bc my DH thought chocolate cake at 10pm while waiting for the maintenance people was the way to go. So then at 2am, we had to call housekeeping and get all new blankets. It was a heck of a week that week. So I can tell you know if we had also been charged some ridiculous fee after all that, our DVC would have been on the market before we got on the plane at MCO. oh yeah we also got stuck on the monorail TWICE that week due to cold, the doors would not shut nc of the cold, the sensor did not work, but they would not let us off, even though we were at the GF. We had to wait and we were extremely late for our ADR at Tutto Italia. DH was very unhappy with how that trip unfolded if we were charged, his blood pressure would have gone thru the roof) We even had maintenance there to see what they could do to the door, nothing, it wasnt built to handle cold like that in FL. They set a record low that week. And they could not move us until 4pm the next day to a higher floor. But whatever, you all live these perfect lives where weather and illness never mess up your plans. You never have cranky kids that need to be back at the resort chilling out instead of having dinner even though you thought you could swing it etc. You are all probably the ones who have the kids who are whining and misbehaving at the restaurants that threads are posted about here all the time, since you heaven forbid would never miss an ADR. Just like I must be one of the ones that cancels all the time since I protest this ridiculous new policy.

What a terrible trip! No wonder you feel so strongly! What a miserable trip.

 

[AmyB2006]

See above, we have not seen this with the places that have CC reservations. Can you do a walkup at Chef Mickey, or the Cape May Cafe NO! I really dont understand why people will think that all of these people who double booked wont do it and than cancel either the day before or maybe before their trip once everything is settled.

Chef Mickey, Cape May... they are character meals and I can see why they wouldn't. The popular places like these and BOG will never take walkups because they are just busy.

But other restaurants... You pretty much answered it right there^^^.

People will be more diligent about cancelling either their double booked ADR or one that they just don't want the day before, if adhering to the policy, and that will allow more room for either walkups or someone else looking for a reservation that day.

They will cancel it. That's what Disney wants.

If Disney doesn't penalize the guest, there is no "incentive" for the guest to be responsible and cancel the reservation. They don't want to penalize you, they just want you to be responsible and cancel the reservation!!

But... with all that said, I do think a day of policy with maybe like a 5 hour window minimum would be sufficient. Maybe in several months they'll switch it to that. But, I still have no problem with what they are doing now.

 

[Colleen27]

Makes me scratch my head. Do people go on hunger strikes every time it rains or the temp goes below 50 degrees in Orlando? One would think you still need to eat.

Sure, but not necessarily in a theme park restaurant that requires a long walk through the elements. And that's a particular absurdity of the policy - if I cancel Be Our Guest or Teppan Edo with a few hours' notice in favor of eating at Shutters or Maya Grill, it is highly likely that my cancelled ADR will be easily filled with a walk-up (ignoring overbooking rates for the sake of simplicity) while my family occupies a table at a restaurant that virtually always has availability. But Disney needs to charge me a fee for this change?

Bottom line is this: If you don't like the policy for ADRs then don't make any! Eat CS, offsite, order a pizza or cook in your DVC room. What works for one family might not work for another. It's not as if TS is your only option.

True enough, but for my family a vacation of pizza and counter service isn't a vacation. We're from a small town - pizza and burgers we can get at home, ethnic, creative, or unusual cuisine (even at Americanized Disney levels) not so much. We'll choose another destination rather than book a trip where we'd only be eating take-out.

I think there's a much, much better chance of filling them if they are cancelled before midnight as opposed to, say, 4 in the morning. Espcially now with the app and the free wi-fi, you can check for openings before going to bed. I can't see people waking up at 4 in the morning to check for openings.

I frequently check for openings when I feel like eating. If I'm at the MK at 11am and my kids are getting hungry, I'll pop on the app to see which of the monorail resort restaurants has a table available for noon. I think many people likely do the same, or simply walk up to a restaurant that looks/smells good (esp. the non-planners who don't know about the app and ADRs and all of that).

Of course, my ability to do that goes away with this policy too... You can't even search for available times at CC guarantee restaurants in the app, much less make an ADR.

I do like the 90 or even 45 day booking window idea (I went during 90 day booking.) In fact why not 45 days for those staying onsite (w/ payment in full) and 30 off site? I have to wonder how many of those ADR no shows are people who canceled their vacations months before but didn't bother to go through and cancel their ADRs.

I wonder about that too. I would hope that the ease of cancelling onlilne would have helped that issue, but I know when I've had to change trip dates in the past that's one of the more annoying chores related to the change/cancellation and I always wonder how many people just don't bother.

 

[bumbershoot]

Here's the difference between you and me. I check the news the night before so I know what the weather is going to be. I would not have woke up and this discovered it was going to be cold. Of course, I over plan everything according to DH.

Dec 2010 was an epic time for those of us there. We got there when the forecast was nice and packed accordingly. And then it changed. We live in WA, had a 2+ week trip, and did not have enough warm clothes. DH doesn't go to pants from shorts at home until its below freezing and the night we saw illuminations he was nearly crying from the cold.

If you hear of someone talking about the level of cold like he previous poster was, assume it was dec 2010 and don't respond. If you weren't there you don't know. If you are local and could get other clothes easily you don't know. And if you arrived after the temperatures had dropped and could pack correctly you don't know.

We had an Ohana breakfast last feb at 7am. Late the night before DS started getting sick, really sick. I called and explained and they cancelled it no problem despite the fact of the cancellation policy being in effect for that restaurant. They understood sick kids. I don't have a huge concern about having a bonafide reason for a cancellation even with the policy.

 

[aaarcher86]

No is disputing that there was abuse of the system but this reaction is not a solution that works for everyone, it is making a lot of people unhappy. See my PP for a way WDW could solve this problem and not alienate guests who have a true need to cancel.

There will never be a solution that works for everyone. There will always be people that dislike or have a problem with any solution, regardless of what it is or how it's implemented.

 

[AmyB2006]

There will never be a solution that works for everyone. There will always be people that dislike or have a problem with any solution, regardless of what it is or how it's implemented.

Isn't that like one of the general rules of life?? LOL You can't make everybody happy all of the time? They'll never be able to make everyone happy.

 

[Mkrop]

What a terrible trip! No wonder you feel so strongly! What a miserable trip.

And yet we keep going back...even in Dec Love my holiday decorations. But the key to that trip unlike ANY of our other trips was going with the flow...all our best laid plans like we usually make went out the window. We still had fun, we made the best of it but I know for a fact that rearranging things made the trip go smoother. A fee on top of all that would not have been pleasant on top of an already challenging trip. And yes some of it was our fault, cake at 10pm, but most was either weather related and out of WDW's or ours control. See bumbershoot below...you had to be there to appreciate the weather and really how cold it was.

Chef Mickey, Cape May... they are character meals and I can see why they wouldn't. The popular places like these and BOG will never take walkups because they are just busy.

But other restaurants... You pretty much answered it right there^^^.

People will be more diligent about cancelling either their double booked ADR or one that they just don't want the day before, if adhering to the policy, and that will allow more room for either walkups or someone else looking for a reservation that day.

They will cancel it. That's what Disney wants.

If Disney doesn't penalize the guest, there is no "incentive" for the guest to be responsible and cancel the reservation. They don't want to penalize you, they just want you to be responsible and cancel the reservation!!

But... with all that said, I do think a day of policy with maybe like a 5 hour window minimum would be sufficient. Maybe in several months they'll switch it to that. But, I still have no problem with what they are doing now.

See I think most of us our on the same page here...we all want the abuse curbed, we all think, even you, that this could be accomplished with a shorter more reasonable window.

Dec 2010 was an epic time for those of us there. We got there when the forecast was nice and packed accordingly. And then it changed. We live in WA, had a 2+ week trip, and did not have enough warm clothes. DH doesn't go to pants from shorts at home until its below freezing and the night we saw illuminations he was nearly crying from the cold.

If you hear of someone talking about the level of cold like he previous poster was, assume it was dec 2010 and don't respond. If you weren't there you don't know. If you are local and could get other clothes easily you don't know. And if you arrived after the temperatures had dropped and could pack correctly you don't know.

We had an Ohana breakfast last feb at 7am. Late the night before DS started getting sick, really sick. I called and explained and they cancelled it no problem despite the fact of the cancellation policy being in effect for that restaurant. They understood sick kids. I don't have a huge concern about having a bonafide reason for a cancellation even with the policy.

Thank you for clarifying this. We have been in Dec before, we have been in March, both had their cold moments...but nothing was like this week. We have even gone to Hershey Park locally in the winter and it was nothing like this week, and even at HP the hours are pretty short knowing people wont last long and they are not open at night. And we did Illuminations (or tried) after the CP and we could not last standing on the bridge in France, and EPCOT was empty that night, I have never seen so many places empty around the lake at Illuminations time.

All the resorts were sold out of warm gear...I bought the last pair of gloves it seemed at DHS from a cart near Muppets, I looked everywhere. Now here is a hint if you ever get stuck in the cold in FL, go to Norway in EPCOT, even with the cold weather they had lots of warm gear in their gift shop when other places were sold out. Of course we discovered this after we needed everything

I think others comparing this to their cold snaps just dont realize and that is ok, I know I have no clue what it was like during TS Debbie and how bad it truly rained and how going out with little ones was such a challenge unless my friend told me. I have only been there during the usual brief FL thunder storm.

 

[AmyB2006]

But wait, they need these no show fees to make up for lost revenue, how can they be full if the no shows are costing them money?

Do you really think they're doing this to make up for lost revenue? No. They are doing it to place the responsibility on the guest to cancel the ADR in advance instead of just not showing up. If everyone cancelled their ADR that wasn't going to show up, more walkups and/or day of ADRs will be available.

Sure, they might be making some extra money by charging people the $10, but that is a "side effect". LOL They want people to be more responsible and cut down on the no shows.

 

[Mkrop]

Do you really think they're doing this to make up for lost revenue? No. They are doing it to place the responsibility on the guest to cancel the ADR in advance instead of just not showing up. If everyone cancelled their ADR that wasn't going to show up, more walkups and/or day of ADRs will be available.

Sure, they might be making some extra money by charging people the $10, but that is a "side effect". LOL They want people to be more responsible and cut down on the no shows.

Yes I truly think they are...sorry, just like the ATM fees that banks impose.

 

[Nancyg56]

People will be more diligent about cancelling either their double booked ADR or one that they just don't want the day before, if adhering to the policy, and that will allow more room for either walkups or someone else looking for a reservation that day.

They will cancel it. That's what Disney wants.

If Disney doesn't penalize the guest, there is no "incentive" for the guest to be responsible and cancel the reservation. They don't want to penalize you, they just want you to be responsible and cancel the reservation!!

I agree that Disney wants to curb double and triple booking and no-shows. As it stands now, there is no incentive to be courteous and cancel if you are not going to show up unless you booked a headliner TS meal, so no harm no foul if you books ADR's for every contingency and forget what you have. Now, since Disney sells the DDP for big bucks, folks get annoyed if they cannot book TS meals when they are planning their trip. WE read about it here all of the time, and we also read about the many many meals some folks have tucked away while they decide. I think that this helps, from the beginning booking stage to the actual vacation stage, when people need to make a decision.

Yes I truly think they are...sorry, just like the ATM fees that banks impose.

I bet that if Disney could curb those angry calls from folks who have paid upfront for their dining and then get their preferred meals, that would be fine with them, no revenue needed.

I do not think that this will open up more walk up opportunities, but I do believe that it will help people who are calling the dining line to see what is available. I also think that people who are making their 180 day call will have those that opened the night before.

 

[AmyB2006]

See I think most of us our on the same page here...we all want the abuse curbed, we all think, even you, that this could be accomplished with a shorter more reasonable window.

I think that for the non busier restaurants, a shorter window would be sufficient. But busy restaurants, I have no problem with the day before policy. For now, I think this is something Disney needs to do. There are way too many people making ADRs and no showing. And I'm ok with it for now.

I understand that 4 or 5 hours may seem reasonable, but I think that Disney is trying to make people open up spots for that 6 or 7AM magic minute when their phones and website light up at that 180 day mark.

I don't quite understand this. If someone cancels an ADR a day before, how does this affect the 180 day mark for someone else? I can see how a family might wake up the next morning and try to see if there is an ADR for that day at 6 or 7 am and now there will be if people cancel the night before. But I don't see how this affects someone else's 180 day mark. Am I missing something?

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't quite understand this. If someone cancels an ADR a day before, how does this affect the 180 day mark for someone else? I can see how a family might wake up the next morning and try to see if there is an ADR for that day at 6 or 7 am and now there will be if people cancel the night before. But I don't see how this affects someone else's 180 day mark. Am I missing something?

Oh goodness! I did not have enough coffee this morning! Even as I was trying to explain myself, it took me time to figure out that I made no sense!

 

[AmyB2006]

Oh goodness! I did not have enough coffee this morning! Even as I was trying to explain myself, it took me time to figure out that I made no sense!

LOL. I thought for sure there was some glaring detail that I was missing.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I think that for the non busier restaurants, a shorter window would be sufficient. But busy restaurants, I have no problem with the day before policy . . .

1) What is criteria for a non-busier restaurant or a busier restaurant?
. . . dollar amount of menu items?
. . . total amount of ADR's?
. . . percentage of tables versus ADR's?
. . . how hard to get an ADR?
. . . character versus non-character?
. . . how long people wait in line for their ADR time?
. . . how long the meal lasts?
2) I just do not know how to classify busy versus non-busy.

 

[AmyB2006]

1) What is criteria for a non-busier restaurant or a busier restaurant?
. . . dollar amount of menu items?
. . . total amount of ADR's?
. . . percentage of tables versus ADR's?
. . . how hard to get an ADR?
. . . character versus non-character?
. . . how long people wait in line for their ADR time?
. . . how long the meal lasts?
2) I just do not know how to classify busy versus non-busy.

How about popular vs non-popular instead of busy then? How's that?

Please give a numbered answer again. I love those.


ETA... And by that I mean, if you can typically call up and get an ADR the day of now, or walkup, then I consider that not popular.

 

[Mkrop]

I think that for the non busier restaurants, a shorter window would be sufficient. But busy restaurants, I have no problem with the day before policy. For now, I think this is something Disney needs to do. There are way too many people making ADRs and no showing. And I'm ok with it for now.



?

Amy, I think the exact opposite...the busy restaurants will have plenty of people looking for last minute ADRs or have walkups. Places like Chef Mickeys or Ohanas would never have to worry about filling those empty tables, there is always people asking, or all they have to do is put msgs on the guest's phones staying at the CR or Poly and I bet it would fill those seats. I feel that way about most TS places in DHS and MK as well. Most have people walking up all the time. We try at DHS all the time if we dont have an ADR already and usually GR or the podioum just chuckle and say not they are booked. And once again with this new techmology they could send a message if they had that many empty tables and try to get people to book that way.

The nonbusy places think they have X coming so they staff, it many people cancel and they are in an out of the way spot, then they will have a harder time filling those seats. But once again they could send msgs to guests of the resort or whomever through the bands.

 

[AmyB2006]

Amy, I think the exact opposite...the busy restaurants will have plenty of people looking for last minute ADRs or have walkups. Places like Chef Mickeys or Ohanas would never have to worry about filling those empty tables, there is always people asking, or all they have to do is put msgs on the guest's phones staying at the CR or Poly and I bet it would fill those seats. I feel that way about most TS places in DHS and MK as well. Most have people walking up all the time. We try at DHS all the time if we dont have an ADR already and usually GR or the podioum just chuckle and say not they are booked. And once again with this new techmology they could send a message if they had that many empty tables and try to get people to book that way.

The nonbusy places think they have X coming so they staff, it many people cancel and they are in an out of the way spot, then they will have a harder time filling those seats. But once again they could send msgs to guests of the resort or whomever through the bands.

You're right, there are always people asking. Which is precisely why people should be required to cancel a day ahead of time. So those "last minute" people can get their reservation earlier in the day and know that they have a reservation locked in for later in the day.

ETA... You and I will never agree on this because you think they are doing this to earn money from "lost revenues" when I think they are doing it to place responsibility back on the guest. Two different "motives".

 

[mcd2745]

1) What is criteria for a non-busier restaurant or a busier restaurant?
. . . dollar amount of menu items?
. . . total amount of ADR's?
. . . percentage of tables versus ADR's?
. . . how hard to get an ADR?
. . . character versus non-character?
. . . how long people wait in line for their ADR time?
. . . how long the meal lasts?
2) I just do not know how to classify busy versus non-busy.

How about popular vs non-popular instead of busy then? How's that?

Please give a numbered answer again. I love those.


ETA... And by that I mean, if you can typically call up and get an ADR the day of now, or walkup, then I consider that not popular.

I think even those of us here who can't agree on anything could probably agree on which are the "busy" or "popular" restaurants and which are not.

Actually, they all probably should go into 3 categories:

• The super-popular, near impossible to get if not reserved at 180 restaurants (BOG, 'Ohana, Chef Mickey's, etc.)
• The normally very popular, but an ADR is usually attainable with enough effort (most World Showcases restaurants, Cape May, Kona Cafe, most signatures, most of DTD besides T-Rex, etc.) - by far, the largest group of the three
• and the always available (the TS restaurants at all the moderates, Marrakesh, etc.).

That said, I think it is simpler for all involved (particularly though, for Disney's IT), to have one uniform time for cancellations. I don't disagree that a shorter window (2, 4, 6 hours or whatever) shouldn't be a problem - from Disney's perspective - for dinner reservations, but not so much for lunch and definitely not for breakfast.

 

[maxiesmom]

That said, I think it is simpler for all involved (particularly though, for Disney's IT), to have one uniform time for cancellations. I don't disagree that a shorter window (2, 4, 6 hours or whatever) shouldn't be a problem - from Disney's perspective - for dinner reservations, but not so much for lunch and definitely not for breakfast.

Oh my gosh I can hear the confusion now!! "What do you mean I had to cancel my breakfast ADR 12 hours out? I canceled my lunch ADR only 2 hours ahead of time, and that was fine! Besides, I thought 10:45 am was lunch!!!"


You also can't call any restaurant that you can walk up to unpopular. A friend of mine walked up to CRT with her family of five just a couple of months ago. And that there is the definition of a popular restaurant!

 

[sndral]

Dec 2010 was an epic time for those of us there.
....
If you hear of someone talking about the level of cold like he previous poster was, assume it was dec 2010 and don't respond. If you weren't there you don't know. If you are local and could get other clothes easily you don't know. And if you arrived after the temperatures had dropped and could pack correctly you don't know.
....

OT.
For those interested in what people who were there and posted about it at the time were saying @ the time here is the link to the thread about the Dec. 2010 cold snap
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2612896&highlight=2010+dec+weather&page=8
I remember it as so cold that I bought gloves and a sweatshirt, but not as bad as Dec. 2000, when I bought one of those blanket ponchos from Mexico to watch illuminations - so I went searching to refresh my recollection.