New Reservations Cancellation Policy

[AmyB2006]

I don't think its a terribly unfair policy. But everything Disney is doing right now is geared towards getting everyone to plan every minute. Give them free dining. Then make everyone have ADRs or they can't get in. Get them to plan months in advance exactly where they'll be at every second. Magic bands, ADRs, FP plus. It's taking a lot of the fun and spontaneity out.

Personally, I think they should do away with free dining. It has "dumbed down" the menus across the board IMO. But that's another whole topic.

But as far as everything else... you don't have to plan it out if you don't want to. They offer those things for the people who do want to plan out every minute. For those that don't, they don't have to. You don't want to plan out FP+? Then don't. You will still be able to see your favorite attractions.

And I actually think this new policy will help with walk ups at TS restaurants, specifically for the free dining folks, so they don't have to make ADRs 180 days in advance if they don't want to. I think there won't be so many ADRs taken up by people booking 5 restaurants at one time, cause they just don't know what they want. They won't be taken up by people just making ADRs "in case" they happen to make it there at that time. There will be more tables available, and walk ups (at least I think) will be accommodated much easier now.

Everyone who has a problem with this policy seems to use the excuses of "Out of control kids", and "Vomiting and sickness."

Yes!!! Don't you know, everyone comes down with the plague when they visit Disney. LOL

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Everyone who has a problem with this policy seems to use the excuses of "Out of control kids", and "Vomiting and sickness." I have to tell you, if my kids were very frequently unable to act well enough to be taken out to a restaurant I wouldn't even be MAKING these reservations. If I were sick so frequently that I don't feel I can plan anything in advance, I wouldn't be making ADR's in that situation either. For most kids, well my kids anyway, the kids acting so horribly they can't be taken out to eat was maybe a once in a lifetime thing. We took 15 WDW trips while the kids were little and we never missed a meal because they couldn't be taken out in public. I can see maybe folks don't like pulling out their CC to make all these ADR's, it's just the reasons for it I'm having a tough time believing.

Exactly !!!

 

[aaarcher86]

I agree. We often change our plans based on mood, weather, energy level. These changes are made last minute. I don't appreciate having to lock in six months in advance and then have to cancel as much as 24 hours in advance. We travel to wdw frequently. When one visits frequently the trips change. They are less regimented. I have less invested in an ADR because I know I'll be back. They are removing all flexibility. Disney will ultimately get less of my dining dollars. We will do cs or eat in the villa

So instead of making advanced reservations and then deciding last minute which to keep, why can't you make no reservations and then about an hour before you want to eat make a brand new reservation based your mood?

 

[quandrea]

So instead of making advanced reservations and then deciding last minute which to keep, why can't you make no reservations and then about an hour before you want to eat make a brand new reservation based your mood?

I never double book, but we do cancel with a few hours notice sometimes. Rebooking last minute at any of the more popular restaurants is pretty much impossible. We will use cs from now on or eat in the villa.

You can email guest communications to voice your concerns.

 

[izzy]

I love Disney as much as the next person. I am a DVC member and also a stockholder. Having said that, they are beginning to get on my nerves with these type of changes and the general overall price increases I've been seeing in the past few years that far outpace inflation. Disney needs to understand that there is a point where the consumer will just walk away and say "enough is enough." I used to tell people that Disney could be done for a reasonable cost, but I truthfully can't say that anymore. I'm all for a company making a profit, but they had better be careful. I suspect if they keep up this trend that they will start losing customers. Perhaps they don't care. My guess is that this MDE/FP+ is costing them LOTS more money to implement that they ever bargained for. Hence the significant increases we've been experiencing for several years now. Or, I could just blame it on free dining. LOL!!

Off my soapbox and back to the topic at hand. I do agree that Disney should charge some sort of penalty for a no show, but to require the cancellation to occur the day before is stretching it. I know that I will not be making anymore ADR's after this change goes into effect. I will either utilize my DVC room more, eat off- site, or just do CS.

 

[AmyB2006]

I never double book, but we do cancel with a few hours notice sometimes. Rebooking last minute at any of the more popular restaurants is pretty much impossible. We will use cs from now on or eat in the villa.

You can email guest communications to voice your concerns.

See, but no ones see that this new policy will probably alleviate a lot of this. There will be less people booking reservations that they never intend to keep or might show up IF they feel like it. Leaving more reservations open to people who do want them and will show up, and more availability for walk ups.

I think once this kicks in, you will find making last minute reservations the day/morning of, much easier.

 

[Colleen27]

Next year, I'm thinking DLR for a change, and then maybe some National Parks out west. Change is always good and better to visit those parks (some of them again) before they're gone.

We're thinking the same. I'm glad these things started coming at the end of our "Disney phase" rather than years ago, because now it doesn't hurt to say we'll just go elsewhere. Disney's been our go-to destination for years, but between my youngest getting to school age and much more travel-friendly and my oldest finally reaching an age where I don't need my ex's permission to get him a passport we're ready to go elsewhere anyway.

I agree that most of the ones complaining are the ones who cancel often. They make the ADR "just in case" and when the time comes if they aren't up to it they cancel.

That isn't the case for me at all. It doesn't happen often and I never make "just in case" ADRs, which to me implies having less than full intention to be there. But I do want a degree of flexibility when I travel; telling the kids to "suck it up" and dealing with "a minor meltdown" to get to a meal is ridiculous, especially of a family oriented destination.

Everyone who has a problem with this policy seems to use the excuses of "Out of control kids", and "Vomiting and sickness."

I have to tell you, if my kids were very frequently unable to act well enough to be taken out to a restaurant I wouldn't even be MAKING these reservations.

If I were sick so frequently that I don't feel I can plan anything in advance, I wouldn't be making ADR's in that situation either.

I've never had a problem with my kids' behaviour in a restaurant, but it only took The Trip of the Creeping Crud to forever embed the illness "what if" in my mind. My kids are rarely sick at home but that one trip 4 of the 5 of us had a particularly vicious stomach bug, and it made quite an impression. I'd have been nothing short of furious if, in addition to losing a couple of days of a very expensive trip and more dining credits than I care to count (we were on the DxDDP), we also had to pay for the cancellations we made last minute when someone was too sick to get to the parks.

But as far as everything else... you don't have to plan it out if you don't want to. They offer those things for the people who do want to plan out every minute. For those that don't, they don't have to. You don't want to plan out FP+? Then don't. You will still be able to see your favorite attractions.

.... in hour plus standby lines.

So instead of making advanced reservations and then deciding last minute which to keep, why can't you make no reservations and then about an hour before you want to eat make a brand new reservation based your mood?

That would be my ideal. I'm happy to make 1-2 special ADRs each trip and "wing it" for the rest. On my next trip I have two ADRs, one at California Grill and one for the Candlelight Processional package. I had planned on doing the rest day-of via the MDE app - we seldom eat counter service, but we're not picky and many of our Disney favorites are those with excellent last-minute availability - but now I'm debating how best to handle it. The app can't do reservations that require a credit card and I don't want to take the time out of my days to find a place that is quiet enough and with good enough reception to call in to make reservations, not to mention the security concern of having to recite your CC info out loud in a busy theme park. But I've seen from personal experience that at least some restaurants have a no-walk-ups policy even when they have empty tables (seriously... turned away at the podium, got on the app, made an ADR for 20 minutes later), so I'm not sure I want to count on that being an option.

I'd be more positive about this, I think, if Disney had a better tech track record. If, for example, there was an update to the app rolling out along with the new policy so that the mobile booking option didn't go away, and if I thought that new version would be stable and fully functional, and if I had any confidence in the security of needing to enter my CC# into a mobile app every time I want a sit-down meal, I could see this being an improvement in the guest experience. But right now, it seems like just another change being made before the framework to support it is in place.

 

[tony67]

My only issue with this is the midnight before part - I think a few hours would be more fair - that would open those up to walk-ups and day of folks and not require people to decide the night before if they still want dinner the next night.

I guess the midnight is the only way to be sure the breakfast ones get canceled - and it is less confusing than trying to do staggered ones.

I typically cancel mine by noon (dinner ones) day of so someone else can get them - but I'm sure many do not take the time to do this - and I do not double book.

There is already far to little flexibility with reservation in Disney - I don't want to know where I am going to eat and what park I will be in - don't even get me started on booking rides a month in advance.......now you have to cancel the night before ugh.

Anyway - I do like that it may become easier to get a walk up because of this - but we will see

 

[quandrea]

I love Disney as much as the next person. I am a DVC member and also a stockholder. Having said that, they are beginning to get on my nerves with these type of changes and the general overall price increases I've been seeing in the past few years that far outpace inflation. Disney needs to understand that there is a point where the consumer will just walk away and say "enough is enough." I used to tell people that Disney could be done for a reasonable cost, but I truthfully can't say that anymore. I'm all for a company making a profit, but they had better be careful. I suspect if they keep up this trend that they will start losing customers. Perhaps they don't care. My guess is that this MDE/FP+ is costing them LOTS more money to implement that they ever bargained for. Hence the significant increases we've been experiencing for several years now. Or, I could just blame it on free dining. LOL!!

Off my soapbox and back to the topic at hand. I do agree that Disney should charge some sort of penalty for a no show, but to require the cancellation to occur the day before is stretching it. I know that I will not be making anymore ADR's after this change goes into effect. I will either utilize my DVC room more, eat off- site, or just do CS.

I second all of this. I think disney is failing to think about their highest revenue generating guests-AP holders and DVC members. We head down there a lot and these set in stone type policies do not reflect the way most of us vacation.

 

[Eastern]

Honestly this just adds another level of stress to my vacation planning. I don't double book and I don't overbook, but inevitably, there are 1 or 2 days when my family of 5 is just too tired to make it to dinner.

I've tried to accommodate for this by booking only 3 TS dinners on our upcoming trip of 7 nights (I booked a few TS lunches). I am willing to risk a cancellation fee for a character meal or 2 but I don't want to have to think about it for every single dinner.

I don't see why they can't make it cancel within 4 hours, or even 2 hours. That shouldn't hurt walkups.

btw the reason I usually book ADRs rather than walk in is because we typically travel during peak periods (and I pay peak resort prices). Easter or NYE week are usually when we go.

 

[tralin]

I was completely fine with it up until I remembered out last trip where we gave ourselves 2 hours to get to MK for our ADR, we had a NIGHTMARE Disney transportation bus day and arrived 45 minutes late. Fortunately they were able to accommodate us. But if they couldn't, I hope they are able to deal with those kinds of situations.

I'm even ok with a sick kid waking up puking and being charged or getting in later than expected on a travel day. That is the risk you take. But when you leave yourself plenty of time and it's completely out of your control hopefully they will be a little more accommodating.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . But when you leave yourself plenty of time and it's completely out of your control hopefully they will be a little more accommodating.

Penalties are solely within the control of the restaurant manager.
. . . if you have arrival problems, speak with the podium lady
. . . if no satisfaction, ask for the manager
. . . but, BE NICE, as it is he/she that will make the determination

 

[E-P-C-O-T]

I love Disney as much as the next person. I am a DVC member and also a stockholder. Having said that, they are beginning to get on my nerves with these type of changes and the general overall price increases I've been seeing in the past few years that far outpace inflation. Disney needs to understand that there is a point where the consumer will just walk away and say "enough is enough." I used to tell people that Disney could be done for a reasonable cost, but I truthfully can't say that anymore. I'm all for a company making a profit, but they had better be careful. I suspect if they keep up this trend that they will start losing customers. Perhaps they don't care. My guess is that this MDE/FP+ is costing them LOTS more money to implement that they ever bargained for. Hence the significant increases we've been experiencing for several years now. Or, I could just blame it on free dining. LOL!!

Off my soapbox and back to the topic at hand. I do agree that Disney should charge some sort of penalty for a no show, but to require the cancellation to occur the day before is stretching it. I know that I will not be making anymore ADR's after this change goes into effect. I will either utilize my DVC room more, eat off- site, or just do CS.

I second all of this. I think disney is failing to think about their highest revenue generating guests-AP holders and DVC members. We head down there a lot and these set in stone type policies do not reflect the way most of us vacation.

I have to agree too! From now on, I will make 1 ADR per trip and IF we decide to eat at a certain restaurant and it happens to have availability, we will go, if not we will eat counter service or head offsite for our meal. My DH will be happy, we will save a lot of $$$ by doing this as our trips are for 10-18 days and we eat most of our meals onsite. The "convenience" of eating onsite is not worth it if I'm going to be anxious and stressed over our ADRs. I would also love a more flexible cancellation policy, we also cancel at least 4-5 hours prior.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I am . . . also a stockholder . . .

As a stockholder, I would think you would want more WDW revenue and profit.

 

[izzy]

As a stockholder, I would think you would want more WDW revenue and profit.

Not to the point where the company is pissing off its customers. There is a fine line between maximizing profit and taking advantage of your customers. IMHO, Disney is either at or just over that line.

 

[maxiesmom]

Not to the point where the company is pissing off its customers. There is a fine line between maximizing profit and taking advantage of your customers. IMHO, Disney is either at or just over that line.

This is only "pissing off" some customers. It is make still others of us very happy.

 

[sabcook]

originally posted by AmyB2006

See, but no ones see that this new policy will probably alleviate a lot of this. There will be less people booking reservations that they never intend to keep or might show up IF they feel like it. Leaving more reservations open to people who do want them and will show up, and more availability for walk ups.

I think once this kicks in, you will find making last minute reservations the day/morning of, much easier.

I agree with this. I am a super planner. We typically do 2 ADRs per day at disney - a sit down breakfast and a signature dinner. With or without the kids, we have never not shown up for an ADR (we did leave Coral Reef once prior to eating because they told us that the wait would be 45 minutes+). For me, this policy has the potential to help me get ADRs I want at my 180 day mark. For those who don't want to plan or don't want to risk the fee, this should help them "wing it" by allowing more walk-ups and day of ADRs to become available. I really don;t see complaining about this unless you are in the habit of collecting ADRs that you won't ultimately use. On that note, I completely inadvertantly stumbled upon a way to double up on ADRs when I was planning for this trip. I had made my ADRs on the new site and wanted to change one. I pulled up the old website on a different computer and was able to add the new one without cancelling the old one.

 

[Quin]

I've been told in the past (on this Board) that ADRs are essentially FPs for TS restaurants rather than "reservations" such as one makes at restaurants in the outside world. If Disney is now placing financial penalties on guests for breaking the ADR contract by no-showing, is Disney now going to uphold its end of the bargain and guarantee a table for you at your reservation time?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . If Disney is now placing financial penalties on guests for breaking the ADR contract by no-showing, is Disney now going to uphold its end of the bargain and guarantee a table for you at your reservation time?

1) ONLY if the ADR becomes a reservation, which is is not.
2) Since it is a theme park, I doubt that to EVER happen.
. . . people frequently stay over the estimated "table time", to cool off or relax
. . . Disney cannot possible estimate the delay times of diners
. . . thus, "table turns" are hard to predict
3) Additionally, there are HUNDREDS of Dining Overrides every day. *
. . . overrides are given to VIPs, Exec's, Marketing Guests, and fav guests
. . . this allows people to get into totally-sold-out eateries
. . . these overrides take eateries over capacity
. . . so, ADR's get backed-up and short-to-long delays result
4) If not comfortable with ADRs, one has the option of only eating QS or trying for TS walk-ups.


* This might be unfair, but eateries frequently give preferential treatment
to their exec's and those who are sponsors. There are usually 1-2 concierge
at each resort with the Override Code, and can insert people into eateries.
The only exceptions are HDDR and Luau, which have precise capacities.

 

[AmyB2006]

.... in hour plus standby lines.

Not the case at all. Regular FP is still working as far as we all know. No one knows exactly what the future of FP+ will hold, but in the very beginning it was said that you will be able to arrive the day of and make FP+ reservations if you feel at the kiosks throughout the park, or from your phone on the MDE app. We all know it's a little glitchy, but I still have some small glimmer of hope that it will work itself out.

If you think your only option is to stand in hour plus stand by lines, I think you haven't been paying attention to all the FP+ talk out there.