New Table Service Cancellation Policy

[nytimez]

How about if a guest isn't seated with 15 minutes of his ADR the meal is free.

Won't happen.

We've also made ADR's for a couple of places and the morning of decided we didn't want the hassle of having to be there at a certain time.

And this is precisely why Disney is taking this step. Your "couple of ADRs" prevented someone else from making an ADR.

 

[Oglet]

Won't happen.



And this is precisely why Disney is taking this step. Your "couple of ADRs" prevented someone else from making an ADR.

Yep, If you want to be flexible then don't commit to something. It's fine to change your mind just give ample notice.

You wan't the freedom to change your mind at the last minute then simply don't book.

 

[disfountainofyouth]

No more one sided than dealing with airlines.

With airlines I have limited carrier/departure times to choose from but inside and out of Disney property are numerous dinning options. Just another example of the "Disney Touch" disappearing in order to maximize profit from the cash cow.

 

[Oglet]

With airlines I have limited carrier/departure times to choose from but inside and out of Disney property are numerous dinning options. Just another example of the "Disney Touch" disappearing in order to maximize profit from the cash cow.

I normally would be the first to agree that Disney is trying to squeeze more dollars out of people to maximize profits, however I believe this is one of those business decisions that probably needed to be made to help protect profits.

Disney is a business and is in it to make money, If they don't make money then there will be no Disney for us to even talk about the "Disney Touch", No shows are hardly going to bankrupt Disney but they are obviously causing enough issues that they felt the need to address the problem.

As I have said before Disney will not charge people if their flight is delayed, cancelled or have a genuine emergency. Much like Guest Relations, I would imagine a file will be kept and should your name start showing up on a regular basis then this is when they will be less likely to work with you. Disney understand things happen but they don't happen every day or other day of a 7 day vacation causing you to cancel with little to no notice.

If this can help Disney schedule cast based on true business needs rather than trying to factor in a % of no shows, trying to guess at a % recovered by walk up guests etc, then I see this as a good thing. Remember a large number of these CM's are paid by tips, It's not really fair on these people either.

Maybe now this will help people get those short notice dinner reservations, maybe it will create some magic for someone who lost hope at being able to dine at a particular place.

I honestly do not see anything wrong with being expected to show up at a place at a particular time, after all, for months you have told Disney you would be there and they did hold a spot for you.

 

[firecracker725]

Well, of course you don't like this idea, you like making ADR's that you don't want or need.

A-frickin'-men!

 

[nytimez]

All the folks upset over this need to realize that NOT having ADRs isn't the end of the world.

Once upon a time -- before the dining plan and definitely before free dining -- you could walk up to a TS restaurant and actually get a seat without knowing 180 days in advance that that's where you would be at that particular moment.

Sometimes, you had to wait a bit -- but no longer than I've waited for a table in a non-theme park restaurant (and certainly a lot less than the lines I've seen at Cheesecake Factory restaurants).

Don't like the new ADR system? Don't make an ADR, or only make them when you know for sure that's where you'll be.

Life WILL go on, I assure you.

PS: I get a kick out of some of the folks here -- the ones most upset here are the ones who have to squeeze every last second out of every day: It's DISNEY'S fault if they can't get from the 3 o'clock parade in MK to their 4:30 reservation at Le Cellier.

Yeah, right.

 

[mcd2745]

All the folks upset over this need to realize that NOT having ADRs isn't the end of the world.

Once upon a time -- before the dining plan and definitely before free dining -- you could walk up to a TS restaurant and actually get a seat without knowing 180 days in advance that that's where you would be at that particular moment. Sometimes, you had to wait a bit -- but no longer than I've waited for a table in a non-theme park restaurant (and certainly a lot less than the lines I've seen at Cheesecake Factory restaurants).

Don't like the new ADR system? Don't make an ADR, or only make them when you know for sure that's where you'll be.

Life WILL go on, I assure you.

PS: I get a kick out of some of the folks here -- the ones most upset here are the ones who have to squeeze every last second out of every day: It's DISNEY'S fault if they can't get from the 3 o'clock parade in MK to their 4:30 reservation at Le Cellier.

Yeah, right.

As an aside, I think the dining plan ("free" or not) gets too much of the blame for the lack of TS availability. It's certainly a significant factor, but only just one of many as part of Disney's - very successful, I might add - attempts to keep guests on-property for the entire length of their stays. Magical Express and the pricing structure of MYW tickets have as much to do with it as the dining plan IMO.

 

[nytimez]

As an aside, I think the dining plan ("free" or not) gets too much of the blame for the lack of TS availability. It's certainly a significant factor, but only just one of many as part of Disney's - very successful, I might add - attempts to keep guests on-property for the entire length of their stays. Magical Express and the pricing structure of MYW tickets have as much to do with it as the dining plan IMO.

That could be true, although there's no way to know for sure.

Personally, I'll keep blaming the dining plan. And yes, I know it's been a wild success from a financial point of view -- especially the "free" dining that isn't really free -- but I'm in the crowd that thinks it's been the biggest contributor to the overall decline in Disney dining, from the availability of reservations to the quality and variety of food.

 

[skier_pete]

I personally like this policy - especially if they are fairly reasonable in their application of a cancellation policy. Would that they could put a limit on the # of cancellations you are allowed per trip. Give each family one freebie (cancel for no reason) one with cause (illness/ transportation breakdown) and after that you pay!

Right now - even though they put in place a policy against double-booking different restaurants at the same time, it's easy enough to abuse by simply making the reservations in different names. By requiring a credit card, this makes doing that much tougher for most.

People complain about wishing they could walk up that morning and get a table. Well, with this new policy, this will improve your chances. By forcing people to cancel within 24 hours, you would think there will be more morning slots open.

I am always amused by people that suggest "let's go back to the old way where you make reservations in the morning", regardless of how impossible that would ever be to do in this day and age. With the DDP - there would be 5,000 people waiting at the park each morning to get their ADRs with 2 hour waits. Meanwhile, those people that sleep in and complain about running out of fastpasses would be furious that they can't even get a ADR. Maybe while they are at it they could knock down two of the parks, 12 of the hotels, and get rid of the DDP and Magic Your Way tickets!

The PP that said "this is a money grab" and "where's the Disney Magic". I just don't get you. There trying to stop people that are abusing the system. "Disney Magic" must mean to you: I should get to do whatever I want and to hell with everyone else. Pardon me, but I'm glad that's NOT the "Disney Magic".

Enough ranting. Good for you Disney! Nice move! Now stop those "Resort Mug" thieves!

 

[DCTooTall]

That could be true, although there's no way to know for sure.

Personally, I'll keep blaming the dining plan. And yes, I know it's been a wild success from a financial point of view -- especially the "free" dining that isn't really free -- but I'm in the crowd that thinks it's been the biggest contributor to the overall decline in Disney dining, from the availability of reservations to the quality and variety of food.

I've never been one to use the DDP (free or otherwise), and also took a long break from the parks so I missed a lot of the early days of the DDP.

That being said... I'd have to agree, if nothing more, for these two reasons.

1. The DDP, for better or worse, Has helped drive some people to try TS restaurants that maybe wouldn't have tried them otherwise. As a result, you run into less availability because of more people eating TS that may not have thought about doing a TS before.

2. As part of the above, You end up having people who are expecting Burgers, Hotdogs, Pizza, chicken fingers, and other usual fast food/counter Service type meals going to TS restaurants. The result is that they are less likely to enjoy some of the more exotic or unique offerings that Disney TS used to be known for. This then leads to Disney removing some of the more exotic or unique items from the menu because there are selling very few of them compared to the more "bland" and mainstream items.


So I can totally see the Paid DDP contributing to the decline on both fronts. More people in the seats, resulting in less availability.... and People eating more "mainstream" food while in those seats, resulting in more "mainstreamed" specialty dishes (example: Mexico becoming more Americanized Mexican vs Mexican Mexican food) and less unique items on the menu.

The question about the "Free DDP" promo's leading to "cheaper" food options is another debate entirely.




And since I've decided to post in one of these threads, Let me add another voice to the "It's a good idea" camp. I enjoy doing walk ups, or being able to decide much closer to the trip what I'm in the mood for. besides not being a 180day uber planner (My last trip I decided on and planned in less than 3 months), I'm also a much more laid back kind of person. I see this policy change as a way for disney to help discourage the multiple ressies for a single meal way of making ADR's that some people recommend planning. At the very least, it helps add another reason for people to make sure they cancel their ADR as they get closer to their dates than just keep them. (You know... something beyond the kindness in their heart and thinking of others, but something that gives them a personal reason to do it.).

Disney being Disney, I don't expect then to be nazi's about making sure you cancel before 24hrs or else. They understand things happen, and aren't going to be viscous in their application of the penalties. Delayed flights....Illness.... transportation issues, There are legit reasons a person may not be able to make their ADR, and based off the information we've gotten from CM's here and what we know about Disney's Guest Relations, It's obvious that the goal here isn't to nickle and dime guests to make an extra few bucks from last minute cancels or no shows. They are simply trying to do what they can to prevent the abuse of the ADR system which has resulted in major availability issues due to phantom reservations that someone had no intention of using but never canceled.

 

[disfountainofyouth]

I normally would be the first to agree that Disney is trying to squeeze more dollars out of people to maximize profits, however I believe this is one of those business decisions that probably needed to be made to help protect profits.

Disney is a business and is in it to make money, If they don't make money then there will be no Disney for us to even talk about the "Disney Touch", No shows are hardly going to bankrupt Disney but they are obviously causing enough issues that they felt the need to address the problem.

As I have said before Disney will not charge people if their flight is delayed, cancelled or have a genuine emergency. Much like Guest Relations, I would imagine a file will be kept and should your name start showing up on a regular basis then this is when they will be less likely to work with you. Disney understand things happen but they don't happen every day or other day of a 7 day vacation causing you to cancel with little to no notice.

If this can help Disney schedule cast based on true business needs rather than trying to factor in a % of no shows, trying to guess at a % recovered by walk up guests etc, then I see this as a good thing. Remember a large number of these CM's are paid by tips, It's not really fair on these people either.

Maybe now this will help people get those short notice dinner reservations, maybe it will create some magic for someone who lost hope at being able to dine at a particular place.

I honestly do not see anything wrong with being expected to show up at a place at a particular time, after all, for months you have told Disney you would be there and they did hold a spot for you.

My point was that my time is worth something too. If I make an ADR we're there 10-15 minutes before time. Our last meal at Le Celliar, waited
50 minutes past ADR time. How many times have the resort buses been late?
On that same trip we waited and hour+ for a bus from BCV to MK.

It wasn't always like this!

 

[tjkraz]

My point was that my time is worth something too. If I make an ADR we're there 10-15 minutes before time. Our last meal at Le Celliar, waited 50 minutes past ADR time.

But you have to realize that under the old / current system, Disney is intentionally overbooking restaurants due to the high volume of no-shows. Problem is that's an inexact process.

For the sake of argument, assume Disney predicted 20% no-shows and overbooked the restaurant accordingly. In reality they only had 10% no shows. End result is those who showed ended up waiting a bit longer due to the backlog.

If your fellow guests were considerate enough to not make excess ADRs it wouldn't be an issue.

This is the next logical step. Now they will be booking to 100% capacity and assuming 100% will show. There may still be some unpredictability as guests can stay later than expected, be slow in ordering, slow kitchen staff, etc. But overall this policy change should yield an improvement in the guest experience.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

As someone who does plan ahead when booking a trip AND a Travel professional who offers this service FREE to my customers it is a blessing.

They are only asking for a HOLD they are only going to charge you when you don't show up. It is about time this came into play.

I have been to Disney World over 37 times and have never been more than 10 mins late for my ressie. I usually try and show up early but there have not been broken down buses or anything like that I also will give myself enough time.

I am not syaing that it has not happened, but everyone has a cell phone on them, you can call Disney Dining and tell them what is going on. Its not that difficult to do.

My biggest pet peeve has always been those that book so many because they aren't sure what they want or where they are going to be that day.

 

[La Bill]

I am mostly a lurker on the boards but most people seem to believe in a decline of disney resteraunts. Forgive me if I question another change. One complaint I often hear is people feel rushed at their meals. If its perceived that their will be no cancellations and your idea and Disneys idea of a reasonable dining experiance are different wont this make it worse.

 

[KYMickey]

But overall this policy change should yield an improvement in the guest experience.

Now if they just do something about the quality of the food!

 

[tjkraz]

Now if they just do something about the quality of the food!

IMHO, food quality is on a noticeable upswing at the Disney parks lately. Sure there are some places we go out of our way to avoid but many have had obvious improvements in the last couple of years. Quality and variety of counter service dining is vastly improved.

 

[Oglet]

IMHO, food quality is on a noticeable upswing at the Disney parks lately. Sure there are some places we go out of our way to avoid but many have had obvious improvements in the last couple of years. Quality and variety of counter service dining is vastly improved.

I am glad you posted this. I have to agree, recently I have noticed a larger variety and increase in the quality of QS food.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Whilst I'm known as a Disney crumudgeon I have to say that my last three WDW experiences, AP, 'Ohana and CG were all BETTER than expectations while my last meal at Shula's was not.

 

[nytimez]

I don't feel food has gotten better -- but it does seem to me that it's stopped getting worse, which counts for something these days.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

I agree that it seems to have leveled off, at least. But my meals at AP and CG (twice) in the past two months were pretty spectacular. What I think is that the quality in preparation is returning to what they do, over and over again, but the creativity is still a Long way from where it once was.