No-show

[toxa]

I'm planing to book a lunch on Epcot, but I'm not sure we'll actually use it, because it's our only day in Epcot and if lines don't help we might bypass lunch altogether and just grab a snack.

1) Does it make me a bad person?

2) In case of no-show, will if affect my other reservations?

 

[OhThePain]

It doesn't make you a bad person and it won't affect your other ADR's. Sometimes people just can't make it, it happens. If you want to feel better about it, once you know you won't make it call and cancel it. At least this way it gives someone a chance to walk-up and get it.

 

[dzorn]

If it was one with a credit card guarantee they will charge you. If it does not then at least stop by the restaurant or call and cancel so someone else may be able to book.

Epcot has so many CS if you think you will skip it just go for CS instead of TS.

Denise in MI

 

[kaybird]

It will not make a difference to your other reservations, only problem would be if it is a credit card reserved meal (Like Cinderella) you will be charged.

It only takes a couple of minutes to call WDW-DINE and cancel, which would be thoughtful. You can do it by cell from the park.

 

[JimmyV]

Everybody has a cell phone, or is traveling with someone who does. There is simply no excuse for not calling to cancel. Especially if lines are an issue. If one can't make a ressie because the lines are long...then the lines are long enough to afford one the opportunity to make a one minute call. The courtesy will be greatly appreciated, as a walk-in will be seated, and you will make their day. Think of it as ADR Karma.

 

[Tara922c]

I was told by the manager when we were told that the wait for our 730 ADR at le cellier was running behind by 2 hours, and that they may not be able to accomidate us that.....Disney accepts more ADRs than they really can accomidate because they expect people not to show up. That night we chose to go ahead, and tell the host to cancel our ADR. I couldn't wait for two hours to feed my 2 year old. Some people may say it was wrong of me because a person may have taken my ADR several months before, but there is no way I was waiting for two hours in the pouring rain.

I would still cancel it It doesn't take too long, and it may make someone score a walk up, doubt it, but it may.

 

[clanmcculloch]

The only restaurant at Epcot that has a credit card guarantee where you'll be charged for not cancelling 2 days ahead of time is Akershus. I'd make a point to NOT book there if you're not sure that you'll make it.

 

[dskib]

It's nice to cancel, but Disney knows they're going to get no shows and over books accordingly. In a busy season, I doubt that there will be a table left empty if you no show. It's not like they hold the table for you.

I'm sure you'll get lots of opinionated responses from the DisBoard police, but it won't make you a bad person and your other ressies won't be affected.

 

[ppony]

Don't worry about it. It's just the nature of the dining-at-Disney-beast that we have to make ADRs for almost everything. There is no way to know day to day if you truly are going to be able to hold them all. Each trip, we usually miss at least one for various reasons. Usually autism related, exhaustion or timing just didn't work. It happens. When I'm able to, I call and cancel but sometimes you can't. Do your best. That's all anyone can ask.

And I beg to differ that "everyone has a cell phone". Um, no they don't. The Disney Dining line has hours too and if you don't know you won't make it to an early AM appt until after hours the night before, it's a hard one. I dealt w/ that on my last trip. But as a PP said, they overbook, just like airlines. It all works out.

 

[sunshineNJ]

I always book more adrs then we have ts credits for. The day of I seehow things are going and I cancel either the lunch or dinner depending on which one is more convient that day.

 

[wcpamotm]

It's nice to cancel, but Disney knows they're going to get no shows and over books accordingly. In a busy season, I doubt that there will be a table left empty if you no show. It's not like they hold the table for you.

I'm sure you'll get lots of opinionated responses from the DisBoard police, but it won't make you a bad person and your other ressies won't be affected.

This. I don't believe that a table ever stays empty for being held for an ADR that has not shown yet. So if you simply can't make an ADR, don't feel too bad about not making it. Do call or swing by the restaurant to cancel if you can; it might help!

On the other hand, please do not make multiple ADRs for the same meal (perhaps because you don't know what you'll be in the mood for). That could prevent somebody else from getting an ADR that thet might want.

 

[ppony]

On the other hand, please do not make multiple ADRs for the same meal (perhaps because you don't know what you'll be in the mood for). That could prevent somebody else from getting an ADR that thet might want.

Agreed! That's intentional selfishness. You ARE denying someone of an ADR they want to have.

 

[dzorn]

Not cancelling is just rude. Any restaruant can connect you to disney dining. Guest service can also.

Denise in MI

 

[si-am]

You can use your cell phone to call and cancel reservations while you're in the park. We've often called at the last minute to try to get ADRs, so if someone else actually bothered to cancel, it might open up a spot to someone trying to call to get in that day.

 

[summerlady]

Agreed! That's intentional selfishness. You ARE denying someone of an ADR they want to have.

I agree as well. That's just plain inconsiderate and selfish.

 

[wcpamotm]

You can use your cell phone to call and cancel reservations while you're in the park. We've often called at the last minute to try to get ADRs, so if someone else actually bothered to cancel, it might open up a spot to someone trying to call to get in that day.

Thanks for this note! I will alter my above opinion slightly to strengthen my call to cancel a reservation that will go unused.

I did do this at the Crystal Palace this past Saturday morning in order to sit with other friends, even though it was before park opening and thus not likely to be claimed by anyone else. But maybe it helped someone else get seated faster.

 

[walkdmc]

I just booked a bunch of ADRS for November and noticed they would not allow me to book simultaneous reservations. I was forced to cancel one before the system would book another.

I was trying for Le Cellier for lunch, after I had already booked other meals. The only lunch date that was available posted and I took it immediately but I had already booked another ADR for that time (which of course, I would cancel at the drop of a hat to get Le Cellier). <<---just an explanation for the DISboards police.

 

[si-am]

Thanks for this note! I will alter my above opinion slightly to strengthen my call to cancel a reservation that will go unused.

I did do this at the Crystal Palace this past Saturday morning in order to sit with other friends, even though it was before park opening and thus not likely to be claimed by anyone else. But maybe it helped someone else get seated faster.

I mentioned it because I remember one Christmas Eve a few years ago, we hadn't made an ADR for dinner because we thought we'd eat at a CS. But we decided at the rather last minute that we would like a sit-down meal, so we stood on Main Street and called WDW dining, and couldn't get a single ADR at any nearby resort or anywhere in the MK. We probably could have tried to walk up to a place, but it seemed like a lot of trouble to, for instance, go to Poly just to check out the status of Kona seating.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Not cancelling is just rude. Any restaruant can connect you to disney dining. Guest service can also.

Denise in MI

I have been on hold right up untill boarding a ride (more than 15 minutes) and this was a much bigger issue before online ADR's and and unlimited calling. I have been in places where there is no service (especially inside buildings)or had my call dropped.

There are times when it is too loud to use a cell phone and I don't want the person next to me yelling into a cell phone during a parade.

Parks are large places where it can take awhile to walk to a restaurant and most don't open before 11:30.

Guest services can also be quite a walk.

To the OP do your best to cancel but don't beat yourself up if for instance you get stuck in line at TT. Stuff happens.

 

[JimmyV]

And I beg to differ that "everyone has a cell phone". Um, no they don't.

You can "beg" all you want. As of December, 2010, the percentage of U.S. residents with cellphones (measured as "household cellphone penetration") was just over 96%. And 27% of U.S. households have cellphone service ONLY, without landlines. Sure, there are still some Luddites out there. But next time you are at WDW, take a look around. Try and find a family that does not have at least one cellphone amongst the group. I don't know a single 13 year old who doesn't have a cell, let alone an entire family.

But leaving cellphones aside, there are many ways to notify a restaurant that you are not going to show up. Again, look at the original post. The entire premise was that the meal might be missed because the park is going to be crowded with long lines. If one is waiting in long lines, one has the time to find a way to extend the courtesy to the restaurant that the reservation should be cancelled. Will the world end if you don't? No. But that is not the test of when one should act courteously.