No-show

[sue_gowin]

of course it doesn't make you a bad person!!! We've usually gone to Client Services to cancel our ADR once we know we won't be able to make it...that way, you may make someone's day extra magical with a walk-in dinner/lunch!

 

[jen42002]

If you know ahead of time (going to a different park that day etc.) you can stop by the concierge at your hotel. Give them the confirmation number and they can cancel it for you. That way the reservation will be open for another group looking to make last minute dining plans.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

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.

Included in that number are trac phones where you pay per minute and during busy times the call center can have you on hold for quite a long time, especially if there are issues with the reservation system.

It would be nice if the call center had an expediated extention in the phone tree for cancellations.

 

[tzeitel]

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.

The question was a simple one, the answers have been given - and debated. Not sure if you are trying to be funny, informative or combative but it sounded (read) a bit rude. Many places in WDW have horrible reception and if you are in line for a ride you might not be able to call - unless you leave the line...and we have read what most think of leaving a line and coming back (unless taking akid to the bathrooms of course )

Not sure how many ppl call to book so last minute that if someone cancels half an hour before their ADR someone else might book it. i guess it would work if you cancelled before the restaurant opens, after that it does not really matter.

When I worked as a hostess at Spoodles we printed the ADR list before we opened and did not check it again - too busy to check the computer or even answer the phone most of the time. We did NOT overbook but many ppl would show up early for their ADR so there was never a lull in the dining room. Also if we were not booked solid (think holiday) we would take walk ins to fill tables - no table was held back for ADRs unless it was a large party.
This is why they are priority seatings and not reservations.

 

[JimmyV]

The question was a simple one, the answers have been given - and debated. Not sure if you are trying to be funny, informative or combative but it sounded (read) a bit rude.

Neither, really. You are correct that the topic is being debated. In the course of the debate, several posters suggested that using a cell phone to cancel a reservation is simple and convenient. One poster posited that this doesn't really hold sway, since not everyone has a cell phone. So in the course of the debate, a counterpoint (not everyone has a cell phone) was proffered. In response, a rebuttal (96% of Americans do) is appropriate to counter the counterpoint. That is simply the way debates work. To suggest that it is not practical to use a cell phone is one thing. To suggest that cell phones are not readily accessible to the vast majority of visitors (especially those who post on computer chat boards), is simply disingenuous.

To your point that it simply doesn't matter if you cancel, well, I will not debate your experience, as you certainly know what you know. But when I show up for an ADR, my name appears on a color screen and I am checked in and noted in the system. If my name were no longer in the system, it stands to reason that that would free up space for someone else. It may not matter very much, but it has to matter at least a little. And ultimately, if it became a common practice for people to make ADRs, not show up, and never cancel, I would imagine that at some point, it would matter a lot. Sort of like littering. WDW has a great crew of sweepers who keep the place tidy from the occassional litter. So one person tossing a pretzel tissue on the ground won't matter much. But if everyone tossed their trash on the ground, it would start to matter. It is the law of large numbers.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Let me also point out that adr's do not show up in the system unless they are cancelled at least 3 hours in advance. So if you are cancelling last minute it is no different than just not showing up. They will continue to seat people and not take walk up until they are actually seating on time.

 

[Jules425]

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.

We were right behind you in line! We were the family from IA and I taught in Texas for ten years.

 

[maxiesmom]

I've seen enough restaurants with empty tables while seeing enough complaints about the troubles of getting ADRs to know there are quite a few people who don't bother to show up. And apparently can't be bothered to call. Not cancelling does have an effect. At least try to call if you can't make your ADR.