ok, I need advice-I've been BAD

[SoonipiLady]

I have done the ultimate no-no on this board. I have two ADRs for our arrival night, with a good reason.

DH and I are staying at POFQ. We are arriving on a Thursday night (September 11th during free dining) and have no idea when we should get to our resort. We are using Magical Express and our flight is arriving at 6:30. We are flying Southwest, but will only have carry-on luggage, so we will be able to skip the baggage claim step. Even so, we figure the earliest we can get to the resort is going to be 7:45pm. By the time we check in we figure it will be 8:15pm. We had planned to go to DTD for dinner and I have a ressie booked at Raglan Road for 9:30.

I had asked my TA to book the rest of my ADRs. Gave her a list of what we wanted, and you guessed it, the only night CG is available (one of my MUST do's) is our arrival night at 9:10. Our dilemma is obviously, can we actually make a 9:10 ressie even if everthing goes smoothly (flight, ME, check-in)?

We had planned on keeping both ADRs and deciding on which to cancel when we got to the resort. Now that there is the rumor of CMs cancelling double booked ADRs, what should I do? How much in demand are ADRs on a Thursday night at that hour? (wishes are at 9:00 that night). If they cancel both ADRs, I don't want to wander around looking for a TS meal (we are on ddxp) after traveling.

I have called repeatedly for ADRs on the other three nights we are there, but there is no availablity at all for CG.

Thanks for your help, and please, flame away if you feel you must.

 

[bonzarella]

CG requires a credit card deposit & has a 24 hr cancellation notice. I wouldn't wait until arrival to decide. If you are a few minutes late, I don't think you would get turned away. It is a wonderful place to start the "magic" We always end our last night there. I'd stick with CG.
BTW-we were not impressed with the food or service at RR.
Have a great trip

 

[SoonipiLady]

from me....is it because we are staying on site and could charge it to my room? Is it that way for all signature restaurants?

Karen

 

[bonzarella]

We've been on site when dining too. Maybe because of a TA? Don't know the answer to that one. It is just a hold, card is not charged when making ADR. It will be if you are a no show or violate the 24 hr policy.

 

[oybolshoi]

CA Grill will not refuse to seat you if you arrive late for your ADR. And quite frankly, it's doubtful that you'd be seated right away because everyone who has a table already will stay put until the fireworks are over. You'd likely be waiting for some time to be seated, so I'd keep CA Grill, cancel Raglan Road, and call it a trip.

Another poster made a good point ... CG typically requires a CC to hold a reservation and if you don't cancel within 24 hours they will charge you a no-show fee.

Edited to add: I'm not into flaming people, but I don't think that there is ever a good reason to double book dining reservations, so please make a decision and free up a table somewhere for someone else. You're going during an exceptionally busy period and ADRs are hard to come by for everyone. Thanks, and have a good trip!

 

[mbanks21]

you ta HAD to give a cc to hold the ca. grill res. There is a 24 hour cancellation policy there. Theres NO way to get a CG res without a CC

 

[SoonipiLady]

you ta HAD to give a cc to hold the ca. grill res. There is a 24 hour cancellation policy there. Theres NO way to get a CG res without a CC

on this one! I din't actually make the reservation, so I didn't know there was a 24 hour cancellation policy here (know about the HDDR and Pol dinner show, but not the CG) Is there any others I should know about. We have 5 signature meals planned on our upcoming trip.

Thanks!
Karen

 

[oybolshoi]

on this one! I din't actually make the reservation, so I didn't know there was a 24 hour cancellation policy here (know about the HDDR and Pol dinner show, but not the CG) Is there any others I should know about. We have 5 signature meals planned on our upcoming trip.

Thanks!
Karen

Victoria & Albert's and Cinderella's Table are the only others I can think of at this point. I'm sure someone who knows better will chime in.

 

[jenjersnap]

Fantasmic Dining Packages also require a CC hold, as does the princess meal in Norway.

You might have to take a taxi if things go a little awry, but I'd keep CG.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you want to keep one and cancel one - cancel Raglan Road. This is in NO way a reflection on the food (I already know what I'm eating there on October 2 ), but a financial one. California Grill will charge you a short notice/no-show fee; Raglan Road won't. Also, Raglan Road has some outdoor, first-come - i.e. no reservation required - seating; and they seem to have a fair amount of indoor seating, among several rooms.

 

[SoonipiLady]

Cancelled Raglan Road. DH always wanted to eat at the top of the CR (I don't even think that he cares what kind of food there is ). I'm really interested in their menu and know that this will be our last child free trip for a long while. CG sounds like the perfect way to start off our romantic weekend! If things get dicey, I'll follow jenjersnap's suggeation and grab a cab over to the Contemporary.

Karen

 

[dogodisney]

Cancelled Raglan Road. DH always wanted to eat at the top of the CR (I don't even think that he cares what kind of food there is ). I'm really interested in their menu and know that this will be our last child free trip for a long while. CG sounds like the perfect way to start off our romantic weekend! If things get dicey, I'll follow jenjersnap's suggeation and grab a cab over to the Contemporary.

Karen

It was a wise decision to cancel. I'm sure it will make someone else very happy.
Keep CGs # with you, so if you are running late you can call them and let them know. Shoot if push came to shove wait to check in and go eat first.
Enjoy your get-away!

 

[SoonipiLady]

Shoot if push came to shove wait to check in and go eat first.
Enjoy your get-away!

But we are on the ddxp so it won't be activated until we check in!

We'll just have to keep our fingers (and toes, and eyes ) crossed!

I'll be sure to program cg's phone number into my phone today. Great suggestion !

By the way, we'll be at the POFQ at the same time that you'll be at the POR. You're just getting there a few days before us! I didn't have any trouble getting ADRs for our stay at some really great places. I wonder why that was?(we didn't book until really late and I didn't try for ADRs until mid-may) . What was your experience. I must admit I didn't even try Chef Mickey's or Le Cellier (much to DH's dissapointment), but was able to get basically anything I wanted at Artist Point, the Yatchman, Narcoossees, CP, Chefs, and Tutto. I was even able to change some a few weeks ago and had no problems.....hmmmm.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I have done the ultimate no-no on this board. I have two ADRs for our arrival night, with a good reason.

There is NO good reason for taking a ressie someone else would want.

 

[SoonipiLady]

There is NO good reason for taking a ressie someone else would want.

Already cancelled it, and planned on canceling when we got there. And while it's not the ideal, I disagree that there are sometimes good reasons for making more than one reservation for the same meal as long as I cancel in time for someone else to make use of it.

 

[TDC Nala]

I would not do California Grill on an arrival night. If your flight, your bus ride or your checkin (or all three) is delayed, you will pay a no-show fee for that reservation.

But since you have already made the decision, just hope that you don't get delayed.

 

[dogodisney]

But we are on the ddxp so it won't be activated until we check in!

We'll just have to keep our fingers (and toes, and eyes ) crossed!

I'll be sure to program cg's phone number into my phone today. Great suggestion !

By the way, we'll be at the POFQ at the same time that you'll be at the POR. You're just getting there a few days before us! I didn't have any trouble getting ADRs for our stay at some really great places. I wonder why that was?(we didn't book until really late and I didn't try for ADRs until mid-may) . What was your experience. I must admit I didn't even try Chef Mickey's or Le Cellier (much to DH's dissapointment), but was able to get basically anything I wanted at Artist Point, the Yatchman, Narcoossees, CP, Chefs, and Tutto. I was even able to change some a few weeks ago and had no problems.....hmmmm.

I guess skipping check-in won't work then. We'll be neighbors for a few days!
I also was lucky getting my ADRs. I got everything I wanted. We will be doing Narcoosee's, Chef Mickey's, Coral Reef, Captain's Grill, Grand Floridian Cafe, CRT, WCC, and then Kona Cafe for a breakfast, (all at decent times). I tried to hit the resorts, so we can see what they are like and to get away from the parks for a break.

Well here is some so everything goes smoothly and you get to arrive to your CG ressies on time.

 

[rie'smom]

Take a cab or get a driver when you land, then ask the desk to hold your luggage and take a cab. This way you should have no problem getting to CG on time.

 

[Kparks]

CA Grill will not refuse to seat you if you arrive late for your ADR. And quite frankly, it's doubtful that you'd be seated right away because everyone who has a table already will stay put until the fireworks are over. You'd likely be waiting for some time to be seated, so I'd keep CA Grill, cancel Raglan Road, and call it a trip.

Another poster made a good point ... CG typically requires a CC to hold a reservation and if you don't cancel within 24 hours they will charge you a no-show fee.

Edited to add: I'm not into flaming people, but I don't think that there is ever a good reason to double book dining reservations, so please make a decision and free up a table somewhere for someone else. You're going during an exceptionally busy period and ADRs are hard to come by for everyone. Thanks, and have a good trip!

I don't believe you should purposely double book, but I realize when you are on the dining plan, you have already paid for your meals ahead of time. If you have any change in plans while you are there ( late flights, sick kids, etc.) it would be literally impossible to try to book another ADR once you are there. I have one extra meal planned for unexpected plans. I wouldn't if I were able to book anything once I am there. I realize this is a touchy subject on this board, just being honest.

 

[SoonipiLady]

I guess skipping check-in won't work then. We'll be neighbors for a few days!
I also was lucky getting my ADRs. I got everything I wanted. We will be doing Narcoosee's, Chef Mickey's, Coral Reef, Captain's Grill, Grand Floridian Cafe, CRT, WCC, and then Kona Cafe for a breakfast, (all at decent times). I tried to hit the resorts, so we can see what they are like and to get away from the parks for a break.

Well here is some so everything goes smoothly and you get to arrive to your CG ressies on time.

I was even able to add Boma breakfast and boatrights breakfast yesterday. As well as a few other resort restaurant lunches. We were also interested in "touring the resorts" so we did the same thing you did, except for on our Epcot day. We were able to get Artist Point, Cali Grill, Boma, Chef's de France, Tutto, Yatchsman, Narcoossee's and a few others all within 20 minutes of our "ideal" time. 3 of our 4 nights right around fireworks/illuminations.

It should be alot of fun!

Karen