Overbooking ADR's without cancelling

[Dustmouse]

This past trip I was chatting with another guest who mentioned that she routinely books 2 or 3 dinner TS ADR's a day and let's her family pick which one they want to visit depending on what they're in the mood for. While I think this probably gives them more flexibility, I think it really screws up the ADR's for everyone else.

I only book one per day and we get there rain or shine. What do you guys do?

 

[Mickey1122]

This is a thread that can only cause trouble and arguments!

 

[Goofy_4_WDW]

I think booking more than 1 ADR is a selfish and greedy thing to do! HOW RUDE!!!!!! We would never do that!!
How about the poor people trying to plan at home IN ADVANCE!!! that cant get the ADR's because you have it and may or may not use it. They will make alternate plans (not there first choice) they wont go to see if someone didnt show up for there ADR where they really want to dine. What if they are turned away, now where will they go?

 

[Dis31]

We tried to get into LeCellier in March, we thought it probably wouldnt happen but we gave it a shot. A group ahead of us said the family they were travelling with decided not to show( there were only 2 of us who wanted to dine). I asked the man if we could take that table and we were told no. So I think it is very selfish to take up ADR slots knowing your jsut not going to show up for a few of them b/c they dont jsut allow walk ups to take those spots. I understand that its your vacation and you want to be able to do what you want when you want but I still think it's just not fair.

 

[notnothin]

I'm going to get yelled at by all the future posters on this thread, but we also book 2-3 ADRs per meal and choose for both lunch and dinner. We do them in different parks sometimes depending on where we feel like going. We don't like being locked into a schedule. Besides, if you don't show up after fifteen minutes they give your table to someone who walks up.

Yup, you're right. This is one of the 'hot topics' of discussion here on the DIS. It really is a shame that people do this and prevent others from making their own reservations. It is certainly frowned upon by many, including myself.

 

[ms.ojo]

I don't get it. Before Disney use to randomly cancel one of your PSs if they noticed you had more than 1 booked for a given meal. They don't do that anymore?

 

[Kimberly815]

We only make one ADR and stick with it. We make it for the place we will most likely be, and most likely eat and stick to it.

 

[Dustmouse]

I'm going to get yelled at by all the future posters on this thread, but we also book 2-3 ADRs per meal and choose for both lunch and dinner. We do them in different parks sometimes depending on where we feel like going. We don't like being locked into a schedule. Besides, if you don't show up after fifteen minutes they give your table to someone who walks up.

Well, thanks for being honest.

 

[BlindTyldak]

The only time I'll ever book an ADR that I know I might blow off is departure day. We'll make a late breakfast ADR and if we wake up in time, are packed and ready to go, checked out and bags stowed, etc. we'll go to it, but if we oversleep we don't really worry. But we never book it for a peak time and for the rest of the trip, we pick and choose and plan accordingly.

 

[ducklite]

I'm going to get yelled at by all the future posters on this thread, but we also book 2-3 ADRs per meal and choose for both lunch and dinner. We do them in different parks sometimes depending on where we feel like going. We don't like being locked into a schedule. Besides, if you don't show up after fifteen minutes they give your table to someone who walks up.

I think what you so is extrememly rude. I live near WDW and often decide during the afternoon that I'd like to dine at one of the restaurants there that evening. If you'd at least have the courtesy to cancel (you can do so at the podium of ANY WDW restaurant or guest services) it would give someone the opportunity to pick up that reservation. I'm not going to make a 60-90 minute r/t on the thought that I *might* be able to pick up a no-show slot.

Some restuarants turn away people all day for that evening's dinner--Le Cellier is a prime example. If you'd just have the common decency to cancel, someone could get a little extra magic in theri day.

I wish WDW would require a credit card hold for every ADR to put an end to ADR hogs.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I don't get it. Before Disney use to randomly cancel one of your PSs if they noticed you had more than 1 booked for a given meal. They don't do that anymore?

People use different phone numbers to book so there's no way to tell.

Anne

 

[notnothin]

I wish WDW would require a credit card hold for every ADR to put an end to ADR hogs.

ITA with this statement. I'd gladly plop down the CC for every ADR to stop this sort of activity.

 

[Evil Queen]

I have done this somewhat, but not 2 or 3 for the same hour.

DS10 and I want to got to ESPN Club one night, but I have a back up ADR at Spoodle's. If we can get into ESPN Club without a long wait, I'll walk over to Spoodle's and cancel.

We also want to go to the Offical All Star Cafe at the Sports Complex, but have an ADR for Olivia's. Should we decide the wait is doable at All Star I'll ask the person at the podium how to cancel Olivia's.

I kept the one for dinner at Tony's, but made one for the same day at 1900 Park Fair for breakfast. If no problems with breakfast, I'll stop at Tony's when we get into MK and cancel.

I do have 2 ADR's (dinner) for older son and his friend, an hour apart at Ragland Road, but they know they need to let me know during the day which one they want to keep, so I can cancel the other one.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

ITA with this statement. I'd gladly plop down the CC for every ADR to stop this sort of activity.

Me, too.

I really don't know how some people can be so selfish and inconsiderate- at Disney, nonetheless!

 

[notnothin]

I have done this somewhat, but not 2 or 3 for the same hour.

DS10 and I want to got to ESPN Club one night, but I have a back up ADR at Spoodle's. If we can get into ESPN Club without a long wait, I'll walk over to Spoodle's and cancel.

We also want to go to the Offical All Star Cafe at the Sports Complex, but have an ADR for Olivia's. Should we decide the wait is doable at All Star I'll ask the person at the podium how to cancel Olivia's.

I kept the one for dinner at Tony's, but made one for the same day at 1900 Park Fair for breakfast. If no problems with breakfast, I'll stop at Tony's when we get into MK and cancel.

I do have 2 ADR's (dinner) for older son and his friend, an hour apart at Ragland Road, but they know they need to let me know during the day which one they want to keep, so I can cancel the other one.

Sorry, this isn't any better. Although your last-second cancellations may afford someone to have a chance at having a 'walk-up', you're still denying others the ability to secure a reservation. Weak, weak, weak ....

 

[Sonno]

While I'm PLANNING I might have a few ADRs for the same date and time. But, after my plans are finalized (like they are now), all of the excess ADRs are canceled. Anything less is just plain selfish and rude.

 

[lovmy2girls]

I should not have opened this thread, I'm leaving. All kind of rude things are starting to pop up in my mind. When we all have to start putting a Credit card down for every ADR we make you will know why.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I also agree that one way to stop people from hogging ADR's is to have a credit card to hold with a cancellation fee. Do people that make multiple ADR's realize that they are creating the problem and that is why we have to make our meal plans so far in advance in hopes to have a decent time for a sit down dinner? If you only book what you want and will use, and cancel as far in advance as possible when you decide you do not want the ADR, then you wouldn't need to make multiple ADR's. There would be enough to go around and it could mean (gasp!) being able to wait until the day of to make the necessary ADR.

Part of planning to me is trying to figure out what park we want to go to each day and what restaurants we want to eat at that day. But, I actually would enjoy it as much, if not more, if we could have just a general idea of what we want to do and be able to wait until we actually are down there to decide and make changes if we want. Not being tied to a schedule sometimes would be nice because then you don't have to worry about if the line for a particular ride is going to be to long for you to fit in one more thing before you have to leave to get to your ADR in time.

Okay, I'll get off my soup box now!

 

[Figment2]

I agree it is very rude. I think Disney needs to institute a credit card guarantee on all TS reservations for this very reason. How hard would it be for you to call and cancel the reservations you won't use!

THis past trip, we tried to change a dinner reservation at Brown Derby from 5 to 7 and couldn't (so two friends ended up going home instead of dining with us). During dinner we noticed A LOT of empty tables (about a third of the restaurant) including one large one yet BD was turning away people. Our server told us it happens quite a bit. Disney usually holds the table (foolishly thinking you're going to show up) and by the time they could give it to someone else, the next group of ADRs show up.

I have read stories here where LeCellier turned people away yet there were empty tables when the posters were seated. And why? Because people like you made reservations, didn't keep them and didn't bother to cancel them. Think about the servers. They depend on tips. Empty tables don't help.

Cyn

 

[Karnak]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I wish Disney would start charging a deposit for each reservation made ahead of time. If the person making the reservation cancels within a set time frame, the deposit is refunded. If they do not show up, the deposit is forfited.

I think the deposit should be somewhere in the $20 to $25 range. This would probably cause those who make reservations without planning ahead, from blocking others from making the reservations they would like to make and honor.

ANYONE FROM WDW READING THIS? PLEASE START REQUIRING A DEPOSIT WHEN A MEAL RESERVATION IS MADE.

Thanks.