Overbooking ADR's without cancelling

[bdklein]

IMO.

1. I am spending thousands of dollars on vacation. The more options we have, the better our vacation will be. Based upon weather, what we are doing, and what we want to do as the day progresses, determines where and when we eat. There is no way for us to know months ahead of time at what time we want to eat, let alone where we want to eat.

2. It is not illegal, nor against Disney policy, to make multiple ADR's. We are not cutting a line, lying about our kids age, lying about the number of people in a rooom, pool hopping, smoking in non-designated areas, etc. We are just giving ourselves options.

3. We cancelled our reservations at least 1 hour in advance. That gives a table to a walkup, or allows allows someone to get an ADR.

4. Maybe Disney should hold some TS aside for Disney resort guests? Have a CC to hold the reservation, and charge a fee for a late cancellation?

 

[maxiesmom]

IMO.

1. I am spending thousands of dollars on vacation. The more options we have, the better our vacation will be. Based upon weather, what we are doing, and what we want to do as the day progresses, determines where and when we eat. There is no way for us to know months ahead of time at what time we want to eat, let alone where we want to eat.

2. It is not illegal, nor against Disney policy, to make multiple ADR's. We are not cutting a line, lying about our kids age, lying about the number of people in a rooom, pool hopping, smoking in non-designated areas, etc. We are just giving ourselves options.

3. We cancelled our reservations at least 1 hour in advance. That gives a table to a walkup, or allows allows someone to get an ADR.

4. Maybe Disney should hold some TS aside for Disney resort guests? Have a CC to hold the reservation, and charge a fee for a late cancellation?

And even if your family having "options" means that someone else's family can't eat where they want, no biggy, huh?

 

[bdklein]

No biggie, to me. It's not as if people will not be able to eat-there are other options, such as CS or other TS restaurants.

As I said, I will cancel one or more the ADR's. That opens up a table.
Complain about the no-shows; those are the ones who hold up empty tables.
Give people 15 minutes. If they don't show (or call), they lose the table.

 

[Figment2]

bdklein - the problem with what you are doing is a lot of the restaurants will not take walkups during busy times so your reservation essentially goes to waste. I would not call multiple reservations "options."

A group of friends & I go down anywhere from 3-5 times a year and have been doing so for about 6 years. We don't plan a lot of meals because our days usually start with "where are we going today?" It used to be so easy before the dining plan, free dining, etc to call in the AM and get reservations for a decent meal time. I never even thought someone might actually make multiple meal reservations (and I'm not at all naive then again maybe I am).

I agree we don't know where we want to eat months ahead of time BUT we do know we like to go back to our favorites. So for those we try to plan accordingly (i.e., we will make ressies at Bomas for breakfast and then that day will be AK day). We are going for a long weekend in Sept. and I have 1 TS reserved. A large group of us are going down in October for a week and I have 1 TS in place. In December I'm going down with other friends for a long weekend and I have 1 TS reserved. And everything is subject to change. We will probably make more as we get closer to our travel dates.

I said it earlier - I wish Disney would have a credit card hold on all TS restaurants. And then what will you do?

Cyn

 

[dreamergirl78]

I have been reading this thread and taking it all in and I can't stay quiet any longer!
I see a lot of people on these boards who have NO SENSE of common courtesy. I understand that you like having options on vacation, don't we all? But you can't tell me that it's just next to impossible to make a decision about where to eat. This is not life or death, it's dinner. With all of the info from wonderful web sites like this, I think that makes your decision process even easier. I got a list of park hours, chose what we would do and then made my dining plans around that. Transportation is readily available at WDW. Yes you may not be able to get in one last ride but getting to your next destination is half the fun! Plus it teaches responsibility, follow through, and common courtesy. Making a lunch AND dinner reservation is no biggie. But to reserve space at many places for the same time with no intentions of ever showing up is just wrong. Make a plan, pick where you want to eat, allot time to get there and get on with your vacation. You may not think it is a big deal, but walk in someone else's shoes. Realize you could be on the other end of not being able to sit down and enjoy a meal with your family. This whole notion of "entitlement" has gotten out of control.
I know I ranted and I am sorry. I just wish we could get back to the basics where we treat others how we would want to be treated. Is it really that difficult?

 

[shasess]

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

This doesnt make sense I was always told by CMs that ADRs do not actually hold a table but just reserves you a spot at that particular time above the walk-ins.

 

[bdklein]

How do I know what I will do, until Disney changes the policy?
If I can't decide on a restaurant, how can I make this decision if it doesn't yet exist?

And why should my ADR go to waste if I am calling 1 hour in advance to cancel? That seems like a shortcoming of Disney's system, not mine.

As I said, how about doing something about people who don't show up and don't cancel. That is wrong; Disney should restrict those people from making ADR's if they do it more than once. I am cancelling my ADR.

 

[bdklein]

Plus it teaches responsibility, follow through, and common courtesy.

I am being responsible. My primary responsibilty is to my family, and I am taking steps to ensure that they have a nice vacation and get the proper nutrition. I cancel my ADR, so I am showing common courtesy.

But to reserve space at many places for the same time with no intentions of ever showing up is just wrong.

I do have the intention of showing up, at one of two places for which I made an ADR.

This whole notion of "entitlement" has gotten out of control.

Entitlement? I think you are way off base here.

where we treat others how we would want to be treated.

I cancel my ADR.

 

[dreamergirl78]

Plus it teaches responsibility, follow through, and common courtesy.

I am being responsible. My primary responsibilty is to my family, and I am taking steps to ensure that they have a nice vacation and get the proper nutrition. I cancel my ADR, so I am showing common courtesy.

But to reserve space at many places for the same time with no intentions of ever showing up is just wrong.

I do have the intention of showing up, at one of two places for which I made an ADR.

This whole notion of "entitlement" has gotten out of control.

Entitlement? I think you are way off base here.

where we treat others how we would want to be treated.

I cancel my ADR.

For the record I didn't single anyone out in my post. If you felt my statment did not apply to you at all... why bother to respond? You can try to justify it a million ways, but I stand firm in my belief.
Of course you should take care of your family. I think that was silly to say especially since I am VERY family oriented and I would never put them second. But you can also make ONE reservation and STICK TO IT! Why is your families "need for nutrition" any greater than the guy standing next to you?
I am not off base with my entitlement statement. You will unnecessarily put your needs above anyone else's. You made a reservation fine. You don't need 2 unless you can be in 2 places at once which is obviously not an option.
Since we can make our ADR's so far out, I am sure that gives you enough time to make a decision. I at least can give you credit for canceling the other ADR, but is it really necessary?
Would you RSVP for 2 or 3 parties on one night, have the hostess plan on you being there then call the last minute to cancel just because you were indecisive?

 

[PureTcrazy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bdklein

1. I am spending thousands of dollars on vacation. The more options we have, the better our vacation will be. Based upon weather, what we are doing, and what we want to do as the day progresses, determines where and when we eat. There is no way for us to know months ahead of time at what time we want to eat, let alone where we want to eat.

We too are spending money on our vacation. The more options you choose to have reduces the number we have.. The fact that you cancel a couple of hours out does me no good, because I have already lost my chance to make an ADR at one of the restaurants you chose to bypass.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bdklein

2. It is not illegal, nor against Disney policy, to make multiple ADR's. We are not cutting a line, lying about our kids age, lying about the number of people in a rooom, pool hopping, smoking in non-designated areas, etc. We are just giving ourselves options.

Farting in an elevator, having horrible body odor, lying to your parents are all situations that are not against any laws or rules, BUT They are rude, unseemly or just wrong. That does not justify what you are doing.

I think what bothers me the most is that yall keep trying to convince people that what you are doing is "OK", "acceptable", or whatever. Just admit that you are selfish people who really don't care about how your actions affect other people and don't ask for my blessing for your behavior!

 

[Figment2]

Shasses - During busy times of the year, restaurants will turn away walk-ins. I saw it last Oct. at LeCellier and last December and this past May at Brown Derby. I also saw it at Teppanyaki on Christmas Eve.

Cyn

 

[ducklite]

Selfish people eventually get bitten in the buttocks by karma.

Anne

 

[holcomb-mania]

I don't know about anyone else, but "proper nutrition" made me LOL.

 

[dreamergirl78]

My son can't wait to go on Star Tours. First time rider and this is HUGE for him. Because it is "my responsibility" to put him first it is then ok to cut in line. Afterall, he deserves to have the BEST vacation possible and forget about anyone else trying to enjoy themselves right? Gotta leave my options open and put the odds in our favor too! Plus by cutting in line I can possibly squeeze in one more ride or attraction before try to rush to our one of 4 ADRs. I've got a cell phone so I can call last minute to cancel. Gosh, I think I thought of the PERFECT plan. Let's see how many people I can upset but it's all in the spirit of putting my family first, so hey, I guess that's ok.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I just read through this entire thread for the first time.

I didn't read a single post where anyone defending or justifying making multiple ADR's had an argument that held even a thimblefull of water... other than "I want my way to the detrement of someone else."

*sigh* I sure do miss civility.

Thank you for doing this. I don't doubt you are correct in the least. Now I don't have to read through the entire thread.

Is it too much to ask for someone to release their extra ressies 24 hours in advance rather than not show up so someone could get it at the last minute? For some people, I guess it is. And they'll say what they have to to rationalize it to themselves.

 

[jackmac]

This thread has gone on for long enough and should be closed.

The people making multiple ADR's are taunting everyone else with how they "beat the system". You will never change their minds or attitudes. If they are feeling that they are so entitled to have multiple choices for dinner on the same night, they will keep on doing this until Disney stops them. Narcasism has many forms and this is only one of them. By continuing to rise to the bait you are just making them feel more important. Ignore the bad behavior (making multiple ADR's) because we can't do anything about it anyway.

Eventually, Disney will require a credit card to hold an ADR.

 

[notnothin]

Plus it teaches responsibility, follow through, and common courtesy.

I am being responsible. My primary responsibilty is to my family, and I am taking steps to ensure that they have a nice vacation and get the proper nutrition. I cancel my ADR, so I am showing common courtesy.

But to reserve space at many places for the same time with no intentions of ever showing up is just wrong.

I do have the intention of showing up, at one of two places for which I made an ADR.

This whole notion of "entitlement" has gotten out of control.

Entitlement? I think you are way off base here.

where we treat others how we would want to be treated.

I cancel my ADR.

Try to justify it all you want, you know all too well that this is wrong.

 

[yankeepenny]

This thread is.......in need to be closed.....
in my opinion

 

[Mariposa]

In response to another poster asking if bdklein is concerned that they're locking other people out of opportunities just so he/she doesn't have to plan:

No biggie, to me. It's not as if people will not be able to eat-there are other options, such as CS or other TS restaurants.

Yes, yes there are. And if you truly can't decide where you want to eat ahead of time (which isn't a problem I'd brag about, considering thousands of other people are perfectly capable of completing this exact task) you'd do well to keep that in mind. Instead of messing up a responsible family's vacation why don't YOU avail yourself of the CS places or any TS places you might find availability at? Seriously? I'd love to know why not?

It's not like we all eat at every ADR we make, but we do limit ourselves to ONE per meal (on the theory that we are a single group and can therefore, logically, only be in one restaurant- and because it's the right thing to do) and THEN, if we decide that we don't want to go to that meal (for whatever reason) we call and cancel the ADR and use the previously stated options.

The difference? We may have locked people out of an ADR we ended up not using, but we didn't lock 2 (or more) families out at multiple restaurants knowing that there was NO POSSIBLE WAY we were going to be at all of them. 'Cause, like, it is a 'biggie' to me to know that I'm probably messing up someone else's plans because I just can't bother to sit down and plan a little myself.

Also, yes, it IS against Disney policy to double (or more) book ADRs.. Have you not noticed the people talking about CMs telling them they have to cancel one ADR before making one for the same meal? Or that people have shown up only to find all their double booked ADRs gone? You may have lucked into a lax CM, or your ADRs may not be linked in their system (for whatever reason)- but that doesn't mean you're doing something that Disney sanctions.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Selfish people eventually get bitten in the buttocks by karma.

Anne

Oh yes.

"Instant Karma's gonna get you . . . "