Overbooking

[autumnpalm]

Nope, I would never double book. IMHO, it is rude to other guests trying to book and plan their vacations, and is selfish as well. While you wait to make your plans, you spoil the plans of others.

 

[JasonsPrincess]

I think its very rude to double book. I always do tons and tons of research on what restaurants I like. I spend wayy to much time on these boards researching and reading the dining reviews and I print out the latest menus so that my b/f can take a look and make sure there is something there that he is interested in/likes/would like to try. It is a pain for anyone to make ressies at 180 days, planning where/what park you might be at that day, and planning what you want to eat...but b/c people double book and ressies are so hard to get, it has to be done. Its annoying that someone would take up 2 or even more bookings, when only planning to attend one and i think it's great if CM's are doing something about it

 

[Lynne M]

This isn't something I usually get that worked up about, but I'm finding the excuses hilarious. "I'm just doing it this one time," as if that makes any difference to the person who can't get a reservation at their favorite restaurant.

 

[goofy4tink]

But think of the three families who she made very happy when they were able to get a table as walk-ins . It's like she was spreading a little bit of pixie dust in her own way.

Okay, carry on.

Maybe so....but what about those guests who tried calling, as they are supposed to, making their plans in advance, who have now been told there is no availability at that particular restaurant, so they choose another place to eat. But, it's a restaurant that they 'settled' for. But, a walk-up can just walk in because there was a no-show. Not sure that's really fair.

I have been booking my ADRs (PSs) well in advance of each trip...since '99. Of course I don't know what/where I'm going to feel like eating on any one day. That would be impossible. But, I do have an idea of where we would enjoy eating, and at which park we'll be on any given day. If our plans change, then I try to change my ADRs. If it doesn't work out, so be it.

But there is no way I am going to double book, preventing another guest from getting what they want. That's just rude.

 

[TPCShauna]

The only way I've ever double booked is if you have a reservation in place, and want to change it. The Disney Rep will then book you two reservations, and cancel the one that you don't want.

Double booked for approx. 5 minutes.

This has happened to me several times. In fact, I have told the CM that I needed to cancel an ADR after I confirmed my new one and they said they did but I found out later that it had not been. I was double booked without my knowledge AND after I had asked them to cancel the ressie. Totally not my fault.

So should I be worried that another CM will come along and just start canceling things because they think I'm overbooked? Is it possible that one group will get to their restaurant only to find their reservation was canceled? Do I have yet another thing to worry about?

I am not attempting to "cheat" the system. We are planning a trip with a large number of people all staying under one reservation number as we will be in a grand villa. There are a few meals we want to have at different places and I am just wondering how to go about this without getting adr's cancelled. Although I will say that while I have never double booked before I am contemplating it given how difficult the system has become. I am a planner but it is ridiculous that I am supposed to know when and where I want to eat 180 days prior to my trip when park hours and schedules have not even been released. Just seems that Disney is forcing people to find loopholes to make their vacations more flexible and fun. IMHO

You don't need to be worried about the CMs cancelling your ressies. They typically are only looking at them when you call to do things to them. In fact, I have asked every Dining CM I have spoken to during my 4 months of Dining calls (calling every day) if they will cancel ressies if they are double-booked and they have all said no. It's a scare tactic people on this board use to "shame" others into not doing it.

Do I think it's right? No, I think it's pretty selfish if you are doing it just because you can't make a decision. Will Disney cancel your reservations if they catch you doing it? No.

 

[Tricia1972]

Because of the sporadic nature of the cancellations that I have heard of, it's my belief that if it does happen it's done on 'accident' by a CM when you call to adjust your ADR's. (That's to say not Disney Policy, but the policy of specific CM's who think double booking is unfair)

This is only my opinion, and really .02 cents isn't worth much these days anyway.

 

[TPCShauna]

Because of the sporadic nature of the cancellations that I have heard of, it's my belief that if it does happen it's done on 'accident' by a CM when you call to adjust your ADR's. (That's to say not Disney Policy, but the policy of specific CM's who think double booking is unfair)

This is only my opinion, and really .02 cents isn't worth much these days anyway.

This is my impression as well. I asked a Guest Services CM if it was Disney policy to cancel double booked ADRs and she said that they are only cancelled upon the guest's request. I'm thinking there might be some rogue CMs out there cancelling them on their own.

 

[1hero2princesses]

I feel very conflicted about this. We just had a horrible, terrible time with ADR's. We had a bunch of character meals booked and discovered my 3 year old if full out screaming fit terrified of characters. Can't be in the same room as they are. I had to call over and over (maybe 6 phone calls) work with the conceirge three times, beg and plead at walk in's to get in anywhere non-character all week long. It was terrible. I also sat in restaurants with plenty of empty tables that were turning walk in's away. I am sure for no show ADR's. O.k. so now I am gonna piss people off.... Here is my issue - unless Disney creates a policy for only one ADR and adheres to it, I myself am tempted to make more than one ADR because obviously a lot of people are doing this or making them and blowing them off. I have not done this but we are thinking of going next year and my DS 5 loves the characters. Will be DD3 (who will then be 4 1/2) be over her fear? I don't know and probably won't know 180 days out. Yeah, I get it - all the righteous people are shouting but you are contributing to the problem if you do that and that would be true. But I don't get why disney doesn't adjust the system so that at least you can't have the two adr's under the same name/phone number at the same time (yes that wouldn't prevent different names). I don't know. I am torn, we were jumping through hoops trying to find places to eat, it took a lot of time and energy. I was trying to fight fair in a cheating game. I don't know what I will do next year.

 

[juligrl]

Maybe so....but what about those guests who tried calling, as they are supposed to, making their plans in advance, who have now been told there is no availability at that particular restaurant, so they choose another place to eat. But, it's a restaurant that they 'settled' for. But, a walk-up can just walk in because there was a no-show. Not sure that's really fair.

Moral of the story:
If you can't get your first choice, try to go to the place you really want as a walk-in but book your second choice just in case since you likely won't get in, but there's always a chance you might. No foul play there,

 

[maxiesmom]

I feel very conflicted about this. We just had a horrible, terrible time with ADR's. We had a bunch of character meals booked and discovered my 3 year old if full out screaming fit terrified of characters. Can't be in the same room as they are. I had to call over and over (maybe 6 phone calls) work with the conceirge three times, beg and plead at walk in's to get in anywhere non-character all week long. It was terrible. I also sat in restaurants with plenty of empty tables that were turning walk in's away. I am sure for no show ADR's. O.k. so now I am gonna piss people off.... Here is my issue - unless Disney creates a policy for only one ADR and adheres to it, I myself am tempted to make more than one ADR because obviously a lot of people are doing this or making them and blowing them off. I have not done this but we are thinking of going next year and my DS 5 loves the characters. Will be DD3 (who will then be 4 1/2) be over her fear? I don't know and probably won't know 180 days out. Yeah, I get it - all the righteous people are shouting but you are contributing to the problem if you do that and that would be true. But I don't get why disney doesn't adjust the system so that at least you can't have the two adr's under the same name/phone number at the same time (yes that wouldn't prevent different names). I don't know. I am torn, we were jumping through hoops trying to find places to eat, it took a lot of time and energy. I was trying to fight fair in a cheating game. I don't know what I will do next year.

So, sense you had a hard time switching restaurants you now want to visit that same problem on others?

I agree, Disney should do something about the problem. I think a credit card deposit would be the thing. Make people put down a $20 non refundable deposit. That would stop a lot of this nonsense. It is sad that Disney still wants to rely on the integrity of its guests when it is obvious many people are lacking it.

 

[cymbaldiva]

I booked FDP at MR

Huh?

 

[TPCShauna]

Huh?

FDP at MR = Fantasmic Dining Package at Mama Melrose's Italian Ristorante

 

[cymbaldiva]

FDP at MR = Fantasmic Dining Package at Mama Melrose's Italian Ristorante

Thanks - I never would've gotten that one

 

[firechick139]

This thread is exactly why I think there should be an automatic charge at all restaraunts for no shows. That won't solve the problem with people hoarding reservations before their trip, but at least it's something. It would be better if the CM's had a pop-up that came up on teir computers showing conflicting reservations, but apparently Disney hasn't made it that far, yet.

The OP's situation is fine. That's not considered double booking. But to double book and take away from the enjoyment of someone else's vacation is more than wrong.

 

[monty]

First of all I want to say I haven't double booked...don't want to, don't need to, happy with everything just the way it is.

Here's my 2cents(with the way the $ is at the moment that = about -3cents )

I'm not so sure about how it's "rude", but I understand how it can be seen as selfish to double book. HOWEVER, taking this moral high road is just another case of a minority group (us Disers) inflicting our morals on the greater population visiting WDW from around the world who probably don't give a rats ..... whether they double, triple book whatever and more importantly, what we think about it.

Unless WDW enforces "no double bookings" as a rule and has a system in place that won't allow it, people are free to do what they want and they will. What's "selfish" to one person may be "canny & lateral thinking" to another.

Sometimes there are rules and sometimes you just have to follow your own conscience if it's the right thing to do...

 

[Willow25]

Like I stated in an earlier post I have not actually double booked ever but ADR's continue to be more difficult to organize. The reality is that a lot of people double/triple book not allowing for others to have any flexibility in their planning. The only way I can think of at this point to combat this since Disney is doing nothing about it is to double book myself. Our next trip will be with two toddlers and as one of the earlier posters mentioned I have no idea how they will react to characters etc. If we need to make a change it is mostly not possible. I agree that it is selfish but until Disney finds a way to enforce a no double booking rule or as others have said require a credit card in case of a no show I feel like I have no other option.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

You can't! That's one of the many problems with Disney's reservation system. I called to try to switch the name/phone number on some of mine for the same exact reason, when I found out it could be a problem (thank goodness for there boards), and they flat-out told me it couldn't be done.
If Disney does try to "correct" my "problem" somebody is going to hear about it. The CM I spoke with said that since I brought it to their attention it shouldn't be an issue...lets hope.

This strikes me as odd because I have "traded" ADRs on several occasions. In December 2006 I was able to get a Le Cellier reservation by trading with another DISer. He called and told Disney Dining my information and when I arrived at Le Cellier the ADR was in my name.

 

[musclemouse]

What I don't get is why some people make ressies with the high demand restaurants several times throughout their trip. Unfair. Yes I'm talking about Le Cellier! lol I've seen where some people have spilled their dining intinerary on the Dis boards and seen Le Cellier on there twice! Grrrrr

 

[Willow25]

What I don't get is why some people make ressies with the high demand restaurants several times throughout their trip. Unfair. Yes I'm talking about Le Cellier! lol I've seen where some people have spilled their dining intinerary on the Dis boards and seen Le Cellier on there twice! Grrrrr

Why is that a problem??? When we go to DW we are coming from Australia and the food is one of the things we look forward to most. Why shouldn't I eat at LeCellier twice if that is one of my favorite meals.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

What I don't get is why some people make ressies with the high demand restaurants several times throughout their trip. Unfair. Yes I'm talking about Le Cellier! lol I've seen where some people have spilled their dining intinerary on the Dis boards and seen Le Cellier on there twice! Grrrrr

Um where exactly does it say there is a "quota" on how many times you can dine in any given location??

I VERY often eat at Le Cellier, California Grill, Kona Cafe, Tokyo Dining etc more than once per trip. Last August I was on property for 18 days and did restaurants 2 and 3 times during the stay. In fact, by the end of the 18 days I was known BY NAME at the California Grill by several servers and the manager and they were pleased that I loved their establishment enough to visit multiple times.

Double booking is wrong because you are taking more than your fair share of ADRs (you cannot be in 2 places at once)

Booking 2 reservations at the same restaurant ON DIFFERENT DAYS over the course of a week is perfectly acceptable. Im not taking anything away from anyone by dining out each night. If anyone was so inclined they could eat at EXACTLY the same restaurant for 7 nights in a row as long as they held ONE and only ONE legitimate ADR each evening.