Park Full, Priority Seating with Credit Card Guarantee

[All Aboard]

Thought this was best suited for the Theme Parks board, even though it is a question about dining.

Holiday Priority Seatings required a credit card guarantee. If you don't show, you get charged for each diner on the PS. So, what happens if you arrive at the gate and are told "sorry folks, the park's full" Can you plead your case with a PS, or are you out of luck?

 

[WDSearcher]

When the park is full, it's full, and no amount of pleading or PSs will get you in. However, if you do have a PS with a deposit and you find yourself outside instead of in, you can go to Guest Relations and plead your case with them. They can't get you into the park, but they can help you get the deposit credited.

 

[MarkLem]

If you read this board you know that the parks might fill over NYE holiday and which ones fill first. It's your responsibility to get thee to the park in time.

 

[All Aboard]

MarkLem,

Yes, I've been reading these boards and contributing for a little over 5 years now. So, I know parks fill up on holidays. However, 99% of WDW visitors DON'T read these boards. In light of that, your "it's your responsibility" response seems a bit harsh.

In any event, I asked a question about Disney policy and procedures - not about the responsibility one incurs by reading DIS boards. But, hey, thanks for the response.

 

[DebbieB]

If your dinner is at 6:00, is it your responsibility to be there at park opening in the morning to be sure you get in so you can have dinner 9 hours later?

 

[Brian Noble]

Do you suppsoe the fire marshal will mind if "just one more person" comes in to make it to their dinner reservation?

 

[eeyore0062]

If you cannot get in for your PS, go to Guest Relations and let them know. Usually in these circumstances, Disney Dining will be able to credit your money back to your card.

To make sure you don't miss your PS, just get there early in the morning, and don't leave. I know it sounds harsh to tell you to be in the park for that long if your PS isn't until evening, but that truly is the only way you can guarantee that you won't miss your PS, and get charged.

Have a wonderful holiday!

 

[HookedOnDiz]

If you read this board you know that the parks might fill over NYE holiday and which ones fill first. It's your responsibility to get thee to the park in time.

That sounds like nonsense... I can't imagine Disney not refunding your money if you made it to the park in time for your PS, but were denied entry due to overcrowding.

I wouldn't worry about it if I were you...

 

[Scratch42]

I specifically asked when I made my PS's what would happen if you arrived, even at 7:00 a.m. in the morning, and they did not allow any more guests in! "Tongue in Cheek"

They advised that you just go to Guest Services, give them your PS confirmation # and they will take care of it.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Scratch

 

[WDSearcher]

If your dinner is at 6:00, is it your responsibility to be there at park opening in the morning to be sure you get in so you can have dinner 9 hours later?

Yes, actually, it is. Disney has no way to control when people enter the parks or how many enter at one time. And if you're coming during a busy time, you need to be aware of that.

Now, if your dinner is at 6pm on Feburary 19 or October 7, it's highly unlikely that you would need to be in the park at opening and stay all day to guarantee that you'll be able to be there for dinner. If, however, your dinner is at 6pm on Christmas Day or July 4 or Easter Sunday, then yes -- it's your responsibility to make sure you're in the park. Disney doesn't "hold a space" for your party simply because you chose to make dinner PSs on a high-volume day. When the park is full, it's full.

 

[WDSearcher]

Do you suppose the fire marshal will mind if "just one more person" comes in to make it to their dinner reservation?

No, he probably wouldn't. If it WERE just one more. But then there are all the other people behind you who are just "one more person" too. Just like with height ranges on rides, there has to be a cut-off somewhere.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

Yes, actually, it is. Disney has no way to control when people enter the parks or how many enter at one time. And if you're coming during a busy time, you need to be aware of that.

Now, if your dinner is at 6pm on Feburary 19 or October 7, it's highly unlikely that you would need to be in the park at opening and stay all day to guarantee that you'll be able to be there for dinner. If, however, your dinner is at 6pm on Christmas Day or July 4 or Easter Sunday, then yes -- it's your responsibility to make sure you're in the park. Disney doesn't "hold a space" for your party simply because you chose to make dinner PSs on a high-volume day. When the park is full, it's full.

Agreed that its your responsibility to be there early enough to gain entry to the park to make sure that you get to eat, but if the parks are closed due to overcrowding Disney is not going to charge you for a meal that you were not allowed to attend...

 

[All Aboard]

Perhaps it would be a good idea for the folks at CRO to give guests (who probably don't frequent boards like this) a heads up that the park may be full when they arrive. That would help with the whole "it's your responsibility" thing, wouldn't it?

 

[John Dobbertin]

Going to WDW for first time during Holiday Week. Have heard MK jammed by 9:00 am -- what about Epcot? MGM? Info appreciated.

 

[eeyore0062]

Perhaps it would be a good idea for the folks at CRO to give guests (who probably don't frequent boards like this) a heads up that the park may be full when they arrive. That would help with the whole "it's your responsibility" thing, wouldn't it?

Actually, when I worked at Disney Dining last year, we did let guests know to get to the parks early and stay there when we asked for the CC number to hold the PS. Where I work now, we also let guests know when we make any PS on holidays and have to take a CC number. Also, if you do miss your PS and are charged, you aren't charged the entire amount of the meal. Last year it was $10 per person.

 

[WDSearcher]

Agreed that its your responsibility to be there early enough to gain entry to the park to make sure that you get to eat, but if the parks are closed due to overcrowding Disney is not going to charge you for a meal that you were not allowed to attend...

Absolutely correct!

 

[WDSearcher]

Going to WDW for first time during Holiday Week. Have heard MK jammed by 9:00 am -- what about Epcot? MGM? Info appreciated.

MGM will probably close fairly early in the day as well; Epcot, probably not. It's rare for Epcot to close at capacity, as there's just so much real estate there.

One helpful hint, though ... if the park is closed in the AM, just wait until after the parade, and try again. Usually the morning crowds are gone by 4pm, and there are still plenty of hours left for rides and shows. (This strategy doesn't work on New Year's Eve, however, for obvious reasons!)

 

[John Dobbertin]

MGM will probably close fairly early in the day as well; Epcot, probably not. It's rare for Epcot to close at capacity, as there's just so much real estate there.

One helpful hint, though ... if the park is closed in the AM, just wait until after the parade, and try again. Usually the morning crowds are gone by 4pm, and there are still plenty of hours left for rides and shows. (This strategy doesn't work on New Year's Eve, however, for obvious reasons!)

Thanks for the info. All our reservations are for lunch at Epcot, except for Dec 31 Rose & Crown at 7:30 pm