People making a lot ADR's but cancelling the ones they don't wish to keep

[MickeyNicki]

As soon as I know we are planning at trip to WDW I print out the menus and ask DH where he wants to go. As soon as I can I make the ADR's that we need, never more than that....not fair to someone else that may want that time and place.

If I want to change ADR's I take a chance.....if the new place it open great, if not I stick with what we got.

 

[marlynnp]

Mark me down as another one that never double books.

But boy do I change them!
Always book the new place before you cancel the old one. I've even done this the morning of the ADR.

And here's a tip for those who like to go without having the ADR's.... even if it's only an hour before you want to eat (but better if you can decide that morning) call Disney Dining for an ADR. You will often get one, whereas the staff at the restaurant may tell you there's no availibility. I don't know why, but that's what happens.

 

[kimberh]

I want you double bookers and changers to know that CR keeps a record of how many times you do this. Read some of the past posts. I bet they keep up with no shows too. I book the ADR's and it's over. What"s with all the double booking, you are keeping a family or hundreds of families not getting a ADR. Think about someone doing it to you one day or trip!! You get what you give in this world. It will come back.

 

[Sonno]

Another from me.

 

[DisMN]

I may be in the minority, but I think that going back to 'day of' reservations would actually make things less stressful. I could see reservations for character meals, signature meals, etc made in advance, but limit TS restaurants in the parks which don't meet those criteria to day of, or 3 days out, etc.

It may actually make things less stressful for all - remember just a few years ago that was how it was done!

I agree and can't figure out why it has to be so complicated. Make a RESERVATION and call if you can't keep the reservation. LOL
I haven't made multiple reservations anywhere because it just feels too greedy to me to do it that way.


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[D L and K's Mom]

I forgot to bring my ADR #'s and lists with me (I could not believe it...I spent so much time on them) I went to the front desk of POR and asked if they could print them for me and they did. The problem was they were all mixed up I thought they did them by phone # but I had ours in my name, ours in DH's name and some for someone else???!?!?!?! Huh??? Maybe they got the phone number or name wrong? The CM looked at it with me and we were both confused. I asked if they way we had 2 reservations at 2 different restaurants on the same night at alomost the same time wouldnt they cancel one? I was nervous that either myself or the person who had the ressies listed on my sheet would show up and hear "Umm sorry you double booked we canceled one of the ressies for you". The CM said they do not keep track at all. They are in the computer but they do not keep track except if you cancel for the ones they take your credit card number for. I would think that with all the computer programs WDW has they could figure out if you are making double or triple booking when you call and tell you that you can book one. It would only seem right and fair. By the way we had reservations at a restaurant on a holiday night and they had taken our creidt card number. We had to cancel do to DS being at the Celebration hospital and they did give us back the deposit no questions asked even though we didnt cancel in time. i just called 2 days later to see if we could get a new ressie and when I mentioned we had missed our dinner she refunded the deposit back tot he credit card. We never did make it to the restaurant I think it was the castle but I can't remember.

 

[alikat99]

I definitely have to stress to please, please cancel any ADRs you don't plan to use. As a FL resident, sometimes our trips to WDW are at the last minute, sometimes with only a few days notice. It used to be somewhat easy to get an ADR a week out for a relatively decent time (not 3pm or 9pm for dinner). But now, with people being able to make ADRs at 180 days out and some not cancelling, we have virtually NO chance at being able to have a TS meal.

 

[DeterminedOne]

What happens if I cancel at the last minute, say a few hours beforehand? How quickly is the restaurant notified of the cancellation? Do the restaurants have real time access to the reservations system to know there is a cancellation and to assign the table to another party? Let's face it, no matter how well intentioned, there may come a time that I would have to cancel a dining reservation at the last minute. It could happen to anyone.

Those questions bring me to wonder HOW to cancel a reservation at the last minute, say if I'm at park? Is there a courtesy phone somewhere, or can a CM reach dining for me?

One more thing, just an opinion - I disagree with Disney imposing a deposit on reservations for all restaurants. They already do that with the prepaid events and some character meals. Based on personal experience it's somewhat of a pain. I understand why they have to do it for those meals, but try having FIVE such meals booked.

It would be discouraging to me as a guest to pay a deposit on every single meal, I wouldn't do it! Our last few trips have cost upwards of 5K. I would not allow Disney nickel and dime me over restaurant reservations. I would rather they stop taking ADR's than to charge a deposit for everything. JMO.

 

[Nancyg56]

I book our ADR's and if I need to make a change I cancel the original. I think it is common courtesy, but then for me it is all about the food. We don't find it hard to plan around a reservation, kind of look at it as an appointment. What can I say?

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I would'nt mind paying a deposit if they took the $10 or $15 off the bill. NOw, if you had the dining plan that may cause some problems though. I don't know how they could do that. I think they need to keep track. No more than 3 TS meal ADR's a day. I don't think people would ever book 3 a day but someone might have TS Breakfast, lunch and dinner. That would be the limit. I am sure people would still make 3 and only keep 1 or 2 but it might cut down on some.

 

[Terk-1]

Prior to making my ADR's, I decide which parks I will be at that day, then determine which restaurants I want to dine at. This way when my window opens (or opened), I was able to get where and when I wanted. If I make any changes, I do it as early as possible to open it up for others. The only changes I forsee is when the Candlelight Processional opens up the dinner packages. I'll book those two, then cancel the original 2 ADR's if I'm able to get where and when I'm looking for.

 

[vatmark]

Double bookings shouldn't be allowed period. When making an ADR you should be required to give a reservation number and that is how all your ressies are tracked. Using phone numbers does no good because people who are making these double bookings are giving the Dining CM cell phone numbers, mothers phone numbers etc. so the ressies are not connected to the same phone number. These people making double bookings know very well that what they are doing is wrong and inconsiderate to others. They just don't care. As long as it benefits them who cares if someone else doesn't get a ressie.

Annie

 

[ceecee]

1. Put all ADR's online

2. Limit the ADR's to one per meal per reservation # (or go by party number for those that split and dine sepratly, example... 4 people can equal 2 ADR's for 2). Got two partys dining together... then you would need more than one reservation number!

This would help keep people from overbooking.

Here's my little flame! Last year we went for free dining... our first trip as adults... we didn't book adr's for some night because we didn't want to be held down... our first night without ADRs we had to walk to like 20 resturants (not kidding) with no availability... and some places were not busy at all... lots of tables... they all had people with ADR's that didn't show! we ended up at Downtown Disney's McDonald's that night Needless to say we booked ADRs for the rest of our trip early the next morning

I agree!!! I think it's selfish as well and it is really hard to get in without one. We noticed with the free dining last year, there was always a wait. I think they overbook knowing this, but then if everyone shows up, there's a long wait. We had to use our CC to hold our ADRs at SOA (and CRT I think) last year and the HDR this year.

 

[princesspwrhr]

Those questions bring me to wonder HOW to cancel a reservation at the last minute, say if I'm at park? Is there a courtesy phone somewhere, or can a CM reach dining for me?

I'm not sure if this is still the case of not, but you used to be able to reach dining by calling *88 on any WDW payphone. Or if you have it with you, you can just use your cell, depending on your plan.

 

[KimR]

I definitely have to stress to please, please cancel any ADRs you don't plan to use. As a FL resident, sometimes our trips to WDW are at the last minute, sometimes with only a few days notice. It used to be somewhat easy to get an ADR a week out for a relatively decent time (not 3pm or 9pm for dinner). But now, with people being able to make ADRs at 180 days out and some not cancelling, we have virtually NO chance at being able to have a TS meal.

Sure you do. All you have to do is decide which restaurants you'd like to eat at, and every 6 months make ADRs for all of them for every single night. That way, whenever you decide to take a last minute trip, you're good to go!

 

[schoen]

I want you double bookers and changers to know that CR keeps a record of how many times you do this.

Is there a problem with changing? I know that I am often on the phone changing from da to day (today I changed my CG ADR three different times!) I always cancel though, and the last thing I do before I get off the phone is make sure that I am not double booked for any day. What is the problem with changing?

 

[tkd lisa]

To those people who want to link this to the reservation number, you only have a reservation number if you are staying in a WDW resort. Many people stay off-site, or drive in from the local area. How would you suggest tracking their ADRs? Any method Disney tried would be easily dodged by someone who truly wanted to game the system.

With that said, I can only think of one PS (that's what it was then) I've ever cancelled. We had a PS for minnie's kiddie luau on our first trip, and DD developed a horrible stomach bug. It was one that you had to give a credit card for and we called at noon to cancel. They did refund the hold. We had actually missed our PS that morning (again, only time that happened), when she got sick in the line waiting for the restaurant to open.

 

[budbeerlady]

What happens if I cancel at the last minute, say a few hours beforehand? How quickly is the restaurant notified of the cancellation? Do the restaurants have real time access to the reservations system to know there is a cancellation and to assign the table to another party? Let's face it, no matter how well intentioned, there may come a time that I would have to cancel a dining reservation at the last minute. It could happen to anyone.
.

We have been able to get into places with a two hour notice because someone did cancel. They arranged it at the concierge desk one day around 3pm when I canceled Boma and moved else where. Also calling disney dining from the room got us a cm who could make ADRS for that day and also cancel them if we changed our minds.

I would have no problem giving a credit card number to hold the ressie and charging the no-shows $20. They do this at other places, so why not here? And they should be linked under your reservation so that would help stop double or triple bookings! Non-siters could call and have an assigned number linked to thier phone number or whatever.

 

[vatmark]

To those people who want to link this to the reservation number, you only have a reservation number if you are staying in a WDW resort. Many people stay off-site, or drive in from the local area. How would you suggest tracking their ADRs? Any method Disney tried would be easily dodged by someone who truly wanted to game the system.

That's true. Didn't think of that. I have no problem with people changing ressies. It's the double bookers!

Annie

 

[notnothin]

Is there a problem with changing? I know that I am often on the phone changing from da to day (today I changed my CG ADR three different times!) I always cancel though, and the last thing I do before I get off the phone is make sure that I am not double booked for any day. What is the problem with changing?

You call daily and changed one ressie three times in one day?

And I thought that I was indecisive!