RE: the debate about the new cancellation/no-show policy: for or against?

[mello]

I actually do think 3 hours would work fine for breakfast. In order to make it to an ADR on time, a family would probably need to be up close to that far ahead anyway, if they're using Disney transportation at any rate. One would know upon waking, whether everyone is well, or if cancelling is necessary. If you've got an 8am ADR and someone wasn't feeling well the night before, either cancel the night before, or get up at 5 to check if you need to. And if you oversleep - well, the consequences would apply.

My solution would be very similar to yours, (but I would do the 3 hour window, or perhaps even a 2 hour), so I didn't submit one.

I believe the most important aspect of your plan is to reduce the 180 day ADR down to 45 days for onsite guests and 30 for offsite. This really would reduce a huge amount of hoarding, no-shows, and problems for later planners, and it equalizes the playing field while still giving an advantage to onsite guests. I know just from reading these boards for years that one of the BIG reasons people book multiples is because they don't know how to plan until Disney releases park hours, parade times, etc and then tweaks them. A 30 day window would totally eliminate that from the equation. Everyone would have plenty of info to make their decisions and book single ADRs. Not to mention that it would reduce the likelihood of credit cards being expired, canceled, etc. by the day of the reservation. Even 60 days would improve things immensely.

In addition, I would beef up the computer system, add more servers, etc. so that it's fully able to handle reservation and cancellation volume. I love your idea of only having to enter a cc# online once - I'm envisioning having to do it multiple times as something of a nightmare come 4am on 180-ADR-Day.

I do like the fact that Disney is making a cancellation # available. Hopefully they will make it an easy process for those who dial in. If it were up to me, I would have an automated system where you enter your reserv.#, it brings it up, and you hit a button to cancel it. Done. No lengthy waits on hold, explanations, getting all your info again, etc.

 

[mcd2745]

I actually do think 3 hours would work fine for breakfast. In order to make it to an ADR on time, a family would probably need to be up close to that far ahead anyway, if they're using Disney transportation at any rate. One would know upon waking, whether everyone is well, or if cancelling is necessary. If you've got an 8am ADR and someone wasn't feeling well the night before, either cancel the night before, or get up at 5 to check if you need to. And if you oversleep - well, the consequences would apply.

The problem in your scenario, though, is how does Disney replace that cancellation? You can't have a walk-up get that table if you're talking about one of the restaurants in the parks as there are no walk-up candidates in the park since they can't even get into the park that early without an existing ADR.

I believe the most important aspect of your plan is to reduce the 180 day ADR down to 45 days for onsite guests and 30 for offsite. This really would reduce a huge amount of hoarding, no-shows, and problems for later planners, and it equalizes the playing field while still giving an advantage to onsite guests. I know just from reading these boards for years that one of the BIG reasons people book multiples is because they don't know how to plan until Disney releases park hours, parade times, etc and then tweaks them. A 30 day window would totally eliminate that from the equation. Everyone would have plenty of info to make their decisions and book single ADRs. Not to mention that it would reduce the likelihood of credit cards being expired, canceled, etc. by the day of the reservation. Even 60 days would improve things immensely.

ITA. I've said it so many times in so many threads...IMO the 180 day rule is A) ridiculous, and B) the biggest reason there is so much abuse of the system (hoarding). Besides the obvious things, another thing a shorter window would accomplish is eliminating all the ADRs that are made by people 6 months out "on spec" because they're not even sure if they will be going to WDW at all. And then of those who decide they can't go for whatever reason(s), I'm sure many cancel their ADRs and many may not. Going forward, this new policy though, will ensure that most, if not all, people in that situation do indeed cancel.

 

[Mkrop]

I would have liked to say a shorter window for cancellations. I don't have a problem at all with 3 hours for dinner ADRs, but 3 hours is a problem for breakfasts. So rather than have the confusion involved with separate deadlines for different meals, I went with the lowest number that worked for all meals.

No system anyone can come up would be perfect. What it should ultimately strive to be though is as fair and reasonable for the largest number of people as possible - knowing that it will never please everyone.

why cant the fee just be for no shows, if you cancel bc life gets in the way, they should be able to fill that spot with a walkup. As long as you cancel, that is being considerate

 

[eliza61]

why cant the fee just be for no shows, if you cancel bc life gets in the way, they should be able to fill that spot with a walkup. As long as you cancel, that is being considerate

Great idea.!!

We had one night at MK where about 2 hours before our adr we realized that we really didn't want a big sit down meal. We had an adr at Tony's and we simply walked over and cancelled. Now under this new policy we would have been dinged 60 bucks (for 6 people).

 

[vicki_c]

I am entirely indifferent. But you didn't have that as a choice.

 

[Steph01002]

I book ADR's 180 days out to beat the procrastinators and last minute trip people. I like being able to have first picks by planning early.
The $10 no show fee is just going to annoy people. Most people have a reason for not showing up. People do get sick in Disney... that's what influenced me (a rough cold) to eat at our resort instead of Garden Grill one night. I was beat and it was all decided within an hour and a half of our ADR. The next night, we skipped another ADR, gasp, my son really wanted to swim instead of leave our resort when we had to leave or miss the ADR time. I didn't hoard ADR's, but sometimes life changes within an hour of plans. I would have spent the $10/person just to be able to do what we wanted to do. In the grand scheme of things, $10 per person is nothing to be able to relax and skip that ADR that you had really wanted to go to just an hour ago when you compare it to how much you spent to be in Disney.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I voted against, but my only real problem with the policy is the 24 hour window. I feel that is too much, especially if they are not going to waive the fee for illness. I cancelled two reservations due to illness on our last trip and did so 5 hours before each meal time and I feel that was plenty.

I know some vacations spots have a stricter policy regarding rooms, but at most regular hotels like Holiday Inn and the like, you can cancel the same day without penalty and it is harder IMHO to fill a room after someone cancels than a table at a restaurant.

 

[mcd2745]

why cant the fee just be for no shows, if you cancel bc life gets in the way, they should be able to fill that spot with a walkup. As long as you cancel, that is being considerate

How would they fill the spot if you cancel an 8am ADR at Crystal Palace two hours before?