Restaurant No Shows

[MinnieTheisen]

What is the policy when it comes to no shows? I have a reservation for 5 at 1900. If only 2 or 3 make it down for breakfast will we be charged for those not there? Extra hours the night before go until 3AM . Not sure how many will make 8:10 reservation. Thanks!

 

[kamik86]

Unless the restaurant is one that requires a credit card guarantee you will not be charged (CRT, dinner shows, Arkeshus, etc requirement a CC to reserve). In your case it is possible you wouldn't be charged even for the CC holds where they only charge a small amount for no shows (as opposed to charging the full meal at booking like CRT does). I know when I had a reservation for 3 at Arkeshus and only 2 went I wasn't charged for the third.

 

[GailT]

I had to give my charge for CG but not for anything else. I make sure I keep what my ADR, not fair for the poeple that wanted a specific place and couldn't get it, Disney has to do something to stop that. Don't flame me, sorry I go by the rulles and expect others to also.

 

[amcnj]

We do try and revise reservations when we know the numbers have changed. On some rare occassions it is not possible due to say someone not feeling well that morning and missing breakfast. Have never had a charge for a different number showing up, though none were pre-paid locations, and I don't think we were ever off by more than one person, so table size required did not change anyway.

 

[dalt01]

I have a reservation for 5 at 1900. Extra hours the night before go until 3AM . Not sure how many will make 8:10 reservation. Thanks!

just responding to say we are faced with the exact same ADR at the exact same time at the exact same breakfast after a 3 am EMH on friday june 17th. we think our answer is not to stay out till 3 am but some of us will anyway.

 

[FLCMpirate82]

As said, you will only be charged for no shows at locations that require a credit card guarentee. That being said, this is only for "no shows" if you do go to your reservation, even if there are some people missing, you will not be charged anything.

 

[skeeterfoot]

Just want to address those of you who pre make reservations and do not cancel them when things change. Example was when Board Walk Inn Inn Keeper's Louge tried to make reservations for three of us at Mama Melrose's. It was filled. We then proceeded to walk to the door and immediately were seated in a half empty restaurant. A darn shame. In my opinion, charge cards should be taken with reservations not just phone numbers, because it holds people accountable.

 

[disneychic2]

OP, maybe you could check to see if a later time is available for breakfast. I know it's usually booked, but who knows, a cancellation may come up. It's worth a try. Good luck!

 

[Cafeen]

As said, you will only be charged for no shows at locations that require a credit card guarentee. That being said, this is only for "no shows" if you do go to your reservation, even if there are some people missing, you will not be charged anything.

This is true in most cases. However, at Akershus there have been reports of being charged the "no-show" fee for the individuals missing. CRT and the dinner shows (since they are prepaid technically, but switch to CC holds with Dining Plan participants) are also likely the same way.

Just want to address those of you who pre make reservations and do not cancel them when things change. Example was when Board Walk Inn Inn Keeper's Louge tried to make reservations for three of us at Mama Melrose's. It was filled. We then proceeded to walk to the door and immediately were seated in a half empty restaurant. A darn shame. In my opinion, charge cards should be taken with reservations not just phone numbers, because it holds people accountable.

Half full restaurants can happen for several reasons. One of biggest ones (aside from no-shows) is staffing. I'm sure that along with the tables being released 6 months in advance comes the general level of staffing that they expect to require. This will have an effect on the number of tables that can be sat at any given time.

Now, I'm not saying no=shows don't happen, and I'm not saying that it doesn't hurt people trying to get in, just pointing out there may be more than meets the eye.

The OP's situation is a bit different though, as they're planning to go, just part of the party may end up missing, which wouldn't have a noticeable effect on the ability for another party to be sat.

 

[maxiesmom]

As said, you will only be charged for no shows at locations that require a credit card guarentee. That being said, this is only for "no shows" if you do go to your reservation, even if there are some people missing, you will not be charged anything.

Not true! You can be charged for those missing people, it is up to the CM at that time if they charge you or not. Technically they are supposed to, but they may be nice and not charge you. No way to know for sure ahead of time.

If I were to guess I think they have started charging when fewer people show up than booked because some people get cute when they make their ADRs. If there is not a table for 2 avaialable, but a table for 4 is, they up their reservation to 4 people. Knowing full well they will only have 2. Disney then looses money on the non-existent 2 people.

 

[TheTurners]

Not true! You can be charged for those missing people, it is up to the CM at that time if they charge you or not. Technically they are supposed to, but they may be nice and not charge you. No way to know for sure ahead of time.

If I were to guess I think they have started charging when fewer people show up than booked because some people get cute when they make their ADRs. If there is not a table for 2 avaialable, but a table for 4 is, they up their reservation to 4 people. Knowing full well they will only have 2. Disney then looses money on the non-existent 2 people.

This is completely wrong. I just called the reservation line and spoke with Janice. I wanted to know for sure because this may happen to us as well for our upcoming trip. She said locations that do not require a credit card hold do not charge under any condition. Guests are strongly encouraged to notify the location if plans change as soon as possible, but even if a member of the party arrives at the location at the time of the reservation and lets the host know they need to cancel altogether. I explained that I heard I would be charged if my wife and one of our daughters was unable to come with me and the other daughter to dinner--and she laughed and said of course not. I asked how this is handled at the restaurants that do require the credit card info and she said there is no policy in writing regarding smaller parties, but that as long as the party size wasn't significantly reduced it would not be an issue. OP, thanks for asking the question--I hadn't even considered possible consequences. Glad there are none. Still, I hope people are responsible enough to change or cancel their reservations so others have the opportunity.

 

[maxiesmom]

This is completely wrong. I just called the reservation line and spoke with Janice. I wanted to know for sure because this may happen to us as well for our upcoming trip. She said locations that do not require a credit card hold do not charge under any condition. Guests are strongly encouraged to notify the location if plans change as soon as possible, but even if a member of the party arrives at the location at the time of the reservation and lets the host know they need to cancel altogether. I explained that I heard I would be charged if my wife and one of our daughters was unable to come with me and the other daughter to dinner--and she laughed and said of course not. I asked how this is handled at the restaurants that do require the credit card info and she said there is no policy in writing regarding smaller parties, but that as long as the party size wasn't significantly reduced it would not be an issue. OP, thanks for asking the question--I hadn't even considered possible consequences. Glad there are none. Still, I hope people are responsible enough to change or cancel their reservations so others have the opportunity.

I think maybe my other post was unclear. I was referring to those ADRs where you DO have to give a credit card number. Even if part of your party shows up for a reservation that you had to leave a deposit for, Disney may charge you for the people who didn't show up. It is up to the restaurant at the time if they charge you or not.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. The person I had quoted was talking about reservations guaranteed with a credit card, so I thought it clear that that was what I was referring to.

 

[JimmyV]

Just want to address those of you who pre make reservations and do not cancel them when things change. Example was when Board Walk Inn Inn Keeper's Louge tried to make reservations for three of us at Mama Melrose's. It was filled. We then proceeded to walk to the door and immediately were seated in a half empty restaurant. A darn shame. In my opinion, charge cards should be taken with reservations not just phone numbers, because it holds people accountable.

Can't say I get this. You wanted to dine at Mama Melrose. You walk up and you get a table under the current regime. Under your proposed regime, everyone who made a reservation would have had their feet held to the fire and would have been forced to show up. So had you walked up to the restaurant, you wouldn't have been seated. So under the current system, you get to dine there, and under your propsed system, you get shut out. And it is a "darn shame" that they don't change the system is a way that will hurt you?

Disney is a closed system for the most part. Almost every one of those people who reserved at MM and didn't show up likely ate at some other Disney facility. So Disney pocketed their money. No need to make them pay twice. It is different in the "real world" where one restaurant loses business to a competitor. But here, Disney is simply moving the money from one account to the next, so it really doesn't have an incentive to change anything.