Restaurants half empty?

[cigar95]

Dining has a pretty good handle on what their no-show rate is for reservations, and that rate is factored in when calculating how many reservations to release into the system.

So on the average, the presence of empty tables isn't caused by reservation holders who didn't show up.

If action were taken to reduce the no-show rate, the number of available reservations would also be correspondingly reduced, and in the end the same number of guests would be seated.

It's all related to staffing - and yes, that one baffles me as well.

 

[GalDisney]

also, the restaurants purposley overbook becasuse 20 to 30 percent of reservations dont show up.

 

[pktbMouse]

you know...last week we walked into the Tusker house and it was half empty and we were getting seated before the ADR people...they were not very pleased and I dont blame them...we did this alot last week...everywhere we went we had no wait...straight in.

 

[MissionMouse]

also, the restaurants purposley overbook becasuse 20 to 30 percent of reservations dont show up.

I think that is just part of the Disney design, since where else do you make dining reservations 6 months in advance on a vacation?

 

[yooperfan]

you know...last week we walked into the Tusker house and it was half empty and we were getting seated before the ADR people...they were not very pleased and I dont blame them...we did this alot last week...everywhere we went we had no wait...straight in.

So much for adr's being seated at next available table.

 

[mom2of2]

I can't speak for other restaurants on property but we've been running full staff and tons of ADR's are not showing up. Now this could be due to plans changing, beautiful weather or a bunch of other things but trust me....we are showing up and want to work

 

[GeorgeG]

There are several reasons. I think the #1 is people not showing up for an ADR because they booked multiple not knowing where they will be for a particular meal. They show up for one and blow off the others. While Disney may factor this in and staff accordingly, if the guest can't figure out where they will eat, Disney really can't, either.

It's also a slow time right now and from some recent threads it seems the "signature" dining craze is starting to lose it's appeal.

 

[mcd2745]

There are several reasons. I think the #1 is people not showing up for an ADR because they booked multiple not knowing where they will be for a particular meal. They show up for one and blow off the others. While Disney may factor this in and staff accordingly, if the guest can't figure out where they will eat, Disney really can't, either.

It's also a slow time right now and from some recent threads it seems the "signature" dining craze is starting to lose it's appeal.

ITA. Reducing the ADR window from the ludicrous 180 days to something much more sensible like 30 or 45 days will cure the problem.

 

[Colleen27]

That's why people should be charged a nominal fee (~10.00) up front to make a reservation. It can either be credited to the cost of the meal, refunded if on a dining plan or cancellation is made by 24 hours out, or forfeited for no-shows. All the no-show money could be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Win-Win.

At least then people would be more considerate about booking multiple dining seatings to give themselves options - and not cancelling at least 24 hours out.

While I agree that no-shows are a problem, this idea is just terrible for those of us who enjoy the deluxe plan! We've had as many as 23 ADRs for one trip, each and every one of which was unique to the meal period and every one of which we fully intended to make (we did end up cancelling/changing two). I'm already pre-paying my dining when I pay for my package. I don't want to tie up a couple hundred dollars for 6 months for the privilege of having the reservations required to use the plan!

I would think a credit card guarantee would serve the same purpose without the hassles of having the money tied up and waiting for refunds.

 

[miztressuz]

ITA. Reducing the ADR window from the ludicrous 180 days to something much more sensible like 30 or 45 days will cure the problem.

They did that for a time a couple years ago and then went to the 180. (Which I thought they did before anyway). I think this was our '09 trip we had to wait until 90 days to start booking. And of course the month our trip was they opened it back up to 180 day booking, so totally didn't help us. But anyway, I don't think it would really cure the problem otherwise Disney would have kept it at the 90 day mark.

It's helpful to have it that far out so that the few places you know you want to go it's all set. Regular (nice) restaurants take reservations months in advance so I see no reason why Disney shouldn't either. However, if you don't know where you want to eat that night, don't make a ressie! If you're going to be spur of the moment that day, be spur of the moment with your meals too. It's very inconsiderate to the restaurant and other patrons to hold a table and then give no notice that you're not using it.
(And I'm using 'you' in a general sense, I'm not speaking directly to anyone)

And generally restaurants will hold tables for walk-ins. Depending on the popularity of the restaurant I think dictates how much is reserved and how much is walk-in.

 

[mcd2745]

1. I don't think it would really cure the problem otherwise Disney would have kept it at the 90 day mark.

2. Regular (nice) restaurants take reservations months in advance so I see no reason why Disney shouldn't either.

3. However, if you don't know where you want to eat that night, don't make a ressie! If you're going to be spur of the moment that day, be spur of the moment with your meals too.

1. Would it it cure it 100%? No. But it would certainly help drastically. The closer you get (and I think 90 is still too far out - as I said, I prefer 30 or 45) the less need you have to multiple book as you can nail down your plans better. Plus, there will be a lot more competition for ADRs from people who fully intend to use the one they make. You also take out all the people who end up not going when it comes time to pay for packages at the 45 day mark - many who probably made ADRs 135 days earlier and then don't cancel them. It all would result in a much higher percentage of ADRs being fulfilled.

2. 1 month, maybe 2 at the most. No "regular" restaurant takes ressies 6 months in advance. What other situation in life do you make dinner (nevermind breakfast) reservations 6 months in advance?

3. Many people would do this (in fact, I believe most would probably prefer it) if they felt they would actually have any kind of real choice when the time came to eat. But let's be honest, if you tried to be spontaneous, most nights your only TS choices would be Marakkesh, maybe Nine Dragons and remote resort restaurants such as Shutters.

 

[DizGirl20]

Just wanted to pass this along... I always make my ADRs at the 180 day mark. I am a huge planner. Yet despite my obsessive planning, during a vacation we end up cancelling/rescheduling 1 or 2 ADRs. I call the dining number as soon as I know we aren't going to make it, trying to give as much advance notice as possible. What struck me as odd this year (we were at Disney just 2 weeks ago) was that when I called to cancel/reschedule, they wanted to know "the reason for cancelling?". I had never been asked this before in all the years we have been going to Disney. I thought it to be a bit odd. Wonder what that are doing with that bit of info?

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Yea Via Napoli was the same way.

 

[miztressuz]

1. Would it it cure it 100%? No. But it would certainly help drastically. The closer you get (and I think 90 is still too far out - as I said, I prefer 30 or 45) the less need you have to multiple book as you can nail down your plans better. Plus, there will be a lot more competition for ADRs from people who fully intend to use the one they make. You also take out all the people who end up not going when it comes time to pay for packages at the 45 day mark - many who probably made ADRs 135 days earlier and then don't cancel them. It all would result in a much higher percentage of ADRs being fulfilled.

2. 1 month, maybe 2 at the most. No "regular" restaurant takes ressies 6 months in advance. What other situation in life do you make dinner (nevermind breakfast) reservations 6 months in advance?

3. Many people would do this (in fact, I believe most would probably prefer it) if they felt they would actually have any kind of real choice when the time came to eat. But let's be honest, if you tried to be spontaneous, most nights your only TS choices would be Marakkesh, maybe Nine Dragons and remote resort restaurants such as Shutters.

1. Regardless of the window people will still do it. Even 30 days out. Some people decide the park they will do that day based on where they can eat. So they make all the ressies they can and then make final decision on the park. So no matter the window I honestly think you'd have the same amount. (I would think Disney would have put into place that if a room or package was canceled at the 45 day mark any other ressies associated with it would be notified/canceled as well. And if you made ressies, attached or not, you would call to cancel as part of the cancel-the-trip process - but then again I'm expecting ppl to be courteous)
As mentioned previously by someone, the restaurants know what their average no-show percentage is and adjust accordingly.

2. Some of the "nicer" restaurants do take ressies 6 months out depending on how popular and 'exclusive' they are. So they are not as comparable to Disney restaurants, however, the concept is the same. If you have a special birthday or anniversary you are planning, you would know the date you wanted 6 months out and depending on the establishment you might reserve it then. So it's not unheard of. For most people if you planned a trip to Disney more than 6 months out then it's probably comparable to a birthday or anni event.

3. I'm more referring to the people who make several reservations and then just choose one the day of to go to, thereby creating a no-show at the other restaurants. It's very discourteous to everyone involved. However, these people will do that no matter what the window, so it was more of a vent. My philosophy is, if I am being spur of the moment then I will have to take what I can get. If I go to Coral Reef and they're full, oh well, I'll try the Garden Grill. If it's somewhere I truly have to eat, I will plan my day around it. Otherwise you should be open to the winds of chance. It's not a forgone conclusion that everywhere will be full, there are always surprises and pixie dust at Disney

 

[JimmyV]

I really think that the cancelled ADRs are a red herring. There are so many people at WDW that cancellations at popular restaurants can be quickly replaced by walk-ins or people making same day reservations. The fact that certain restaurants are running half full (if indeed that is the case) suggests that the restaurant simply does not want to seat many more people. I guess the ultimate test would be for a walk-up to try to get in to a restaurant that has several empty tables. If the host says that they cannot be accomodated, then that would prove that the restaurant simply does not want to add any more customers at that time.

And to the discussion above, I know of very, very few top end restuarants that book 6 months out. 60 days seems to be about the norm. Trying to book a table on Open Table more than 60 days out usually nets you an error message.

 

[mcd2745]

1. Regardless of the window people will still do it. Even 30 days out. Some people decide the park they will do that day based on where they can eat. So they make all the ressies they can and then make final decision on the park. So no matter the window I honestly think you'd have the same amount. (I would think Disney would have put into place that if a room or package was canceled at the 45 day mark any other ressies associated with it would be notified/canceled as well. And if you made ressies, attached or not, you would call to cancel as part of the cancel-the-trip process - but then again I'm expecting ppl to be courteous)
As mentioned previously by someone, the restaurants know what their average no-show percentage is and adjust accordingly.

No doubt there will be some people who will fully intend to still do it, and will certainly try to do it. I believe that number of people would be significantly lower than the number of people who do it at 180 days. Everyone is much more likely to have crystalized their plans (as far as which park on which day) at 30 days as opposed to 180 - eliminating the need to do it for many. Plus, for those who still insist on doing it, their ability to do so will be severely diminished. With the added "competition" that you'd have with the shorter window. Instead of booking that back-up ADR at Restaurant B in case you decide not to go to Restaurant A...you'd be much wiser to move on the next night to get your ADR choice for that night.

 

[fla4fun]

Just wanted to pass this along... I always make my ADRs at the 180 day mark. I am a huge planner. Yet despite my obsessive planning, during a vacation we end up cancelling/rescheduling 1 or 2 ADRs. I call the dining number as soon as I know we aren't going to make it, trying to give as much advance notice as possible. What struck me as odd this year (we were at Disney just 2 weeks ago) was that when I called to cancel/reschedule, they wanted to know "the reason for cancelling?". I had never been asked this before in all the years we have been going to Disney. I thought it to be a bit odd. Wonder what that are doing with that bit of info?

I was asked this when I cancelled an ADR in December. I had a dinner reservation at DHS and we decided to spend the day in Epcot instead. I cancelled the day before. I think it's just courteous to do so. Maybe if they get enough feed back that indicates they need a shorter booking window, they will change it. I remember back when they started allowing on property guests to book seven days out, and everyone else was same day. We thought that was great!

 

[Belle5]

I think it's important to keep in mind that many, if not most, vacationers don't really understand the vastness of WDW property. They read somewhere that they should make an ADR for restaurant ACME and they have no understanding of what it really takes to get to that restaurant. By the time they realize that they are no where near that restaurant they just give up and go ride another ride (and dine at Pecos). They aren't participating in a WDW on-line planning forum to help them understand the need/responsibility to cancel.

This is why I don't think WDW can really ever go to charging people to make reservations. WDW "gets" that a huge percentage of their customers just don't understand how WDW "works" as far as distance and time.

 

[whatsup]

my parents are in wdw and told me that all the restaurants that they scrambled to get adr's for are half empty! Popular restaurants, like boma, teppan edo, kona. They ate at popular times too. as they were leaving, they noticed alot of people being let in as walk-ins & the restaurants were starting to fill up.

Do you think it's because people just don't cancel their adr's in time when they choose to go to other restaurants instead or do you think that disney holds a certain amount of tables for walk-ins?

both!

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

That's why people should be charged a nominal fee (~10.00) up front to make a reservation. It can either be credited to the cost of the meal, refunded if on a dining plan or cancellation is made by 24 hours out, or forfeited for no-shows. All the no-show money could be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Win-Win.

At least then people would be more considerate about booking multiple dining seatings to give themselves options - and not cancelling at least 24 hours out.

Glad to see that Disney is monitoring the DIS forums

http://www.mouseplanet.com/9774/Walt_Disney_World_Resort_Update

From the page:

This change appears to be in response to guests making multiple reservations for the same time period and not cancelling the one(s) that they're not using. It should clear the unused tables for use by other diners.

I'm kidding of course about them monitoring us, but I'm glad to see them take this step. It's been a long time coming...