Rumor Alert: ADR's

[jcb]

Until I heard about this practice on the podcast, it never dawned on me to make multiple reservations for the same mealtime. Call me naive.

I can't imagine the solution is worse than the problem. Anyone who feels they were improperly charged for a "no show" should simply take it up with their cc company by disputing the charge. Those who want "dining flexibility" should pay for the inconvenience it causes others.

Other alternatives have hassles. Verifying ADR's against name and room numbers won't work for the offsite guests. Verifying against KTTW numbers is ineffective for resort dining by non-ticketed guests and is essentially the same as taking a cc anyway.

I am curious. I "no showed" on an EPCOT restaurant one time when it started raining. I was at FW and really didn't want to pay to have an expensive dinner at Restaurant Marakesh while I was soaking wet. I tried canceling (WDW Dine is permanently in my contacts) but when I called, I was told they don't take cancellations. So how does one cancel?

 

[jcb]

We ended up with one at Chefs de France at 8:30 and still had to wait 1:15 after ADR time to be seated.

You must have been there the same night we were! They said they were "having computer problems."

 

[wdwowner]

I am SOOO with you on this one - I think it's long overdue and can't figure out why they haven't done it before. As for backlash, yeah - there will be some, but I think those of us who are fed up with not being able to get an ADR because somone else has 12 of them will compensate for it. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be a pretty vocal proponent of the policy.

Pete

Pete, a suggestion topic for the podcast.
Should Disney change their ADR's policy to allow WDW hotel guests to make ADR's before non-WDW hotel guests?

How is this: People staying on property can make ADR's at 90 days before they arrive. Those not staying on property can make ADR's 30 days before that date.

This would be one heck of a perk for staying on property, rewarding us for staying at Disney hotels. Those who don't stay on property still can make ADR's. This is not a bad thing for Disney, they can still get all of the dining full, but this would make the Dining plans really worth it for people. They should not be shut out of a ADR just because someone who is not staying on property has taken all of the ressies.

Whatcha think?

 

[Pitti-sing]

There was a thread about this last year http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1791572&page=1&highlight=

and I think the policy has been in place for some time, so that it could be used if they chose to enforce it. And, maybe they finally have.

But, in my experience, you almost never "get" the people you mean to "get". Those people always seem to find a way around.

 

[dpuck1998]

I'm guessing like other popular places outside of Disney, a CC hold doesn't mean they are going to charge you the second your table is ready to be set. I have given my CC number for many places, if something comes up, you call and explain it and they deal with each person as the problem arises. What this WILL help is people that will and do make several ressies, sure they can call and cancel them ones they don't use, but it will deter them since its work to call and cancel everything you miss. Also, disney will see the people that are putting this plan into effect. Like anything, including the present system, there will be problems. But I'll take the problems with a CC hold system of the present system any day.

 

[msce2]

(Step on soap box) I think there are some BIG questions about this. What kind of hold would you put on the credit card? I've seen some people drop 100's on a meal. This would be unfair to people who would not spend this kind of money. Would you charge per person? What if it was a party of 10 or a party of 2. Would it be different for every restaurant? Also how much would you then charge if they missed the ADR? I think you also price out people who do not have huge limits on their credit cards or people who only pay cash. You could get into an issue where if people have to cancel their ADR's it can take 30+ days for that hold to be removed from their credit card making that amount unusable. And people who have lots of money may not have that issue, but I can't tell you how many people I talked to who were affected by these exact types of holds. I think there's got to be a better way to do this. (Step off soap box)

 

[H20DogsNDisney]

I would be fine with it! I think it is about time.

 

[dpuck1998]

(Step on soap box) I think there are some BIG questions about this. What kind of hold would you put on the credit card? I've seen some people drop 100's on a meal. This would be unfair to people who would not spend this kind of money. Would you charge per person? What if it was a party of 10 or a party of 2. Would it be different for every restaurant? Also how much would you then charge if they missed the ADR? I think you also price out people who do not have huge limits on their credit cards or people who only pay cash. You could get into an issue where if people have to cancel their ADR's it can take 30+ days for that hold to be removed from their credit card making that amount unusable. And people who have lots of money may not have that issue, but I can't tell you how many people I talked to who were affected by these exact types of holds. I think there's got to be a better way to do this. (Step off soap box)

I don't think it would work at all that way. Anytime I've had a CC hold on a meal they just took my card, didn't hold anything and would only charge to it if I didn't show. The amount charged was a nominal amount, like 10 or 15 per person. I can't believe that most people haven't been subjected to this at some point outside the world. I don't think its that uncommon.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

And when Disney screws something up, we generally don't get money out of them do we? That's what I have a problem with, they'll be taking money for missed ressies.

Actually, there's lots of anecdotal evidence that when Disney screws something up, they very often go above and beyond to make it right.

What they're doing is insuring a contract. They'll hold you a place in their restaurant, you'll guarantee your stated attendance with a monetary hold.

 

[Iggipolka]

If Disney is going to start charging for missed ADR's, then they really need to improve their phone service on their Disney Dining line. I tried to call and cancel an ADR for the next day while on our last trip and gave up after being on hold for over 20 minutes while walking around MK! I tried calling again the next morning and for over an hour, got the message that all lines were busy and to try again later!

It was so frustrating! If I had gotten charged for that missed ADR in addition to the time spent trying to call to cancel it, I would have been really ticked.

 

[msce2]

Let me preface this by saying that I worked for a credit card company. Putting holds on credit cards is very typical. Any time you pump gas they put a hold on your card. Sometimes as much as $200. Well if you fill up 2x a week, that can add up to a lot of money on hold. I can't tell you how many phone calls I got with people unable to use their credit card because of holds that put them at or above the limit. If you have high credit limits and don't carry balances this will not affect you, but if you are a lower to middle class family trying to fit in a once in a lifetime or once in 10 years vacation it could really affect you.

 

[crazytp93]

A great idea and long overdue!

 

[DVCJones]

I like this idea as well, however, I'd be interested in what the cancellation policy would be. I know for Candlelight it's 48 hours. My only concern would be how they would handle circumstances beyond your control. Since they are disney, I think they would be flexible. I know I've had several "no show" charges at various hotels because I've been stuck in airports and can't get there. In most cases they were understanding but in some cases - they weren't.

I also do not think it will eliminate the problem completely, you can still make multiple reservations, as long as you cancel them before you would get charged for the no-show. However, I do think it would greatly reduce the problem, as most people wouldn't want to keep up w/ it.

I mostly like the idea, However, I hope the have a policy in place if you need to cancel on the same day your reservation. Just for the record... I always make my reservations 180 days out, I never over book and always show up for my ressie. However, on our last trip we had to leave the Magic Kingdom after only 2 hrs because my 2yo spiked a fever and complained of ear pain. We went to Celebration Hospital and spent 6 hours there. Needless to say, we missed our ADR. I would hate to charged in this situation.

 

[dpuck1998]

I mostly like the idea, However, I hope the have a policy in place if you need to cancel on the same day your reservation is. Just for the record... I always make my reservations 180 days out, I never over book and always show up for my ressie. However, on our last trip we had to leave the Magic Kingdom after only 2 hrs because my 2yo spiked a fever and complained of ear pain. We went to Celebration Hospital and spent 6 hours there. Needless to say, we missed our ADR. I would hate to charged in this situation.

Let me preface this by saying that I worked for a credit card company. Putting holds on credit cards is very typical. Any time you pump gas they put a hold on your card. Sometimes as much as $200. Well if you fill up 2x a week, that can add up to a lot of money on hold. I can't tell you how many phone calls I got with people unable to use their credit card because of holds that put them at or above the limit. If you have high credit limits and don't carry balances this will not affect you, but if you are a lower to middle class family trying to fit in a once in a lifetime or once in 10 years vacation it could really affect you.

Like I said, if its like other places, they don't even put a hold. They just keep your card on file in case you don't show up.

Also, a quick call to tell them you couldn't' show up for "xxx" reason would likely result in no charge. We can all come up with examples of why we couldn't make an ADR and I'm sure Disney will have a system in place for those reasons. Anything that gets you to call to cancel is much better than the system right now.

 

[angelmav]

I mostly like the idea, However, I hope the have a policy in place if you need to cancel on the same day your reservation. Just for the record... I always make my reservations 180 days out, I never over book and always show up for my ressie. However, on our last trip we had to leave the Magic Kingdom after only 2 hrs because my 2yo spiked a fever and complained of ear pain. We went to Celebration Hospital and spent 6 hours there. Needless to say, we missed our ADR. I would hate to charged in this situation.

Totally agree with this. I mean its one thing if they havent charged in instances where they could have, but to expect that kind of benevolance is the problem if its not in writing. Hey their stuff breaks down too, we were stuck on RRC for an hour, if we were trying to get in one last ride, missed dinner and got charged then that would be a huge deal. As long as they accept day of cancelations, then its a fine policy.

 

[wilde_oscar]

which is cheeper, taking credit card info for everyone that is looking to try to get a reservation? or just taking the reservation? There are some safe guards already in place to prevent folks from making multiple reservations. The number of people that multibook has to be very very small in comparison to the number of reservations.

In a time when they are cost cutting, do you think they are going to spend dollars to save pennies?

 

[daneenm]

I'm not sure how this would be any different than when you have to pay for a missed/no-show doctor's appointment, a missed/no-show spa appointment, a missed/no-show reservation at a nice restaurant or any other NOT CANCELED appointment. If you are going to miss it, call - then no charge. This happens in many walks of life...not sure why it has taken Disney this long to implement it, frankly.

Sounds iike Disney will have to beef up its phone abilities or have a special line for cancelations only, if people are waiting hours to get through. Perhaps a stop at City Hall or the hotel concierge would be a way as well.

 

[LMO429]

If Disney is going to start charging for missed ADR's, then they really need to improve their phone service on their Disney Dining line. I tried to call and cancel an ADR for the next day while on our last trip and gave up after being on hold for over 20 minutes while walking around MK! I tried calling again the next morning and for over an hour, got the message that all lines were busy and to try again later!

It was so frustrating! If I had gotten charged for that missed ADR in addition to the time spent trying to call to cancel it, I would have been really ticked.

I agree with this, it is impossible sometimes to cancel a reservation in the parks if you dial the 407wdwdine number ..the easiest thing to do is to go to any restaurant podium and the hostess would be able to cancel or rearrange any reservations from there..Hope that helps for the next time

 

[Jubilee]

If they are at the MK and they have an ADR somewhere else, then they should have planned better. That is only their fault, they made an ADR, They picked the time and location, no one's problem except them.

It is called planning, that is why they made an ADR. Don't waste it or not allow others to dine there if they really did not want it.

One word: spontaneity!

I am with you guys to an extent, but I like being spontaneous sometimes. I guess the best alternative is to not plan on a table service meal as often.

 

[dpuck1998]

One word: spontaneity!

I am with you guys to an extent, but I like being spontaneous sometimes. I guess the best alternative is to not plan on a table service meal as often.

Great! You'll have a better chance now that 1 person isn't taking up 5 ADRs on the same night.