Should fee be charged for not cancelling ADR's?

[marivaid]

Go back through all the posts. There are alot who talk about being courteous and considerate.

BTW, you just personally attacked me. Where have I done the same to you?

Did they call YOU considerate though ? I don't believe so.

And where did I "personally attack" you ? I said you have a conceited attitude. You jump on everyone's throat whether they agree with you or not.

 

[Disney Ron]

I'm still on your side Ron!!!

Maybe as a middle ground, CC ressies needed for all TS returants, but buffets can still be booked with no CC.

Anywho, is it the internet crowd that came up with ADR's? I saw someone earler say they werent reservations, but doesnt ADR stand for Advanced Dining Reservations? Is this not a WDW term?

Thanks dburg. I've also never understood the ADR not being a reservation myself. I've been to restaurants at home where I'll have a ressie for a certain time and still had to wait awhile until a table opened up. Isn't that the same as an ADR?

 

[Ted and Holly]

That's some pretty unlikely hypotheticals, multiple instances of severe circumstances striking multiple individuals in a group at different times, such that neither of you could get to a phone and cancel?

I still say this entire conversation doesn't even take place if they simply got rid of multiple ADR's that exceeded the number of individuals in the party. Suddenly, thousands upon thousands of bookings would open up, walk ups would be available, etc.

Forgetting off-site and local diners?

There are no-show fees for some restaurants on property. But I do not think this is the solution to the lack of walk-up opportunities at the very popular places. Yes, it is definitely the courteous thing, but I am not so sure it would solve any seating issues.

Ted

 

[fla4fun]

Well hypothetically, if Disney started taking CC numbers and charging for no shows, then they should change the ADR concept to actual reservations, with no wait time. You get there on time and your table is ready for immediate seating.

I don't know where you usually dine, but I've found that even high end restaurants that take actual reservations typically have you wait at least a few minutes to be seated. Sometimes more than a few minutes. No one can plan for the party that dines at a more leisurely pace, and therefore, is still at "your" table when you arrive. So changing to a straight reservation system won't guarantee immediate seating.

I hadn't really thought about how Disney handles it on the holidays, because it's been a few years since my last visit on an actual holiday. But I do remember making a Thanksgiving day ADR about three years ago, and having to give a cc number to guarantee the reservation and having at least a 24 hour cancellation (might have been 48) policy in place or I would be charged. So if they can do it for holidays, I don't see it being that difficult to do any other time. Or even doing it during busier seasons, instead of just on the holiday itself.

 

[Disney Ron]

Did they call YOU considerate though ? I don't believe so.

And where did I "personally attack" you ? I said you have a conceited attitude. You jump on everyone's throat whether they agree with you or not.

There are plenty of posts where others said they agreed with me and that it's being considerate to cancel unused ADR's. I take that as they are saying that my actions are considerate.

And you don't see me judging your attitude anywhere, do you?

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks dburg. I've also never understood the ADR not being a reservation myself. I've been to restaurants at home where I'll have a ressie for a certain time and still had to wait awhile until a table opened up. Isn't that the same as an ADR?

Disney didn't change anything when they went from calling it priority seating to ADR. A true reservation means the restaurant expects/hopes they'll have a table at the time you have reserved. Guests come in late or stay longer then projected and you'll wait.

Disney's ADR system is closer to the call ahead policy some of the corporate chain restaurants follow. There is not attempt to link your "reservation" with an available table. The corporate restaurant is just adding your name to the list and telling you about how long you'll wait. Disney is just putting your name on a list, when you arrive at the podium. Think of a Disney ADR as being similar to a fast pass.

Again there no reason to require guests cancel if the reason is to accommodate walk ups. The only reason to require a cc is if Disney was going to require 24 hour (or more) notice so they can offer an ADR to another guest.

Requiring 24 hour notice for most restaurants isn't appropriate for a theme park. Guests decide to spend more time at a pool, kids melt down, guests decide to spend more time in one park etc.

 

[lilyv]

I don't know where you usually dine, but I've found that even high end restaurants that take actual reservations typically have you wait at least a few minutes to be seated. Sometimes more than a few minutes. No one can plan for the party that dines at a more leisurely pace, and therefore, is still at "your" table when you arrive. So changing to a straight reservation system won't guarantee immediate seating.

I hadn't really thought about how Disney handles it on the holidays, because it's been a few years since my last visit on an actual holiday. But I do remember making a Thanksgiving day ADR about three years ago, and having to give a cc number to guarantee the reservation and having at least a 24 hour cancellation (might have been 48) policy in place or I would be charged. So if they can do it for holidays, I don't see it being that difficult to do any other time. Or even doing it during busier seasons, instead of just on the holiday itself.

I wondered the same thing, where have they been dining that they are seated within seconds of walking in the door? Some wait isn't unusual in most cities. We have reservations most of the time when we eat in Vegas, and there is still a moderate wait. I was able to get ressies for Rao's (and they do require a CC) after it opened, and we happily waited 45 minutes. I think it's nearly impossible to get reservations there these days. It's all relative.

It might be a great idea to use CC for at least signature dining.

 

[marivaid]

There are plenty of posts where others said they agreed with me and that it's being considerate to cancel unused ADR's.

Yup. Including mines. Funny, isn't it ?

And you don't see me judging your attitude anywhere, do you?

No, you just judged several other posters that happened to sleep through an ADR or get stuck in an attraction.

 

[Disney Ron]

Yup. Including mines. Funny, isn't it ?



No, you just judged several other posters that happened to sleep through an ADR or get stuck in an attraction.

Sorry but stating that I would request a wakeup call to make sure I was up in time for a breakfast ADR is not being judgemental. Claiming the person shouldn't have fallen back to sleep after receiving a wakeup call is, and I didn't do that.

I'm done arguing with you about this now let's get back to cancelling those ADR's!!!

 

[marivaid]

It might be a great idea to use CC for at least signature dining.

I agree and require it for dinner at some restaurants like Le Cellier or Chef Mickey's. CRT must be fully prepaid at time of booking (unless you're on DDP), but it's not that much harder to get than LC or CM who don't even require a CC #.

Another possibility would be to give guests "strike 1, strike 2".. as in, 2 no-shows and the rest of your ADRs get canceled. Forgetting to cancel an ADR once can be a mistake.Twice or three times, it becomes more like a pattern. I'm naive, it didn't even occur to me that some guests would cancel their vacation and not take the time to cancel their ADRs as well.

 

[Tricia1972]

Question for those who want to see the cc# to hold the reservation - how long in advance would a party have to cancel to not be charged?

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Since apparently people are still hung up on this, how about this? If I'm giving my CC# to hold a reservation, isn't it my right then to give my CC# to hold as many reservations as I want? Because then it is solely my responsibility to call to cancel to avoid getting charged. If I make two reservations at the same time and do not cancel the one I do not show for, that is money in Disney's pocket. Disney would have no incentive to keep people from making multiple ADRs for the same time frame.

 

[lilyv]

Question for those who want to see the cc# to hold the reservation - how long in advance would a party have to cancel to not be charged?

My suggestion:
Signature dining only- cancel 24 hours before. I don't think CC is necessary for most other restaurants, exception being the really popular ones they require CC now-some character breakfasts.

What CC does is make someone think about whether they really want to go, or not. It's a big help in decreasing no shows.

 

[Disneynut71]

Are you going to Chef Mickey's on Christmas day ? I made 2 ressies for CM yesterday and neither required a CC#. Come to think of it I wasn't asked for a CC# to confirm our WCC Christmas reservation, thought that was weird. Isn't a card required for holiday bookings ?

It must depend on who you talk to. More then once I have had to run and grab the credit card to hold my ADR.

 

[Disneynut71]

I can't tell you how many times I have seen on this board and others how people have 2 ADR's at the same time. They can't choose or want to use one as a back-up.

I also can't tell you how many times I have called sometimes 6 months out to try and get ADR's and they are gone. It took me 3 trips before I could get CRT. I woke up at 6 and was on the phone just to get it.

I make sure if I am going to be late or can't make it to pick up the phone and call. It's an easy number to remember.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

Having two ADRs for the same time is selfish if we all did it there would never be any tables left. As for the debate over falling asleep that is the persons fault for not being organised enough. I remember when you didn't need ADrs waiting over an hourfor the Sci Fi, I also remember being told at the rose and crown that we should have booked 365 day in advance for an evening meal. Like I was supposed to know that, back then we didn't even have the internet

 

[mickaholic4077]

OP,did you actually ask the people working at the restaurant why the 6 to 8 tables were empty? Did they specifically say that the reason the tables were empty was ADR no-shows? If they didn't say that,then you really shouldn't say that that is the reason the tables were empty. Otherwise,I agree with your position that people should cancel ADRs if they aren't going to be using them.

 

[TDC Nala]

12 guests = 12 butts. Therefore, they should be able to book 12 seats. They would be able to book 12 seats in one restaurant, 6 seats in two different restaurants, all the way down to 1 seat in twelve different restaurants, if they so choose.

How does that save space? Currently, you have groups of 4,5,6 and higher booking 8, 10, 12 seats and more. Space that by definition will go unused, because there are more seats reserved than butts to fill them.

Really? What if my friend and I (two in a room) make reservations for us and four of our local friends? Should that get cancelled because it's more than two people?

Personally if I am going to be herded around I am going to eat in the bars and counter service.

 

[MickeyNicki]

If we go to places that you leave your name and wait for them to call you they give you the three strikes and you are off the list...that is what WDW restaurants should do too. If your time is up and you are not there then they cancel your reservation....

 

[Laurafoster]

It really does annoy me when people dont turn up to an ADR and dont have the courtesy to cancel them. Even if as some posters have mentioned they have little to no notice, a simple phone call would make the restaurant aware that table could be offered to a walk up. And most people WOULD have atleast an hour or so's notice that they were not going to be there.

Im not saying charging is the right answer but something needs to be done!