Terrible New Reservation Policy at California Grill

[Peter Pirate]

Coming on a little strong aren't we Lewis... I agreed with the policy just feel that less time, maybe 4 hours, would easily allow for cancellations to be filled.

 

[bicker]

I don't think 4 hours would be acceptable. I would think it would need to be before the restaurant opens for business for the day, at least, if not even earlier.

 

[patsal]

I don't see anything wrong with it. The policy gives you an out, but expects you to stick to your commitment. It is also a good way to hedge against those who are not having dinner taking up space for the fireworks as well as helping the waitstaff to earn a decent wage with full tables.

 

[Peter Pirate]

How could 4 hours not work? There are guest services at EVERY PARK and in EVERY HOTEL, not to mention the phone. Have you ever noticed how busy they get around 4 in the afternoon? A restaurant like CG is never going to have more than a couple of cancellations per day I wouldn't think...These will be gobbled up in a heartbeat. I think 4 hours would be plenty. Just my opinion though.

 

[jennypenny]

I would agree with this policy EXCEPT WDW-DINE can be very hard to reach from your room. Twice on our last trip I tried to call wdw-dine from our room to change our reservation (a stomach flu was going through the group and the number kept changing for dinner each day) and waited on hold over 1/2 hour both times. When I finally went to the concierge, she just said to go and not worry about it. I hope someone informs the CMs at the concierge desks about the new policy.

This has always been the policy on Valentine's Day (usually when we visit). I've never had a problem in the past. It was only on the last trip (post-dining plan induction) that I had trouble getting through to dining from the room.

Jenny

 

[Markstudy]

I like the new plan.

When you make a ADR at one of the top 5 places to eat in DisneyWorld.... you need to make it the priority of the day. Plan around it,....because its not just another meal.

If you don't want to give CG that kind of priority in your planning... then it would makes sense to stick to ADR's that do not require deposits. There are a lot more of these than there are of the few really special places.

 

[LeesyUD]

I am glad Disney is taking initiative to deter people from double-booking and no shows....I do wish it was more of a 12 hour cancellation policy though for dinners anyway....I think that canceling the morning of would be more realistic for alot of people and also would still allow people to call and try to make last minute reservations they were turned away from before. I did end up canceling a breakfast in the morning one time because I was not feeling well and I forot to call the night before and the CM I spoke was completely suprised...she thanked me because she said no one ever calls and cancels their ADR's. If the double booking and extensive no shows does not at least calm down I wouldn't be suprised if they put this policy into affect for all TS restaurants. Also Disney puts alot of effort into making everyone have the magical vacation, more so than any other vacation destinatiion I've been too. I think they more than have a right to take a bit of authority and selfishness in this case.

 

[bicker]

That's a good point. The object isn't just to fill tables, but to the extent possible, to make the whole experience better, and taking the luck out of it helps a lot.

That's one of the reasons why the CRT changes are so beneficial: People no longer get CRT reservations because they have the fastest fingers -- they get them because it's a priority for them, something they're willing to extend themselves for. Since it likely has no negative impact on revenues, it is a far better to use an approach which evokes so much less frustration.

 

[TammyJ]

I mostly agree with the new policy. I don't mind being charged if I back out of a commitment. But as several posters have said, a shorter time amount should be adequate. From my readings of these boards, Disney is not having a problem filling restaurants. We're going the week before Christmas and ADRs for dinner at any of the more recommended restaurants were long gone before I started planning our trip two months ago. And while some of these may be by double-bookers, given that I keep reading posts of anyone without an ADR being turned away, they seem plenty busy. I would certainly think the morning of should be adequate and even a couple of hours prior.

 

[bicker]

I wonder if there is some correlation between the new dress code (no jeans, tanks, tees, etc.) at many WDW restaurants (California Grill, Artist Point, Citricos, etc.), and this new policy -- i.e., that perhaps this policy will spread to the other restaurants with the new dress code. After all, if you're trying to improve the value of the dining experience by getting as many patrons as possible to comply with a more upscale presentation, then you probably want to do everything you can do discourage having to rely on walk-ins, who may or may not be appropriately dressed.

 

[crisi]

How could 4 hours not work? There are guest services at EVERY PARK and in EVERY HOTEL, not to mention the phone. Have you ever noticed how busy they get around 4 in the afternoon? A restaurant like CG is never going to have more than a couple of cancellations per day I wouldn't think...These will be gobbled up in a heartbeat. I think 4 hours would be plenty. Just my opinion though.

It depends on how many different variables are involved. Lets say for instance that Disney would like to open these reservations up to the conceirge system first, rather than just releasing them back into the system. They might want them to sit there overnight and give the conceirge first crack at meeting the needs of the conceirge guests.

Someone posted that Le Cellier said its no show rate is 30% - that's a lot of cancellations. They apparently overbook the restaurant to compensate, but requiring deposits lets them overbook for a much smaller number of no shows. If you anticipate 30% no shows, overbook by 30%, and only have 10% no shows that night, you'll have a lot of people waiting for a table. If you can overbook by a smaller number, it will map better.

 

[TammyJ]

Interesting thought about trying to deter walk-ins so that you can enforce a dress code. Hadn't really thought of that. Still not sure I agree with the 24 hour time frame but it is a point.

 

[bicker]

Someone posted that Le Cellier said its no show rate is 30% - that's a lot of cancellations. They apparently overbook the restaurant to compensate, but requiring deposits lets them overbook for a much smaller number of no shows. If you anticipate 30% no shows, overbook by 30%, and only have 10% no shows that night, you'll have a lot of people waiting for a table. If you can overbook by a smaller number, it will map better.

Precisely. They have GOT to do that at Le Cellier. I think I'm going to send them email suggesting it. It is so frustrating to be stuck outside waiting for a table because I happened to decide to eat there on a day when people are coincidently showing up at a higher rate than normal. If they could reduce that variability just a bit, every patron's experience will be improved.

And I agree that they've got to get those reservations back in the system at least 24 hours prior, so folks can book them before they go to sleep the night before, or at the latest, before they head to breakfast in the morning-of.

 

[Lewisc]

Bicker--I agree the dress code issue may be an additional benefit of the new policy but if that was one of the reasons Disney had in mind I'd expect the same policy to have been extended to other signature, resort restaurants.

My guess is the number of guests booking CG just to see Wishes may distort the number of reservations vs no-shows. I also suspect CG gets guests booking dessert and lingering over free coffee refills to see Wishes. The other signature restaurants don't have to contend with this issue. The $20 advance charge discourages that behavior. I'm surprised Disney doesn't just go to a price fixed menu.

Although it makes a lot of sense to have the same policy at Le Cellier I don't know how it would work if one of the WS restaurants has a different reservation policy than the other restaurants. I'm not even sure if that's contractually permitted.

 

[bicker]

Bicker--I agree the dress code issue may be an additional benefit of the new policy but if that was one of the reasons than I'd expect the same policy to be extended to other signature, resort restaurants.

Like I said, I surely hope so!

My guess is the number of guests booking CG just to see Wishes may distort the number of reservations vs no-shows.

Good point, especially after they started limiting the observation deck to restaurant patrons only.

The other signature restaurants don't have to contend with this issue.

In the same vein, I'd love to see a $50 prix fixe meal at Rose & Crown, complete with the non-refundable deposit, for the outside tables with a view of the show. Perhaps even an extra fiver for the front row tables and a $10 less for the tables around the side of the building.

 

[TammyJ]

Ahhh, save the good seats for those who can afford the splurge! Too bad for those who can only afford the desert.

 

[FSUGrad97]

What's annoying is not being able to get an ADR because people who refuse to plan have double booked.

AMEN!!

 

[snowbunny]

Ahhh, save the good seats for those who can afford the splurge! Too bad for those who can only afford the desert.

huh? Then I guess one should not make reservations one does not expect to honor at a restaurant one cannot afford?

Also to the poster who reported the difficulty of getting through to WDW-DINE on the phone system from the resorts...isn't it possible to call the Contemporary directly and ask to be connected to the California Grill, if changing plans because of an emergency?

 

[Briarmom]

When we were there a couple of weeks ago, I needed to cancel 2 ADRs. I called and cancelled one quite easily, with no insanely long hold on WDW-DINE. The next one, I couldn't get through (not saying I was on hold..I couldn't even get the phone to ring).

Later on that trip, we made a reservation for the same night. That evening my dd2's head was slammed repeatedly in one of the Disney buses. None of us were in the mood for dinner, but we still found a customer relations desk to cancel at. Their response? 'No big deal. They won't care.'

 

[raidermatt]

Disney restaurants do not use traditional reservations, correct? Meaning they do not hold tables for people, but an ADR puts you at the front of the line for the next available table when your time comes and you are present, correct?

If that has changed, then forget the rest of what I'm going to say, but if it hasn't, then the new policy isn't going to get you a table any sooner if you are a walk-up, or decide same-day. If somebody has an ADR and doesn't show, they never get queued up for the restaurant anyway.

All it will do is make it slightly more likely that you will be able to get an ADR if you call in advance. The ADRs just won't be gone quite as fast.

Its a benefit for sure, I'm just not sure its going to make as much of a difference as some seem to think it will.