Terrible New Reservation Policy at California Grill

[raidermatt]

Uh, if I knew I had a dinner reservation I wouldn't spend my whole day doing something that would utterly exhaust me. A little common sense here.

Believe it or not, the unexpected does occur. People catch colds, normally well-behaved children become cranky (and you would rather I canceled than brought my crying 2 year-old, wouldn't you?), busses break down, people make judgement errors, rides get stuck, grandma has bad days, etc, etc, etc.

All of this is compounded at WDW by the plethora of offerings that Disney most certainly wants you to experience, and that also are more likely to bring about the unexpected.

No, this is an up-front deterrent, and a questionable one at that.

And, as I alluded to above, you may get an unexpected negative from this when you are enjoying your fine dining experience. That family who has the cranky 2 year old just might decide to bring him along rather than get charged $20 for nothing and still have to find dinner somewhere else.

But like I said, Disney doesn't even give cancellation numbers, so its going to be very problematic for them to enforce this.

They do not need cater to someone who wants the ability to cancel at the last minute when they have, literally, thousands of customers who are willing to make a reservation 180 days in advance and stick to it.

For a standalone restaurant, sure, this makes a lot of sense. So they anger one or two... they have a long "waiting list" and they'll likely never need those angry people anyway.

A bad experience with this for Disney guest, however, is a different matter. Every postive/negative experience that person has while on property has an impact on their spending decisions while they are there, and on their level of desire to return to the resort.

Obviously Disney knows this, and has made there decision with respect to CG accordingly, including there level of enforcement, if any.

Same thing with the dress code. Of course they will maintain certain minimal standards for the signature restaurants, like prohibiting "cutoffs and wife beaters" . But they aren't going to overdo this (even though some obviously wish they would.) Not because of any sense of fairness or justice. Just because it wouldn't be profitable for them to do so.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Well, and maybe there are those at Disney that get their kicks from watching Internet Fan Nerds like us argue over what "t-shirt" means. Sort of like a sick prison guard who likes to stage inmate fights for his own amusement.

LOL...this is still my favorite line in the whole 10 pages.

 

[raidermatt]

I've seen that argument about the locals saving WDW after 9/11 but do you have any facts to back it up?

In Disney's quarterly earnings calls in the couple of years after 9/11, they spoke of the large hits they were taking due to tourism plummeting, both international and domestic. There was little they could do to counter people's fears about flying and travelling in general. But they could and did offer many incentives to locals since they were the only ones that would respond at the time.

But even beyond the specifics that resulted from 9/11, its a natural cycle. In poor economic times, people are hesitent to make big vacation plans. Many have either lost jobs or are afraid they will. Locals don't need to plan as far in advance, and its more practical for them to take short trips or day trips. So you have to turn to them to make up the slack.

In good economic times, you have to make a choice as to whether you take away those incentives to maximize margins, or if you try to maintain goodwill so you'll have a greater cushion to fall back on when the next downcycle occurs.

 

[ducklite]

OK Anne, I see we come from totally different places that I previously thought.

Why in the world would anyone quit living their life because they have a dinner reservation?

In my case if I make a reservation I consider it an obligation to uphold. Just the way I was brought up I guess.

As for the dress code, you're the only person I've read that has seen it enforced so it can't be running full force and it's still not in writing anywhere. As for the 'ignorant' comment, well ...

Actually, it is in writing when you check in on the 2nd floor. And I have seen comments from several others on these baords who have seen people turned away.

Now let's discuss the 'higher end' comment, shall we? You see that's again where we part ways. CG is a nice restaurant but higher end? Meaning what?

Meaning that it's a higer end restaurant. Not high end. But certainly "higher" end, particularly when compared to the plethora of chain and tourist trap eateries in the area.

Anne

 

[raidermatt]

LOL...this is still my favorite line in the whole 10 pages.

Thanks, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitress and drive home safely!

 

[raidermatt]

Just the way I was brought up I guess.

Let's not start those kinds of implications. They can be equally nasty on both sides.

And I have seen comments from several others on these baords who have seen people turned away.

Yes, and many comments from those that have seen people in supposedly banned attire, like t-shirts, that have not been turned away.

So obviously it is not consistently enforced to the letter of the law.

Perhaps cutoffs and wife beaters are being consistently prohibited, but then, nobody around here is challenging that.

 

[ducklite]

Let's not start those kinds of implications. They can be equally nasty on both sides.


Yes, and many comments from those that have seen people in supposedly banned attire, like t-shirts, that have not been turned away.

So obviously it is not consistently enforced to the letter of the law.

Perhaps cutoffs and wife beaters are being consistently prohibited, but then, nobody around here is challenging that.

No implication was meant. To some people, it's perfectly acceptable to cancel plans, even at the last minute. For me, once something is in my book, it's done barring a true emergency. I look at it as a common courtesy, others have a more laid back approach to life.

Anne

 

[raidermatt]

Sure it was, but I can let it go at that.

You continue to look only at the extremes. When you bring up examples for the dress code, its cutoffs and wife beaters. Not nice jeans and a brand new t-shirt with perhaps a subtle logo, which is also prohibited by the code as written, and as you claim, enforced.

Now those who may want to cancel a reservation at CG within 24 hours have a laid back approach to life and lack common courtesy.

The majority fall into the middle ground which you are leaving out of your examples.

 

[DMRick]

I've just made a reservation for mid January (after all this talk, it sounded like a good idea). They did not ask for a credit card, and I wasn't bringing it up (just in case I need to cancel last minute..I wasn't about to say I heard they needed it). Does it matter if you are staying on site? I am, and I wondered if that was why they did not ask for cc. No dress code was mentioned to me, so I'll assume I can show up in park attire. We'll see.

 

[DMRick]

Well, that was short lived (7 minutes) LOL. I just got a call from Disney Dining, to let me know they needed a cc, in case we were no shows or didn't cancel before 24 hours. She said it would not be charged. I said cancel, since I made my ressie on my first night, and coming from the North East, it's possible it will snow, and we'll be delayed. She apologized, I cancelled, and everyone is happy LOL. On to Boma's. By the way, I had my pick of time LOL!!

 

[snowbunny]

It's fine cuisine from respected chef's at a healthy price...But it's at a Resort that all started with a MOUSE, for the love of Pete's aunt! Certainly not the Ritz-Carlton or 4Seasons.

You are so right, despite our respective differences as to midriff-baring fashion!...a little perspective is a good thing

I've just made a reservation for mid January (after all this talk, it sounded like a good idea). They did not ask for a credit card, and I wasn't bringing it up

OK, so regarding this entire thread....never mind??.... BTW, where is the OP these days...

 

[MKOATEYW]

Just be glad you didn't make reservations at Cindy's they are now requireing payment in full when you make your reservation!


Hi Peter Pirate I am just south of you. Funny I consider middrift bareing tops being dressed also.

Have a Disney Day everyone! ºoº