This is why

[AngiTN]

There's an important point that is always left unsaid in posts like these, and it's why I disagree with using such absolute language. Yes, a lot can happen. Every day, there are horror stories of diverted flights, cancellations and airport meltdowns that causes guests to miss most or all of the scheduled beginning of their trip. In the majority of cases, however, everything goes relatively smoothly.

That's why, like so many other things in life, this is a risk/reward proposition. The no-show fee for a dining reservation at Disney is $10 per person. You have to decide whether you're willing to stake that money, knowing it's possible you lose it. Your decision will depend on plenty of factors, including how many people are in your party. I might be willing to gamble $20 on a reservation for just my wife and me. I might not feel the same way with three kids in toe, upping that amount to $50.

I just think it's important that we lay out what we're talking about here. For some people, a coveted Be Our Guest or 'Ohana reservation on arrival day might be worth the risk. For others, not so much. There's no right or wrong answer here.

And now that you can change your ADR online (in most cases), you aren't even locked in to the no show fee. You just change the ADR to either a time you can make later in your trip, if there is one or a time way in the future that you can then cancel.

 

[jdisnut]

And now that you can change your ADR online (in most cases), you aren't even locked in to the no show fee. You just change the ADR to either a time you can make later in your trip, if there is one or a time way in the future that you can then cancel.

Yep, that, too. Great point.

 

[KrazeeK120]

And now that you can change your ADR online (in most cases), you aren't even locked in to the no show fee. You just change the ADR to either a time you can make later in your trip, if there is one or a time way in the future that you can then cancel.

That's definitely a good idea, but may be difficult in practice for some of the harder to get ADRs (like BOG in particular), or if you have a large-ish party.

If you've got a reservation for 2 at Tony's though, by all means, use this strategy!

 

[AngiTN]

That's definitely a good idea, but may be difficult in practice for some of the harder to get ADRs (like BOG in particular), or if you have a large-ish party.

If you've got a reservation for 2 at Tony's though, by all means, use this strategy!

Yes, that's why you never book a must have. Even hard to get ADR can be moved to something, at some future date, even if you changed the party size, just long enough to cancel it. Provided you don't plan to use it, it won't matter, you just want to get it moved to some other time so you can cancel.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

you shouldn't plan anything less than 3 hours out of your scheduled time to land.

Sis flew in to Orlando today. Flight landed at 1:15. They were not allowed off of the aircraft as there was a storm approaching and it was dangerous for the ground crew to be out. Sis messaged me and said the sky was black! Half an hour later they were let off. Only to wait another hour for their bags.

You see all the time posts about "It takes 90 minutes to get to your resort". Yup, 90 minutes if everything runs perfectly.

I know we all want to squeeze in every ounce of fun we can. It is just a very bad idea to plan anything important for the day you land. And if you do, give yourself 3 hours minimum.

Today's PSA.

And don't have close connecting flights if you can help it. We flew from Orlando to LAX. We were held at the gate (not boarded) for 2 hours due to weather. Then another 45 minutes while we boarded and the luggage was loaded...only to be held another 2 hours in the plane due to weather. We missed our connecting flight in Minneapolis by 2 hours (yep, we had planned on 2h 45m to be enough time).

The flight back was direct, but we were held in the air for an extra 30 minutes, due to a backup because of weather before we arrived.

 

[maxiesmom]

And now that you can change your ADR online (in most cases), you aren't even locked in to the no show fee. You just change the ADR to either a time you can make later in your trip, if there is one or a time way in the future that you can then cancel.

Thanks for reminding me of this. Sis had a change of plans yesterday and wanted to stay in one park while she had an ADR in another. I passed this gem along to her.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm taking my nephew to the airport today and his flight to Orlando has already been delayed. Hopefully it doesn't continue

Yeah, my nephew never would have made anything he had planned the first night either. After many delays and be rerouted thru Chicago after being told there were no connections left he could make in Baltimore, nephew arrived almost 5 hours late. Luckily his parents were down there with a rental car, so I told him to ask nicely and his dad drove to the airport at around 1 am to pick him up. Ick.

 

[clarklink]

We drive the 1,000 miles to WDW, but even then don't have reservations until two days after arrival. The Princess Day Trifecta and Date Night reservations are even later in the week. I used to fly 20 days a month on business, haven't flown since before 9/11, and don't miss it.