Walk ins, ADR's and Le Cellier

[Ninja Mom]

I've just found out that WDW had changed some of the ADR rules and is fining you if you don't cancel the reservation in a timely manner. Now we don't know if we should make any at the places that fine you if you make a ressie and don't show. We always make our ADR's, don't get me wrong, but the last trip our plane was delayed and we had to miss a meal since we could not get there in time. It would irk me if we were in this situation again and Disney charged us for not making it to the meal.

SO.. What have been people's experiences with missing those kind of ADR's where a fine is imposed and what has been Disney's response now that the new rules are in place. I'm interested in people's experiences coping with the whole new ADR situation.

Also has anyone successfully been able to walk into the high demand places now that these new rules are in effect? I'm interested to see if it has had an impact on the number of people using the restaurants.

Thanks for the help.

 

[TDC Nala]

I would suggest not booking a restaurant with a credit card hold on an arrival day unless you are scheduled to arrive a lot earlier than the time for the meal. Because if you don't show up, you will be charged. You could try calling as soon as you know you aren't going to make the reservation and trying to get the fee waived, but it's going to be up to whoever you talk to whether they will waive it or not.

 

[Ninja Mom]

Sorry I posted this in the wrong spot. I never realized there were other threads listed in the top part.

Thank you for your reply! : ) I was thinking that we shouldn't book on day 1 as well but we are planning on going in December and I don't know yet if this will be a short trip or something a little longer. We really have our heart set on Le Cellier and I know that I will probably have to reserve that in advance. If it's a quickie trip our window for ADR will be a little tight. I suppose I was hoping that walk ups would become more available but I think we are just going to have to bite the bullet and make plans and hope for the best.

I was interested to hear if other people were in the same quandary I was when trying to plan ADR's with these new dining rules. I searched the other forum and didn't see info relative to my query. I'll search this one now and see what I can find.
Thanks!

 

[TeenaS]

Just this week (supposedly the most crowded week of the year), my daughter and I walked into 50's Prime Town on Wednesday at 6:45 PM and were seated in 25 minutes and then on Thursday we walked into Captain Jack's at 1:45 for lunch and was immediately seated. And the first parking lot (nearest Captain Jack's) at Downtown Disney had a "full sign" so Downtown Disney was definitely very very crowded.

We were amazed at 50's Prime Time ... it made our quick spur of the moment trip to Hollywood Studios even better! (Love the Fried Chicken.)

 

[ChristineOH]

Just this week (supposedly the most crowded week of the year), my daughter and I walked into 50's Prime Town on Wednesday at 6:45 PM and were seated in 25 minutes and then on Thursday we walked into Captain Jack's at 1:45 for lunch and was immediately seated. And the first parking lot (nearest Captain Jack's) at Downtown Disney had a "full sign" so Downtown Disney was definitely very very crowded.

We were amazed at 50's Prime Time ... it made our quick spur of the moment trip to Hollywood Studios even better! (Love the Fried Chicken.)

We waited about 20-25 minutes at Prime Time WITH ADR, so you really were lucky Teena! Yay!