What do you do to cancel day of?

[Adora]

So we are going in August, I'm booking us a table service each park day because we are gonna need to get out of the 2pm heat and into some AC even if it's just for a small eats.
So here's the question, if we feel like we did really well in the morning we might think we have the time to return to our resort and get a siesta and clean up in, instead of eating.
How does one cancel? I feel like I remember something about you having to cancel 24 hours before or you get dinged with a cancellation fee. How much is the fee? Is there a way not to?
I know for MK day and probably Epcot we will be staying at the park, but I feel like AK or HS might be open for this. Thanks!

 

[georgina]

So we are going in August, I'm booking us a table service each park day because we are gonna need to get out of the 2pm heat and into some AC even if it's just for a small eats.
So here's the question, if we feel like we did really well in the morning we might think we have the time to return to our resort and get a siesta and clean up in, instead of eating.
How does one cancel? I feel like I remember something about you having to cancel 24 hours before or you get dinged with a cancellation fee. How much is the fee? Is there a way not to?
I know for MK day and probably Epcot we will be staying at the park, but I feel like AK or HS might be open for this. Thanks!

I haven't done it, but I googled it for you. Got this -

However, there is a way around having to call, and it ensures you will not be charged a fee! When looking at your dining reservation on your My Disney Experience app that you want to cancel, click “Modify”. Then, select any other date and time available in the future. Once you swap to a new date, you can go ahead and cancel, as you are no longer in the 24-hour period.

 

[SteveMouse]

If you do not show, you may be charged $10 per person if you do not cancel your reservation for most restaurants. There is no cancellation fee if only part of the original party attends.

 

[Adora]

However, there is a way around having to call, and it ensures you will not be charged a fee! When looking at your dining reservation on your My Disney Experience app that you want to cancel, click “Modify”. Then, select any other date and time available in the future. Once you swap to a new date, you can go ahead and cancel, as you are no longer in the 24-hour period.

Maybe someone who has done it can tell me what do you do if there is no future times available. I assume some places you have to book 60+ days out.

 

[Alice in Okie-land]

I did this with a MK brunch reservation the morning of our last day in the parks: modified the dining reservation to the next available date (was many, many days out) then the next day I cancelled that new later reservation. YMMV
I suppose they could change the algorithm rules at any time and close this loophole.

FWIW I greatly regretted the decision and I’m still sad I couldn’t talk my grumpy teenager into a final meal at Skipper Canteen

 

[Marthasor]

You can try modifying the reservation to a future date and then canceling it. The issue is with harder to get reservations - it will be very hard to modify a Space 220 or Sci-Fi reservation, for instance, as there may be none available to modify to. If you simply don't show up for a reservation, you will be charged $10 per person. Alternatively, if you are really unsure whether you will keep the reservation or not, I would seriously consider just doing QS meals in the parks so you have more flexibility.

 

[zillayen]

Maybe someone who has done it can tell me what do you do if there is no future times available. I assume some places you have to book 60+ days out.

We had to cancel a reservation “same day.” We decided to cancel our Oga’s reservation for the next day after closing out MK at 11 pm. By the time we got back to the hotel it was after midnight. I didn’t notice the time while we were on the bus, but was thinking as long as I canceled that night it would be ok - my bad, app would not let me cancel. It was for Oga’s so I couldn’t modify it. I left a message on the chat in the app that night just after midnight so they had a record that I had tried to cancel. I got back on chat first thing in the morning and politely explained that I had tried to cancel but had missed that it was after midnight and was there anything they could do to help me cancel without paying the $10/pp. The agent helped me out which I very much appreciated, probably because it would be rebooked by someone else immediately.

So, the agent has the ability to cancel for you and waive the fee, but idk if they were nicer because mine was an honest mistake. I wouldn’t count on them just letting you cancel same day for any reason - otherwise what’s the point of the fee in the first place? But if something comes up, asking nicely can work.

 

[FCDub]

They will waive the fee is there’s a legitimate explanation. Booking restaurants just because and then deciding to suddenly cancel because you changed your mind doesn’t fall under that category for me. YMMV.

 

[soniam]

I would talk to the host at the restaurant and explain why you can't/don't want to go. It's impossible to get someone on the phone to cancel.

 

[DJFan88]

There are a lot of great quick service locations as someone above stated. Maybe look ahead at those menus for a couple of the days to have a plan in mind and you can minimize adrs. This is especially true at Epcot where there are many great quick serve options

 

[Debbie Jean]

As others indicate, move the ressie forward and then cancel. The only times it becomes problematic is if the restaurant is typically fully booked, like Space 220. In that instance you would have to call though my understanding is that with a valid reason, fees are waived.

Been doing this for years.

 

[jsbowl16]

We do this all the time. Move it out as people suggested. If it is popular enough to not have a res available, call to cancel it and they usually will not charge because as soon as they cancel it for you, someone else will grab it. Be nice when you call and they understand that places like Ogas will only be available for 15 minutes or so and someone else will be very happy to take it. When you call, choose the option that you are at WDW and we have never had an issue getting a CM on the phone.