What Do You Think of This ADR Rumor?

[WDWKOOK]

I saw this on www.mousemisers.com:

Starting on October 27, 2009, guests will be able to book dining reservations up until April 25, 2010.

Rumor is that at the time of the change, all dining reservations will require a credit card guarantee. No official announcement has been made, I will update this post if/when that change is announced.

 

[engle]

Well, it would keep people from making ADR's that they aren't going to keep....that's for sure.

 

[clutter]

We saw a lot of empty tables (but not at Le Cellier) while there last week. I think a lot of people double book and don't show. Because before we left I tried to change a few reservations and couldn't get anything anywhere, even at the less popular restaurants like Turf Club. Every restaurant we went to, whether we were a party of 2 or 6, was able to seat us early. Up to an hour early at one point. Sadly, I think it's a necessary idea.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Effective October 27th, the dining window will move to 180 days. That is official.

Requiring credit cards for every single adr? rumor - moving this to the rumor board

 

[disney_princess_85]

I think it's a good idea, especially now online dining has launched. I made all my ADRs by phone, however I made an additional one via online dining last night. It was almost too easy to do, which really concerns me- I bet there are thousands of unwanted ADRs floating about that people made on a whim, without thinking of others who are desperately trying to find availability.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I think a Credit Card guarantee should be required and penalties assessed for ALL NO SHOWS or cancellations not made within 24 hours (48 would be preferred).

 

[CanadaMomto5]

I hope this is true! Or some limiting software in the system that absolutely prevents double bookings.

I am caught in this October 27 fiasco. My biggest fear is the system crashing. My second is not getting anything because so many have double bookings. It is inconsiderate and unfair. However that doesn't stop people, so something more "official" needs to be done!

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I think a Credit Card guarantee should be required and penalties assessed for ALL NO SHOWS or cancellations not made within 24 hours (48 would be preferred).

I agree! I just wonder if there is anyone out there who doesn't have a credit card though. I can't fathom it, but you never know.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Our only credit card is our debit card tied to our checking account. For something like meal reservations I would probably use it, but when we set up our room charging we always bring travelers checks and put so much on account and then add as needed.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

I feel sorry for anyone who has to make their ADRs on that date. I think the system will be tested with an extra 90 days worth of people trying to make reservations. OH CRAP...thats us

 

[Jessfrogger88]

I think a Credit Card guarantee should be required and penalties assessed for ALL NO SHOWS

I agree!

or cancellations not made within 24 hours (48 would be preferred).

Ok you lost me here... Things happen within 24/48 hours that are valid reasons why you might need to cancel on dinner... If god forbid Grandma dies Tuesday Night and you have cut your vacation short I don't think you should get charged 20$ per person for cancelling your Wednesday lunch.

What if little Jimmy gets explosive dirrarhea at Animal Kingdom... should mom and dad take Jimmy out to dinner and just hope he doesn't get sick to avoid 60$ in fees?


I would say a 2 hours prior to time to cancel is generous and realistic.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Things happen within 24/48 hours that are valid reasons why you might need to cancel on dinner... If god forbid Grandma dies Tuesday Night and you have cut your vacation short I don't think you should get charged 20$ per person for cancelling your Wednesday lunch.

What if little Jimmy gets explosive dirrarhea at Animal Kingdom... should mom and dad take Jimmy out to dinner and just hope he doesn't get sick to avoid 60$ in fees?


I would say a 2 hours prior to time to cancel is generous and realistic.

I don't think that requirement has stopped too many people from booking CA Grill and V&A, Hoop-De-Doo, SOA, etc... They have required a credit card hold and 24 hour cancelation for sometime.

If the credit card hold requirement for all TSs does get implemented, do you think this will increase the popularity of the QSs?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Ok you lost me here... Things happen within 24/48 hours that are valid reasons why you might need to cancel on dinner... If god forbid Grandma dies Tuesday Night and you have cut your vacation short I don't think you should get charged 20$ per person for cancelling your Wednesday lunch.

What if little Jimmy gets explosive dirrarhea at Animal Kingdom... should mom and dad take Jimmy out to dinner and just hope he doesn't get sick to avoid 60$ in fees?


I would say a 2 hours prior to time to cancel is generous and realistic.

Many restaurants in NYC and other locations have cancellation policies. What about grandma dying right before you board the plane (or the day before), they still charge a cancellation. Or what about a hotel room if you don't cancel by X period (varies based on hotel).

Two hours is not generous (nor realistic) as they would be unlikely to be able to refill the seat at that point, 24 hours would be much more reasonable, with 48 even being more preferable to being able to refill a seat.

 

[DC7800]

Two hours is not generous (nor realistic) as they would be unlikely to be able to refill the seat at that point, 24 hours would be much more reasonable, with 48 even being more preferable to being able to refill a seat.

Two hours is more than enough time so long as there is sufficient "walk-up" business. If you are turning away most walk-up business - which applies to many but not nearly all WDW restaurants - you can fill these tables with even a 5-minute notice the reserved party isn't coming. In most other cases a 12-hour cancellation period (essentially a 'morning of' the reservation policy) seems reasonable. You have all day to fill the empty slots with walk-ups or people reserving the same day. Again, while there may be exceptions, in most cases that's adequate. Don't underestimate the number of people who make last-minute reservations, or who don't make them at all but still want to dine.

Indeed, such a policy could solve some related problems. People have been dissauded from attempting same-day reservations because little or nothing remains available at that point. A short ("morning of") cancellation period will create vacancies for guests preferring to make same-day reservations, who are too often shut-out presently (during free-dining promotions being the most extreme example).

 

[KYMickey]

Two hours is more than enough time so long as there is sufficient "walk-up" business. If you are turning away most walk-up business - which applies to many but not nearly all WDW restaurants - you can fill these tables with even a 5-minute notice the reserved party isn't coming. In most other cases a 12-hour cancellation period (essentially a 'morning of' the reservation policy) seems reasonable. You have all day to fill the empty slots with walk-ups or people reserving the same day. Again, while there may be exceptions, in most cases that's adequate. Don't underestimate the number of people who make last-minute reservations, or who don't make them at all but still want to dine.

Indeed, such a policy could solve some related problems. People have been dissauded from attempting same-day reservations because little or nothing remains available at that point. A short ("morning of") cancellation period will create vacancies for guests preferring to make same-day reservations, who are too often shut-out presently (during free-dining promotions being the most extreme example).

It needs to be at least 24 hours to allow for people who actually plan ahead to make a reservation for a restaurant they really wanted but were unable to get it because of all the others who wanted it. The free-dining plan has really filled the restaurants beyond belief most times. If they could come up with a solid way to prevent people from making duplicate ADR's reservations cancellations wouldn't be such a problem. Also, how do you verify somebody calling and saying a child is sick or grandma died? Require a doctor's note? If you don't find that there would be a lot of sick children and dead grandmothers with people canceling duplicate reservations! 24 hours is plenty short enough, probably too short.

 

[mom3sonstt]

But how would they prevent duplications? Last trip there were 6 of us and we didn't always eat together. How would they know whether the 2 ressies I have for 3 are for two sets of 3 or just 2 different choices that we will pick between later? Or if they tried to tie it to the number of people in your room - well, the trip before we met some friends for meals that weren't in our room. And guests staying off site - they would have no idea how many are "supposed" to be in their party.

I personally don't like the idea of having to put a credit card down to make a ressie, but of the suggestions made so far I think I would prefer that to them trying to guess why I am making the ressies that I'm making.

I do think a couple hours is plenty of time to cancel a ressie. A lot of guests do not plan 3 months in advance where they want to eat and I hate that it has come to that - I don't know how full they fill the restaurants when making ADRs but I wish they would leave a certain percentage open for day-of guests. You still may not get in if it's a popular place and others get there first, but at least you may still have a chance - and there could be a hint of spontaneity left in your trip.

 

[sarahk0204]

Ok, we didn't have dead grandmas or explosive diarrhea, but we did cancel an ADR last trip. We had an ADR at the Lilo & Stitch breakfast for 9:30 AM on our last day. We ended up meeting up with some friends the night before and doing evening EMH at MK. When we got back to the room at 1:00 AM, we decided to cancel Lilo & Stitch and try to get something for lunch. I called at 7:00 AM to change the ADR, was on hold for 20-30 minutes, and changed the ADR to lunch at Restaurant Marrakesh. We would have barely made the 2 hour window, and would not have made the 24-48 hour notice described.

My point is that life happens, and we shouldn't be punished harshly for it.

 

[chirurgeon]

I like the idea of a credit card hold. I'm not sure about the time frame. I had an ADR for lunch, but started to not feel well. On my way out of the park I tried to stop at Guest Services to cancel the ADR, but there was a long line and I needed to get back to the hotel. Once there I tried to call Dining, but was put on hold for so long, I just couldn't stay on the phone. A nice long sleep and I was ok, but I know if there had been a penalty I might have tried the line and see if they would waive the penalty.

Kim

 

[KYMickey]

Ok, we didn't have dead grandmas or explosive diarrhea, but we did cancel an ADR last trip. We had an ADR at the Lilo & Stitch breakfast for 9:30 AM on our last day. We ended up meeting up with some friends the night before and doing evening EMH at MK. When we got back to the room at 1:00 AM, we decided to cancel Lilo & Stitch and try to get something for lunch. I called at 7:00 AM to change the ADR, was on hold for 20-30 minutes, and changed the ADR to lunch at Restaurant Marrakesh. We would have barely made the 2 hour window, and would not have made the 24-48 hour notice described.

My point is that life happens, and we shouldn't be punished harshly for it.

Why shouldn't you be punished for it? There was no legitimate reason you didnt keep the ADR. If you had canceled it earlier someone else may have been able to pick it up instead of sleeping in, that's not normally the kind of breakfast people will try to walk up to. If you were going to be penalized for not going you probably would have gone, which is what you intended to do originally. That's the reason for charging a penalty, to make people fulfill their obligation. You would have been upset if you got there and they didn't have a place for you but yet you think it's OK for them they have a place saved for you and you not use it?

 

[racefanof88]

I don't know that this idea would go over well because there are a lot of people who stay off property and it wouldn't be tied to a room ressie and what about people who do not have a CC? Does Disney really want to run off all the extra business they would be getting from people staying off property? What about the people who live in Orlando and have APs and just go over to a restaurant for dinner? There are so many off site restaurants in the Orlando area that can compete with Disney it will cause a backlash that they cannot afford. I don't agree with people making ADRs that they can't keep or don't intend to keep, but I don't agree with them penalizing people who have legitimate reasons for canceling ADRs either.