What is the policy on double booked ADRs?

[DisDreaminMom]

Oh, I forgot about Opentable.com. We used that with a restaurant in Ocala FL and I just loved it. It is really a nice service and I totally forgot about it since we moved back to KY. But it would make a great model for WDW. About a 72 HR cancellation policy, I think the policy should be based on a CC reserve with say, a four hour window, so that it still leaves time for walk-ups and calls from guests in the park. If the charge was maybe $5/person, then there would still be people willing to "eat" the charge if they are the kind of folks who like ultimate flexibility. The rest of us penny pinchers will make sure to plan our time but not be maxed out financially if we have a kid that poops out and has to get back to the hotel. Too bad we can't get on a Disney advisory board somewhere and fix all the "World's" problems!

 

[DisDreaminMom]

Oh, and Ghostlady, we had this same problem with my mother after my father passed away, and I got tired of her calling me all the time asking me to put things on my CC and sending me a check. So I went to the drug store (or anywhere they have gift cards) and got her a preloaded Visa that acts just like a CC. These are great for people who buy stuff on the internet, too if you are concerned about CC theft. So the "we don't have a CC" argument doesn't hold too much water these days. If you are going to WDW, just put as much $ as your ressies would be charged max (under my plan of $5/person/meal for instance) and if you keep all your ADR's or cancel in the correct time, then you still have a Visa all paid for.

 

[Pumbaa_]

The nice thing about internet boards is you get to share your perspective with so many different people. The bad thing is that you share your perspective with so many different people.

Feel free to share your thoughts, but be kind to each other.

Things happen. On our last trip, I missed our Kona breakfast. Didn't call either. Why? Closed MNSSHP and didn't wake up the next morning til 10am. One of us is almost always up by 8. Didn't plan it, but things happen.

We also cancelled a couple dinner ressies. One the day of. Wasn't hungry and didn't feel like going to an ADR when we were not hungry. Stuff happens. Disney knows stuff happens and plans accordingly.

If Disney was ever to put a mandatory credit guarantee on every location I would stop making reservations and would venture offsite. I am on vacation, and want to go with the flow sometimes and not be held to a reservation i made 180 days ago

 

[CathrynRose]

Trust me, If I had known 3 days in advance that 3 of my kids would be vomiting during our last vacation, I would have rescheduled it for another time. If there is a way to predit these things though, I would LOVE to hear it.



Not even sure that would be the best idea either because some do not have CC's. My grandmother for example will not have a CC. She believes that if you don't have cash for something, you shouldn't be buying it. Should she be excluded from ever eating a TS meal because after living through the depression, she believes that this is the only responsible way to spend?

Youre getting much too deep.

Im talking about people (and they are out there) that double, triple, quadruple book ADR's.

Im not talking about sick kids, and missing an ADR (Ive had that happen) or not allowing someone without a CC to reserve a table.

Like I said - I think it stinks so many of us have to literally plan every day of our trip 180 days before hand. I wish there was a simple solution.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I might be an exception here but I wasn't able to double book on a couple different occassions, not that I was going to but they were cancelled on me without giving me any choice. Both time were the same situation - making a ressie because I couldn't get in where I really wanted to go. The first time I got the ressie I wanted, I was told it was made and that the one I had for that day was cancelled. The second time, after calling for a few days in a row, a ressie opened up. I was so happy I grabbed it and with the person not saying anything to me about my previous booking, I totally forgot about telling them I had another ressie for that day and for them to cancel it. I called back a couple days later feeling guilty and they'd told me it had already been cancelled. I was relieved because I didn't want to keep someone else from going there but I was surprised that it had been done without me being aware of it.

 

[Willow25]

I do not think that the lack of availability has much to do with double booking. The reality is there is just not enough restaurant space for all the guests at Disney. I always call at 180 days out and still have a hard time getting everything I want.

The reality is Disney Dining is extremely popular and for the most part the restaurants are full. Why then would Disney worry about double bookers?? They won't and they won't ask for cc or demand 72 hour cancellations.

 

[DisDreaminMom]

JerseyGirl is now the winner of the "firsthand knowledge" award. Thanks for posting! I think what's important is that we now know that we honestly run the risk of being canceled by Disney if we double book. It might not happen every time, but it CAN happen. And I am willing to be freaked out by her story and remember to always make sure to keep my ADR's very well organized (yeah, they were already, but you know what I mean!). And thanks to the Moderator for her comments, though I agree this isn't about the random "oops we slept in" or "my kid zonked out on the bus ride home" cancellation. I think the restaurants overbook a percentage of tables for this reason, and it doesn't bother me because I have kids and know that these things happen. I'm sure they happen much less at the Signature Dining places, where there are more adults eating.

 

[Condorman]

For those who say Disney is arbitrarily canceling their reservations, can you confirm whether it was the first one you made, the second one to replace the first one, or both? I can't imagine they would cancel both reservations, but rather the first one, since you obviously called and made the second one more recently it only stands to reason this is the one you really want. But it sounds like (at least some posters make it sound like) Disney is going ahead and canceling all the reservations for that specific time, and that worries me because there is very little logic to it.

 

[GhostLady]

Youre getting much too deep.

Im talking about people (and they are out there) that double, triple, quadruple book ADR's.

Im not talking about sick kids, and missing an ADR (Ive had that happen) or not allowing someone without a CC to reserve a table.

Like I said - I think it stinks so many of us have to literally plan every day of our trip 180 days before hand. I wish there was a simple solution.

Yes, I realize what you were talking about and I do wish something could be done to prevent double bookings. My comments were to those who were offering the CC hold with a 72 Hour cancellation policy as a solution to the problem. I was simply stating that I think that particular idea would do more to punish those who might have a legit reason to cancel at the last minute than it would to stop the double bookings. I just think there has to be another way.
A previous poster stated that they had an ADR canceled after they booked the second one and forgot to cancel the 1st. Why can't this be the policy. I'm assuming that the dining Cm's are able to see the original ressies when they book another one so can't they just ask the caller which one they want to keep and cancel the other? Sure this wouldn't help with those that book with another name and phone number but it might stop some of the double bookings, especially those that just forget about the 1st ressie.

 

[GhostLady]

Oh, and Ghostlady, we had this same problem with my mother after my father passed away, and I got tired of her calling me all the time asking me to put things on my CC and sending me a check. So I went to the drug store (or anywhere they have gift cards) and got her a preloaded Visa that acts just like a CC. These are great for people who buy stuff on the internet, too if you are concerned about CC theft. So the "we don't have a CC" argument doesn't hold too much water these days. If you are going to WDW, just put as much $ as your ressies would be charged max (under my plan of $5/person/meal for instance) and if you keep all your ADR's or cancel in the correct time, then you still have a Visa all paid for.

I personally wouldn't mind just a CC hold on all ressies. It's the 72 hour part that I wouldn't like. I know most ppl have cc's and those who don't have access to one. The reason I added the part about those who do not have a CC is because I think there are some who would have a problem with it. My grandmother will not use any type of CC, even the preloaded kind. It's just something she feels very strongly about. She has never been to WDW and never will so it really doesn't matter. I was just using her as an example because I'm sure there are others out there who feel like she does. I'm sure if Disney ever did put a CC hold policy in place, those ppl would find a way if they wanted a TS meal.
I would be happy to give my CC number ( I did for HDDR) as long as I didn't have to cancel 3 days in advance. I just think that's to far in advance.

 

[onelilspark]

Honestly, I'd have no problem giving Disney my CC for a reservation. The Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas does this. I think their policy is that you must cancel by 4(?) that day (for dinner obviously) or you will be charged $50/pp...or something along that idea at least if not those exact numbers.

Also, it's not hard to double book. Since I've already admitted to being selfish and have no problem being called so (though I'll reiterate that I do cancel what I don't use because I'm not totally evil.) All you have to do is put one is one person's name and the other in someone else's. This works because of cell phones, everyone has a different phone number now.

 

[Condorman]

Also, it's not hard to double book. Since I've already admitted to being selfish and have no problem being called so (though I'll reiterate that I do cancel what I don't use because I'm not totally evil.) All you have to do is put one is one person's name and the other in someone else's. This works because of cell phones, everyone has a different phone number now.

That's why they need to have a 72-hour cxl policy. If it's a same day policy, it would not deter anyone from double-booking. You have to force people to make a decision well in advance. Even 24 hours would be fine, so long as it was enforced.

 

[GhostLady]

I used to think this way, but these examples are still invalid. What would you say to an airline if you couldn't make the flight? Sure, they'd let you reschedule, but it would cost you.

I haven't flown for many years (and don't plan to) so I don't know much about the airline policies other than what I have read here on the DIS but I think the difference (IMO) would be the reason behind the policy.

I'm sure the reason for the airlines policy is money or the loss of it. I'm sure if they allowed anyone to cancel or change their flight at anytime for any reason, they would have trouble filling some of those seats at the last minute and lose money.

I doubt Disney is losing money due to last minute cancellations or those who just don't show up. I have read many posts here about ppl being turned away from restaurants because they weren't accepting walk-ups. Right now they are obviously able to fill the open tables so they are not losing money. If we had been discussing a policy change because of Disney losing money, it would be different. I know Disney is in the business to make money so I would understand if they changed their policy for financial reasons but in this case, we were discussing a change in policy to prevent double bookings and helping others to have an easier time getting ADR's.

In this case, I think having a cc hold with a 72 hour policy would not help solve the double booking problem but would instead punish those who have a legit reason to cancel. If this policy were to be put in place, what would keep the "double bookers" from still making 2 or 3 ressies and canceling them 72 hours before? They would still be keeping others from getting the ADR's until 72 hours before. It might keep some from double booking but I still think a lot of ppl would do it knowing they can still cancel 3 days before.

I think a better solution would be something to keep ppl from ever double booking in the first place. If the dining CM's would ask each person trying to double book to cancel one of them at the time of the call it would help some.
I know some ppl book using different names and phone numbers. Why can't they do it like the hotel ressies? Ask for the name of each member of the dining party so they can make sure none of those names have another ressie for that day and time? They could also require that the main person on the ressie be present for the meal (just like the hotel) so ppl couldn't book under the name of another person who isn't going. I know that would take more time on the phone but it might be worth it. Most familes are probably going to be making the ADR's for the same people so they would only need to ask once unless a party planned to split up for certain meals. In that case they would still have the names and would just need to ask which ones for which meal. For those who split up they could just put one ressie under the name of one of the ppl attending that meal and the other under the name of someone attending that one. I'm sure there is a way to have the computer system check the names for other bookings. This would be very easy with an online booking because we could each enter all of the names ourselves and the computer could check for other bookings and prevent anyone from entering the name of someone with another ADR for that day and time.

I'm sure there are many reasons why this idea wouldn't work and I am fully expecting to hear them but right now this is the best plan that I can think of to prevent double bookings without punishing those of us who might have to cancel at the last minute for other reasons. I'm sure there are other things that might work as well but I doubt Disney will do any of them as long as they are not losing any money.

 

[GhostLady]

Youre getting much too deep.

Im talking about people (and they are out there) that double, triple, quadruple book ADR's.

Im not talking about sick kids, and missing an ADR (Ive had that happen) or not allowing someone without a CC to reserve a table.

Like I said - I think it stinks so many of us have to literally plan every day of our trip 180 days before hand. I wish there was a simple solution.

I just realized that when I responded to this post the 1st time (post 29), I had confused you with another poster. Sorry. Just ignore that one.

The comments that I made to you in my 1st reply were based on what you said about knowing 3 days in advance where I would be. As I said, I know where I hope to be but that doesn't always mean that I will be able to be there and I gave examples of reasons why I might not make an ADR. Not sure how that is "too deep".
Maybe you weren't talking about missing an ADR because of sick kids but I gave that example because if Disney ever did put a policy like this in place, I'm sure it wouldn't just apply to those who miss an ADR due to a double booking. If they make everyone book with a CC and have a 72 hour cancellation policy they would have to make it for everyone regardless of the reason for canceling. Those who are going to double book would still do so. They would just make sure to cancel one of them 72 hours before and not be charged. Those of us who cancel because of sick kids, late flights etc.. would be the ones paying the charges.

As for your last sentence.... I agree 110%. I too hate planning everything so early. I wish something could be done to prevent double bookings. I would be thrilled. Maybe then I could get the ressie that I have been calling everyday for weeks to get. I just don't think the 72 hour thing is the answer.

 

[Lesley]

I have had a legitimate (I'll get to that in a sec...) double booked reservation cancelled on me, but not all my ADR's. When my youngest was a baby we booked the kids and my parents at Chef Mickey's while my dh and I had a "date" at the Cali Grill. I wanted to be nearby in case she needed to nurse, and she had really never been away from me before. Dh and I checked in and were seated at CG when my parents called to tell me the people at Chef Mickey's couldn't find their ressie. I gave them the confirmation # and the host told them it had be cancelled.....I spoke to the host and they checked my family in as if there hadn't been a problem, but I was told it was likely automatically cancelled because we were booked two places at once. But technically, as a party of 7, we were not- we had a party of 5 booked at CM's and 2 booked at CG. The ressie got cancelled but they did the right thing and pretended it hadn't when I made it clear that *I* hadn't cancelled and fully expected to use both reservations.

In the future I would book those ressies separately and use my parent's name and phone # to avoid confusion.

I really wouldn't want a cc hold on all ressies- there have been times when someone got sick or a cranky toddler just fell asleep for a nap at the resort at an odd time and we couldn't make it last minute. I do have to say when we had an illness and had to change our Hoop de Doo ressies they were quite accomodating- I was discouraged from doing so because I had prime seats, but when I told them that two of our party were unconscious with the flu and coming just wasn't an option they gave us some really good seats for later in the week, and I wasn't charged a penalty. If cc holds were the case for all ressies I don't think they'd be able to be nearly as accomodating in situations of true need.

I wouldn't have a problem with asking for the names of those in the party- sounds reasonable. If they did that, they probably wouldn't have cancelled our Chef Mickey's reservation because it was for different people!

 

[DisDreaminMom]

I do wonder how the online ADR system will work. Because if it's set up like the rest of Disney's system, you have to log on and have an account, password, etc. It would very time consuming to make up several accounts and book ADR's under each of them. I guess some people would, but not many. So let's hope that's the plan. Something else we forget is the folks who stay off-site. Yes, I agree fully with the idea that it would best work to give the names of the party members for the ressie if you legitimately double book (the poster who wanted a date night but her kids close by) and are a WDW Resort guest. But a percentage of ADR's are done by non-Resort guests and that's why Disney can't go further than what they have currently. It looks to me like they "purge" the system randomly to open up more tables. To all who have been canceled- was it Peak or Value season?

 

[tiggertabi]

What they really need to do is link it to the room reservation. Then it wouldn't be hard to make sure that the room, at least, wasn't double booking.

I will say, it does make me a little irked when I see people cancelling 3 or 4 ADRs for the same morning on the cancel board!

 

[Biggreen19]

tiggertabi is correct - Disney could easily solve the double booking issues that occur at the 180 day mark by associating all of your ADR's to your room reservation - force a 3 hour buffer between ARD's on the same day (lunch at 2:00 PM and Dinner at 5:00PM as an example), or just allow one ADR per Breakfast - lunch - dinner slot.

 

[mechteach]

I like the room reservation idea, but there are a couple of problems with that:

1) If you switch resorts, and don't book the new reservation using the same agent as the one you canceled, you might lose all of your ADRs.

2) Not everyone stays on property, so someone could easily just say their group is staying in another hotel, or a rental, or anything, and still book multiple reservations.

 

[tortoni]

I had a double booking automatically cancelled in August 07. I was travelling with extended family and I made the ADRs for everyone, even when we did not eat together. One evening, my sister and her family were scheduled to eat at Spoodles and my other sister and my family were scheduled at Rose and Crown. The Rose and Crown reservation, which was earlier, had been cancelled and we were a hungry group of 7. Fortunately, they found space for us, but we concluded that perhaps the booking had been cancelled because my other sister's party of 5 was later scheduled at Spoodles with my name and number. Needless to say, I've given up being the family planner!