What's the rule for cancelling an ADR?

[LilTinks]

I'm getting ready to call in all of my TS ADRs tomorrow AM (at 7 AM Eastern time per the atomic clock website as recommended by The Unofficial Guide haha). Can you cancel a dinner reservation the day of without a penalty, or does it have to be 24-48 hours in advance? Also, what happens if you're running an hour late on the day of an ADR? Do they automatically charge your credit card, or will they let you in (after the on-time adr's are seated, of course)?

 

[Aimeedyan]

There are only penalites on the handful of places that require a credit card deposit in case you don't show. I believe you can cancel on those within 48 hours.

The vast majority of restaurants do not have any penalty for not showing up. Though it's nice to cancel so someone else can snag the table, you don't have to.

 

[ReggieB]

As Aimeedyan said there are a few places that will charge if you don't give notice. The dinner shows require a 48 hour notice (this is what I was told when I booked the Poly Luau thing recently) The Princess breakfasts also need a credit card hold, and want 48hrs notice of cancellation (again what I was told recently in regards to Akershus) When I last went to the Contemporary there was a $10 deposit, I can't remember the time frame for cancelling for that though. Also Victoria and Albert has a $25 (I think) deposit, looking at my ADR notes, I have a 24 hour cancellation policy for that. It seems to be the signature restaurants that have some sort of policy for cancellation. Though I do have an upcoming ADR at Narcoossee's, but don't remember them needing a deposit.

I really don't know how accommodating they are if you are an hour late. We've been 10 mins late, and that has been fine. We were driving down one year, and we were late, and were just not going to make our Yachtsman ADR, by about an hour. I did call an hour before, so as someone else could have our spot. I really didn't expect them to seat us an hour late. It was a nightmare that trip for unplanned dinning, it was so busy and this was November (Jersey week, Soap weekend, F&W all collided)

 

[bradk]

it's not so much as the signature restaurants as the very high in demand restaurants. California Grill is the only signature one actually (unless you want to consider V&A signature, but i think it's technically not). CG and Princess Storybook require a credit card to secure them and incur a fee ($10 per person) for no-shows.

CRT is handled exactly like a dinner show. they require payment in full at time of booking unless you're on the DDP, in which case a card is taken but not charged. no-shows will be charged in full.

any ADR that does not take a credit card as security has no penalty for noshows

 

[slug]

I believe the charge at the CG is $20 per person for no-shows. 24 hour notice is required to cancel.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

The Fantasmic packages also have a 10 dollar charge for no shows.