When did disney start asking for a visa card for dining reservations

[cottontail]

Hi:

When did disney ask for a credit card to secure an advanced reservation.

I was at disneyworld two years ago, and made reservations for Ohana's and never had to give a visa card to secure the reservation. Have all the restaurants gone this way for advance dining reservations?

Debbie.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I think it was in November. It's not all restaurants. Just certain ones.

There's a sticky at the top of the board with the list of restaurants. Here's a link to it.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2836290

 

[catne]

it's a fairly recent change, and no, they don't require the Visa card hold on all reservations. Mainly it's the popular character meals, as well as buffets and family-style all you care to eat places. The Visa card is used to bill you $10 per person if you're a no-show. You have to cancel these reservations at least 24 hours in advance to avoid the $10 per person charge. Apparently this policy was put into place because Disney had so many empty tables from people double/triple booking restaurants and not bothering to cancel the places they didn't go to. Requiring a credit-card hold, and the tight cancellation policy, is forcing people to either show up, or pay for it.

On our two recent visits, what we noticed is more empty tables at popular restaurants, and more same-day/walk-up availability. Which was nice, because previous visits, when we had ADRs, we'd hear people being turned away at the podium (sorry, we're booked solid tonight) and then we'd see many empty tables in the restaurant the whole time we were there. Looked like a lot of no-shows and tables being held/people turned away when they could have sat people if they'd known the reservations weren't valid.

 

[cottontail]

Thanks for all this information. Now I feel stuck though. I signed up for and paid the free diningplan for the end of sept 2012 . (I did this august 2011)

one room for my hubby and I and the other for my daughter who is a chronic migraine sufferer and usually bedridden by the afternoon if she wakes up with no migraine. She is currently going to her second pain clinic. She also suffers from high functioning autism.

I thought if she can't get to a meal (which is alot) we will not really be out of money because the diningplan is free.

I think I will give guest services a call, I have a girl who works with us because of my daughters chronic condition. I don't want to pay ten dollars everytime she cannot make a meal. How does anyone know the day before if they are going to become ill the next day.

I do book our tableservices at lunchtime not the evenings because of my daughters condition. But there have been occasions that we spend an hour in a park and have to leave because of her illness.

I think if a room only code comes out I may need to change my whole reservation, as this will put more stress on her life and mine worrying if she is going to be sick or not.

Debbie.

 

[mom2rtk]

On our two recent visits, what we noticed is more empty tables at popular restaurants, and more same-day/walk-up availability. Which was nice, because previous visits, when we had ADRs, we'd hear people being turned away at the podium (sorry, we're booked solid tonight) and then we'd see many empty tables in the restaurant the whole time we were there.

Just curious.... does a table that's empty because of a no-show look different from a table that's empty because the new policy kept people from over-booking?

 

[aceys_h0ney]

I was under the impression that if you had the DDP they would not require a CC to hold the reservation? I would just call Disney Dining and explain the concerns you have with your daugther. I'm sure they would work with you, there was a thread here that said people were not being charged no shows if only part of their party showed up. I know for us we had a couple of days where my husband and son went back to the resort on our last trip and ate there so I'd hate to pay also if we decided to do this again.

 

[cottontail]

Hi Thanks for all the info, We are not going til the end of sept. but I was on the dining site to practice how to use the online one.

I guess I will have to call disney dining and see what they say. My daughter can get ill at the blink of an eye due to sun exposure, fragrances, a ride can trigger it humidity etc, even though she uses a naseau drug, so if she is ill we all have to go.

We also use our car as the bus system will make her ill. Hubby has said maybe we should just cancel now, because all the places she loves have the credit card rule and he does not want to be out even more money, as a disney vacation is expensive. She will be upset.

Debbie.

 

[aripantaloon]

I was under the impression that if you had the DDP they would not require a CC to hold the reservation? I would just call Disney Dining and explain the concerns you have with your daugther. I'm sure they would work with you, there was a thread here that said people were not being charged no shows if only part of their party showed up. I know for us we had a couple of days where my husband and son went back to the resort on our last trip and ate there so I'd hate to pay also if we decided to do this again.

I think you are referring to places like CRT that require you to pay in full in advance. You do not need to pay in full in advance with the DDP, but you do need to give a credit card # to CRT as well as other character meals/buffets and signature dining restaurants so that if you do not show up to your ADR, you will be charged $10/person for the no show.

Hi Thanks for all the info, We are not going til the end of sept. but I was on the dining site to practice how to use the online one.

I guess I will have to call disney dining and see what they say. My daughter can get ill at the blink of an eye due to sun exposure, fragrances, a ride can trigger it humidity etc, even though she uses a naseau drug, so if she is ill we all have to go.

We also use our car as the bus system will make her ill. Hubby has said maybe we should just cancel now, because all the places she loves have the credit card rule and he does not want to be out even more money, as a disney vacation is expensive. She will be upset.

Debbie.

I'm sorry for your DD's illness, but I'm not sure what Disney can do for you. It's a slippery slope because there are tons of people who have different illnesses and conditions who go to Disney who may not be well enough to attend a scheduled meal. Same goes for anyone with children (with or without a medical condition): the kids could get sick, they could be too cranky by dinner, they could demand not to eat with Pooh and the gang, etc. Where do you draw the line? They can't make anyone proove that their family member suddenly became ill. For Disney, their line is ANYONE, regardless of reason, will be charged for a no-show. Honestly, it's only fair.

 

[Reddog1134]

Just curious.... does a table that's empty because of a no-show look different from a table that's empty because the new policy kept people from over-booking?

Probably not, but that empty table can be filled quicker when you know someone hasn't already reserved it.

I'm sorry for your DD's illness, but I'm not sure what Disney can do for you. It's a slippery slope because there are tons of people who have different illnesses and conditions who go to Disney who may not be well enough to attend a scheduled meal. Same goes for anyone with children (with or without a medical condition): the kids could get sick, they could be too cranky by dinner, they could demand not to eat with Pooh and the gang, etc. Where do you draw the line? They can't make anyone proove that their family member suddenly became ill. For Disney, their line is ANYONE, regardless of reason, will be charged for a no-show. Honestly, it's only fair.

The system can still be abused by anyone that is willing to take the time and effort to cancel their ADR's 24 hours ahead of time. By the same token, shouldn't the OP be able to take the same time and effort to explain the situation to Disney?

 

[TDC Nala]

If you think you may not be able to make it to your meals, you can book all your ADRs at restaurants that don't require the credit card hold. Unfortunately it can't be stated at this time that a sick child will be sufficient reason for waiver of the fee for a late cancellation or a no-show.

That does let out the popular restaurants and the character meals,though. You can always try to be seated at those by going to the restaurant at the time they open. It has been said that the chances for a walk-up seating seem to have been improved at some restaurants.

I was under the impression that if you had the DDP they would not require a CC to hold the reservation?

This is not correct. There is no difference in the system for those using the dining plan. The only thing that's different is that if you have a dining plan, you can put down a credit card guarantee for the prepaid meals (CRT and dinner shows), instead of paying in full for them at booking.

 

[Swissdog2010]

Hi Thanks for all the info, We are not going til the end of sept. but I was on the dining site to practice how to use the online one.

I guess I will have to call disney dining and see what they say. My daughter can get ill at the blink of an eye due to sun exposure, fragrances, a ride can trigger it humidity etc, even though she uses a naseau drug, so if she is ill we all have to go.

We also use our car as the bus system will make her ill. Hubby has said maybe we should just cancel now, because all the places she loves have the credit card rule and he does not want to be out even more money, as a disney vacation is expensive. She will be upset.

Debbie.

It's a shame you're caught up in this but it stems from the thoughtlessness of guests who made it a habit to make multiple reservations in the same time period at resturants in different parks because they don't know what park they will be in "because we don't want to be tied down with plans." So instead they cluttered up the system with extraenious reservations and didn't bother to cancel them. This is an attempt to introduce a bit more fairness into the system. I hope you can work something out with Disney based on your singular circumstances.

 

[dtstampz]

We had the experience in Nov. of having to cancel a dinner, and being told they would charge us the $10 each. Even though it was due to emergency medical issues, and we were waiting for the van from CentraCare to pick us up. Luckily I had made the reservation before the policy went into effect, so we weren't charged. But now I'm a little leery of making a lot of reservations for signature restaurants...
Hope everything works out okay for you, OP!

 

[cottontail]

Hello:

Just to let everyone know what happened about my situation. I called diningplan and spoke to a very friendly cm, my daughters illnesses go under the catagory of serious illnesses and as long as we call to cancel our reservations due to my daughter getting instantly ill they will not charge us and I always do call right away so others can have our spots for dining.

I will bring a physicians note just in case about her condition.

Boy did that conversation take my stress level down.
Thanks everyone.

Debbie.

 

[shenaniganzz]

Same goes for anyone with children (with or without a medical condition): the kids could get sick, they could be too cranky by dinner, they could demand not to eat with Pooh and the gang, etc. Where do you draw the line? They can't make anyone proove that their family member suddenly became ill. For Disney, their line is ANYONE, regardless of reason, will be charged for a no-show. Honestly, it's only fair.

I disagree. The OP knows well in advance that her daughter has a condition and I think that is a far cry from a child being overtired or last minute deciding not to eat with Pooh. I think you are comparing apples and oranges and it is clear where to draw the line, actually.

I think Disney should make exceptions where this is the case. They can certainly ask for a doctor's note confirming her health issues and that her health/condition may change quickly on a daily basis.

I'd have no problem losing a reservation at a restaurant for a situation like this. We seriously need more compassion in this world! This has nothing to do with being inconsiderate and I feel sympathy for them to always have to change their plans on the fly. Goodness, I hope Disney makes an exception!

OP, GL! I hope Disney can work around this so you can go and enjoy your vacation!!

Editing because I just read the end result - awesome news!!

 

[cottontail]

Everybody will be on a different page on this policy and who should be exempt but I guess we could drag our daughter to our dining reservations if the other OP wants, if we were parents who only thought of ourselves and then have absolutely no worries about the new policy for reservations and let her vomit at crystal palace, donalds character breakfast at animal kingdom in front of other guests cause there is no where for her to laydown or wherever, rather than driving her in our van with a vomit pail that we always carry and go back to lay down at the hotel and hopefully only have naseau with her migraine cause she was able to lay down and catch this headache.

Our daughter has a severe migraine almost every day after noon for some reason, (the doctor thinks it is triggered by sensory things as she goes thru the day due to her other condition) I make all her foods from scratch because additivies can trigger migraine headache and attends her neurologist at a pain clinic where we live. She really has no life because her migraines are so severe, and none of the preventation drugs has helped her, including all the epilepsy drugs, botox in her forehead, steroids injected into her forehead etc.

All I was saying was that we were not told of this new policy when last august we put money down on the free dining plan discount, infact I would rather have a room discount only. Then I would not have to worry about a ten dollar fee for a no show with my chronically ill daughter.

Debbie.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think you need to get it in writing that you will be exempted because your child has a chronic medical condition. There have been several reports where illness was not accepted as an exemption. Get something in writing, and take it to a resort concierge or to a guest services in a park if you need to do a last minute cancellation.

Check the DisABILITIES board, maybe they can assist with someone to contact for that. I can't tell you that you should just take the world of a phone agent at WDW-DINE, assuming that is who you called.

 

[cottontail]

Thank you, that is a great idea,because you never know. I am still considering changing my reservation to a room only res. if a discount comes out for the time we are going, as that would fit my family situation much better.

Thanks again.