where do you find the cancellation fee?

[cigar95]

It is true. I never said cancel the reservation either. I said move. Read what I said again. I assure you it works. I've done it often, as recent as 2 weeks ago

This strategy even has its own name - "bump and run". I had to do it last month when we decided not to eat at Be Our Guest about five hours before our reservation time. So some lucky guest would have been able to score a same day reservation.
As I understand, this will work up until "about" 20 minutes before your reservation.

 

[Best Aunt]

This strategy even has its own name - "bump and run". I had to do it last month when we decided not to eat at Be Our Guest about five hours before our reservation time. So some lucky guest would have been able to score a same day reservation.
As I understand, this will work up until "about" 20 minutes before your reservation.

Okay, I'm confused.

Let's say it's an hour before my reservation time, and I decide that I don't want to eat at that restaurant. Are you saying that I can change my reservation to some random time in the future, then I cancel the new time, and I avoid the cancellation fee? Or am I misunderstanding the strategy?

 

[cigar95]

Okay, I'm confused.

Let's say it's an hour before my reservation time, and I decide that I don't want to eat at that restaurant. Are you saying that I can change my reservation to some random time in the future, then I cancel the new time, and I avoid the cancellation fee? Or am I misunderstanding the strategy?

Yes you've understood correctly.
Caveat is that this is not something that is publicly acknowledged, and so it could change at any time and without any announcement. But for now, yes it works. All you need is to be at a location where you *can* bump it out. For those few ultra-popular places that book right away it could be a problem.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes you've understood correctly.
Caveat is that this is not something that is publicly acknowledged, and so it could change at any time and without any announcement. But for now, yes it works. All you need is to be at a location where you *can* bump it out. For those few ultra-popular places that book right away it could be a problem.

It is publicly acknowledged to some degree. I was told to do it by a CM. And it's been suggested more than once. So I do think they acknowledge it, though I guess it's not technically written down anywhere. But otherwise, yes, it could change at any time. Anything you can do today, even the ones publicly acknowledged, can change at anytime. You just never know what Disney will change, or when

 

[DekrRini]

Yes you've understood correctly.
Caveat is that this is not something that is publicly acknowledged, and so it could change at any time and without any announcement. But for now, yes it works. All you need is to be at a location where you *can* bump it out. For those few ultra-popular places that book right away it could be a problem.

Good to know. I've had to cancel two different times because of medical issues. Once I was charged, once I wasn't. I knew it was at the discretion of the manager so I wasn't surprised.

 

[tsme]

I called to change restaurants for dinner the morning of one of our reservations. I knew about the cancellation fee & wasn’t trying to get out of it. I just wanted to go to another restaurant & couldn’t change it online. The cm let me but gave me an ugly tongue lashing about how I should have done it the day before & next time they’ll charge me, etc. I kept saying ok, ok. She was really aggressive. I felt like I had been sent the principal’s office. Crazy....

 

[DISNEYSQUIRRELS]

I feel a rant coming on...Sorry, but this makes me crazy to think Disney does implement this charge. All of us are in their parks, spending our money somewhere to eat or snack. Plans change, especially at Disney! We all travel with family members, young & old, they run out of steam & may not feel up to what was selected months before & sometimes that happens an hour before you are to show up for your ADR. I love Disney & all of the experiences there including the eating. There must be a better way!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I feel a rant coming on...Sorry, but this makes me crazy to think Disney does implement this charge. All of us are in their parks, spending our money somewhere to eat or snack. Plans change, especially at Disney! We all travel with family members, young & old, they run out of steam & may not feel up to what was selected months before & sometimes that happens an hour before you are to show up for your ADR. I love Disney & all of the experiences there including the eating. There must be a better way!

The reason they started it was because people would book a bunch of restaurants, all for the same meal. Then only use the one that suited them at the time. Multiply that by 5 or 6 mealtimes over hundreds of guests and you can see what kind of nightmare it was.

People were being shut out of reservations.

Basically we are being charged because we can't have anything nice.

 

[AngiTN]

I feel a rant coming on...Sorry, but this makes me crazy to think Disney does implement this charge. All of us are in their parks, spending our money somewhere to eat or snack. Plans change, especially at Disney! We all travel with family members, young & old, they run out of steam & may not feel up to what was selected months before & sometimes that happens an hour before you are to show up for your ADR. I love Disney & all of the experiences there including the eating. There must be a better way!

I get your point even if I don't agree with it. People abused ADR without the threat of the fee. If everyone booked whatever they wanted it would be impossible to book even half of what you find today. Giving guests a way to change on their own was the best of both worlds

 

[DISNEYSQUIRRELS]

The reason they started it was because people would book a bunch of restaurants, all for the same meal. Then only use the one that suited them at the time. Multiply that by 5 or 6 mealtimes over hundreds of guests and you can see what kind of nightmare it was.

People were being shut out of reservations.

Basically we are being charged because we can't have anything nice.

I get your point even if I don't agree with it. People abused ADR without the threat of the fee. If everyone booked whatever they wanted it would be impossible to book even half of what you find today. Giving guests a way to change on their own was the best of both worlds

I get the reasoning & would prefer to see Disney do something similar to FastPass with dining reservations. You don't get penalized for not using FastPasses even though they are highly sought after. I do understand dining is a separate revenue source. Perhaps a dining FastPass program could be tried out. Hey, they're willing to implement a doggie trial, right?
Maybe Disney could help us out by sending a reminder text 24 hours before the ADR asking "Keep, Cancel or Modify"?
Thanks for listening!

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

It is publicly acknowledged to some degree. I was told to do it by a CM. And it's been suggested more than once. So I do think they acknowledge it, though I guess it's not technically written down anywhere. But otherwise, yes, it could change at any time. Anything you can do today, even the ones publicly acknowledged, can change at anytime. You just never know what Disney will change, or when

How many times have I booked at my 180 day window super early in the morning thinking I'm booking for 180 days out when in reality it's for that day??? Only because Disney's website has reset the day on me...I have often been thankful for being able to take that same day reservation...move it to the future...and then cancel it!

 

[AngiTN]

I get the reasoning & would prefer to see Disney do something similar to FastPass with dining reservations. You don't get penalized for not using FastPasses even though they are highly sought after. I do understand dining is a separate revenue source. Perhaps a dining FastPass program could be tried out. Hey, there willing to implement a doggie trial, right?
Maybe Disney could help us out by sending a reminder text 24 hours before the ADR asking "Keep, Cancel or Modify"?
Thanks for listening!

Not getting a FP doesn't mean you can't ride something but not getting an ADR usually means not dining somewhere. You can get in line without a FP so the difference with FP and ADR is if someone doesn't use their FP that just means 1 less person gets in the FP line, and can be replaced by someone in a stand by line (sorta, it's not 1 for 1 but you get the idea). They typically don't take walk up ADR so there isn't usually a walk up person to take the place of a missing person with an ADR, if that makes sense.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ADR "NO-SHOW" CANCELLATION FEES 411:
ALL Table Service eateries, both Disney-owned and non-Disney-owned are covered by this policy.
.
1) The rule says you are charged $10 per person for "no-show" ADR's.
. . . penalty applies when none of the party appears for the ADR
. . . penalty does not apply as long as one or some guests in party appear
2) The "no-show" penalty procedure
. . . podium person lists ADR as no-show (checks "On Hold" box in computer)
. . . usually after 30-minutes tardiness you are marked as a "no-show"
. . . once listed as "no-show", your name and number of your guests are listed
. . . the computer is reviewed by a manager at the end of the operating day
. . . the eatery manager SOLELY determines whether or not to charge you
. . . if charged, the cost penalty is on your credit/debit card immediately
. . . there are no exceptions for missing ADR's for such things as late flights
. . . if worried about late/delayed flights, don't book a TS meal until well after arrival time
. . . there are NO exceptons for being delayed due to crowded WDW rides or attractions
. . . it is up to you to plan you day to meet ADR times
. . . if you get there and decide not to wait for your ADR< you WILL be charged the no-show-fee
3) Exceptions - policy
. . . penalty is not assessed for cancellations made the day before ADR
. . . the ADR must be canceled by 11:59pm the previous day to avoid a no-show penalty
. . . for prepaid meals, there are 24-48 hour cancel periods (eg. CRT, HDDR, Luau)
4) Exceptions - not policy, and at manager's discretion
. . . cancellations for lunch/dinner made early in the same day
. . . you come to the eatery ANYTIME during the same day and apologize
. . . a few minutes tardy, podium person usually will not denote you as "On Hold"
5) No-Show Penalty Trial Period Backstory
. . . this was done on a trial-basis for 4-weeks in Epcot
. . . cut down no-shows by over 75% at Epcot eateries
. . . Le Cellier cut daily no-shows to 1-page from 2-3 pages
. . . now a policy, as no-shows greatly can reduce eatery revenue
. . . a no-show takes a ressie someone else might have kept
. . . the policy was then trialed for character meals and signature meals
. . . being so successful, it is in effect for almost all table service meals across-the-property

NOTE1: During busy periods, there might not be a grace period and late-is-late, and theymight even cancel your ADR. However, whether the ADR was canceled due to tardiness or not, the penalty fee will not be imposed, as long as you showed at the podium.

NOTE2: IMPORTANT
If you show up 2-hrs before your reservation, you still might get the penalty fee.
The "Ala Carte" dining reservation system GLITCH.
. . . the system only shows/allows only 2-hrs of ADR's for check-in purposes
. . . if you show within that time, the SEATER (aka, host/hostess) checks you in with no problem
. . . if you are earlier or later, the SEATER must write your name and confirmation number down in long hand
. . . the long hand note is given to the manager
. . . the manager, then, will look at the non-shows at the end of the day and not charge you
Why doesn't this happen all the time?
. . . some SEATER's are simply lazy
. . . others just don't care
If you show up 2-hrs early for your ADR, ask the SEATER if they have noted your confirmation number that you have appeared to the ADR. If the SEATER does not note your arrival, you can bet you will see a no-show penalty-fee on your credit card.