Which is it??????

[binkee12]

I keep seeing varying and conflicting information about when to cancel a Disney dining reservation without being charged the no-show fee. Some sites are saying it has to be 24 hours before the reservation..some sites say it has to be before midnight the day before the reservation and some say 10 p.m. the day before the reservation ...others say it has to be a full day between the reservations. I just want to know for sure what the policy is. Does it vary by restaurant? On the Disney website it says to check the individual restaurant but when I try to do that I'm not seeing any information. Thank you

 

[JerseyJanice]

It is the day before, so up to midnight the previous day.

The fees are not there to be punitive or make money off the guests. They are there to prevent no-shows and slow down ADR hoarders.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Here is your official and unfortunately for you vague answer.
Basically look when you book or at your confirmation or call to find out.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/dining-reservations/restaurant-reservation-cancellation/

Unofficially its up to 11:59pm the night before.

Also you could just modify the time and then cancel it although that loophole will likely go away at some point.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Here is your official and unfortunately for you vague answer.
Basically look when you book or at your confirmation or call to find out.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/dining-reservations/restaurant-reservation-cancellation/

Unofficially its up to 11:59pm the night before.

Also you could just modify the time and then cancel it although that loophole will likely go away at some point.

Yes, exactly right.

 

[AshleyP13]

That's 11:59 pm eastern time I assume?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

That's 11:59 pm eastern time I assume?

Everything is based on eastern time.

 

[supersnoop]

Nowhere does Disney list hours. They say “the day before.” The folks who say “24 hours” are misinterpreting that phrase.

Be aware that the phone lines close at 11pm (or is it 10pm?) and the website can sometimes be flakey. If you’re cutting it too close, you could run into technical issues and not be able to cancel.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Nowhere does Disney list hours. They say “the day before.” The folks who say “24 hours” are misinterpreting that phrase.

Be aware that the phone lines close at 11pm (or is it 10pm?) and the website can sometimes be flakey. If you’re cutting it too close, you could run into technical issues and not be able to cancel.

Of course if you are staying on site you can just go to the front desk and have the cancellation logged in from that end. Should somehow the cancellation fee shows up anyway you've proof that your intentions are honorable and the fee will probably be waived. A somewhat similar scenario saved me from a couple hundred dollar late cancellation fee for a special meal at M. Paul's.
Which reminds me...certain events and restaurants have differing cancellation policies and fees so pp suggestion to check your confirming email is a goody. I keep all Disney emails in a file by trip name. Further helped to document.