Worried about O'hana ressie on arrival day

[snoopy5386]

I managed to snag an O'hana ressie for our arrival day, we fly into Tampa at 1:30 and we'll be driving over to the world. Our ressie is for 5:05. Just worried something will happen with our flight being delayed or traffic on the drive over and we'll miss our ressie and be out $60. Will the disney dining gods waive my fee if I'm not even in the state yet due to circumstances beyond our control?

Been trying to get a ressie for a decent time another day but no luck so far.
Thoughts?

 

[minnie mum]

If you are a no-show, you will be charged the no-show fee unless you cancel 24 hrs before. This is the reason why I never make an ADR requiring a credit card hold for the arrival day.

Even if your flight is on time you will be cutting it close, since you have to pick up your luggage, get your rental car, drive from Tampa and check into your resort BEFORE even thinking about getting to the Poly.

Keep trying for an ADR on another day.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Unless you are planning to use dining plan credits for the meal, you would not necessarily have to check in to your resort first. So if you are cutting it close you could go straight to the Poly for your dinner and wait to go to your resort after.

 

[TDC Nala]

Since you're driving, you should be able to make it absent a flight delay. Although substantial flight delays are not unheard of.

If you are using dining credits you will have to stop by your resort, check in and get your key cards. If you're not using dining credits, you can go straight to 'Ohana.

If you miss it, it will be up to you to call Disney and ask them to waive the fee. Whether they will or not, is probably entirely up to whoever you speak to. I'm guessing they won't, as it is within your control whether or not to book a reservation with a no-show fee on your arrival day when you're flying into Tampa, but you might be lucky.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Will the Disney dining gods waive my fee if I'm not even in the state yet due to circumstances beyond our control?
. . . in most cases, no
. . . the timing is close when you made the ressie
. . . the $60 fee would probably be applied

Thoughts?
. . . not really
. . . since you are DDP, you MUST check-in at your hotel before dinner
. . . this is going to really cost you time
. . . if you get there less than 15-min late, they MIGHT forgive you
. . . but, there is no true/official "late policy"
. . . so you could still be charged if tardy and ADR is canceled

NOTE: My best-guess (IF EVERYTHING WORKS JUST RIGHT)
. . . 1:30pm arrive TPA
. . . 1:50pm deplane, walk to rental-car (family gets luggage at same time)
. . . 2:15pm acquire rental car
. . . 2:30pm walk to car, luggage, be on your way
. . . 4:00pm arrive WDW (1½-hr drive, if everything works well)
. . . 4:20pm arrive at hotel
. . . 4:30pm walk inside and wait in line at check-in
. . . 4:45pm get tickets, KTTW, DDP (assuming you did on-line check-in)
. . . 4:50pm walk back to car
. . . 5:10pm arrive at Poly
. . . 5:15pm one person checks-in at podium while another parks car

ASSUMPTIONS:
. . . plane is exactly on time
. . . little or no traffic or construction problems en-route to WDW
. . . no DME bus arrived just before you to cause long line at check-in
. . . you do not take luggage to the room or try to change traveling clothes
. . . you know your driving route to Poly so trip is short

 

[Three cats]

I would keep looking for a later time. I think that'd be cutting it way too close and wouldn't want to start my vacation stressed, rushing to get there in time.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[mickeynut1]

I agree with the others that I would cancel and try to get an ADR for another day. We never make ADRs on our arrival day, especially with a cc guarantee, as delays can (and do) happen and I wouldn't want to take the chance of not making it on time. Plus, having to drive from Tampa vs MCO adds about an hour and a half, which would cut it too close for me. Good luck.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't think you will make it. I would be nervous with that time frame flying into Orlando! You are cutting it way too close, imho.

 

[snoopy5386]

OP here. To clarify, we are not on the dining plan, we are staying at AKL one night then moving to offsite, so we could head directly from the airport to the Poly if need be. Last year we were an hour late to our Ohana ressie (my fault, I mixed up the times) and the restaurant was able to accommodate us and we luckily did not have to pay the fee. I'll keep looking for something else, but if nothing comes up we may take our chances.

 

[maxiesmom]

OP here. To clarify, we are not on the dining plan, we are staying at AKL one night then moving to offsite, so we could head directly from the airport to the Poly if need be. Last year we were an hour late to our Ohana ressie (my fault, I mixed up the times) and the restaurant was able to accommodate us and we luckily did not have to pay the fee. I'll keep looking for something else, but if nothing comes up we may take our chances.

Just to clarify, last year they didn't have the fee in place, so you wouldn't have been charged had you missed your ADR. It is different this year. They started the no cancellation fee this past March.

I just want you to understand there is a difference between missing your ADR last year and missing your ADR this year. What happened last year has no baring on what may happen this year.

 

[snoopy5386]

We were there last December and they most definitely had the fee in place for any reservations made past a certain date in October which ours was.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think it was late October that the fee started being used. So any ADR made after that date was subject to it. So some December people had it, some did not.

 

[maxiesmom]

You are right! I was getting the ADR fee confused with the new Fast Pass rules. Duh!!

 

[snoopy5386]

Well I just scored an Ohana ressie for two on another night so I think I'm going to drop this one and go out for date night with DH while the inlaws stay with the kiddos! Problem solved.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Glad you were able to get another ressie! I generally don't book anything prepaid or with a penalty for our first day. I worry too much about travel delays. Enjoy!

 

[TDC Nala]

Just to clarify, last year they didn't have the fee in place, so you wouldn't have been charged had you missed your ADR. It is different this year. They started the no cancellation fee this past March.

I just want you to understand there is a difference between missing your ADR last year and missing your ADR this year. What happened last year has no baring on what may happen this year.

It was actually instituted on reservations made on or after October 26, 2011. Any reservation made before that was not subject to the no-show fee, at any restaurant that started the policy as of that date (including 'Ohana)

If the OP was not willing to pay the fee in case of a no-show, I think they were correct to find another night for this reservation. They were going to be cutting it close and would not have made it if any delay had occurred. I don't suggest making a reservation with a no-show fee the day of arrival unless: the guest is prepared to pay the fee, OR the scheduled arrival time is a good five or six hours before the meal - for those flying into MCO, add another hour and a half for Tampa. (This is especially true if you're booking CRT or a dinner show, because a no-show at these would result in forfeiting the entire cost of the meal.)