Cancellation fee for people in party no-shows?

[horizons82]

A reply in another thread got me thinking...

As some know, sometimes you have to fudge the number of the people in your party to be able to get a reservation for a table

However, what happens if you reserve a table for three or four people but then only two show-up for the meal? Is that $10 fee still charged for every person that does not show even though part of the party still made the reservation?

I realize for pre-paid events like the dessert parties the fee certainly exists on a per-person basis if not cancelled, but what about this policy in terms of regular table restaurant reservations?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

While I've never fudged #s on my reservation, we have had no shows in our party. Usually, as long as some of the party is present, you won't get charged no-show fees. Ex. My brother, SIL, and nephew decided last minute that they couldn't make it to our Crystal Palace ADR, so we were a party of 6 instead of the party of 9 that I booked. We weren't assessed a fee. Now, with something like CRT, where you pay in full up front, I've heard that it's unlikely that you'll see a refund...but I've never tested that.

Another thought...you could call in advance to have them change your reservation to the correct #. It's usually no problem if it's a smaller number...i.e. if you go from 6 to 4.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

Im a little confused when you say you fudged the numbers?

 

[horizons82]

Disneydreamer,

When I say 'fudged the numbers', I mean in terms of how changing the number of people in your party can affect whether a table is available or not for dining.

An example: A while back I kept trying to find availability for a party of two (for my wife and I) for the MK dessert party and it showed there was nothing available. However, when I changed it to a party of three for the same exact time, suddenly there WERE openings for parties of three.

In that case I went ahead and reserved a table for three people even though only two of us were going. I then later called to say one person had cancelled, and the pre-paid money for the third (fake) person was refunded and the two of us enjoyed the dessert party at our own table.

So this is why I say about 'fudging the numbers' to see if a dining reservation opens up for a slightly higher or different party size.

As I said in another post, its as if WDW dining reservations are based more on tables being available to meet the party size rather than just any table being available for any smaller party that may fit it, requiring a little fudging of the numbers

 

[Mukta]

I have NEVER has any kind of trouble. I have often booked tables of 4 and only 3 of us arrived. I have booked a table for 2 and dined by myself. As long as someone shows up, you don't get charged.

 

[horizons82]

Thanks--that's kind of what I figured. I think only the pre-paid restaurants would be an issue with a single-person no-shows. It sounds like the regular restaurants only have a no-show fee if no one from the reserved party shows at all.

This is good to know!

 

[mousehockey37]

Disneydreamer,

When I say 'fudged the numbers', I mean in terms of how changing the number of people in your party can affect whether a table is available or not for dining.

An example: A while back I kept trying to find availability for a party of two (for my wife and I) for the MK dessert party and it showed there was nothing available. However, when I changed it to a party of three for the same exact time, suddenly there WERE openings for parties of three.

In that case I went ahead and reserved a table for three people even though only two of us were going. I then later called to say one person had cancelled, and the pre-paid money for the third (fake) person was refunded and the two of us enjoyed the dessert party at our own table.

So this is why I say about 'fudging the numbers' to see if a dining reservation opens up for a slightly higher or different party size.

As I said in another post, its as if WDW dining reservations are based more on tables being available to meet the party size rather than just any table being available for any smaller party that may fit it, requiring a little fudging of the numbers

Wow. Just wow. So instead of just taking the bad news that there wasn't a reservation available, you took away a table from an actual party of 3 so that 2 of you could attend. You probably also are one of the fun ones that "fudges" the amount of ADRs you make so that there becomes nothing available for anyone else and you'll just cancel or not show (if not a CC ressie) to the others.

 

[horizons82]

Mousehockey,

The dessert party was actually the only time I've actually ever taken advantage of that. The reality is that I don't know if there are ever any reservations available for two there.

Months before going, I must have checked every single date and never once on any single day of the dessert party was there ever an opening for just two people but there was quite often a party of three or more.

I called the reservation line at one point and the person basically told me they had never heard of reserving just two for that event, so I felt kind of forced to do it for that one special event.

Otherwise I haven't done this and was just curious about what does happen if someone doesn't show. I will say that going as a party of two does put us at a huge disadvantage though because there are so few two tops available in most places.

To my knowledge, even if there are only 5 tables out of 50 that are two-tops, I won't be able to make a reservation for two even if there are 20 four-tops still open. This seems a little silly, but I do understand the park wanting to maximize having someone in every seat.

So while I have only actually done this for the one special event, just being a couple has felt like a great disadvantage to get a table.

 

[horizons82]

Besides, when I called the reservations line to cancel the 3rd person, WDW reservations said 'no problem' and simply left the table for two. Again, this was at a pre-paid event, not a case where I make phantom reservations and simply don't show.

If anything, I'm glad they now have the cancellation policy that they do to make it an even playing field. My question was out of curiosity than anything else as there have actually been times I've chosen not to make reservations if I wasn't sure everyone would make it.

It was my initial frustration and not being able to get a dessert party reservation that prompted me asking about it, which brought on many responses about others doing this for regular restaurants, which made it seem like it was common (which them made me wonder if those people were getting cancellation fees).

 

[kelknight84]

I see no problem with it. Just like most restaurants seat you at a bigger table I dont see this as any different. You aren't taking away from anyone else when there is an open reservation.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I have the Wishes dessert party booked for just my husband and I and there wasn't any issue for just the two of us. I have known other parties of two who have gone as well and never had an issue that it was just the two of the them. I have never heard of any rule that pairs can't book the Wishes dessert party.

If you really couldn't get a reservation for just 2 and could find one for 3 then fine, actually a good idea to look for other options like that.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

I had the same problem trying to book a tabld for two, nothing available but change it to 4 and tables open up. Serms like they don't want to give a 4 person table to just 2 people so I also fudge the number and change it to 2 people later.

 

[Captainvideo]

In February I had sprinkled some late reservations during our visit at Beaches and Cream(yes, reservations to sit and eat ice cream) and had included my niece as an extra. She didn't make it one night and we weren't charged. However, even with all the advanced planning I did before the trip I missed the part that said $10 per person charge for a no show! I thought it was $10 per reservation! Oops. When I got home and saw the charge I tried to plea my ignorance, but they wouldn't budge. 2 missed ice cream reservations cost me $100, 3 kitchen sinks!

 

[jeffk410]

Wow. Just wow. So instead of just taking the bad news that there wasn't a reservation available, you took away a table from an actual party of 3 so that 2 of you could attend. You probably also are one of the fun ones that "fudges" the amount of ADRs you make so that there becomes nothing available for anyone else and you'll just cancel or not show (if not a CC ressie) to the others.

Do you freak out when someone walks two feet outside of a crosswalk?

 

[Captainvideo]

One of the cast members from beaches and cream told us there are definitely issues with reservation numbers and after seeing how quiet it was at night compared to other years I have to agree. On our last day( a Thursday) I asked if I could put my name in for a party of 5 around 330 or 4pm and was told they were booked. They told me to try putting a reservation in online for a party of 2 and 3. Are you kidding me? So, I went back to my room, grabbed my ipad and did so. We ended up sitting in a booth for 6 and there were other tables open too. That tells me they are relying on the "system" in the computer. You can go to the counter for takeout but you can't put your name in anymore if you want to sit at a table. How can I predict whether my late night ice cream cravings will be at 9, 19, or 11pm? I think the foot traffic to this place has decreased because of ADR. It looks like in some cases you have to manipulate or play little games to make things happen.

 

[daisyduckie]

Do you freak out when someone walks two feet outside of a crosswalk?

I don't think it is the best thing to do either. I get why people do it, but I do think it is a bit dishonest. And I'm afraid that if Disney catches on, they will start charging for each person that doesn't show up.