Credit card question

[Renate]

Hi,

I´m going to make reservation for the fantasmic dinner package and a guided tour. It is said that you have to guarentee the booking with your credit card.
Does this mean that they charge the card immediatly or is it to charge it in case of no show at the reservated date?

Greets from Germany
Renate

BTW: which restaurant would you recommend? Hollywood and Wine, Brown Derby or Mama Melrose? Which time is the best to go to have enough time to eat but not be too early for the show?

 

[cj2me]

Your credit card is not charged when you book it. Only if you don't show.

 

[MouseMadness]

Yes, they will explain when you book, but I believe you have 48 hours to cancel and your card will not be charged.

And we've only ever tried Mama Melrose. Seemed the most laid back to us, and with our big groups that include 4 children, that's what we need.

Also, I believe there are only certain blocks of time they will give you as part of the dinner package, and they're all fairly early. :wave:

 

[Diane Hughess]

Ahhh! This happened to me in Sept. I had to give the c.c guarentee for the Storybook Breakfast at Epcot. We found out at 11pm the night before it that we had to change our flight, as hurricane Jeanne was closing the airport at 5pm on Sat., but our flight was supposed to leave at 7 pm Sat. After calling our airline & getting a 7 am Sat flight home, I tried calling the dining number only to be told it was closed at 11 pm and would not reopen until 7 am Sat--while we were in the air. At 9:30 am, when we landed mid-way home, I called the dining line to be told by the customer service rep "Well, your seating was for 8:30 am--you were supposed to call to cancel before the seating" and that "the park was open that day, and the breakfast was not cancelled" I explanined the situation to her, she took my name and number & said it shouldn't be a problem, and that she'd call me back in 3 days to confirm...she never called. I spent two hours on the phone with them the next week trying to get it resolved, and the guy finally told me that they had fixed it, and I would not be billed. The next month, I get a $40 no-show bill on my c.c!!! I spent another hour on the phone with them, and I was finally credited!! A nightmare!! I had also e-mailed customer service, and got no response. I guess what I've heard is true--as long as your vacation is perfect, Disney is happy. If you have a problem, they don't want to help you!!

 

[crazydaveh]

Something similar happened to us last week there during our Christmas vacation. We had PS seating at a Downtown Disney restaurant for Christmas Day dinner. My young niece came down sick and my sister, brother in law, and young niece didn't make it to dinner. We called to tell them we would be 3 short due to "sickness" and they said it wouldn't be a problem since four of us would still be going.

I get back to the hotel that night and checked my account online, and they charged me for them not showing!

I printed out the charge (I took my printer to print pictures) and went straight to the restaurant and they took care of it... Still, not what I wanted to do that night when I was supposed to be watching fireworks!

I understand the need for a credit card to hold a reservation, and charging people if they are just "no shows." But sometimes things happen, like in hurricanes are kids getting sick that day, or anything... the cancellation people just need to realize that sometimes!

 

[cj2me]

I've eaten at Hollywood & vine and the Brown Derby. The BD is excellent, although we ate there with my niece and nephew (6 & 8) and they weren't keen on the menu. H&V is buffet style and geared more towards kids, including a make your own sundae area.

 

[Gail Hayden]

Ahhh! This happened to me in Sept. I had to give the c.c guarentee for the Storybook Breakfast at Epcot. We found out at 11pm the night before it that we had to change our flight, as hurricane Jeanne was closing the airport at 5pm on Sat., but our flight was supposed to leave at 7 pm Sat. After calling our airline & getting a 7 am Sat flight home, I tried calling the dining number only to be told it was closed at 11 pm and would not reopen until 7 am Sat--while we were in the air. At 9:30 am, when we landed mid-way home, I called the dining line to be told by the customer service rep "Well, your seating was for 8:30 am--you were supposed to call to cancel before the seating" and that "the park was open that day, and the breakfast was not cancelled" I explanined the situation to her, she took my name and number & said it shouldn't be a problem, and that she'd call me back in 3 days to confirm...she never called. I spent two hours on the phone with them the next week trying to get it resolved, and the guy finally told me that they had fixed it, and I would not be billed. The next month, I get a $40 no-show bill on my c.c!!! I spent another hour on the phone with them, and I was finally credited!! A nightmare!! I had also e-mailed customer service, and got no response. I guess what I've heard is true--as long as your vacation is perfect, Disney is happy. If you have a problem, they don't want to help you!!

Diane, I respectfully disagree. I have emailed Disney on a few occasions and they have responded with both an email telling me that they have received my email and with phone calls.
It is unfortunate that you had to cut your trip short because of the hurricane.
I would have explained this to the front desk of my resort (assuming you were onsite) and asked them to call Disney Dining for you, which I am sure they would have done with no problem.
I would email them again.

 

[scorp111]

As the others have stated, it is basically guaranteeing your reservation. You will pay for your dinner after you eat.

I am actually quite a fan of Hollywood & Vine. As a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian, I like buffet style dinners, and there is a lot of choice there. My in-laws like H & V as well....

 

[wannabeBelle]

I didnt care for Mama Melrose at ALL!!!!! The menu choices looked good but the smell of the woodburning smoke in EVERYTHING killed it for me. I have been to H & V for breakfast and found it to be very cute, with a good selection of buffet type of items. The Brown Derby is a very classy elegant restaurant with a very upscale menu. That would be my first choice for this item although my favorite restaurant in MGM ( The 50's Prime Time Cafe ) doesnt participate in the Fantasmic Package at all!!!! In part because of that I have only done the Fantasmic Package once, and I dont recall if they charged me for it before I got there or not. As far as the tour thing, the last time I booked a tour, they charged my CC immediately when I booked the tour on the phone, not when I showed up. Belle

 

[Renate]

Hi,

i called and make reservations for The Brown Derby, thought that would be the nicest place for an adult couple ;-) and booked the guided tour also. It took me almost 15 minutes with all the spelling of our names, but with a cheap connection it was okay. The girls wer that nice I´m not used from the DLRP sometimes, but maybe its cause they had not to talk in a foreign language.

So now I´m counting the days to go.

Greets to you all from Germany
Renate

 

[Gail Hayden]

I didnt care for Mama Melrose at ALL!!!!! The menu choices looked good but the smell of the woodburning smoke in EVERYTHING killed it for me. I have been to H & V for breakfast and found it to be very cute, with a good selection of buffet type of items. The Brown Derby is a very classy elegant restaurant with a very upscale menu. That would be my first choice for this item although my favorite restaurant in MGM ( The 50's Prime Time Cafe ) doesnt participate in the Fantasmic Package at all!!!! In part because of that I have only done the Fantasmic Package once, and I dont recall if they charged me for it before I got there or not. As far as the tour thing, the last time I booked a tour, they charged my CC immediately when I booked the tour on the phone, not when I showed up. Belle

They charge tours immediately they hold the credit card for dinner PSs.