Disney to expand cancellation fees to all table service restaurants at Walt Disney World

[G00fyDad]

No offense, that's kind of crazy. We're not talking about cancelling a doctor's appointment. We're talking about dinner in a theme park.

Run a restaurant, then come back and tell us how you feel about this. I have one friend that I still see from time to time who went to school for hotel and restaurant management (Something I would be loathe to do) and she has said one of the things that es her off the most is people that don't show up for a table they held for them.

Many of the restaurants near here in Louisville, KY do not even accept reservations anymore because of this. And here we are talking about a theme park where I am sure this happens far more frequently.

 

[lebeau]

I have actually proved the point by the 2 reasons presented.

1. The fee is not a revenue source since they cancel it so often......which leads to.......

I already provided you with an example of a fee which is charged as a revenue stream which the company is more than willing to cancel for any reason as a matter of policy. The first step of your argument has been disproven utterly and completely.

That was the entire point of my earlier post. You seem to have missed that whether intentionally or otherwise.

2. The fee makes more reservations available for everyone, making the guests happy and making Disney more money by filling more tables.

I have provided ample evidence to the contrary. The policy doesn't close any loopholes except in the 24 hour window. Double booking is still easy to do and will continue.

3. This fee to not just being done for the hech of it! It being done for 2 very important business reasons listed above.

Tis not my discussion that is flawed...........tis yours Sir!

AKK

I thought you were making 2 points. Is three supposed to be your conclussion? If so, I don't believe you have adequately supported it.

You keep claiming victory prematurely.

 

[lebeau]

Run a restaurant, then come back and tell us how you feel about this. I have one friend that I still see from time to time who went to school for hotel and restaurant management (Something I would be loathe to do) and she has said one of the things that es her off the most is people that don't show up for a table they held for them.

Many of the restaurants near here in Louisville, KY do not even accept reservations anymore because of this. And here we are talking about a theme park where I am sure this happens far more frequently.

Why would a guest care if it es management off or not? That's not the guest's concern.

A lot of things off management and employees. That doesn't mean you let them dictate customer serivce policies.

Fail.

 

[lebeau]

That assumption is based on the idea that if Disney is doing this to curb, or end, multi-booking ADRs then the same card would flag in the system showing another ADR for the same time. But, again, this all hinges on Disney doing this to stop the multi-booking of ADR's and not attempting to rake in the pennies that they would get from this policy.

So by that rational, if Disney allows guests to book multiple reservations on the same card (which I am fairly certain they will) that pretty much kills your whole theory, no?

 

[lebeau]

I don't see cancelling a reservation as a "burden" I see it as being a responsible member of society. If someone is saving a spot for me either a restaurant, hair salon, or doctor's office and I can not make it, I call and cancel. It is this me, me, me attitude that is bringing down society.

Funny, I wrote an article about this pet peeve of mine yesterday.

 

[Bigcityblues]

If you think that's a risk - don't commit to something you have such a low level of commitment to that you'd skip it because you were tired.

How is it better for anyone when you promise to be somewhere, people made plans for you, and you don't show up.

I never said we just didn't show up...we would never do that. I usually make anywhere between 10 and 16 ADR's per trip. Twice in 10 trips, we changed our minds about an early breakfast ADR. Do you really believe that not having the energy, towards the end of an 8-day trip, shows a low level of commitment? Seriously?

And as I said in my post, I will not make these faraway breakfast ADR's going forward...it's that simple.

Tonka's Skipper asserted that this new penalty is better for everyone, and I disagree.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

New
↑
I have actually proved the point by the 2 reasons presented.

1. The fee is not a revenue source since they cancel it so often......which leads to.......

I already provided you with an example of a fee which is charged as a revenue stream which the company is more than willing to cancel for any reason as a matter of policy. The first step of your argument has been disproven utterly and completely.

That was the entire point of my earlier post. You seem to have missed that whether intentionally or otherwise.

You presented a story. ...nothing more.......As I pointed out .........my point 1 leads to the below point 2......
↑
2. The fee makes more reservations available for everyone, making the guests happy and making Disney more money by filling more tables.

I have provided ample evidence to the contrary. The policy doesn't close any loopholes except in the 24 hour window. Double booking is still easy to do and will continue.

What have you provided?

You told a story of a alleged company that charged the over night fee even if they returned so , just to get the money not asked to be returned. I told you a obviously fake story showing the marina made more money with happy boaters and full boat slips.

Neither of us was wrong. However in this case/ issue with the reservations fee, Disney has good reasons to have the fee, beyond as a revenue source as I have supported in my discussion and my marina tale.

As I have pointed out before, there can be more then 1 reason to have a fee to stopped over bookings.....as my point 2 noted.

I do not see any evidence other then unrelated opinion on your part............to hang on to the only point you have that companies want money. Yet even that I proved in this case with Disney, they not only make the guests happy by stopping the abuse or at least most of it and they make more money with the table full.


↑

3. This fee to not just being done for the hech of it! It being done for 2 very important business reasons listed above.

Tis not my discussion that is flawed...........tis yours Sir!

AKK
Click to expand...
I thought you were making 2 points. Is three supposed to be your conclussion? If so, I don't believe you have adequately supported it.

You keep claiming victory prematurely.


OK.............I added a point ..you finally got me on something

Sir.....I won the points on this issue long ago.....You have nothing to prove me wrong........AKK​

 

[lebeau]

New
↑
I have actually proved the point by the 2 reasons presented.

1. The fee is not a revenue source since they cancel it so often......which leads to.......

I already provided you with an example of a fee which is charged as a revenue stream which the company is more than willing to cancel for any reason as a matter of policy. The first step of your argument has been disproven utterly and completely.

That was the entire point of my earlier post. You seem to have missed that whether intentionally or otherwise.

You presented a story. ...nothing more.......As I pointed out .........my point 1 leads to the below point 2......
↑
2. The fee makes more reservations available for everyone, making the guests happy and making Disney more money by filling more tables.

I have provided ample evidence to the contrary. The policy doesn't close any loopholes except in the 24 hour window. Double booking is still easy to do and will continue.

What have you provided?

You told a story of a alleged company that charged the over night fee even if they returned so , just to get the money not asked to be returned. I told you a obviously fake story showing the marina made more money with happy boaters and full boat slips.

Neither of us was wrong. However in this case/ issue with the reservations fee, Disney has good reasons to have the fee, beyond as a revenue source as I have supported in my discussion and my marina tale.

As I have pointed out before, there can be more then 1 reason to have a fee to stopped over bookings.....as my point 2 noted.

I do not see any evidence other then unrelated opinion on your part............to hang on to the only point you have that companies want money. Yet even that I proved in this case with Disney, they not only make the guests happy by stopping the abuse or at least most of it and they make more money with the table full.


↑

3. This fee to not just being done for the hech of it! It being done for 2 very important business reasons listed above.

Tis not my discussion that is flawed...........tis yours Sir!

AKK
Click to expand...
I thought you were making 2 points. Is three supposed to be your conclussion? If so, I don't believe you have adequately supported it.

You keep claiming victory prematurely.


OK.............I added a point ..you finally got me on something

Sir.....I won the points on this issue long ago.....You have nothing to prove me wrong........AKK​

I am going to need a flow chart for this one.

The only thing I am getting from this post is a headache. And confirmation that you are either incapable of or unwilling to grasp the points I have repeatedly made here.

This wasn't decided on points, friend. You were KO'd in round 1. So your victory dances are pretty amusing.

 

[Bigcityblues]

I don't understand why you wouldn't plan on going to bed a little earlier the night before, especially considering you've known about the early morning plans 6 months in advance? Nothing can ever work for every single person, and when it comes to reservations there is a sense of personal responsibility too. If you make an ADR and choose not to go because you just don't feel up to it or are too tired that is on you, not on Disney. You reserved that time, and should therefore deal with any penalty considering they could have filled that time with someone that would follow through. It does not take much adjustment to daily plans to add in an extra nap or plan for a slightly earlier night. Being too tired or not feeling up to it is not a reasonable excuse for missing reserved times.

Are you saying that when you and your family are on a fun, relaxing vacation, you never, ever change any plans at the last minute? I find it hard to believe that anyone can be so rigid on a vacation. Again, this has happened twice in 10 trips and out of probably 150 total ADR's. I'm not saying I'm ed off about it, just that it's throws a monkey wrench into someone's vacation if they-heaven forbid-decide at the last minute they want/need to change their plans for the morning/evening, what have you.

And we have always called to cancel, but going forward, that call would be too late to avoid the penalty.

 

[flynnibus]

I'm willing to call it unfriendly because it places the burden on guests.

A burden you have already admitted to only being so in a small amount of cases.

I know people who won't book reservations at restaurants that require a credit card hold. That alone is not guest friendly.

Out of curiosity, have you ever had to cancel a reservation in less than 24 hours?

I honestly can't say... because if I did it obviously didn't scar me enough to remember if I have. The probability of getting caught in this is low... and the penalty for being caught it in is minor. So if you behave reasonably its never a problem for you and if things still go bad... the pain is minor. If I spend 4k on a vacation and the worst thing that happens is I lose $40... I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Perspective...

Presumably, you are doing so because something has already gone wrong. Typically, the guest is already in a bad situation. On top of whatever they are dealing with, they obviously have to cancel the reservation. But then they are faced with uncertainty about the fee - which is not insignificant.

Now we are pulling on the emotional chains that such a requirement is kicking people when they are down? Really? FFS... its a phone call or click on your smartphone. Let me clear my schedule...

Ideally, the cast member waives the fee with minimal fuss. But that doesn't always happen. I have heard of varying levels of difficulty even in instances where the fee was ultimately waived.

We already covered that...

The advantage you're referring to is minimal at best.
[...]
A weak and unproven argument, I think.

If it were minimal... Disney wouldn't bother. If there is no problem, there is no benefit to Disney to do something about it. Since they are doing something, its reasonable to assume Disney has justified to itself the move makes sense. Additionally, they have the data to support their claims.. you don't. I'll stick with Disney's interpretation.

I'm sure anyone who manages to get that ADR they wanted doesn't think it was 'minimal' either.

I fell victim to one of the classic blunders - The most famous of which is "never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: Never debate with flynnibus when nothing is on the line.

I think you meant... never debate when you have nothing but emotions to put up.

 

[flynnibus]

It impacts my ability to be flexible in a very obvious way. My routine has always been to book ADRs as soon as I can for every day of my trip based on my best projections of what we will want to do each day. However, if we wake up in the morning, or decide mid-day, that we aren't in the mood for whatever ADR we have, or that we don't want to go to the park we have ADR in, we cancel the reservation. Quick and simple. Now, I can't do that because I have to cancel 24 hours in advance, not the afternoon of. Or rather, I can do it, but it'll cost me $40.

That doesn't seem confusing.

Kind of like the guy who runs into the theatre... puts coats down on all the good seats to 'save' them for other people who aren't there. And you are suprised when people aren't moved by your pain endured by being asked to not reserve and take away from others if you aren't really intending to use it?

Maybe people just don't have sympathy for your cause because they don't like your method to start with.

 

[flynnibus]

Why would a guest care if it es management off or not? That's not the guest's concern.

A lot of things off management and employees. That doesn't mean you let them dictate customer serivce policies.

Fail.

'Why do I care how my actions impact others?'

Society fail

 

[lebeau]

A burden you have already admitted to only being so in a small amount of cases.



I honestly can't say... because if I did it obviously didn't scar me enough to remember if I have. The probability of getting caught in this is low... and the penalty for being caught it in is minor. So if you behave reasonably its never a problem for you and if things still go bad... the pain is minor. If I spend 4k on a vacation and the worst thing that happens is I lose $40... I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. Perspective...



Now we are pulling on the emotional chains that such a requirement is kicking people when they are down? Really? FFS... its a phone call or click on your smartphone. Let me clear my schedule...



We already covered that...



If it were minimal... Disney wouldn't bother. If there is no problem, there is no benefit to Disney to do something about it. Since they are doing something, its reasonable to assume Disney has justified to itself the move makes sense. Additionally, they have the data to support their claims.. you don't. I'll stick with Disney's interpretation.

I'm sure anyone who manages to get that ADR they wanted doesn't think it was 'minimal' either.



I think you meant... never debate when you have nothing but emotions to put up.

Really? Okay. If you say so. I bet Disney hopes all guests are as accomodating as you.

 

[flynnibus]

I never said we just didn't show up...we would never do that

So you are upset about a burden you will never face...

I usually make anywhere between 10 and 16 ADR's per trip. Twice in 10 trips, we changed our minds about an early breakfast ADR. Do you really believe that not having the energy, towards the end of an 8-day trip, shows a low level of commitment? Seriously?

So in 100-160 meals.. where you've probably spent at least $3000 to $4800... you're worried about being hit for $20.

Mountain out of a mole hill??

Tonka's Skipper asserted that this new penalty is better for everyone, and I disagree.

Well obviously it's not better for people who aren't responsible or think holding all the available chairs so they can make a last minute decision without any consequences or concerns about how it impacts anyone else. But should we care about those people?

 

[flynnibus]

Really? Okay. If you say so. I bet Disney hopes all guests are as accomodating as you.

Or they can just be conditioned to ignore people's complaints because they complain about the insignificant stuff. Kind of like how fan communities get nicknames like 'foamers'

 

[MichWolv]

Kind of like the guy who runs into the theatre... puts coats down on all the good seats to 'save' them for other people who aren't there. And you are suprised when people aren't moved by your pain endured by being asked to not reserve and take away from others if you aren't really intending to use it?

Maybe people just don't have sympathy for your cause because they don't like your method to start with.

I wasn't surprised at a lack of (nor asking for) sympathy. Jenn said she couldn't understand why this policy limits flexibility. That's what I responded to.


I make plenty of reservations for things that I eventually cancel when the system allows me to do so at no cost. I make dental appointments 6 months out. I often need to change them because my schedule winds up conflicting. I have recurring health problems that sometimes cause me to need to cancel things that I had been looking forward to for many months. I take that into account, and it affects my willingness to book things if there will be a fee to cancel. Same thing with WDW. I value flexibility for many reasons. Disney is now offering less flexibility. That's a fact. I will respond to that fact taking into account my desires, my situation, and those of my traveling companions. No sympathy was asked for nor expected.

I do take issue with you inapt analogy, as the "coats" in my case are always removed hours before the show starts, and nobody brings coats to a theater before they have paid for the ticket and therefore are fully locked into buying the service. The rules are different, and the analogy therefore a poor one.

But you can still disagree with my method. I never asked you or anybody to agree with it.

 

[lebeau]

Or they can just be conditioned to ignore people's complaints because they complain about the insignificant stuff. Kind of like how fan communities get nicknames like 'foamers'

I think you've lost the plot on this one.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

OK............since you are not serious or willing or able to have a adult discussion and now rely on childish word games I'll let you go.

Sorry you could not be gracious enough to accept the facts.

This is often the case online, the regulars when they are wrong and wont admit it simply resort to name calling and abuse or go back to the old story, if someone supports Disney they are Disney lovers and therefore their opinions are meaningless.

AKK

 

[ExtinctJenn]

I see a thread lock in our future. We've gone from discussing our opinions to picking on one another... a sure sign that what can be said has been and now everyone is running out of comments. LOL!

 

[flynnibus]

I think you've lost the plot on this one.

The guy who has to run around and tell everyone he's won... usually not right.