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

[flynnibus]

Disney is now offering less flexibility. That's a fact

Less flexibility - yes. Restricted to the point of causing issues for normal usage? IMO no. If it was flexibility someone never expected to use.. is it really a punishment to take it away?

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.

Others here seem to act like it's a real insult to them to place this new restriction on them.

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.

No, because if someone is a no show... the coats are still there right up to the film starts. If you are already inside 24hrs.. and you're convinced you will have to pay the $10.. why would you even burden yourself with the call? The coats remain... One could also say if you cancel too late, it was also too late for people trying to find the open seat... so if you pick up the coats before the film starts, but it already discouraged people from using those seats.. the damage is done. Same with ADRs... by blocking people when they are trying to find a seat.. you've already penalized those people.

The complaints brought up in this thread are all over the place...
- its a burden to have to cancel...
- my need for flexibility should trump the impact on anyone else
- 24hrs is too long...
- This is all about greed...
- $10... do you want my first born child too?

The only one I think that has any merit is what the time window should be. I would want that time to be sufficently early enough to give opportunity for others to claim what you release. I think a simple 'day before' time limit would be adequate. That ensures a simple model where people can call first thing in the AM to find what ADRs are open for the day.

 

[MichWolv]

Less flexibility - yes. Restricted to the point of causing issues for normal usage? IMO no. If it was flexibility someone never expected to use.. is it really a punishment to take it away?

It was flexibility I intended to use. So yes, it limits my flexibility. That was the only point I was making. I never called it a punishment. That's your words.

Others here seem to act like it's a real insult to them to place this new restriction on them.

So go off on them, not me.

No, because if someone is a no show... the coats are still there right up to the film starts. If you are already inside 24hrs.. and you're convinced you will have to pay the $10.. why would you even burden yourself with the call? The coats remain... One could also say if you cancel too late, it was also too late for people trying to find the open seat... so if you pick up the coats before the film starts, but it already discouraged people from using those seats.. the damage is done. Same with ADRs... by blocking people when they are trying to find a seat.. you've already penalized those people.

Indeed, if I decide within the 24 hours to cancel now, I probably won't bother calling, because I'll just leave it in place knowing I'll pay a penalty anyways, to see if I change my mind back at the last minute. Whereas before, I would indeed call to cancel. You have a good point, there. In the past, I'd feel a duty to cancel so others could use the seats. Now, maybe I'll figure that I bought 'em anyways, so why bother canceling.

The complaints brought up in this thread are all over the place...
- its a burden to have to cancel...
- my need for flexibility should trump the impact on anyone else
- 24hrs is too long...
- This is all about greed...
- $10... do you want my first born child too?

The only one I think that has any merit is what the time window should be. I would want that time to be sufficently early enough to give opportunity for others to claim what you release. I think a simple 'day before' time limit would be adequate. That ensures a simple model where people can call first thing in the AM to find what ADRs are open for the day.

And if you read my previous posts, the only thing I complained about was the window for cancellation to avoid the fee. You propose "day before", I propose 2 hours. So we disagree only on degree.

 

[MichWolv]

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!

All in good fun, though...mostly!

 

[mousehockey37]

What a giant pile of BS.

I'm being charged if I cancel a ressie? Then why on earth should I even make a ressie? Oh, nobody takes walk-ups, ever.

Trying to find a restaurant to eat at in the Walt Disney World resort - one that is convenient to my plans - is darn near impossible anymore.

This will keep me even farther from Disney Dining.

Now that the thread is at 16 pages and I haven't gotten through it all yet, sorry if this was commented on, but:

The only way you're being charged for cancelling a ressie is if it's less than 24 hours out. You have until 11:59pm the night before to cancel. So technically, if you see a party member is sick the night before, you call at 11:50pm and cancel your breakfast ressie, lunch ressie and dinner ressies for the next day and you shouldn't be charged. This is my understanding.

As basically everyone said, this is just a way to keep the tables full. I remember eating at the Plaza last year for dinner and people were trying to do walk-ups and were being turned away, even though the place was empty. My guess is that this was going on: The place was booked, but the weather got bad that night, EPCOT had EMH, so people stayed away from the MK altogether and just didn't show up. However, since they didn't show, but their names were still on "the list" for tables, they couldn't take walk-ups to fill the vacant spots.

 

[JenniferS]

Let's be fair. The difficulty is only during the busy months. I have never, in all my time going to Disney, ever, not once had an issue with walking in and getting seated quickly.

I dined at Coral Reef on Tuesday night. Except for Saturday at MK, the parks were virtually deserted during our 10 day vacation. Nonetheless, I heard at least 5 walk-ins being turned away on Tuesday. At Coral Reef. Not talking Boma, 'Ohana, BOG, or Le Cellier here.

 

[flynnibus]

And if you read my previous posts, the only thing I complained about was the window for cancellation to avoid the fee. You propose "day before", I propose 2 hours. So we disagree only on degree.

But back to my analogy... is 2hrs even enough time to repurpose the slot? Yes you can argue walk-ups can have them... but Disney has done a pretty good job of discouraging walk-ups. To pick a time that only serves a group you are trying to minimize... would be.. conflicting.

I'm a fan of day of reservations in general.. that's why I like the 'day before' limit. I'd even listen to arguments about allowing reservations for 'length of stay'. It rewards people who stay longer and hence spend more money with Disney.

 

[flynnibus]

The only way you're being charged for cancelling a ressie is if it's less than 24 hours out. You have until 11:59pm the night before to cancel. So technically, if you see a party member is sick the night before, you call at 11:50pm and cancel your breakfast ressie, lunch ressie and dinner ressies for the next day and you shouldn't be charged. This is my understanding.

That's not what 24hrs means. 24hrs means if you want to cancel your 1pm lunch.. you gotta call by 1pm the day before.

 

[MichWolv]

But back to my analogy... is 2hrs even enough time to repurpose the slot? Yes you can argue walk-ups can have them... but Disney has done a pretty good job of discouraging walk-ups. To pick a time that only serves a group you are trying to minimize... would be.. conflicting.

I'm a fan of day of reservations in general.. that's why I like the 'day before' limit. I'd even listen to arguments about allowing reservations for 'length of stay'. It rewards people who stay longer and hence spend more money with Disney.

I believe 2 hours is indeed enough time to repurpose the slot. Whether it's walk-ups or other ADRs, Disney makes the same money, so I don't know why they'd consider walk-up use to be less desirable.

 

[awoogala]

But back to my analogy... is 2hrs even enough time to repurpose the slot? Yes you can argue walk-ups can have them... but Disney has done a pretty good job of discouraging walk-ups. To pick a time that only serves a group you are trying to minimize... would be.. conflicting.

I'm a fan of day of reservations in general.. that's why I like the 'day before' limit. I'd even listen to arguments about allowing reservations for 'length of stay'. It rewards people who stay longer and hence spend more money with Disney.

The only way I can see it working is the magic app..
Cancellations (let's say 6 hours out- 2 is very short), suddenly go out to anyone on their smartphne app. Especially if your magic app already knows you(and maybe 100 others) love Le Cellier, and it knows you have no dinner reservations. Bam... they send you a little notification
"we noticed you have no dinner reservations! Here are some open times at Le Cellier! 7:00 pm, 8:00pm"
etc.
They fill the table, and things work well.
I am sure something of this ilk will be used. I suppose 24 hours just gives them a bigger window.

 

[G00fyDad]

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?

Yes, but I doubt they will allow it. IF (and if you read my posts you will see what I mean), and only IF Disney is doing this to prevent multi-booking, then they will be insane to allow multiple bookings on the same CC.

 

[G00fyDad]

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.

I never said anything about a guest caring. You keep taking things people say and trying to divert them to your own agenda here. Facts are facts. Disney is doing this whether you like it or not. Disney stands to make very little money on this. This is a good idea despite you not liking it. Yes, the 24 hour window is a bit harsh. Stop taking something someone says and trying to twist it around to mean something else. It shows desperation.

Win.

 

[G00fyDad]

You keep claiming victory prematurely.

They're not the only one.

 

[WDWmazprty]

This new cancellation policy is only "bad" for those that don't plan ahead or like to wing it with TS's. Granted, things happen every now and then where you might have to cancel, but very rarely this will happen. Of course to each his own, but I'm a planner, especially with ADR's. This new policy doesn't really affect me at all and I'm glad it's in place to discourage double bookings.

 

[mousehockey37]

That's not what 24hrs means. 24hrs means if you want to cancel your 1pm lunch.. you gotta call by 1pm the day before.

"Cancellations can be made on the Disney Dining website, at guest relations, a restaurant podium, or via a special phone number at 407-WDW-CNCL. To avoid the penalty, the cancellation must be made up to 11:59pm on the day before the reservation."

Seems to me that this is a loophole flynnie.

This says to me that, as I made example of, if I take ill, that at 11:50 the night before my breakfast ressie, I can call and NOT be penalized. This is a loophole in the system.

 

[draybook]

Just a question here. Why are some people saying that this will lessen people making multiple reservations? This has yet to be implemented or is about to be implemented, correct? Well, sure the intentions of it might seem to be that it will but I highly doubt it. It just means they have to cancel a little earlier.


@G00fyDad I think I've come up with a solution about off=site guests and locking them to reservations. All Disney needs to do is make it so that all reservations require a created MDE account. Once the account is made, you go to the "Make Reservations" page. While making the reservations, the system requires the names of all guests that will be dining. Then, all they need to do is set up the system to cross check names to watch for double bookings. I realize that some people have the same names so perhaps you add their zip codes? Just throwing the idea out there. I went with zip code because nobody would want to use personal infor such as last four of social or anything like that.

 

[G00fyDad]

@G00fyDad I think I've come up with a solution about off=site guests and locking them to reservations. All Disney needs to do is make it so that all reservations require a created MDE account. Once the account is made, you go to the "Make Reservations" page. While making the reservations, the system requires the names of all guests that will be dining. Then, all they need to do is set up the system to cross check names to watch for double bookings. I realize that some people have the same names so perhaps you add their zip codes? Just throwing the idea out there. I went with zip code because nobody would want to use personal infor such as last four of social or anything like that.

I like it.

 

[RSoxNo1]

It is now. Disneyland just changed the ADR policies to match WDW's now, I think.

My point was the need to make reservations that far in advance in Disneyland is a non-issue.

 

[RSoxNo1]

"Cancellations can be made on the Disney Dining website, at guest relations, a restaurant podium, or via a special phone number at 407-WDW-CNCL. To avoid the penalty, the cancellation must be made up to 11:59pm on the day before the reservation."

Seems to me that this is a loophole flynnie.

This says to me that, as I made example of, if I take ill, that at 11:50 the night before my breakfast ressie, I can call and NOT be penalized. This is a loophole in the system.

I don't think that's a "loophole", I think that's a procedure/policy.

 

[flynnibus]

I believe 2 hours is indeed enough time to repurpose the slot. Whether it's walk-ups or other ADRs, Disney makes the same money, so I don't know why they'd consider walk-up use to be less desirable.

Speculation here... But I imagine its two fold. One, it manages expectations. If you don't expect to get walk ups - you aren't upset when you can't get one

And two... If you have your meals planned ahead you are more likely to actually eat those meals because you are thinking ahead... Less chance to skip a meal by loosing track of time, etc.

 

[bhg469]

well you might be right... but you might be wrong as well on this one. Perhaps this isn't done as an attempt to allow walk-ups, but it could be a consequence of this decision anyway.

I agree with 74 I'm sure this is to free up the reservations for those that do not apply the instant they are available... At non signature locations that cater to free dining of course.