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

[PhotoDave219]

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.

It's a money grab. Plain and simple

 

[G00fyDad]

It's a money grab. Plain and simple

How much do you suppose they'll "grab"? I'm guessing not much.

 

[PhotoDave219]

How much do you suppose they'll "grab"? I'm guessing not much.

Its a silly idea in the first place.

Disney Dining is a joke anyways.

(And if my stalker could return my tables in wonderland card, It would be appreciated)

 

[Samoht]

While this policy will surely help Disney fill the restaurants on a given day, it doesn't help someone who wants to make an advance res a week or two before their vacation.The selfish guests that make multiples for every day are taking up finite spots at most likely all the most popular spots. That's the real problem and I'm surprised so many here are bragging about making 10 ADR's a day only to cancel 9 of them as if it's perfectly ok.

 

[lebeau]

For all those who expect this to make reservations easier to get: This policy has been in effect since 2011 at Disney's most popular restaurants. And yet, reservations haven't gotten any easier to acquire. If this is going to help with the double booking problem, why haven't we seen any impact on Disney's most popular restaurants in two years?

Also, if this wasn't a bold-faced money-grab, why institute the policy at restaurants for which there is little demand? Does anyone really think double booking is an issue at The Plaza?

 

[jklakeview]

You know how many times I've eaten at a restaurant where you cant get a reservation at the time and there are tons of empty tables. It is ridiculous how many people just don't care about other people and book multiple tables and never bother to cancel them. I will say that while I understand that some people do get sick and can't go to dinner, Disney can't accept that as a reason because EVERYONE will use it. If you're feeling just a little sick, I would just go and only order a soup or something but I'm the type that doesn't want to miss out on a vacation event at all. If I was really sick, in the grand scheme of things its only 10 dollars. I have my wife and kids with me and I would still tell them to go eat. 10 dollars isn't the end of the world to me.

 

[kels650]

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.

I am saying that if I make a reservation I keep it, if I'm tired, I drink some coffee, catch a nap, or go to bed a little early. And I can make those small adjustments all while having fun and doing what I want without being rigid. It's really not that hard. Besides, if they are at the end of the trip as you say, you will know how tired you feel 24hrs in advance and can make adjustments within the new time limit. Disney isn't Disney without being tired at the end of the trip, but its not an excuse to complain about this new policy, it's not like you didn't know you had the reservations. If you don't like it, plan the breakfast for in the beginning when you are not tired, or better yet, try your walk-in luck, but don't try to justify being too tired as a last minute excuse to dodge out and complain about this new policy. You know you have them in advance, plan accordingly.

 

[JenniferS]

For all those who expect this to make reservations easier to get: This policy has been in effect since 2011 at Disney's most popular restaurants. And yet, reservations haven't gotten any easier to acquire. If this is going to help with the double booking problem, why haven't we seen any impact on Disney's most popular restaurants in two years?

Also, if this wasn't a bold-faced money-grab, why institute the policy at restaurants for which there is little demand? Does anyone really think double booking is an issue at The Plaza?

I'm not sure I completely agree. Since the $10 CC deposit, I have been able to snag 'Ohana ressies at less than 75 days out, 2 years in a row, unlike previous trips where it was 180+10 or tough luck.
And now that you have to pre-pay CRT completely upfront, I have also been able to get used-to-be-impossible ADR's for the Princess Breakfast 2 years in a row at the 75 day mark.

 

[minninedaisy74]

How is charging guests a fee anything but restrictive?

Well if it cuts back the abuse of people making multiple reservations at the same time and not showing up then yes I am OK with the policy however restricting some may feel it is . I read on another Disney board where that is a common practice with many of them because they just aren't sure what they will feel like that day , what the kids will be up to, or the many other excuses they use to justify having 4 dinner reservations on the same day at popular restaurants. It is ashame that Disney has to go through such measures to stop this however I find that many Disney guest are some of the most entitled thinking people I have ever encountered.

 

[John]

I'm not sure I completely agree. Since the $10 CC deposit, I have been able to snag 'Ohana ressies at less than 75 days out, 2 years in a row, unlike previous trips where it was 180+10 or tough luck.
And now that you have to pre-pay CRT completely upfront, I have also been able to get used-to-be-impossible ADR's for the Princess Breakfast 2 years in a row at the 75 day mark.

I will only comment on "Ohana..... I think the reason for the availability now is that "Ohana sadly has dropped as far as quality is concerned. I ate there last January and was very disappointed in a restaurant that was a personal favorite. This is the real miscalculation Disney as made. When you provide quality most guest don't care what it cost. When you provide crap.....sooner or later it will bite you in the tail. Forget everything else, the most ardent pixie dust snorter on the face of the earth can not argue that the food quality at WDW has slipped measurably.

 

[vonpluto]

I'm not sure I completely agree. Since the $10 CC deposit, I have been able to snag 'Ohana ressies at less than 75 days out, 2 years in a row, unlike previous trips where it was 180+10 or tough luck.
And now that you have to pre-pay CRT completely upfront, I have also been able to get used-to-be-impossible ADR's for the Princess Breakfast 2 years in a row at the 75 day mark.

You can partially thank Howie's Angels for that:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/mike/ms040507.htm

 

[JenniferS]

I will only comment on "Ohana..... I think the reason for the availability now is that "Ohana sadly has dropped as far as quality is concerned. I ate there last January and was very disappointed in a restaurant that was a personal favorite. This is the real miscalculation Disney as made. When you provide quality most guest don't care what it cost. When you provide crap.....sooner or later it will bite you in the tail. Forget everything else, the most ardent pixie dust snorter on the face of the earth can not argue that the food quality at WDW has slipped measurably.

Last year 'Ohana (as well as Raglan Road) were both very disappointing.
Ate at 'Ohana on Tuesday though, and it was wonderful again. I didn't like the new salad dressing as much, but it was still very good. The chicken wings were properly cooked this year, and the noodles, veggies, and potstickers were served piping hot. As to the meats, I only hate 1 piece of pork (a little dry) and 3 wonderful shrimp. My picky, picky nephew ate 8 hunks of the chicken and a loaf and a half of bread, and declared it the best meal of the trip. My SIL declared the steak perfectly cooked.
With the exception of BOG, I was disappointed with almost every QS meal though. Lukewarm, over-cooked crud sitting under heat lamps for way too long.

 

[G00fyDad]

Last year 'Ohana (as well as Raglan Road) were both very disappointing.
Ate at 'Ohana on Tuesday though, and it was wonderful again. I didn't like the new salad dressing as much, but it was still very good. The chicken wings were properly cooked this year, and the noodles, veggies, and potstickers were served piping hot. As to the meats, I only hate 1 piece of pork (a little dry) and 3 wonderful shrimp. My picky, picky nephew ate 8 hunks of the chicken and a loaf and a half of bread, and declared it the best meal of the trip. My SIL declared the steak perfectly cooked.
With the exception of BOG, I was disappointed with almost every QS meal though. Lukewarm, over-cooked crud sitting under heat lamps for way too long.

This tends to happen with a lot of the restaurants in WDW. One year they are awesome, the next year they are horrible. Our first experience with Rose and Crown made us want to vomit. It was awful. Burned and charcoal meat, chips were nasty, and the fish was terrifying. (Not to mention the gaggle of college age guys openly and constantly hitting on our server because of her "sexy British accent". ) However, the next time we ate there the food was amazing.

 

[Sans Souci]

You can partially thank Howie's Angels for that:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/mike/ms040507.htm

Wow, I read all three parts and some people in the article need to seek help from a mental health professional. Hacking, threats of "loss of wealth and freedom", FBI involvement...all of this drama to secure a reservation at CRT. The webmaster sounds like a bit of a sociopath.

 

[awoogala]

This tends to happen with a lot of the restaurants in WDW. One year they are awesome, the next year they are horrible. Our first experience with Rose and Crown made us want to vomit. It was awful. Burned and charcoal meat, chips were nasty, and the fish was terrifying. (Not to mention the gaggle of college age guys openly and constantly hitting on our server because of her "sexy British accent". ) However, the next time we ate there the food was amazing.

True. I have gone in January, had horrible meals, then a friends went 2 months later, had the best meal going. Which is why I always try to say YMMV. A restaurant does not have one cook, so consistency is not always possible. I've tried Columbia twice, and got ill both times from the rancid greasy food.. but I have friends who think it's the best qs on property. Maybe we just had bad luck/bad day/ bad cooks the days we went!

 

[flynnibus]

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.

Not necessary - just that @wdwmagic 's news article is conflicting. It says 24hrs up front, and then later says day before. Maybe he can clarify.

 

[lebeau]

I'm not sure I completely agree. Since the $10 CC deposit, I have been able to snag 'Ohana ressies at less than 75 days out, 2 years in a row, unlike previous trips where it was 180+10 or tough luck.
And now that you have to pre-pay CRT completely upfront, I have also been able to get used-to-be-impossible ADR's for the Princess Breakfast 2 years in a row at the 75 day mark.

The Princess Breakfast hasn't been hard to get ever since Akerhaus started offering a princess breakfast alternative.

 

[asianway]

You can partially thank Howie's Angels for that:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/mike/ms040507.htm

That and the decline of the food and princess invasions at Lunch, Dinner, and Akershus....

By the way, has anyone tried to do a credit card chargeback on the cancellation fee? I cant see how Disney would win the dispute.

 

[muteki]

For all those who expect this to make reservations easier to get: This policy has been in effect since 2011 at Disney's most popular restaurants. And yet, reservations haven't gotten any easier to acquire. If this is going to help with the double booking problem, why haven't we seen any impact on Disney's most popular restaurants in two years?

I think the multi-booking has a different effect on different types of restaurants. When people are thinking of where to eat, they have a first choice, second choice, and so on. The first choice may be one of the most popular restaurants that had this already, the 2nd, 3rd choices may have been lesser "tier" restaurants with no previous cancellation fee.

I don't think that it will get any easier at the popular restaurants that may have had the fee because those are often peoples first picks, and when faced with multiple options, those are the ones people will keep (because of popularity/location/whatever, not because of fee). The lower "tier" restaurants that people use as backup or extra padding on the reservations they really want...those may be easier to get under the new system.

 

[flynnibus]

By the way, has anyone tried to do a credit card chargeback on the cancellation fee? I cant see how Disney would win the dispute.

Based on what? You agreed to the charge based on the terms at time of reservation. There is no basis for dispute if you agree to the charge and the charge was within the agreed upon terms.