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

[flynnibus]

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

Yeah, basically demand still outstrips supply. As long as demand is there, it will still be difficult. It doesn't change people creating more bookings, etc.. but what it could do is open more 'day of' or short notice reservations. Basically it combats no-shows. In theory in fear of the charge, people would create less extra reservations.. but there really is no reason to do that. You can still cancel without paying the fee fine.. so people will continue to make the multiple reservations.

 

[Lord_Vader]

Not surprised. Again, Disney regularly limits capacity at its restaurants because of the dreadful thought that they would be "overstaffed" (according to their spreadsheets) and your server might be overcompensated at $3/hr if they only had to handle 4 tables instead of 6.

The servers don't want to be there if there are not tables to work, they are wasting their time and not making much money if nobody is dining. This same restaurant management method is used at most full service dining locations because if you continually schedule servers with no business, they quit.

 

[wdwmagic]

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.

Conflict has been edited. The important part is:

To avoid the penalty, the cancellation must be made up to 11:59pm on the day before the reservation.

 

[flynnibus]

Conflict has been edited. The important part is:

To avoid the penalty, the cancellation must be made up to 11:59pm on the day before the reservation.

Excellent...

Even more reasonable IMHO.

 

[mousehockey37]

Excellent...

Even more reasonable IMHO.

This is reasonable. It still doesn't stop people from booking 5 dinners a night, but if you're able to work a spot into your morning while everyone is getting ready to check the ADR's for that day, it seems you may be able to get in somewhere last minute (just hope you have what you need if there's a dress code).

This now brings up the question of: Should you book ADR's 180+10, the day of, or anywhere in between?

 

[ExtinctJenn]

[quote

Conflict has been edited. The important part is:

To avoid the penalty, the cancellation must be made up to 11:59pm on the day before the reservation.

Even more reasonable IMHO.

I'd have to agree. I think that helps with the folks who get back to the resort late at night and decide "last minute" not to do that 8am breakfast. It's no longer 24 hours notice in that case... it's 8!

 

[asianway]

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.

I didnt say there was basis - I asked has anyone tried it. I sure would.

Services not rendered. The card processors are usually consumer friendly, and I question how much of their precious labor dollars Disney would expend to defend

 

[CDavid]

How, one might reasonably ask, can it be more reasonable when nothing has actually changed? It's still the exact same policy, just clarified as to what it was meant to say. If it was previously unreasonable to expect people to know the day before (24 hours) they need to cancel - which it is - then it remains equally unreasonable. Persons with multiple ADR's will indeed know the day prior they need to cancel; Persons with a single legitimate ADR often aren't going to know that something is going to come up the next day. Nothing has changed.

Reasonable would be no more than a few hours notice; Guest friendly - something Disney was once known for - would be to merely have to either show up or cancel within 30 minutes (or so) of your ADR to avoid the fee. Of course, there are more effective ways to prevent people making multiple bookings than imposing a fee, which doesn't actually stop the practice, it just adds the fee if you don't cancel.

 

[flynnibus]

I didnt say there was basis - I asked has anyone tried it. I sure would.

Not impressed...

 

[flynnibus]

How, one might reasonably ask, can it be more reasonable when nothing has actually changed? It's still the exact same policy, just clarified as to what it was meant to say.

Uhh... because what was discussed in the thread (24hrs notice) is not what the policy was. The clarification changed the MEANING and situations being discussed in the thread.

If it was previously unreasonable to expect people to know the day before (24 hours) they need to cancel - which it is - then it remains equally unreasonable

The Day before and 24hrs notice are not the same thing.. because your reservations are for a TIME and date, not just a date. Canceling a breakfast appointment at 11pm the night before is not 24hr notice. And for the use cases presented in the thread as people's problems... the 'day before' requirement is far more forgiving.

Reasonable would be no more than a few hours notice; Guest friendly - something Disney was once known for - would be to merely have to either show up or cancel within 30 minutes (or so) of your ADR to avoid the fee. Of course, there are more effective ways to prevent people making multiple bookings than imposing a fee, which doesn't actually stop the practice, it just adds the fee if you don't cancel.

The fee isn't to stop multiple bookings.. the fee is to stop no shows. If I don't double book myself, and still don't show... Disney and guests are still impacted. 'stopping double bookings' alone doesn't address the true root problem.. no shows.

Encouraging people to cancel with short notice doesn't address all the problems the no shows present. If the window of opportunity has passed for other people to pick up the reservation slot... Disney is behind.

 

[Runmyhorse]

But it's not better for everyone, as I posted above. I am an honest person, and if my family awakens too tired to trek from my resort to a faraway resort for the early breakfast we had planned 6 months before, we are screwed out of $30...how is that better for everyone?

We have had this happen, but we feel we made the reservations so we keep them. We get tired, but we manage. If yall not wanting to trek all yhe way in the morning happens (you said yourself on several occasions) then dont make those mornings ressie. Get a snack some where. This is one of the reasons why disney is placing this policy.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

We have had this happen, but we feel we made the reservations so we keep them. We get tired, but we manage. If yall not wanting to trek all yhe way in the morning happens (you said yourself on several occasions) then dont make those mornings ressie. Get a snack some where. This is one of the reasons why disney is placing this policy.

Well and with the clarification above that it's really by 11:59pm the night before the day of your ADR I think the concern is even less. If I have an 8am breakfast reservation I think by 11:59pm the night before I'll have a good idea if we're simply going to be too exhausted to make it.

 

[ford91exploder]

This will in no way make it easier for walk-ups. Disney doesn't want them at all if possible.

Disney wants a predictable revenue stream - they WILL let dollars fly over their heads because with everything booked and PAID for 6 months in advance they can churn out spreadsheets with ACCURATE revenue predictions months in advance. Just like they can quote RPS figures for cable subscribers.

Disney is a media holding company which just happens to operate theme parks and hotels. And so they are going to contort and bend the guest experience until they can account for guests just like cable subs.

Next step in the ADR process will be that ALL meals will need to be paid for in advance just like the dinner shows are now. So that Disney will be able to collect interest on the float.

 

[Lord_Vader]

Disney wants a predictable revenue stream - they WILL let dollars fly over their heads because with everything booked and PAID for 6 months in advance they can churn out spreadsheets with ACCURATE revenue predictions months in advance. Just like they can quote RPS figures for cable subscribers.

Disney is a media holding company which just happens to operate theme parks and hotels. And so they are going to contort and bend the guest experience until they can account for guests just like cable subs.

Next step in the ADR process will be that ALL meals will need to be paid for in advance just like the dinner shows are now. So that Disney will be able to collect interest on the float.

Isn't that already done, it called the DDP?

 

[DougK]

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.

In other words, authentic British food. Disney is to be commended!

 

[G00fyDad]

In other words, authentic British food. Disney is to be commended!

No. Authentic UK food is pretty good. This was apparently an off night for the cook.

 

[ford91exploder]

In such a condition - would you just not speak with management to resolve the issue?

My god people we know Disney folds over backwards to apease guest compliants... here you obviously showed up and obviously intended to eat (why else blow your dinner window?)... but for whatever reason no longer want to eat there. I'm sure the manager would accommodate not marking you as a no-show. If no, you better be escalating after the fact.

Isn't that already done, it called the DDP?

It is indeed, Remember when you could add DDP when you checked in?, Now they want to extend this plague to individual meals.

 

[WDWmazprty]

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

And so wh

It is indeed, Remember when you could add DDP when you checked in?, Now they want to extend this plague to individual meals.

Plague?

 

[ford91exploder]

And so wh


Plague?

Think Locusts eating all the dollar bills they can find...

 

[RSoxNo1]

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 have been able to get Ohana reservations 60-90 days out provided the group is small (6 or less). Unfortunately, when I go with family we're traveling 9 deep, and I insist on going to 'Ohana every trip. That means the reservations and planning needs to be done in the 150-180 day range.