Online Dining Reservations No Longer Allow Multiple Reservations

[Krack]

This is a very good change to the system and a long time coming. I still think the best way to fix this particular problem (aside from getting rid of the reservations system, as is, altogether) would be to automatically charge a $10 (per person, per reservation) deposit at the time the reservation is made and then have that $10 count against your dining bill at the time of service.

In other words, if you're a family of four and you want to make two sets of reservations for the same time, it's gonna cost you $40. Maybe it should even be higher.

 

[llrain]

They dont charge people for the missed reservations. WDW prob doesnt really mind the occasional ( I see they do mind all around since they are limiting it now) no show. With a no show that gives walk ups an opportunity
to well, walk up and get a table.

It does suck in the planning stages though, thats probably why every time you try to book Le Celliuar its full. When honestly its just people on the fence as to whether or not they want to eat there. SO on this end we loose out

When I read this change was taking place and the reason why, I also couldn't believe people were being so inconsiderate of others. Disney should have been on top of this long ago. Hopefully they were charging people for those no show reservations. Before we make our reservations we look at our trip plan, talk about what restaurant we want to try, the type of food we want and reserve that place. I know not everyone plans their trip like we do, some like to be spontaneous but its not that difficult to make decisions at least as to which place to dine so as to not block someone else out. If they cant make up their minds then they risk being left out. There's only so many seats available so make some decisions people.

 

[DMC-12]

:sohappy::sohappy: HUGE fan of this. Excellent!

However as some said... some inconsiderate dolts will still find a way to abuse the system.

 

[awilliams4]

but in this case, you would end up cancelling your MK ressie when you book your DHS ressie, right?

No. I had to have both to begin with at a little under 180 days out. Had I waited until last week for Disney to change (increase) the hours and tried for a ressie then, there would be no availability.

 

[awilliams4]

When I read this change was taking place and the reason why, I also couldn't believe people were being so inconsiderate of others. Disney should have been on top of this long ago. Hopefully they were charging people for those no show reservations. If they cant make up their minds then they risk being left out. There's only so many seats available so make some decisions people.

How are they going to charge you when a Credit Card is only required at a select few restaurants when making the reservation?

How can you make up your mind when Disney doesn't post their final hours until a week or two before you arrive?

 

[llrain]

it is quoted:
If they wish to confirm the new reservation, the previous reservation must be canceled.

Does this mean WDW reservations will AUTOMATICALLY cancel that existing reservation or does it mean WDW is just warning you that YOU need to cancel the reservation...If it means YOU need to cancel the reservation how many people will actually cancel that reservation....

I think, if they arent going to anyways, That when you make that second reservation the system should automatically cancel the existing as to not
allow any room for the neglectful people.

Also as much as i AM NOT a multi booker (heartedly believe in keeping it fair game) I can already think of 3 ways around this to maintain multi bookings that Disney will prob not put in place to stop it.

 

[KanineKrunchies]

They dont charge people for the missed reservations.

This is not entirely true based on where you make reservations. We just booked California Grill and had to secure it with a credit card. If we were to cancel within 48 hours or not show we would be charged $25 per person. We also ran into this when booking The Flying Fish Cafe at Boardwalk.

I don't know if this is a new feature or something they have always done for the higher end restaurants. This would not bother me at all if they did this for all reservations.

 

[llrain]

Somewhere like Cali grill or V&A i can understand.
Although I made a reservation at flying fish 6 months ago for my last month trip and didnt have to leave a credit card #.

Also I booked last week Flying fish for October and had to leave no credit card to book it. Also Booked Yachtmans and Narcossees with no credit card needed.

Never have had to leave one for Yachtmans or Narcossee's only, nor Citricos or Artist Point.
I think its just a Cali Grill and V&A thing.

This is not entirely true based on where you make reservations. We just booked California Grill and had to secure it with a credit card. If we were to cancel within 48 hours or not show we would be charged $25 per person. We also ran into this when booking The Flying Fish Cafe at Boardwalk.

I don't know if this is a new feature or something they have always done for the higher end restaurants. This would not bother me at all if they did this for all reservations.

 

[lebeau]

This is a very good change to the system and a long time coming. I still think the best way to fix this particular problem (aside from getting rid of the reservations system, as is, altogether) would be to automatically charge a $10 (per person, per reservation) deposit at the time the reservation is made and then have that $10 count against your dining bill at the time of service.

In other words, if you're a family of four and you want to make two sets of reservations for the same time, it's gonna cost you $40. Maybe it should even be higher.

A family of 4 isn't about to plunk down $40 up front to hold a table for every meal. You might as well just do away with the reservation system because people would stop using it. And since people would stop using it, walk ups would become available and the reservation system would become unnecessary.

 

[wm49rs]

A family of 4 isn't about to plunk down $40 up front to hold a table for every meal. You might as well just do away with the reservation system because people would stop using it. And since people would stop using it, walk ups would become available and the reservation system would become unnecessary.

Probably his point exactly. Besides, it would keep children out of the parks as well.....

 

[devoy1701]

How are they going to charge you when a Credit Card is only required at a select few restaurants when making the reservation?

How can you make up your mind when Disney doesn't post their final hours until a week or two before you arrive?

Most of the restaurants you can get into without having to book 180 days out..save for places like Chef Mickey's, O'hana, Le Cellier (though you can get lucky sometimes as I have). If eating in a particular restaurant is that important to you though, you should pick your days that you want to go, try to get your reservation at the time you hoped for, and build the rest of your plans around that. Yes park hours can change, but they only ever increase (unless some special event gets booked). It really isn't THAT hard to pick your restaurants and the parks you're going to visit more than a week or two before you arrive. I find that a VERY poor excuse for cheating the system and booking multiple reservations for the same time slot and ruining the chance for some other family to be able to get a reservation at the restuarant that you choose not to go to.

I've never had a problem with scheduling dining reserations and our park visits and we take 3 or 4 trips a year and rarely every book 180 days out since we always wait for the passholder rates. If you get what you want, you get what you want, if you don't, it's a great opportunity to try another restaurant. And if you really want to eat at a restaurant bad enough, well than you just may very well have to take the 7:15am reservation at Chef Mickey's or the 9:50pm seating at Le Cellier or some strange hour.

It's called being considerate. Though not many people know the meaning of that word anymore and it seems everything is about me, me, me....

*off the soap box*

 

[devoy1701]

A family of 4 isn't about to plunk down $40 up front to hold a table for every meal. You might as well just do away with the reservation system because people would stop using it. And since people would stop using it, walk ups would become available and the reservation system would become unnecessary.

Probably his point exactly. Besides, it would keep children out of the parks as well.....

$40 is a bit absurd...but there is no reason a $10 hold fee couldn't be established for each reservation. I don't think that is unreasonable, but in most cases it will be enough to keep people from wanting to book mulyiple ADRs that they might not plan on using.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

We had lunch at Le Cellier a few weeks back. A group of 3 came in to see if there was anything open. They were turned away saying they were booked for the entire day. When we sat down, I counted 3-4 tables that stayed completely empty during our meal. I'm assuming these people had reservations and decided not to show up. If someone is going to have 2 reservations (which I think is very incosiderate of others) at least have the courtesy to cancel the one you decide you're not going to use so someone else can eat there. We always plan what parks we are going to visit on what day and then plan dining around that. But then again we always know at least 180 days out that we will be going. But what about the annual passholders or Florida residents or people who plan spontaneous trips? If you live in Florida and have an unexpected day off and want to go to Epcot, chances of you getting into Le Cellier are slim to none. I know it's a long shot but I wish there was some way Disney could reserve a few tables at some of the more popular restaurants (ie: the ones that you know you could fill with walk-ups if needed) and hold them until the day of and then open them up. That would allow those who make spontaneous trips a chance to dine at places they wouldnt get to otherwise. I know that will NEVER happen but it'd be nice...
Also, I don't know what their policy is right now on no-shows (whether they keep the table empty til the next reservation time comes around for that table or if they give the table away) but I would also recommend implementing something like if you're 15 minutes or more late for your reservation, then you lose it. If you book a reservation, you know what time you need to be there so make sure you're there. If you're late, tough, someone else who wants to eat there can now.

 

[sittle]

I really think this ADR needs a serious overhaul and retooling.

This past February we were staying at OKW. We called at noon to make same day reservations (for 6) between 4:30 pm at 6 pm, we were told that Olivia's was completely booked up, we wouldn't be able to get a seat.... We spent the afternoon at the pool and we were (miracle of miracles) able to get walk up tables at Olivia's for all six of us at 5 pm.... We stayed a full hour, and the place was empty.

... great meal by the way... great staff too!

This isn't the first time this has happened to us (we usually only book 2 ADRs out as a large group (Ohanna's & character breakfast))...

I really think that if people want to make ADRs they need to put their money where there mouth is and pay an upfront and non refundable fee for each seat... perhaps on a sliding scale pending the price points of the restaurant. I like to plan as much as the next person, but I can't plan every frigging meal 10 to 6 months in advance of a vacation...

I'd like to see ADR's decreased to allow for more walk ups.... 60 / 40 split...

 

[lebeau]

$40 is a bit absurd...but there is no reason a $10 hold fee couldn't be established for each reservation. I don't think that is unreasonable, but in most cases it will be enough to keep people from wanting to book mulyiple ADRs that they might not plan on using.

That's using a bazooka to kill a fly.

If you start asking for a credit card hold for people to make reservations, they are going to be a lot less likely to make reservations. And Disney wants people making reservations so it can be sure all of its restaurants are booked solid all the time.

Any solution which causes the average guest some kind of pain or inconvenience isn't going to fly.

 

[Poofiesdream]

like this new rule!!:ROFLOL:

 

[lebeau]

I really think this ADR needs a serious overhaul and retooling.

This past February we were staying at OKW. We called at noon to make same day reservations (for 6) between 4:30 pm at 6 pm, we were told that Olivia's was completely booked up, we wouldn't be able to get a seat.... We spent the afternoon at the pool and we were (miracle of miracles) able to get walk up tables at Olivia's for all six of us at 5 pm.... We stayed a full hour, and the place was empty.

... great meal by the way... great staff too!

This isn't the first time this has happened to us (we usually only book 2 ADRs out as a large group (Ohanna's & character breakfast))...

I really think that if people want to make ADRs they need to put their money where there mouth is and pay an upfront and non refundable fee for each seat... perhaps on a sliding scale pending the price points of the restaurant. I like to plan as much as the next person, but I can't plan every frigging meal 10 to 6 months in advance of a vacation...

I'd like to see ADR's decreased to allow for more walk ups.... 60 / 40 split...

Again, you may as well just do away with ADRs. Which I am all for. But Disney likes ADRs because they more or less guarantee full (or more full) restaurants.

Given that Disney's not going to do away with ADRs or shorten the window (which seems unlikely since they already tried that and it didn't work), this is probably the best solution to the double booking problem. It will at least force someone to consider what they are doing and force them to actively circumvent the system (which should be extremely easy for anyone who is so inclined).

 

[KanineKrunchies]

If you start asking for a credit card hold for people to make reservations, they are going to be a lot less likely to make reservations. And Disney wants people making reservations so it can be sure all of its restaurants are booked solid all the time.

Any solution which causes the average guest some kind of pain or inconvenience isn't going to fly.

I say use the same system they have setup for Cali Grill. Use a credit card to secure your reservation (no charge at that time). If you cancel within 48 hours of your reservation time or do not show up, you get charged a fee per person. I think this is more than reasonable and don't think it would scare away anyone from making reservations.

 

[lebeau]

I say use the same system they have setup for Cali Grill. Use a credit card to secure your reservation (no charge at that time). If you cancel within 48 hours of your reservation time or do not show up, you get charged a fee per person. I think this is more than reasonable and don't think it would scare away anyone from making reservations.

Oh yes it would!

People are reluctant to give out their credit card number (with good reason). Most people aren't going to do it for several reservations over the course of a vacation. They will become selective. Disney would see a decline in the number of reservations which is the greater of two evils. That is why they use credit card holds selectively.

A couple weeks ago, I got a few dozen e-mails from companies including Disney saying that my info had been hacked. I'm not likely to give out my credit card number to save a seat at the Plaza.

 

[wm49rs]

Oh yes it would!

People are reluctant to give out their credit card number (with good reason). Most people aren't going to do it for several reservations over the course of a vacation. They will become selective. Disney would see a decline in the number of reservations which is the greater of two evils. That is why they use credit card holds selectively.

A couple weeks ago, I got a few dozen e-mails from companies including Disney saying that my info had been hacked. I'm not likely to give out my credit card number to save a seat at the Plaza.

While I dislike the multiple ADRs as much as the next guy, Disney is indeed taking the middle ground here. They're keeping credit cards requirements in place for some of their dinner shows and signature dining restaurants, but keeping the rest open. I received a similar email about my account being hacked, and I'm sure that had to weigh in their equation. Reducing the potential for ADR "abuse" by eliminating simultaneous reservations is a fair balance.....