Disney instituting Credit Card guarantee for ADRs after 10/26/2011

[Basket Mommy]

I just don't see how this type of policy will keep people from quadruple booking ADRS and then just canceling them later on like they have in the past.

I believe it's now impossible to book more than one reservation per time period per day with the same credit card/account. Sure, it's possible to circumvent the system with multiple accounts and credit cards, but I don't think the majority of people would go to that much trouble.

[A Big Kid]

I managed to score ADR's at Chefs De France yesterday for January 10. I previously had ADRs for Biergarten around the same date/time. Before I was able to confirm the new ADRs (on line)I had to agree to cancel the Biergarten ADRS.

There were plenty of table service restaurants that were avaliable. I dont remember this being the case before.

[Jared]

I just don't see how this type of policy will keep people from quadruple booking ADRS and then just canceling them later on like they have in the past.

Because many people (I won't say "most," so not to guess at a percentage) wouldn't cancel and would instead just not show up. I don't love the idea of people double-booking, but I can forgive them if they make sure to cancel immediately after becoming sure of their plans. But skipping a reservation altogether is just plain rude and completely unfair to all the people these restaurants have to turn away as they wait for the no-shows. At least with this policy in place, people are compelled to cancel within 24 hours, giving others an opportunity to take their table.

Frankly, like everything else at Disney, this is really about money. I'm sure some bean-counter in an office in Burbank recognized that the restaurants were operating at three-quarters capacity, yet were still turning away walk-ins. I suspect this policy will keep the restaurants running at a higher capacity than they were before.

[MstngDrvnDsnyLvr]

Now the question of the day, will they actually enforce this? And if a patron <complains> about the charge, will it be reversed??

If they enforce this and DO NOT reverse the charge when a patron complains because they choose to try and "break the rules" with double booking and just not showing up or not cancelling in the required time - it will work and will help to alleviate a lot of the issues they have with double booking, no shows, etc.

[Wright46]

I just don't see how this type of policy will keep people from quadruple booking ADRS and then just canceling them later on like they have in the past. And I'm sure they can be lenient for people who have legitimate reasons to cancel but not always... I do appreciate though, that it will make people more mindful of their ADRs and perhaps cancel them 24 hours in advance instead of just not showing up to give someone else a chance to maybe get lucky and do a walk in or something.

Agreed. But at least witht he new policy there will be a better chance of these double (or quadruple) reservations being cancelled and giving someone a chance of scooping them up the day of.

[disneynarula]

I think it is a great idea. I know quite a few people who "double dip" (DHs term for it).

If you have a group where two or more resort rooms are involved it's pretty easy. I know people who did this and they had three rooms. They had three ressies for each night they were there. (Triple Dippers)!

So rude!

I admit it's hard to decide where you are going to eat six months in advance but that's just how it is now.

[disneynarula]

At least now there might be a chance to get into a nice place last minute.

[EeyoresBestFriend]

I think it is a great idea. I know quite a few people who "double dip" (DHs term for it).

If you have a group where two or more resort rooms are involved it's pretty easy. I know people who did this and they had three rooms. They had three ressies for each night they were there. (Triple Dippers)!

So rude!

I admit it's hard to decide where you are going to eat six months in advance but that's just how it is now.

We met one family that laughed about making FIVE ressies for every night of their stay for a family of six! I had to ask if she cancelled the other ressies when they had decided and she looked at me like I was crazy!! That is 20 dining ressies she had no intention of going to!! I was floored ~ talk about not only indecisive, but totally inconsiderate for those restaurants!

She is definitely one of the reasons that they implemented that policy.

[TheVBs]

We met one family that laughed about making FIVE ressies for every night of their stay for a family of six! I had to ask if she cancelled the other ressies when they had decided and she looked at me like I was crazy!! That is 20 dining ressies she had no intention of going to!! I was floored ~ talk about not only indecisive, but totally inconsiderate for those restaurants!

She is definitely one of the reasons that they implemented that policy.

Wow! That's unbelievable. I have to say, until I read about this problem here, I'd never heard of it. It just never occurred to me to make more than one resv. at a time, so it never occurred to me that others were doing it, let alone so many. If this brings back the possibility of walk ups, that would be fantastic!

[A Big Kid]

Here is why I am glad they instituted the policy. This is a post from a different website:


I have a bunch of ADRs that we're not going to use so i thought i'd ask if anyone wants them before I cancel them.

All reservations are for a party of 2

Here's what I have:
Thursday
Le Cellier 2:45
Friday
Via Napoli 4:30
Saturday
Via Napoli, 4:30
Le Cellier, 6:15
Monday
Le Cellier, 1:50

Surely, this person was NOT going to eat at Le Cellier that many times and ever more surely not after eating a Via Napoli

[brivers222]

wow actually that would have been me this past december "if" i could have gotten that many LeCellier's.... I needed some 4TS places to take up my credits.

[MstngDrvnDsnyLvr]

I have a friend here locally that could afford to "try out the new policy". She made a double reservation - for the same time and day (two different accounts and credit cards) - and didn't cancel til after the 24 hr period was over (she cancelled an hour before). She was charged $20 to her credit card for the 2 people that would have eaten on the reservation. She then called to complain about the charge and was politely told that they were sorry, but if you placed the reservation with the credit card hold, under the new policy, you clicked that you understood the new policy and that charges could not be reversed. (Or something to that effect.)

Now, let's see how long the policy enforcement lasts.

[Jared]

Now, let's see how long the policy enforcement lasts.

The policy has been quite effective. I see no reason why Disney would change it.

[Christine]

I am SOOO happy with this new plan! I have seen a remarkable difference in availability! We we're able to score Christmas dinner at Ohana three days out at 5:00 and yesterday I booked ohana for tonight at 6:40. I have to believe that this new policy is behind it! Ppl aren't making excessive wasteful ADRs! Good job Disney!!!

[magicofdisney]

I have a friend here locally that could afford to "try out the new policy". She made a double reservation - for the same time and day (two different accounts and credit cards) - and didn't cancel til after the 24 hr period was over (she cancelled an hour before). She was charged $20 to her credit card for the 2 people that would have eaten on the reservation. She then called to complain about the charge and was politely told that they were sorry, but if you placed the reservation with the credit card hold, under the new policy, you clicked that you understood the new policy and that charges could not be reversed. (Or something to that effect.)

Now, let's see how long the policy enforcement lasts.

Nothing against your friend, but it's refreshing to see Disney stick to a policy, particularly when it cost the guest $$.