2009 Restaurant Rumor About This Page:

[Disney Dream'n]

DH and I just got back from WDW last night and tried every day that we were there to change reservations to Coral Reef and/or Le Cellier, with no luck, since there was nothing when I first made the ADR's. The restaurants that we did enjoy were wall to wall people. I'm surprised to here that pple were noticing empty tables on they're visits. That is very disappointing that individuals would simply no show, very poor form to not give notice and cancel properly.

[Dave Marx]

I have my doubts a call center CM would have any idea about any of this. Of course, lots of people speculate that Disney is "losing money" on free dining. However, if Disney was losing money, why do they repeat it year after year?

There's certainly no reason to require a credit card for every reservation. It would chase people away from table service by the hundreds of thousands and steer a whole lot of them to lower-priced counter service restaurants. That doesn't help Disney at all. Many folks know that an unexpectedly long attraction queue here, or a change of plans there is incredibly common during a Disney vacation. If they still want to eat table service they'll stop making reservations and start doing walk-ups. Imagine how many guests will get angry at Disney for being charged a no-show fee, and what that could do for guest satisfaction... No, no, no. It's just not going to happen.

The primary reason for the reservation system is crowd control. It's used to steer guests to restaurants that have vacancies. "Can I get Le Cellier at 6:00pm on Saturday?" "No, but we have an availability at Rose and Crown." They're not holding tables for anyone, so nobody gets turned away because there was a no-show. If, on the other hand, they're charging people for no-shows, in return people will expect a table will be waiting for them at the appointed time (rather than "next available"). That makes walk-ups more difficult, and that, too, leads to more guest dissatisfaction.

There's an entirely new online dining reservation system going in place as we speak. Just like the online dining/shore excursion reservation system for the cruise line, it should be able to keep track of just what folks have already reserved, and to block them from making more reservations at the same day and time. That, and instructing call center CMs to only allow only one reservation for a guest for the same meal is all they'd need to do to address this problem. Sure, some folks would go the extra step of making additional reservations with a different name or address, but most folks aren't going to bother.

[trixie lamb]

Originally Posted by Kynna

Honestly I don't mind leaving a credit card # with ressies as long as they give us a reasonable window of time to cancel in case of last minute emergencies.

I completely agree. I expect to be charged if I say I am going to be at Chef Mickeys and I dont show up. Otherwise it isnt fair to everyone calling to get a time....

[Disneybine]

Thanks so much for your input, Dave! I agree that the disadvantages far outweight the positive aspects. Can't wait for that online tool as I love the thought of being able to check my ADRs online!

[Lynnilou]

I think the new system is a good idea. I personally thought all this time you were not allowed to make double ressies' so I have never given that a second thought

[Colexis Mom]

Very interesting

[Kynna]

Originally Posted by njsmama

I made 2 ressies for the same time frame (a cast member suggested this). We were waiting for a definate time for the last showing of LMA stunt show before it went dark for a rehab. As soon as it was released, we cancelled the ressie we couldn't use. That is the first time we have ever done that, granted it was only for about a week that we had 2 ressies, but, I felt guilty. I was relieved when the schedule was finalized so we could cancel our second ressie.
I too would not mind providing a CC # to secure our ressie as long as it had a decent time frame for cancelling.

I understand . I just don't like it when people do this because they want to "keep their options open for the night". I'm a planner myself so I can see being in that situation.

[Kynna]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

I have my doubts a call center CM would have any idea about any of this. Of course, lots of people speculate that Disney is "losing money" on free dining. However, if Disney was losing money, why do they repeat it year after year?

There's certainly no reason to require a credit card for every reservation. It would chase people away from table service by the hundreds of thousands and steer a whole lot of them to lower-priced counter service restaurants. That doesn't help Disney at all. Many folks know that an unexpectedly long attraction queue here, or a change of plans there is incredibly common during a Disney vacation. If they still want to eat table service they'll stop making reservations and start doing walk-ups. Imagine how many guests will get angry at Disney for being charged a no-show fee, and what that could do for guest satisfaction... No, no, no. It's just not going to happen.

I understand about mishaps and best laid plans. We have experienced them ourselves. One thing our family discussed our last trip was how nice it would be if Disney Dining had an option on their phone line that was strictly for cancellations to make it easy to do the right thing and call. Even my technology resistant self has a cell phone.

If I was charged a fee because I couldn't get through in time I think I would go out of my mind!

It's not really the empty tables that concern me as much as the ability for crazy type-A Disney planners such as myself can't have the security of a PS at the restaurant of my choice because someone else who would rather "go with the flow" made 3 bookings for one night. Disney doesn't loose $$ because they can just fill the seats with a walk in potentially, but little ol me is stuck with my 2nd or 3rd choice. (don't get me wrong I'm always excited about my dining plans).

I am very excited about the new booking system. I just spent some time on the phone with Disney Dining the other day and although I have to wait yet another 2 weeks to make my ADRs, it seems like it will be worth it.

[HiddenMickey]

I tend to think empty tables are due to low staffing (or inadequate staffing). A waiter/waitress can only take so many tables at once. If you don't have enough staff, some of those tables will have to stay empty.

Also if you are among the first people in a restaurant, they will stagger seating a particular station, leaving some tables empty until the waiter/waitress is ready to take on another. That will leave the impression that the tables are not being used. No waiter/waitress likes to get "slammed" with four tables at once. No one wins when that happens.

[Marybeth]

We were at Disney last week and I can attest that ALL the restaurants we ate in were booked and packed with hungry diners. The only one I can think that was remotely empty was Sci-Fi, and we had ressies at 1:30 pm.

[ddgckg]

Thanks for the heads-up. I guess only time will tell.