Late Cancellation Fee?

[ffugitive]

Will Disney really charge me $20 if I cancel my reservation a few hours before the reservation (instead of the required 24 hours notice)? What is the practice? Thanks!

 

[cluvsdisney]

Yes, you need to cancel the reservation by midnight the day before the ADR. One time I was able to change the reservation to another day then I cancelled it without penalty...I had to call and keep the same confirmation number. This was last year so I don't know if this loophole was closed.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I have yet to be charged the fee, but I call in and explain why I am cancelling (sick kid, going back to resort with crabby kid and wont make it back in time, changing to a different restaurant. etc. ) Each time a supervisor had to override the charge.

 

[ffugitive]

Yes, you need to cancel the reservation by midnight the day before the ADR. One time I was able to change the reservation to another day then I cancelled it without penalty...I had to call and keep the same confirmation number. This was last year so I don't know if this loophole was closed.

Interesting - anyone else have luck with this? I just have some in the park dinner reservations we might want to skip if we feel like leaving early for whatever reason (too hot, too crowded, etc.).

 

[hmjenks]

I've also had the fee waived - Called because my kids just weren't feeling up to a scheduled character meal and they waived the fee. I've heard that they will waive it as long as you call to cancel (instead of just not showing up).

 

[ashmarie06]

Yes.

However, I have been able to call the Disney Dining line to explain circumstances and they will sometimes cancel and waive the fee.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I will add that I've only done it once per trip -- not several times in the same trip.

 

[rg35]

I was able to get the fee waived for a same day Splitsville cancellation. I didn't realize the ADR included only dining and was not for dining and bowling, so I wanted to cancel. They waived the fee.

Usually if you call and have an explanation, they are flexible. Hopefully people are not abusive and making ADRs that they never intended to use in the first place.

 

[Hopefully]

Interesting - anyone else have luck with this? I just have some in the park dinner reservations we might want to skip if we feel like leaving early for whatever reason (too hot, too crowded, etc.).

This and the fact that folks were hoarding multiple ADRs for the same time are 2 of the main reasons the fee was established.
Many folks have posted that they have been charged the fee.

 

[AntJulie]

Our flight was delayed by 4 hours. Our 1st night ADR for dinner at Ohana was cancelled via phone call while still at airport in NY. Our fee was waived.

folks were hoarding multiple ADRs for the same time

If you try to book two ADRs for the same time, it will not allow you to do so. It will cancel previous ADR if you want to continue booking the second one.

 

[Hopefully]

If you try to book two ADRs for the same time, it will not allow you to do so. It will cancel previous ADR if you want to continue booking the second one.

This is how it is now, another measure to try and stop the hoarders. Hoarding was long and often discussed here.

 

[DVC4US]

If you try to book two ADRs for the same time, it will not allow you to do so. It will cancel previous ADR if you want to continue booking the second one.

While this is true if you try to book with the same MDE account, you can use a different MDE account to make multiple ADRs. Also you can book an ADR using your MDE account and then you can call the dining number and book another reservation. And as long as the ADR is more than an hour apart then you can actually have the same restaurant ADR on one MDE account. Disney is being so slow in updating park hours and show times for our trip in June so I have have several days where I have multiple ADRs. As soon as they update everything I will finalize my plans and cancel the ADRs I do not need.

ETA - OP, yes they can and will charge you for the late cancellation or no show. As others have posted you can call and try to cancel or move the reservation(then cancel) but this does not always work.

 

[DisBuckMan]

If you try to book two ADRs for the same time, it will not allow you to do so. It will cancel previous ADR if you want to continue booking the second one.

People still get around that using two MDE accounts, staggering ADR times at the same restaurant, etc.

 

[piccolopat]

If you try to book two ADRs for the same time, it will not allow you to do so. It will cancel previous ADR if you want to continue booking the second one.

That's how it was on the website when I was booking last year for my December trip but it was not the case with the app. It may have changed since then.

 

[maxiesmom]

I hope people don't get too carried away asking for the fee to be waived. That is a sure way to get Disney to decide not to waive it at all for any reason. Hopefully people don't abuse Disney's generosity on this.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ADR "NO-SHOW" CANCELLATION FEES 411:
ALL Table Service eateries, both Disney-owned and non-Disney-owned are covered by this policy.
.
1) The rule says you are charged $10 per person for "no-show" ADR's.
. . . penalty applies when none of the party appears for the ADR
. . . penalty does not apply as long as some guests in party appear
2) The "no-show" penalty procedure
. . . podium person lists ADR as no-show (checks "On Hold" box in computer)
. . . usually after 30-minutes tardiness you are marked as a "no-show"
. . . once listed as "no-show", your name and number of your guests are listed
. . . the computer is reviewed by a manager at the end of the operating day
. . . the eatery manager SOLELY determines whether or not to charge you
. . . if charged, the cost penalty is on your credit/debit card immediately
. . . there are no exceptions for missing ADR's for such things as late flights
. . . if worried about late/delayed flights, don't book a TS meal until well after arrival time
. . . there are NO exceptons for being delayed due to crowded WDW rides or attractions
. . . it is up to you to plan you day to meet ADR times
. . . if you get there and decide not to wait for your ADR< you WILL be charged the no-show-fee
3) Exceptions - policy
. . . penalty is not assessed for cancellations made the day before ADR
. . . the ADR must be canceled by 11:59pm the previous day to avoid a no-show penalty
. . . for pre-paid meals, there are 24-48 hour cancel periods (eg. CRT, HDDR, Luau)
4) Exceptions - not policy, and at manager's discretion
. . . cancellations for lunch/dinner made early in the same day
. . . you come to the eatery ANYTIME during the same day and apologize
. . . a few minutes tardy, podium person usually will not denote you as "On Hold"
. . . for illnesses, etc, the manager has the right to charge or not charge the penalty (regardless what the phone ADR people say)
5) No-Show Penalty Trial Period Backstory
. . . this was done on a trial-basis for 4-weeks in Epcot
. . . cut down no-shows by over 75% at Epcot eateries
. . . Le Cellier cut daily no-shows to 1-page from 2-3 pages
. . . now a policy, as no-shows greatly can reduce eatery revenue
. . . a no-show takes a ressie someone else might have kept
. . . the policy was then trialled for character meals and signature meals
. . . being so successful, it is in effect for almost all table service meals across-the-property


NOTE1: During busy periods, there might not be a grace period and late-is-late, and they
might even cancel your ADR. However, whether the ADR was canceled due to tardiness or
not, the penalty fee will not be imposed, as long as you showed at the podium.

NOTE2: IMPORTANT
If you show up 2-hrs before your reservaion, you still might get the penalty fee.
The "Ala Carte" dining reservation system
. . . the system shows/allows only 2-hrs of ADR's for check-in purposes
. . . if you show within that time, the SEATER (aka, host/hostess) checks you in with no problem
. . . if you are earlier or later, the SEATER must write your name and confirmation number down in long hand
. . . the long hand note is given to the manager
. . . the manager, then, will look at the non-shows at the end of the day and not charge you
Why doesn't this happen all the time?
. . . some SEATER's are simply lazy
. . . others just don't care
If you show up 2-hrs early for your ADR, ask the SEATER if they have noted your confirmation number that you have appeared to the ADR.
If the SEATER does not note your arrival, you can bet you will see a no-show penalty-fee on your credit card.

 

[Allison]

I hope people don't get too carried away asking for the fee to be waived. That is a sure way to get Disney to decide not to waive it at all for any reason. Hopefully people don't abuse Disney's generosity on this.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[abarriger]

At our 180 day mark my GF was in charge of getting a BOG lunch reservation-- and she didn't use MDE appropriately and didn't change the date, so we ended up with one for THAT DAY-- and then we couldn't change it because it wasn't within the 24 hour window. We called and they waived the cancellation fee... They were super friendly about it.