Beware of Cancellation Charges

disguy · #1 10-02-2007, 04:26 PM

Because I planned my recent trip last minute dining reservations were a nightmare for me.

I booked us at the California Grill and understood that there was a $20 fee to cancel. No sooner had I hung up the phone when my partner realized that wasn't where he wanted to go.

I called back to cancel and had to suffer the charges... BUT they were $20 for each of us!!!

Yuck

So - please be aware of the fees when you make your ADR's. It could put a nice bite into your dining plan if you are not careful.

mttafire · #2 10-02-2007, 04:34 PM

Nice heads up. Cancellation fees are to be expected. I've found that SOMETIMES depending on who you ask....They have been waived. I only ran into a cancellation 2 times in all the years we've gone to Disney. Both times i ask VERY nicely

and they didnt charge the fee. I might not be so lucky next time.

crazeedizneefinatic · #3 10-02-2007, 05:14 PM

Wow! Seems a bit drastic to charge $20 each to change something made only a few minutes ago. I could see canceling last minute or something like that. I probably would call back and like the other poster mentioned speak to someone. They would have to see what time you made the ADR and when you tried to change it.

cal5755 · #4 10-02-2007, 05:24 PM

I agree calling within an hour or so to change dining reservations should not cost 20 bucks. However they do tell you how much it is per person for cancelations within a certain period of time. If they ask you for a credit card to reserve they also tell you there will be a charge for cancelling... usually within 24 hrs.

BugeyedMuggy · #5 10-02-2007, 08:44 PM

Wow, we were told $20.00 also but not per person. Good to know. But it was 48 hrs. for Cali Grill we were told to cancel without charge. Maybe call back and check on this. One time we had the Fantasmic dinner with show thingie and about half way thru the nite we realized we forgot to go. We called and apologized and were told of the fee but they never charged us. Maybe an I'm sorry works.

JPL · #6 10-02-2007, 10:05 PM

I have a feeling this trend will continue and even get worse with the demand for dining at WDW exceeding the current supply especially with DDP. I for one don;t have a problem with it since many people have been making multiple rservations at the same time in different restaurants so they have a choice and don't bother to cancel maybe a penalty is the only way for Disney to go with this.

disguy · #7 10-03-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPL

I have a feeling this trend will continue and even get worse with the demand for dining at WDW exceeding the current supply especially with DDP. I for one don;t have a problem with it since many people have been making multiple rservations at the same time in different restaurants so they have a choice and don't bother to cancel maybe a penalty is the only way for Disney to go with this.

I think I agree. I was so last minute and crazy this trip that I was making & cancelling reservations all over the place. It wasn't my best attempt at planning. I'm just going to chalk it up as an experience but thought I should warn everyone to be careful. I can imagine that the same charges for a family of four ($80)could really hurt the tight budgets some of us travel on and I'd rather see those hard earned $$ go for photos or some nice momentos for everyone instead of a wasted service fee.

Jared · #8 10-03-2007, 01:05 AM

If the table service restaurants remain this crowded because of the Disney Dining Plan, I would welcome a cancellation charge.

People are making reservations, not showing up and leaving parties with nowhere to eat and tons of credits.

Even better, let's just eliminate the plan altogether.

SurferStitch · #9 10-03-2007, 06:43 AM

I was told at the time of making our ressie that I would be charged the $20 pp if I canceled the ressie within 24 hours of our seating time. As long as I did it before that, no charge.

I would call back and speak very nicely to someone else. You'll probably get your $40 back.

For that kind of cash lost, I would have kept the ressie!!

tys_mommy · #10 10-03-2007, 10:35 AM

Do all restaurants charge a cancellation fee or is there a list of those that do have these fees?

TheRustyScupper · #11 10-03-2007, 11:08 AM

1) Only certain popular restaurants charge a cancellation fee.
2) ALL cancellation fees have a cancellation period.
3) If you were outside of the cancellation period, there is no fee.
4) If you were charged a fee, call back and get the fee refunded.

NOTE: I have canceled a lot of ressies for people. Outside of the cancellation period, no fee, In some cases the fee within the cancellation period was able to be waived - in such cases it is the restaurant that allows the fee waver, not the ressie people.