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Walt DIsney World restaurants will soon begin requiring and enforcing a credit card guarantee for reservations with the goal of reducing last-minute cancellations and no-shows. Under the new policy, making a reservation at select signature and character dining locations throughout Walt Disney World’s hotels and theme parks will require submitting credit card information up front, which will be charged $10 per person if reservations are not cancelled more than 24 hours before the reserved time.
The policy will go into effect on Oct. 26, 2011, and will apply to the following locations and restaurants:
Walt Disney World resort hotel restaurants:
Magic Kingdom:
Epcot:
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
The phone number 407-WDW-CNCL is now available to assist with cancellations.
Pre-paid Walt Disney World dining locations already operate under a similar policy, with an even stricter rule. If reservations at dinner show locations are not cancelled in advance of 24 hours before the reserved time, the full dinner price is still charged with no refunds available. This policy exists at:
Since the launch of Disney’s online dining reservation system in 2009, many guests have complained of their favorite restaurants being completely booked far ahead of their desired dates. The system currently allows reservations to be made up to 6 months in advance, with few restrictions or penalties for multiple bookings or not showing up for the reservation without canceling first.
Under the new system, guests may still book multiple reservations for the restaurants above, but will be charged a fee unless cancelled at least a day before the reservation’s time, potentially opening up day-of tables for those who haven’t planned ahead six months. The potential of being charged $10 per guest may result in some diners thinking twice before booking excessive numbers of reservations, freeing up more times for more patrons.
How will this affect people using their dining plans? Will the meal get charged to the plan, or will they need to also provide credit card info in advance?
I doubt this will effect people with dining plans at all. The goal is, as stated to cut down on people making multiple reservations during the same time slot. The people that link their dining plan to their reservation are already limited in that if you have reservations for Cinderella’s Castle at 9 for breakfast and try to book ‘Ohana for breakfast at the same time and day the system will have a fit and make you okay the release of the first one before you can book the second.
It’s unfortunate that this was required but I know for a fact that people “hoard” these reservations and make their minds up later about where to go on what day so I see why Disney had to do it.
I would imagine people on the dining plan would still need to provide a credit card to make a reservation. The card would only be charged a fee for no-shows. It’s just meant to discourage people from making multiple reservations. They aren’t going to use a “meal credit” from your plan if you don’t eat.
Im very surprised it has taken this long for them to put this into place.
This was a Disney created problem. They force people to make reservations 6 months in advance because the truth is there are no longer any walk up sittings. I visit wdw twice a year and you simply cannot just walk up to a restaurant that you are in the mood for and get seated. They wont take walk up reservations. So you have to try and decide what you want for dinner 6 months in advance. I dont really mind the charge for not cancelling but lets put the blame where it belongs. Not on the people who like to have options when planning 6 months in advance especially when they know they will be stuck if they dont reserve. My 2 cents.