Select Disney World restaurants to charge fee for no-shows, will require credit card guarantee for dining reservations

in Disney, Food, Hotel, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World

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:

  • 1900 Park Fare
  • Artist Point
  • California Grill
  • Cape May Café
  • Chef Mickey’s
  • Cítricos
  • Flying Fish Café
  • Jiko – The Cooking Place
  • Narcoossee’s
  • ‘Ohana
  • Yachtsman Steakhouse
  • Victoria & Albert’s ($25 per person fee)

  • Magic Kingdom:

  • The Crystal Palace
  • Epcot:

  • Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
  • The Garden Grill
  • Le Cellier Steakhouse
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

  • The Hollywood Brown Derby
  • Hollywood & Vine
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

  • Tusker House Restaurant
  • 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:

  • Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
  • Cinderella’s Royal Table
  • Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue
  • Mickey’s Backyard BBQ
  • 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.

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