They will cancel our ADR for 6:55pm??

[squirrel]

EMH are a completely different thing. Anyone is allowed in the park to buy food and shop.

Only guests with a valid KTTW card are allowed on rides and attractions.

There have been reports of people being called and told their reservations are cancelled. Disney can cancel them for different reasons. I forget what happened last year but a lot of people had their ADR's cancelled for a restaurant. Some were able to get into hard to get places like 'Ohana or Le Cellier.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Last year they cancelled ADRs

Here are your choices:

1. Take a chance
2. Buy a ticket
3. Reschedule

It is a hard ticket event which as a PP mentioned is treated very differently from EMH. The CM start walking from the back of hte parks towards the front and if you don't have a bracelot you are directed to leave the park. You cannot even buy things!

Your choice, but if I were not attending, I would make other plans for dinner

YMMV

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

This doesn't even apply to me, but for some reason I can't "let go". I just can't believe Disney would cancel an ADR last minute like that. Soooo...I called DVC Member Services and Disney Dining to find out . . .

Found out some interesting things...First "ADR" is NOT an official Disney term (the CM at DVC MS asked me what I meant by it!!!!! ) I was able to "almost" book (I told them up front what I was checking on before I made my final decision) a 6:45pm RESERVATION (as it is properly called ) on Nov. 18. CM said there was a note about the party but it was a general note posted before she put in my time request...she said it looked like I would be fine, but recommended I call the experts at Disney Dining to be sure.

So I did. That CM confirmed that, though she knew what ADR meant, it is true that it is not an "official" Disney term. They now make RESERVATIONS Ok then...I asked about the CRT reservation at 6:45 on MVMCP night and she said "As long as the reservation time is BEFORE the event start time, you will be fine and able to have your meal. You must be inside the park before the event time. You will have to leave the park afterward." I asked about shopping after my meal...she wasn't positive, but said "I can't imagine they would turn you away at a shop on Main Street on your way out."

Another tidbit: I asked about back-up "ADRs" and was told that the system "may" cancel double bookings as they are against policy. I asked her to define double booking and she answered 2 DINNERS on the same day or 2 BREAKFASTS on the same day--even if they are scheduled at different times (say an hour apart), they are subject to POSSIBLE cancellation. Interesting....

 

[glnrcker]

Just got off the phone and I had asked to speak with a Manager at CRT. I explained the whole situation. That we were only able to book a 6:55pm dinner on a night that there is MVMCP and that we were worried about the ADR being cxld or being told we would need to purchase tickets for MVMCP since we would not have them.

She said not to worry. The cutoff is 6:59pm for dinner because MVMCP starts at 7pm so anything 7pm or later would require the extra tickets. I am so relieved and glad I called! I asked her to put those remarks into my reservation and got her name.

I really appreciate all the input I received from everyone and hopefully others that are in the same boat (or park haha) can now feel comfortable with their ressies.

 

[glnrcker]

This doesn't even apply to me, but for some reason I can't "let go".

I think we can all "let it go" now. Thanks for everyone's help especially those that went the extra mile for me!!!

 

[Tricia1972]

Glad that you heard it right from the manager at CRT. I wouldn't have personally trusted a source any lower than that. Phone CMs are notoriously bad with their information.

I can answer the question about the shopping on Main St. that TinkerKell-ey's CM couldn't answer. (I know it doesn't really apply to anyone's situation who is affected here, I just thought that the question deserved an answer)

One of the benefits to buying that expensive hard ticket for the party is having the ability to buy exclusive merchandise that is only sold during the various parties. It's a big deal to Disney Collectors and Pin Traders, and it's supposed to be one of the perks to having the hard ticket. Also, what's to stop a shopper from hanging around in the shops enough to see the parade. Letting someone hang out just makes a nice black and white situation all gray and fuzzy.

Basically the park closes to you at 7:00 the night of a party. If you want to hang out in the park after 7:00, you need a ticket and wristband.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I would also get to CRT well before your ADR. The 'scoopers' go around before 7 and start herding people to the exit

 

[maxiesmom]

Glad that you heard it right from the manager at CRT. I wouldn't have personally trusted a source any lower than that. Phone CMs are notoriously bad with their information.

Even now I think the OP would be best served by trying to get an earlier ADR. We all know how easy it is for someone to be told one thing over the phone and yet be told something else in the parks.

You can look at it this way--the parks close to non party guests at 7pm. Yet as a non party guest you make a dining reservation for 6:55pm. Does anyone believe they can finish a meal in 5 minutes? So while not a henious act by any means, it is pretty obvious that any person with ADRs that late and no party tickets will be in the parks after they are officially closed to them.

I can't say I wouldn't be suprised if people were told they wouldn't be seated for their meals. That wouldn't be very magical of Disney, but it wouldn't suprise me. And if enough people have been complaining about too many non-party people enjoying the event thru late ADRs, I can see why Disney might take steps to prevent it from happening.

 

[catne]

I can vouch for the "no shopping" without a party bracelet - we were at the MNSSHP in early September last year, and I can tell you they will turn away $$$ (amazing as that seems)

...we were in a shop at 7:05 during MNSSHP last year, buying a lite-up necklace to go with a costume. The lady in front of us was having a royal hissy-fit because the CM would NOT ring up her merchandise. . The CM just kept telling her, sorry, the park is officially closed unless you have the party ticket, sorry, mam, you must leave. Another clerk called me over to the other cash register...and while they were ringing up my stuff, the "scoopers" came through the store to steer everyone out...including the really angry woman (they offered to escort her to Guest Services to file a complaint if she wished.)

 

[momallboy]

Is the following accurate, has anyone else been in this situation? We made a reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table for 6:55pm on a night that has Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. We weren't planning on buying the extra tickets and just exiting the park after dinner. A previous poster gave me the following information and now I'm worried. Technically MK doesn't close until 7pm, would they really cancel our reservation or force us to purchase the extra tickets? I'm not good with surprises and that one would be a doosy! Has anyone else experienced a similar case?


"They wont let you stay for MVMCP even with an ADR. All of the parties start, I believe at 7pm, so they will cancel that ADR as you wont have time to eat and leave the park (happened with us at Tony's overlapping MNSSHP). Thing is, they didnt tell us this until just before the trip when our opions were limited.

IF you want to stay for the party, then buying tickets but taking the time to eat in the castle is still a bad idea as too much of the party will be tied up with the dining.

Only you can decide if it is worth it, but I would rather have a nice meal at Narcooses and catch the fireworks from across the water!

Add: They didnt cancel the ADR but informed us the only way we could keep it was to buy tickets to the party."

I did this last year with my daughter at Christmas and had no problem. I refused to spend the extra $350 or so for the six of us. We told them at the gate we had an ADR at the castle. Then found a CM to let us through. They told me at CRT they would escort us out after dinner but they did not. We left anyway so I cannot tell you if we could have gotten on any rides or whatnot.

Have a great trip,

Wendy

 

[disneyfreak71]

On December 6th, I am able to book a reservation online for the Coral Reef at 920 PM. Future World is scheduled to close at 700PM and Wrold Showcase at 930 PM. I surly would not expect to eat in 10 minutes.

How is this any different than having a 650 PM ressie on a party night?

 

[squirrel]

Huge difference.

When you leave your meal, there will be no special event parade about to happen, no special fireworks, etc.

The park will be closed after your finished your meal.

 

[anonymousegirl]

On December 6th, I am able to book a reservation online for the Coral Reef at 920 PM. Future World is scheduled to close at 700PM and Wrold Showcase at 930 PM. I surly would not expect to eat in 10 minutes.

How is this any different than having a 650 PM ressie on a party night?

It's different because there is not a hard ticket party starting at 9:30, with special parades, fireworks and merchandise.

In your case, the park will be completely closed when you exit the restaurant, and you will find CMs gently escorting late eaters towards one of the two exits.

Contrast that with a special hard-ticket party (costing $40-$60 per person). When the 6:55 diners exit the restaurant Main Street and the Hub will be chock-a-block with people waiting for the first parade (or it may be in progress). These diners can easily blend in with the throngs of partygoers and get something they didn't pay for at the expense of those who did.

 

[disneyfreak71]

I understand both of those points. I have been to parties and find it annoying the amount of people lurking around without paying.

But, if the park is listed open until 700 PM for the general public, then the general public should be able to make ressies for 10 minutes before the park actually closes just like my other example whether there is a ticketed event or not.

 

[Inkmahm]

I understand both of those points. I have been to parties and find it annoying the amount of people lurking around without paying.

But, if the park is listed open until 700 PM for the general public, then the general public should be able to make ressies for 10 minutes before the park actually closes just like my other example whether there is a ticketed event or not.

Hard ticket event means hard closing. No more shopping, etc. after park closing time. Regular park closing (even with EMH at night) is a soft closing -you can hang out and buy things at the stores long after the park is closed to you. In Disney's opinion (and that's the only one that counts) they are NOT the same thing and no such thing as "should be able to."

 

[kaytieeldr]

Found out some interesting things...First "ADR" is NOT an official Disney term

100% true. It's a DIS, or more general unofficial Internet forum, acronym. For a VERY brief period, Walt Disney World called these "Priority Reservations", and for an even briefer period, "Advance Dining Reservations". These, along with the plain old vanilla 'reservations', mean the same thing: Check in five/ten minutes prior to the designated time and you will be seated at the next available table for your party size at or after that designated time. It's the equivalent of call-ahead seating, but in the extreme.

I asked about shopping after my meal...she wasn't positive, but said "I can't imagine they would turn you away at a shop on Main Street on your way out."

Interestingly, you would not be allowed to shop or spend money on anything inside the park on your way out, if you were not wearing a valid Party wristband. This is the rare occasion when Walt Disney World won't accept your money.

 

[kaytieeldr]

On December 6th, I am able to book a reservation online for the Coral Reef at 920 PM. Future World is scheduled to close at 700PM and Wrold Showcase at 930 PM. I surly would not expect to eat in 10 minutes.

How is this any different than having a 650 PM ressie on a party night?

Answered in another thread in which you asked the same question (I think - the question looks awfully familiar), but...
"Future World closes at 7" means the minor attractions and the kiosks, and some of the CS locations, close at 7 because much of the crowd has moved on to World Showcase. The headliner attractions - Test Track, Soarin, etc. - and the table service restaurants - are open until 9 PM. Your 6:50 reservation is, respectfully, a blip. Coral Reef will have diners arriving with reservations at least two hours after yours. Even THEY, the ones with 8:50 reservations, will not be expected to eat in ten minutes. The restaurants stay open until their eligible diners are done, well, dining. In the case of Coral Reef, this means all/any Guests. When a park is open only to certain Guests - hard-ticket party nights being the prime example - it's 100% reasonable that restaurants in that park would be open to only valid party attendees during party hours.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Hard ticket event means hard closing. No more shopping, etc. after park closing time. Regular park closing (even with EMH at night) is a soft closing -you can hang out and buy things at the stores long after the park is closed to you. In Disney's opinion (and that's the only one that counts) they are NOT the same thing and no such thing as "should be able to."

(Bolding mine)
But right now Disney's policy is that you can make reservations before 6:55pm on party nights without having a ticket. 7pm or later you need a wristband - to eat, ride, shop or even hang around in the park.

I completely understand why people that spend the extra money on hard ticket events don't want people that have not spent the money lurking around. In fact, I completely agree also.

However, I have not heard of anyone, or seen anyone, being asked to show their wristband before 7pm whether getting on a line for a ride (that will go past 7pm wait time) or checking in for a reservation that has a dining time before 6:55pm (when obviously the dining will go past 7pm).

In the past, the park has been open to the public until 7pm. Yes, the CM's start herding people out earlier if they can, but if you politely state that you have a dining reservation at 6:50pm, they are not going to force you out (unless an announcement of policy change takes place).

When online dining was launched people were able to make reservations on party nights without any warning that special tickets were required. I believe Disney made calls to make those people aware they needed tickets or offer to make new reservations. Shortly thereafter, the online reservations were changed to notify you that party tickets were required for that time.

As I said I had reservations myself for 6:50pm last year on a party night and it was fine. We left right after.

Will Disney's policy change? Who knows, but right now that is the way it is. If it would be a problem for people with a 6:50pm reservation to be turned away IF the policy does change, than they should plan for an alternative.

 

[glnrcker]

I am the OP. I would have thought that once I posted the response I received from the manager of CRT, this thread would have retired. I guess there are strong feelings on both sides. Those that are attending and those that have ressies right before the "get out of town" deadline. I can see getting annoyed at people that are just hanging around the special event when they don't deserve to be there. It's like when you're in your car waiting in a long ,turn only lane and someones goes around the long line of cars and forces their way in at the front to make the same turn. GRRRR! But for the most part, I think people with these ressies are just trying to eat their dinner then leave, and there should be plenty of CM's there to escort them out. My guess is that if this were a big problem, Disney would start policing the dinner times allowed to be booked right before a special event is to start. But for now, you are allowed to book a dinner at 6:55pm even if a special event starts at 7pm.

My situation has since changed. Four more members of our family have decided to join us on our Disney World trip, so I'll be cancelling my ressie at CRT. We have also decided we will be purchasing the MVMCP tix and attending the event. We'll have dinner much earlier in Crystal Palace so we can enjoy MVMCP and get our monies worth. I will be posting in the December Cancellation Thread in case anyone is interested in our CRT time. Thank you all for the opinions and help.

P.S. I'll be looking around that night for any loafers!

 

[MichiganScott]

Sorry for the thread necromancy, but trying to figure this out. Anyone have any recent experience on setting an ADR close to close on a MK party date? Is there an actual cutoff prior to 7pm? (i.e. last reservation at 6:30, 6:45, etc.)? Do you get a private escort out after you're done?

The goal here would be to maximize the normal park hours (until close at 7), eat dinner, then leave.

Thanks!