What if I Have to Cancel My Dining Reservation?

Something Happens

You’re at Walt Disney World, having a great time, the weather’s fantastic, and then it happens! Someone gets sick or maybe they’re hurt! You talk to the closest Cast Member to get their help to deal with your situation. They help you, and you start heading towards medical help. Once the situation is under control you take a deep breath. Then it hits you! You have a dining reservation in a few hours! Will they charge you? How much will they charge you?

The Good News

Most dining reservations can be canceled up to 2 hours in advance. Simply go to your My Disney Experience app, click in your reservation and click cancel. If you want to try to reschedule it you can click modify and see what is available.

So what if you didn’t make the cancellation window? You can still try to modify it, but there is a pretty big chance that won’t happen and it will give you a phone number to call. The Cast Member who answers will help you either cancel or reschedule. There is a charge, last I heard it was around $10/person, but that may have changed.

The Bad News

Some dining reservations require more than 2 hours cancellation. Those reservations, very often must be cancelled up to 24 hours ahead of time. If this is the case, you will likely be charged. How much? You will need to call to find out for certain. Once again, go to your MDE app, click on your reservation and it will give you the phone number. The Cast Member will assist you to either cancel or modify your reservation. They will also be able to tell you how much you will be charged.

How do I Know the Cancellation Window?

When you make the reservation it will tell you! It will also generate an email that will also tell you. Make sure you read the cancellation policy!

Why does Disney Charge you for a Cancellation?

If you cancel too late, you will likely be charged. Why? Not only are you missing your reservation, but also other guests might have booked that reservation had it been available for them sooner. The later you wait to cancel, the less likely anyone else will be able to book.

Should I Just do Walk Up Reservations?

That’s one way to make sure you won’t have to pay for a cancellation that is outside of the window. I don’t think it’s necessary though, nor do I recommend it! Many of the best restaurants at Disney are only available with a reservation! I think a better plan is probably to make the reservations you know you want at a time you are likely able to keep them!

Comments

What is Pixie Dust?

First Time Magic When I was Young…and so was Disney World My first visit to Disney World was in 1971. I was not excited to be going to Disney. Why? I did not know that Disney existed, much less that I was going there. 1971 was the year that Walt Disney World opened in Florida and I was 5 years old! Whether my Dad kept it a secret so that it would be the ultimate surprise is unclear to me. What I am sure of is that he took us to the most magical place on earth. Operations were very different than they are now, but the one thing that remains the same is that it is still the most magical place on earth. What is Pixie Dust and how can I Make it Happen on my Trip? Pixie Dust is a magical, unexpected thing that can happen while you are at Disney, but you cannot make it happen. I have heard people recently complain that the magic is gone since the pandemic started. It’s not true. I am sad for these people because they are missing the point. There are two types of...

Signature Dining at The Walt Disney World Resort

One of my favorite things I have a confession. While it is true that I love all things Disney , the attractions, the parades, the fireworks, the characters, the thing I love most at Disney is the dining! Whether I am on a Disney Cruise or visiting the Theme Parks, the dining is my favorite thing! You may not be aware of this, but Disney offers several different types of dining experiences: Table Service, Quick Service, Character Dining , and the coveted Signature Dining! Why is it called Signature Dining? Disney's Signature Dining locations are named as such because they are each a one of a kind, dining experience. Walt Disney talked about taking an experience and "plus-ing" it. In other words, taking something great and then taking it up another notch. That is exactly what the Signature Dining experience is! What do I need to know? Each of these unique locations is available by reservation and they tend to fill up very quickly! Reservations can be made 60 days bef...

Disney Value Resorts: Which one is Best?

Why are they called Value Resorts? Pop Century The Disney Value Resorts are called that because they are the least expensive resorts that Disney has to offer. In other words, staying at one of these will stretch that Disney Budget farther. Currently, there are 5 Values: Pop Century , The Art of Animation , All Star Music , All Star Movie s, and All Star Sports . What amenities and entertainment can I expect at a Value Resort? All of these resorts will have a counter service restaurant, a pool bar, a gift shop, a themed pool near the main building, guest laundry, Movies Under the Stars, and special resort activities at the main pool. In the rooms, you can expect beds for 4 people (2 to a bed) or if you book a suite it will sleep up to 6 people. In the standard rooms and suites you will have a coffee pot with coffee service provided and a cooler/fridge perfect for keeping drinks cold, but not much else. The suites also have a microwave as well as a small supply of p...

Some of My Favorite Things: Hollywood Studios Edition

Hollywood Studios: What can I expect? Hollywood Studios, like Epcot , is not like the MagicKingdom . It is not like Epcot either. So what is it? Originally, Hollywood Studios was a small theme park named MGM Studios. The theming of the park was a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Everything that was originally there had to do with the making of movies. Though it was my favorite park, it had a problem. It earned the reputation of a half-day park. Through the years, it has changed significantly. Today’s version of Hollywood Studios is definitely a full day park. It still has a movie theme, but the newer attractions are more of immersion into those movies than experiencing a day on a Backlot in Hollywood. Is it still my favorite? Absolutely! Maximizing Your Let’s get right down to it! You could spend your whole day and only experience a few things if you’re not careful. Pixie Dust Tip: If you only buy Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lanes one day of your trip, I would con...

Why Should I Stay at a Disney Resort?

Discounts! There are many reasons to choose a Disney Resort for your upcoming Disney vacation! It is true that there are tons of resorts in the Orlando area. It is true that you might find one that is cheaper, though I would double check that that is true because you can sometimes get some super good deals at Disney. Probably one of the biggest reasons to pick a WDW Resort is the discounts. If you book last minute, you might not be able to find a discount, but if you plan ahead when the deals are first coming out, the savings can be anywhere from a little to a lot! To find out how to make sure you are getting the discount you think you are getting, click here . What kind of discounts can you get? Most often they have room discounts from 15-35% depending on when and where you book your stay. Some of the bigger discounts are attached to having an Annual Pass or a Chase Disney Visa or sometimes even having Disney+. What else? Occasionally, you might find a ticket discount, espe...

Planning for Pixie Dust

Search This Blog