Hi Kimberly,
Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question. I believe you are asking about
advanced dining reservations that are guaranteed with a credit card.
Walt Disney World began requiring a credit card guarantee on all advanced dining reservations a few years ago as a way to better manage no-shows so that guests weren't turned away from restaurants that actually had tables available.
Because you can make dining reservations 180 days in advance, Disney recognizes that changes may occur. If you cancel 24 hours in advance, there's no penalty. No-shows and late cancellations are charged a $10 per person fee.
In my experience, the cancellation fee only applies if no one in your party shows up. We've had a couple of occasions where our group was slightly different than the reservation -- three people instead of four, for instance, because someone wasn't feeling well -- and there was no fee.
I hope that answers your question. If you need more information, or if I have missed the mark, please check back with us and we'll do our best to get you all the answers you need.
Wilma