Interesting situation re ADRs vs. walk-ins

[Simba's Mom]

So I was standing in line to checkin at LTT lunch the other day. There'd been a sign at City Hall that all resturaunts were booked and CS suggestions were listed. The people in front of me at LTT didn't have an ADR but wanted to know what the wait would be. Apparently, I thought,they didn't read the sign at City Hall. "About 15-25 minutes", I heard the CM tell them. What?! But the family didn't want to sit and wait. "How about if we make an ADR and come back at that time?" "Sorry, all our ADRs are taken for the day." Heard them tell a few more people after that that there would be a 15-25 minute wait. Sounds like they DO hold some seats aside for walk-ins. I didn't know that.
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[Cupcake2008]

Originally Posted by Simba's Mom

So I was standing in line to checkin at LTT lunch the other day. There'd been a sign at City Hall that all resturaunts were booked and CS suggestions were listed. The people in front of me at LTT didn't have an ADR but wanted to know what the wait would be. Apparently, I thought,they didn't read the sign at City Hall. "About 15-25 minutes", I heard the CM tell them. What?! But the family didn't want to sit and wait. "How about if we make an ADR and come back at that time?" "Sorry, all our ADRs are taken for the day." Heard them tell a few more people after that that there would be a 15-25 minute wait. Sounds like they DO hold some seats aside for walk-ins. I didn't know that.
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Hey Simba's Mom,

I live locally and have also noticed that. We've been able to walk into several restaurants when the dining line has nothing, and when the dining info kiosk within the park has also said there were no reservations available. I think it probably has a lot to do with the number of no-shows they get for ADRs. A huge number of people never show up and those tables become openings. If you have your heart set on a restaurant, and haven't been able to get an ADR, it never hurts to try asking at the restaurant podium. We've been surprised at how many times it works. You never know if they will be able to fit you in.

[squirrel]

We were also able to add another 2 guests to our ADR's at some of the harder places without any problems.

[RMulieri]

I think it is because since the online dining system started there have been a high increase in NO shows thanks to the ability to double and triple book places for the same date and time.

[jb01]

Yes many no-shows for whatever reason. It always pays to ask a CM no matter what signs say.

[itchin2go]

Originally Posted by RMulieri

I think it is because since the online dining system started there have been a high increase in NO shows thanks to the ability to double and triple book places for the same date and time.

I thought double and triple booking was a problem even before the online dining system was in place. Actually, a friend mentioned to me recently that they have always made multiple reservations. I held my tongue....

[princesslover]

This is so frustrating. You know, I can understand someone initially making 2 ADR's for the same place while they're trying to figure everything out. Heck, now I am almost wishing I had done the same, since now I am trying to tweak things and it's so hard to do 'after the fact.' However, what really bugs me is the people that HOLD ON to these reservations until the VERY LAST MINUTE. Or worse, don't cancel at all.

I think everything should have a credit card guarantee.

On the other hand, the amount of no-shows does give me hope and makes me think I should relax a bit about my ADR's. But I am not a risky person, nor am I a "just wing it" person either, so I'd rather know ahead of time.

Please cancel your unwanted ADR's!!!

[buckirj1]

What I have a hard time understanding is not wanting to wait only 15-20 minutes. Where I live, that's short!

[RMulieri]

Originally Posted by itchin2go

I thought double and triple booking was a problem even before the online dining system was in place. Actually, a friend mentioned to me recently that they have always made multiple reservations. I held my tongue....

Yes and no..Doing it over the phone ,very often you would get a CM tell you that you already HAVE an adr for that date and time ..and they wouldn't let you book a new one without cancelling the other..With online adrs, it is easy.No one to tell you you can't , and no checkpoint in place.Very easy to abuse.

[itchin2go]

Originally Posted by RMulieri

Yes and no..Doing it over the phone ,very often you would get a CM tell you that you already HAVE an adr for that date and time ..and they wouldn't let you book a new one without cancelling the other..With online adrs, it is easy.No one to tell you you can't , and no checkpoint in place.Very easy to abuse.

Ah. Yeah - makes sense.

[chartle]

I don't think they hold tables for walk ups, I also think its the result of double booking and no shows.

I would also think that LTT (based upon the comments I read here) would be picked as the second safe ADR.

So you book LTT hoping that you can snag a late CRT or CP ADR. If they don't cancel that would mean a lot of no-shows.

[Sleeping Becca]

I agree that they don't hold tables for walk ups.

However many folks just don't show up for reservations, esp if there is no cancellation charge.

I have dined in many many many restaurants that were half empty, yet I knew there were no reservations available. Stuff happens and sometimes folks just skip reservations. However there are some locations that folks just don't skip, Boma (dinner), Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Ohana dinner, so the likelyhood that you can walk up to these locations is little to none. Those places stay packed no matter what.

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Well last December I went to the Magic Kingdom with three of my friends who are from Orlando and one of them told me try to make a lunch ADR at any restaurant in there, however I was told they were all sold out. However they said let's try to go as a walk-in at Liberty Tree Tavern and see what happens, well not only was there a table available we had only waited 5 minutes to be seated after being told it would be a 20 - 30 minute wait.

[squirrel]

They couldn't bring up any of my ADR's that were made online when I checked in as I wanted to double check that I wasn't accidentaly double booked.

[SewSweetMama]

Originally Posted by squirrel

We were also able to add another 2 guests to our ADR's at some of the harder places without any problems.

Us too! We added 2 adults to a 6pm Saturday Boma ressie with no issue. When we called we were told there was no way to add them. Walked up, asked and we were actually seated 15 minutes early!