50's Prime Time Cafe wait

[Goofypop]

I was hoping someone could answer this for me. Is the wait time for the 50's Prime Time always extremely long, even with an ADR?

Backstory: Last year, in October, we finally ate at the 50's Prime Time Cafe'. We had been tossing the idea back and forth for years about going since we weren't sure if we would like the "family members" getting on our case for not eating vegetables and stuff. But we finally decided to go and try it. We got there and I checked in and the hostess told us to have a seat. Close to 90 minutes later we finally got a seat. Is that normal for this place? Or did the hostess not understand that we had an ADR?

 

[WTP]

We ate there with an ADR on 9/13 and had about a 5 minute wait. We sat in the lounge and it was pleasant.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Idk what an ADR is, but we waited about 90 minutes as well, and saw people who came in after us go ahead of us. It turns out they hadn't written our name down. If that hadn't been the one place our niece wanted to eat, we never would have gone in the first place, and certainly never would have wasted our time like that. The restaurants should give out those immediate fast pass cards to make up for people's lost time when something like that happens.

 

[Goofypop]

We ate there with an ADR on 9/13 and had about a 5 minute wait. We sat in the lounge and it was pleasant.

Thanks. The more and more I thought about it afterward I became more and more suspicious that she may not have checked our ADRs and thought that we were a walk in.

Idk what an ADR is, but we waited about 90 minutes as well, and saw people who came in after us go ahead of us. It turns out they hadn't written our name down. If that hadn't been the one place our niece wanted to eat, we never would have gone in the first place, and certainly never would have wasted our time like that. The restaurants should give out those immediate fast pass cards to make up for people's lost time when something like that happens.

I agree. That would not really make up for it but it would show a willingness to try and make it right on their part.

 

[squirrel]

I've eaten at 50's twice. We had to wait about 10-20 min both times. The first time it was longer as I was waiting for my neighbour's to arrive. After waiting 10 min I asked if they could just seat the two of us. We had to wait a bit more for a table.


I heard that you can ask for rolls at 50's, has anyone asked? Did they bring you some? I noticed that it's the only TS restaurant that I've eaten at that doesn't serve bread or rolls.

 

[holleypie]

Close to 90 minutes later we finally got a seat.

I haven't eaten there yet but we have an ADR for our upcoming trip. Did you not go back up to check on why it was taking so long?? My perspective might be skewed because I'm currently pregnant and constantly hungry, but there's no way I could patiently wait that long. I would have given them 20 minutes before I asked what the problem was.

 

[disnut8]

Never really had to wait that long at 50's. I think if you aren't seated within twenty minutes, you should get up and ask about your reservation, especially if you have a reservation and see others being seated before you. There's no reason to be there 90 minutes and not know what is going on. In my opinion, Disney did mess up but I think you should have asked what the hold up was long before 90 minutes had gone by. And that goes with any Disney reservation, anywhere, not just the 50s.

 

[CruznLexi]

We tried several years ago. We had a 730pm ADR at 820 still no table so hubby and the nephews said we would rather wait in TS than do this. This was in Jan.
Lexi

 

[laughinplace199]

We've eaten there a few times. We've always had an ADR and most times we've had to wait. We've never waited as long as you did though. I'd say most times we waited 20 min or so. There was one time when we had a longer wait, maybe 35-45 min.

 

[Goofypop]

Never really had to wait that long at 50's. I think if you aren't seated within twenty minutes, you should get up and ask about your reservation, especially if you have a reservation and see others being seated before you. There's no reason to be there 90 minutes and not know what is going on. In my opinion, Disney did mess up but I think you should have asked what the hold up was long before 90 minutes had gone by. And that goes with any Disney reservation, anywhere, not just the 50s.

Yeah. We didn't just sit there. LOL I went up and asked 3 times and she checked my name and said that she would get to us as soon as possible. But that may have been her looking at the walk up list and not the ADRs. I have no idea what she was looking at so I had no way to tell.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

we had adrs in feb and i believe it was the friday before presidents weekend. we checked in 15 minutes prior and still waited an hr past our time. they told us at check in they were very busy etc, altho we were the only ones inside waiting, and the kids out with dh and "mom" playing with the hula hoops. we did check nd kept getting told not much longer.

altho that being said i have checkd in at h and v and a not had the check in person check us in and b when she did gave the wrong last name. one of the servers came out and called one similar to ours four times. this caused half an hr delay. after that from now on i check after 20 minutes or so.

 

[cbg1027]

I went in early June. There were tons of people waiting. This one family kept bugging the hostess about when they would be seated and she told them that walk ups would be at least 2 hours. (Why would you wait that out?!?!?!)

I was seated in about 2 minutes....but I was solo. There aren't nearly as many parties of one of two to take up the small tables. Most parties are large and there are only so many tables to accommodate them, so I would expect a much longer wait to be the norm there.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I've waited 90 minutes with an ADR at PTC, abut they were blown away. And we each had 3 Yuenglings, made the wait a lot more fun. Waited 30-40 many times. We don't want to wait this time, so we're doing lunch with an 11 am ADR.

 

[Keegansmommy]

When we went in June, we waited over an hour with our ADR. Our two small children started to meltdown in that time frame (due to it being very crowded in the small waiting area) and on top of it, our server wasn't much fun. Disappointing time at 50's.

 

[Mickey Gator]

The wait time for us was 30-45 minutes. There are several restaurants around WDW that would be worth the wait, but 50's is not one of them. You can sit at the bar if you can find seats for quicker service.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

We've been to this restaurant twice and never waited more than 15 minutes. I can't remember which trip was the first time, but the second was Easter week this year (ie very crowded). I'm sorry you didn't experience the same. I can't imagine my H waiting that long, especially having an ADR set so far in advance.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

We have an ADR at PTC next month and I hope we don't have to wait long to be seated. I was going to ask for a TV table .... maybe I shouldn't!.

 

[Goofypop]

I think we're just going to skip this place and switch the TS option over to one of our EPCOT days and use it on the Princess Storybook Breakfast. I really do not like waiting that long and while we may get lucky and get seated quickly, I really don't think I want to chance it. I plan our ADRs a year in advance and then book them exactly at the 180 day mark. I do this because I want a reservation and do not like being a "walk-in" and by having that ADR I shouldn't have to wait forever to get seated.

Oh well. Thank you for your replies everyone. I think we'll just switch the TS option.

 

[squirrel]

I do the same. Plan the meals well before the 180 day mark and then book on my first 180 day.

Having to wait so long is not fun, especially when you have an ADR. I had to wait 1hr at 1900 Park Fare for dinner. I thought I had booked the opening time of 5pm, but after waiting 1/2 hr I asked why it was taking so long-everyone else had gone in. I was told the restaurant opened at 4:30pm, they should change the way the ADR's are set up on the computer then because nobody will be finished dinner in 30 min.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

Last September we had ADR's, and had to wait over 45 minutes to be seated. I think this dining destination has become very popular. With the dining plan, everyone gets dessert, etc., and this keeps guests at the tables longer. The tables aren't turning over as quickly as expected.