A few questions about ADRs.....

[mj23cj]

I have a couple ADRs I am trying to decide on. Is there a rule of when to cancel them if you are not going to show up? If we end up getting too tierd to go to dinner and dont show up is that bad? Are we pennalized? This is our first trip. We have a 3yr old and I will be 20 weeks pregnant so I am not sure if everything will work according to schedule.

Also do we need to be early to our ADRs? Will we be seated on time?

And will we be able to substitute anything for deserts? Like an appetizer or an extra side of comparable price?

Thanks for all your help!!!

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I have a couple ADRs I am trying to decide on. Is there a rule of when to cancel them if you are not going to show up? If we end up getting too tierd to go to dinner and dont show up is that bad? Are we pennalized? This is our first trip. We have a 3yr old and I will be 20 weeks pregnant so I am not sure if everything will work according to schedule.

Also do we need to be early to our ADRs? Will we be seated on time?

And will we be able to substitute anything for deserts? Like an appetizer or an extra side of comparable price?

Thanks for all your help!!!

There is no penalty for cancelling or no-show unless it's a specific restaurant that requires a credit card hold or deposit (like Cali Grill or Cinderella's Royal Banquet).

Disney recommends getting to your ADR early. If you have to leave a park and travel somewhere else for it, give yourself an hour.
There is no way to know if you will be seated on time. Some restaurants do, some get backed up. No different than any other restaurants that you may go to in the world.

If you are asking about substitutions for desserts while using the dining plan, no. You may not substitute sides or apps for the desserts. You can ask for things like fruit though if you want something lighter. Some places will give you a milkshake as a sub. (some include it as the drink if you want). Ask your servers for options.
Quick service desserts sometimes can be subbed for a bottled drink or fruit or yogurts as options. Just ask.

enjoy your trip.

 

[mj23cj]

Thanks Jeanie! I just thought of something else. I have a breakfast buffet ADR at 10:45am at Cape May but breakfast only goes til 11am. How long will they keep the breakfast out? Will we only be able to go up 1x then? Will they make us leave the dinning room by a certain time? Also it is a character breakfast will we even get to see the characters? I might need to cancel this one!!

 

[Jeanieblue114]

When breakfast hours are over, the menu will get changed out for the next dining time (if there is any). But, it may just mean that they stop the breakfast bookings at 11am and still provide those items for a bit longer. They won't kick you out until you are done dining though and if you would like other breakfast items, I would just ask the cast members or take a lil more on that first trip up.

I know that at Donald's Safari breakfast in AK, he is only there at breakfast and if you get held up getting in, he leaves when breakfast service is over. (Can't imagine how disappointing that is.)

Might try for a bit earlier time on that one if you can, or book something else. There are lots to chose from.

 

[OhThePain]

Thanks Jeanie! I just thought of something else. I have a breakfast buffet ADR at 10:45am at Cape May but breakfast only goes til 11am. How long will they keep the breakfast out? Will we only be able to go up 1x then? Will they make us leave the dinning room by a certain time? Also it is a character breakfast will we even get to see the characters? I might need to cancel this one!!

No need to worry. I am sure Cape May works similar to, say, 1900 PF, since they only serve breakfast and dinner. We like to get one of the last morning ADR's at 1900 PF which is at about 11:20 or so. Last time we were one of the last 5 or so tables and basically no one was really eating anymore. However, they were still bringing out fresh food. Some of the characters hung around for some extra character interaction, and they make sure that everyone gets a chance to see all the characters. We actually feel less rushed when we are one of the last ones to leave.

As for canceling ADR's, there is no rule saying you have to cancel and there is no punishment for not canceling (except, as the PP said, there is a credit card hold or there is a pre-purchase like with dinner shows). With that being said, if you know you don't plan on showing up, even if it's 20 minutes before your ADR, let either Disney Dining or the restaurant know, this way they can open the time for a walk-up.