Am I being a hog?

[TiaMaria]

I don't see any problem with a 7:45PM ressie and staying to watch the fireworks. AS LONG - as you are not finished eating/drinking at 8:30 and then just sitting there taking up space. If you are truly still eating and/or ordering drinks, cordials or whatever, that table is still yours. IF INSTEAD - you have long finished and are obviously just picking at crumbs, balancing your checkbook or delaying signing the bill, then you probably should find another place to watch.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We ran into this once at the Poly, we had a timed ADR at O'hauna so we could view Wishes from the eating area, I believed we had, say a 9:00pm time and showed up 20 minutes before hand and we were told that it would be past our ADR time because the guests already eating and done were still staying at their tables to watch Wishes. We told them to stick their reservation because we made our ADR to coinside with eating and viewing Wishes and the patrons lingering way past finishing their meals should have been gone.......we wouldn't have gotten into the resturant until Wishes was over...unacceptable for us...almost like putting a towel on a lounge chair because you're coming back later in the day and want that seat. I think you're going to early and waiting making less a turn over of guests that have reservations.......remember, it's just my 2 cwnts and we've been burned by others doing this.

 

[bumbershoot]

Remember, the reason you might not be seated at your ADR time is specifically because of previous people delaying their departure from other tables...

...and how many people start dinner at 8:45 anyway..right?

Just about anyone who is still on pacific, or farther west, time.

I got nervous when I saw your day has Illuminations at 9:30! I never heard of it being any time other than 9 pm..but I checked and it's at 9 pm when we're there. Whew! 9:30 would have been pushing it!

Strange. It's at 9:30 for our entire 18 day stay!

Then she can rename the show:

Hallucinations Reflections of Reflections of Earth

I don't necessarily think what you're planning is heinous, but you're not going to be the only ones thinking about doing it, and you need to be fully aware that you will be affecting people who come behind you, especially if you yourself are seated later than your ADR time.

 

[TiggeRx]

Being a hog? Nope. Not at all!
An hour and fifteen minutes to enjoy a meal (a good meal) is supposed to be the norm, not the exception.
Besides, quickly scarfing down a Mexican meal may not be in your (or your companions) best interest.
Just sayin'...

 

[egile]

Strange. It's at 9:30 for our entire 18 day stay!

I believe that while Candlelight Processional is going on, Illuminations is pushed back till 9:30.
I have reservations for LH for 8:45 on a 9:30 Illuminations night. If I can't get to a table to see Illuminations because everyone from earlier reservations is bogarting, I'll be unhappy to say the least.

 

[afwdwfan]

Being a hog? Nope. Not at all!
An hour and fifteen minutes to enjoy a meal (a good meal) is supposed to be the norm, not the exception.
Besides, quickly scarfing down a Mexican meal may not be in your (or your companions) best interest.
Just sayin'...

Good point, and for liability reasons, it might be in Disney's best interests to keep individuals who just ate Mexican food in the restaurant and away from the pyrotechnics.

 

[LilRonGal]

Good point, and for liability reasons, it might be in Disney's best interests to keep individuals who just ate Mexican food in the restaurant and away from the pyrotechnics.

Remind me not to let my husband anywhere NEAR that place, Illuminations or not!

 

[drew64]

Illuminations begins at 930 during the holidays and is also longer.

You would not leave a sit begins, but stay for the conclusion.

You are now looking at about 2hours - 2hours 15 min, so yes that is a long time and others will be pushed back in their ADR times as a result.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I don't think we've ever been in and out of a TS ADR meal in less than an hour and a half. By the time you order drinks, appetizers, entree, dessert and coffee, it's hard to do that in an hour, much less an hour and a half -- unless the TS restaurant is extremely empty, which is rarely the case. And if the time they gave you is 7:45, you probably won't be seated until closer to 8:00. Now the caveat here is that you should probably genuinely be eating and drinking during the time you're sitting there, and not just nursing that last cup of coffee or sipping on that last margarita for 45 minutes.

 

[tinkamom]

Just want to warn you....not all the tables have good views. We just ate there last week and we had a lovely view of a pillar!

 

[LaurenT]

Illuminations begins at 930 during the holidays and is also longer.

You would not leave a sit begins, but stay for the conclusion.

You are now looking at about 2hours - 2hours 15 min, so yes that is a long time and others will be pushed back in their ADR times as a result.

We are not going during the holidays, Illuminations starts at 9 pm when we're there..and if it's true that we'll have to wait 15 min or so, then we won't be seated until 8 pm or so, so, appy's, drinks, entrees, dessert and a final margherita seems about right to me. I just wanted to see if I was way off base, but it seems the majority agree with me, so I'm good with it...
I'm sure I'd get a different response if I said my ADR was for 5 pm....

 

[TrustedTraveler]

If we were waiting for a table to open up for our 8:30 ADR and we didn't get seated because you were hogging the table so you could sit through Illuminations we would be upset and yes, we would think you were a HOG.

 

[Emagine]

I personally think your time will work as it sounds good.


But playing devils advocate here because I can certainly see someone reading this and thinking hmmmmm. If I were to be excluded or have to wait for a table longer then I reserved because someone was stalling on purpose to see a show then I would say its unacceptable. If someone is done they should be respectful of others who did book a table after them, IMO. Maybe not the norm but if more people sit and stall on purpose then it is hardly fair for those who you may put out as a sense of personal entitlement. Some people do eat that late and I feel the option should be there if they planned that space. If they are put out or too long they may have to seek something they really were not planning on to fill the time. However, if no one there and your still eating with out stalling then no worries.

 

[branv]

Well I'd say intentions are what matter. If I get there at 7:45 and expect to be done at 8:30, with a plan to squat without any further purchases for another 30+ minutes...yes, I consider it not only inconsiderate of the people waiting but the waiter who could turn the table over and earn more money.

BUT, that being said, I think 7:45 is a perfectly reasonable time to get a ressie and expect to see Illuminations while still dining. I know that one time we had a reservation at 7:45 for Le Cellier, thought we'd be done in time. Had to wait about 30 minutes for our table, and before we'd even gotten very far into eating our entrees could hear the BOOM, BOOM of the fireworks.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

I agree with whoever said they've never been out of a TS from sitting to finished in less than an hour and a half anyway. We had lunch in France - noon seating, first one of the day (literally, the 3rd table called into the restaurant) and it took us 2 hours to get our meal finished. And it wasn't because of us, it was the server. Disney, imo, does not rush your meal, just the opposite, they take forever to serve one course and then another and then waiting around for the check. It took an hour and a half for 3 of us to get out of Mama Melrose, too.

Enjoy your meal and show - I hope you get a great table!

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

I think as long as you order at least a drink or two and appetizers and dessert, the server won't mind a bit!

 

[Dizzyworld]

For our meal at Rose and Crown we had a 7:45 PM ARD. We were seated close to that time. We did not finish our food until after the fireworks. It took about an hour and a half. And we were two adults and 2 kids.

 

[LaurenT]

If we were waiting for a table to open up for our 8:30 ADR and we didn't get seated because you were hogging the table so you could sit through Illuminations we would be upset and yes, we would think you were a HOG.

LOL...if you had an ADR for 8:30 and I had sat down at 8:00 (likely since my ADR is for 7:45), there is no way you'd be getting my table. I would never finish a sit down meal in half an hour - and that does not make me a hog! My question wasn't about holding a table for hours on end...it was just whether people thought keeping a table for an hour and a half for a TS meal was a reasonable time, or was it hogging...most other posters agree that it is a reasonable amount of time to have a 3 course meal.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

It usually takes at least 1 1/2 hours from the time we are seated to the time the bill has been taken care of and we do not do appetizers. If you have a 7:45 ressie, Disney probably has your table blocked until 9:15. The park is closed at that time and you should be the last one using that table. As you have replied, the guy with the 8:30 ADR is probably getting a table from a 6:45 or 7:00 ADR and definitely not yours.
I think your plan is good and hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

I think it honestly depends on how big your party is, plus I wouldn't expect you to be seated right away, plus, your server might take a while getting your orders and serving you. I think you will have a decent amount of time.

I don't expect me and my boyfriend to take that long to eat since it's just the two of us, but boy, do I love to talk.

Anyways, I think you should be fine, but I would keep an eye out for a later ressie just to be on the safe side, but if you can't, I wouldn't worry about it. Hope you have fun and don't let anyone try to rush you!