Arriving early for an ADR?

[CarrieR]

Hi all,

My friends and I decided last-minute to go with the DDP, instead of the free QSDP, due to a multitude of allergies that have cropped up and are much more easily taken care of at TS restaurants. As the planned and ADR maker, this has put me in the unenviable position of checking fifty-leven times a day to get decent ADRs. (It doesn't help that my BFF and I were there in May and July and I got every ADR you could want, and of course she wants to go back the popular haunts!)

Slowly but surely, I've been able to get MOST of what we want at a decent time. (It DOES pay to keep checking back, stuff does open up!) However, all I've been able to get for 'Ohana is a 9:30PM reservation. I don't really mind eating that late, but that tends to be a long meal, and by the time we monorail back to the MK and bus it back to Pop, it will end up being a really late night. This is on a day that the MK closes at 7 due to MNSSHP.

I had the thought that it might be worth our while to head straight on over to 'Ohana at park closing; I figure we would get there around 7:45 or so. We would let them know that we have an ADR for much later and see if there's any possibility of us getting seated. If it doesn't work, no problem -- I am not the fuss and throw a fit type over something like this. We would take the monorail tour or something. But I figured it might be worth a try.

My question is, has anyone else shown up significantly early for their ADR and been accomodated? Is this something that has a chance of working, or would it be a total waste of time?

Thanks in advance for anyone else with similar experiences.

 

[neodymm]

Yes, we've shown up early to dinner many times at all different types of TS. It's being significantly late that earns you no brownie points. if you have a really large party, it might be harder since there are less large tables. I would definitely try it, worst case scenario is that you sit and wait, enjoy the people watching at the polynesian, and don't get to eat until your actual ADR time. If they are incredibly full and have lots of standbys, then they might tell you that and then you can do the monorail tour and window shop...its never hard to waste an hour at Disney!

 

[CdnBuzzFan]

We arrived early for our dinner ADR's before as well -- I think it was at the Whispering Canynon -- and did manage to get in earlier then our reservation time. Even if you don't, the Polynesian is beautiful and you will be able to pass the time nicely there.

Why do you have to take the monorail back to MK? If you're just going back to your resort, can't you take the monorail to EPCOT and then the bus to POP? I would think that would be a shorter trip.

 

[mom2ee]

I too would say try and go for it.

That way your return to POP would have several options. Monorail to MK and bus to POP ( you know this will be okay since MK having MNSSHP and that the busses will still be running) and if you are within the 1 hour after park closing for Epcot, you could go that way and get to POP too

 

[CarrieR]

Thanks, all, it sounds like it's worth the shot.

I was thinking Monorail to MK, then bus to Pop would be shorter than Monorail to TTC, transfer to EPCOT monorail, go to Pop. Do they bus directly from the TTC to the hotels anymore? I had it in my head that they didn't, but walking to the TTC and bussing from there (or walk to TTC and monorail to EPCOT, but from there) might be an option, too.

Either way, it requires at least one transfer, so it will be a long trip "home!" Would prefer to have it happen before midnight, lol.

 

[CajunMomof3]

We have had luck at many TS getting in early for our ADR. However, that has never worked for us at Ohana...

 

[goofy4tink]

I doubt you'll get in much earlier. That is one hard restuarant to get in early at. Been there, tried that. Every time I've been told to come back about 20 mins prior to my ADR.
I would also plan on getting back over to MK after dinner. That will be quickest. If the monorail is no longer running when you're done eating, then you should be able to take either the small boat or the ferry over to MK. Then bus back to Pop.