Can we arrive a few minutes late for a dining reservation?

[CJ]

If we have a dining reservation for a set time, how many minutes late can we be and still get in? Or in other words, how long do they hold the reservation for?

 

[Sparrow624]

Depends where the reservation is. We arrived a few minutes late to Boma...No problem. Saw someone turned away from Cinderella's Royal Table when they were about 10 minutes late in June.

 

[catmom46]

A few minutes shouldn't be a problem anywhere. If longer, I think you could call the restaurant to let them know that you're on your way at least, so they know you're coming.

 

[CJ]

It's a Be Our Guest reservation I'm concerned about. We'll have pre-ordered our meals ahead of time (if that makes a difference).

 

[Madteaparty001]

It's a Be Our Guest reservation I'm concerned about. We'll have pre-ordered our meals ahead of time (if that makes a difference).

The reservation line told me they give you 15 minutes past your ADR time, I was asking about BOG dinner at the time.

 

[Alesia]

You're supposed to be there 15 minutes early. They may give you a 15 to 30 minute grace period, but they may not.

 

[supersnoop]

It's a Be Our Guest reservation I'm concerned about. We'll have pre-ordered our meals ahead of time (if that makes a difference).

Since you pre-ordered, you're asking about breakfast or lunch. I don't think they're near as strict for those meals. I wouldn't worry about it if you're less than 15 minutes late.

 

[yooperfan]

Personally, I consider a few minutes late to be if I show up 5 minutes before my ressie. They may or may not allow you to be seated, but would that really be fair to the guests who are scheduled for the time slot you take? It would be a nightmare if everyone did this. I am assuming this is hypothetical since you didn't name a restaurant but I wouldn't Plan to be late while making ressies.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ADR Times and Tardiness "411":
1) WDW advises you to be at the ADR 15-minutes early.
2) You are expected to meet your ADR time, just like any other appt.
3) Being on-time is your responsibility, not that of WDW.
4) If late, they *can* cancel the ADR.
5) Under normal conditions, they usually allow up to a 15-minute lateness, but this is kindness, NOT a Grace Period.
6) If really busy, (eg, Free Dining, Holidays), there might be no Grace Period.
7) If you miss the ADR, you *might* have the ability to wait for a table.
8) For waiting times, there is no estimate, waits of 1-1½ hrs are common.
. . . if the eastery is not too busy, wait times could be minimal
. . . just depends upon the individual day-time-etc
9) They also have the option of canceling and just sending you away.
10) These options are at the discretion of the SEATER on duty at the podium.
11) Plus, it is up the the eatery manager to decide if you get charged the $10/person no-show fee.

 

[Nancyg56]

A few years ago I forgot my very favorite WDW hoodie that matched my very favorite DGD on the Poly boat dock so my DH and DS went back to see if it was still there. WE had an ADR at Tony's and even though we wold have been early, the whole sweatshirt thing now placed us late. I explained this to the Host, and he was terribly nice, and did work us in, but he did explain that this is a courtesy that is not always granted. I checked us in about 15 minutes after our original ADR, and we waited a short time until they seated us. For me, retrieving my hoodie was important because of the short window Kady and I would have matching jackets, so the chance of forfeiting the ADR was one we took, but I would not enter an ADR knowing I was cutting it so close that I might be late. It is stressful at best. RUnning for a meal is not fun!

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I wouldn't be late. The last time we were late at San Angel they took 45 minutes to slot us in. Our fault entirely.

 

[CJ]

Thanks everyone. I'll make sure we get there on time.

 

[BellsFam]

I would assume that by your being late, (purposefully), your reservation should be rightfully cancelled.

I spent much time organizing a schedule to make sure I arrived at every reservation I had 15mins early as told in my reservation confirmation page/email.

 

[Dano13]

I am a stickler for promptness and one year we had friends meet us down in WDW and they were late for everything. Drove me up the wall and definitely adversely affected our fun. I think if there are logistical issues with making something try to push it back a half hour to keep the stress to a minimum.

 

[disnut8]

If I have a dining reservation for 2:00 PM, I mentally adjust to 1:30 PM. But that's just how I am although I have made Disney World dining reservations for more than just myself and husband and have told them (they don't like to plan) a half hour earlier just to be on the safe side.

 

[playjar]

We were 20 mins late for our LTT ressie back in June, due to monorail breaking down and then a storm came in while waiting on the ferry. We finally got over there via monorail coming back into service, but it was a pain!

Over the course of our two week trip with many reservations, it was my observation that the checkin podium finds your reservation which then moves you to another wait list, which is all based on arrival times. So someone with a reservation 30 after mine, but arrived before me, would be sat before me. So I don't buy the complaint that arriving late would mess someone else's reservation time up. But, that was just my observation. I do not advise purposely arriving late, but obviously things happen.

 

[DisneyHardin]

A year ago when the BOG lunch was a "fast pass" and not an ADR, I saw the people in front of me told to get in the stand by line because they had missed their window.