Can we be seated if DH is running late to our ADR?

[BlueFairy]

Hi,

I know there are all kinds of guidelines about how ADRs are handled. I need some advice. We have ADR for 4 for 5:35pm at R&C. The kids and I will already be in the park. But DH will be in a meeting at the Dolphin until 5:00. At minimum he needs time to make the walk. More likely, he'll have to go by the room and drop his briefcase, put on shorts. Add to that the advice to checkin 15 minutes prior. . . Are we in a pickle? I think he'll struggle to get there by 5:30.

We'd love to arrive and settle in to our table. I'll certainly be ordering a cocktail. Will they check us in a the podium if I arrive without him? I'm pretty sure we've always heard that the whole party needed to be present. We won't be dropping him, just trying to checkin on time and not lose the ADR. I've already looked for a later table and right now there isn't one that's not unreasonably late.

Ideally, I'll keep checking and delay the ADR by 30 minutes or so. But if that doesn't work out, how should we handle this?

 

[purple figment]

Disney's policy is to check in and seat only when everyone in the party is present. If they seated partial parties it would extend the time the group would occupy the table and that would affect table turnover time and profits. While it is recommended that you check in 10-15 minutes early you could wait until 5:35. If your DH hasn't yet arrived, there is usually a 15 minute grace period (not officially, but fairly common). That's almost an hour after his meeting ends so it should be enough time for him to walk to the IG from the Dolphin. In the meantime you should keep checking online to see if something a little later comes up. It looks like you'll be there in March so you could also subscribe to the March cancellation thread stickied at the top of this Dining Reservations Board.

 

[LuvDaisy&Minnie]

Depends on the CM. We have had half of a 9-person party present and been seated before. I think the main issue is that even if they make you wait until he gets there, I would be shocked if they didn't still honor your reservation. We have been 15 or so minutes late and have not had a problem still being seated. We may have had to wait a few minutes longer, but that was no big deal.

 

[maxiesmom]

Depends on the CM. We have had half of a 9-person party present and been seated before. I think the main issue is that even if they make you wait until he gets there, I would be shocked if they didn't still honor your reservation. We have been 15 or so minutes late and have not had a problem still being seated. We may have had to wait a few minutes longer, but that was no big deal.

Being seated late is not a given. There are many variables in play. No one should count on being seated late.

 

[BlueFairy]

We've decided that time is so limited in the parks for him, we need to make a change. I'm still looking for a later ADR that fits. But for now the girls and I will have a late lunch ADR. We'll do Outdoor Kitchens for dinner so we can enjoy exploring WS with Dad.