Do you have to be early?

[michelle06]

I read a lot of posts where people make reservations and then wait quite a bit for a table. So, I was wondering if it is really necessary to be early? They always say to arrive 15 minutes before your reserved time. I am making lunch reservations and hate to waste park time. Also, don't want to stress about 5-10 minutes of an extra wait or not doing something because we have to get to an ADR (within same park, no worry about travel time). So, just wondering if it would be fine to show up at our actual ADR scheduled time?

 

[Momoftwins+1]

The problem I see with showing up right at ADR time is that often there is a line at the podium checking in and by the time you make it to said podium it may be 10-15 mins past your reservation time.
We experienced long waits (hour+ after reservation time) at Rainforest Café at DTD, Le Cellier, and Crystal Palace while waiting to check in, and waiting for a table.
I'm not willing to have them charge me a no show when traveling with 5 & 7 parties because the line took too long to sign in and the computer thought we were a no show and then having to waste more time with guest services trying to get it reversed after.

 

[mickeynut1]

I read a lot of posts where people make reservations and then wait quite a bit for a table. So, I was wondering if it is really necessary to be early? They always say to arrive 15 minutes before your reserved time. I am making lunch reservations and hate to waste park time. Also, don't want to stress about 5-10 minutes of an extra wait or not doing something because we have to get to an ADR (within same park, no worry about travel time). So, just wondering if it would be fine to show up at our actual ADR scheduled time?

It varies by restaurant, but we always get to our ADRs at least 10-15 prior to our ADR time and more times than not we are seated right away. It can, however, go the other way and you will wait that 10-15 minutes (and possibly more), but it's pretty likely you could get seated early or right at your time if you arrive early. With that said, I do agree with the pp that sometimes the line to just check in can be very lengthy and depending on the time and/or restaurant, you could be waiting in line 10 minutes just to check in, so it's always a good idea to get there a little early.

 

[LilyWDW]

I would go by what Disney says you need to do. I always show up 15 minutes before my reservation. By the time I check in, they print up my ticket, and my turn comes up it is normally right at my reservation time.

 

[AmyB2006]

We eat TS two times a day each day of our trip. We always show up within 10 or so minutes of the ADR time or right at the time. I've never really waited a long amount of time. I'd say 10 to 15 mins tops once we've checked in, even at BOG last February.

 

[purple figment]

It's not a reservation in the sense that there will be a table waiting for your party at the reserved time Instead when you check in at the podium your name is put on the list for the next available table for your party size. If there is no other party waiting for the same size table you'll have a minimal wait. On the other hand if many groups requiring the same size table are already waiting, your wait will be longer. Showing up right at the reserved time won't necessarily reduce your wait time.

So while Disney recommends that you show up 10-15 minutes early and you would rather to show up exactly at the reserved time, there's no way of knowing how long you'll wait.

One thing to keep in mind is if your check in time is close to closing, be there early enough to finish checking in before the restaurant. I know you mentioned lunch reservations, but some Disney restaurants close (stop seating) for about an hour between lunch and dinner service.

Also, CMs at the podium will only check in your group when everyone is there so it won't help to send someone ahead if part of your group is busy elsewhere.

 

[maxiesmom]

In addition Disney typically only holds your ADR spot for 15-20 minutes. So if you arrive a couple of minutes late and there is a long check in line you may miss your ADR spot. They may try and fit you in, or they may say you missed your time and charge you the $10 per person fee as well.

 

[michelle06]

So, are you saying that if there is a long line to check in and you get to the front after your time, you may not get in and also be charged? What if you are early (just the required 15 min) and get to the front of the line late?

I'm not planning on being late, I just don't want to waste a lot of park time waiting on my reservation. So, I don't want to show up 20 min early, then wait an hour. I figured maybe it would just be easier to show up at whatever time I reserve. I do understand that it isn't as if my table will be waiting for me.

 

[purple figment]

So, are you saying that if there is a long line to check in and you get to the front after your time, you may not get in and also be charged? What if you are early (just the required 15 min) and get to the front of the line late?

I'm not planning on being late, I just don't want to waste a lot of park time waiting on my reservation. So, I don't want to show up 20 min early, then wait an hour. I figured maybe it would just be easier to show up at whatever time I reserve. I do understand that it isn't as if my table will be waiting for me.

I think the suggested 10-15 minutes before your reservation time allows some flex time for guests to actually get to the restaurant by their reservation time. At DW if a restaurant says guests just have to arrive by their res time, many more would be 10-15-20 minutes late because it took longer than they expected to get to the restaurant/they were on a ride/etc.

Check in lines can be long at some of the most popular places, but only in rare instances will it be so long that if you arrive 15 minutes before your reservation, you'll still be waiting in line 15-20 minutes after your res time to check in. And in theory, most guests around you in line probably have reservations about the same time as yours so you won't be turned away.

Our experience has been that if you show up 20 minutes early and the wait time is an hour, you'll be seated about 40 minutes after your reservation time. If you show up at exactly your reservation time, and the wait time is still an hour, then you'll be seated an hour after your res time.

You'll have the least amount of wait time if your reservation is when the restaurant first opens for the breakfast, lunch or dinner service or if it's just before closing/ending of the meal service.

 

[jimandami]

Also be aware some places will not let you check-in early. We arrived for our 7:50 ADR at Le Cellier at 7:45 and they literally said, "Please come back in 5 minutes and check-in."