Grace period for ADR?

[Tiffer]

I'm sure the info can be found somewhere, I am just not having any luck finding it! Say we have a 4:35 p.m. ADR but don't get there until 4:50 p.m., will we still be seated? What is the grace period, if any? TIA

 

[Alesia]

I'm sure the info can be found somewhere, I am just not having any luck finding it!
1. Say we have a 4:35 p.m. ADR but don't get there until 4:50 p.m., will we still be seated?
2. What is the grace period, if any? TIA

1. Probably. Maybe not.
2. There isn't an official grace period. They'll accommodate you if they can. The best idea is to try really hard not to be late.

 

[figment_jii]

There is no official grace period, so it's at the discretion of the cast member at the podium and/or the policies of the restaurant itself. The most common numbers I've seen here on the Disboard are somewhere between 5 and 15 minutes, so there is really no way to know what will happen if you show up after your ADR. They may still honor it, they may treat you as a walk-up (but not charge the no show), or you may be considered a no show. I would do everything possible to show up on time for your ADR.

 

[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, and charging the $10/person no-show penalty.
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.

NOTE: Of course, why would someone anticipate upon being late for their ADR? Why not plan upon being on-time, instead?

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm sure the info can be found somewhere, I am just not having any luck finding it! Say we have a 4:35 p.m. ADR but don't get there until 4:50 p.m., will we still be seated? What is the grace period, if any? TIA

Try not to do this. If you are already anticipating a late arrival, it probably is best to figure out a better plan. Life happens, and the CM's know that, but if everyone made ADR's knowing that they probably would not make it in time, well you can see the chaos...... A few years ago I forgot my favorite Disney Hoodie on the boat dock at the Poly. It was special because it matched my little DGD's so DH and DS went back to see if it was there. In the meantime I explained to the CM at Tony's (Tony's.....you know the one no one likes and always has openings?????) what happened, and was told they would try to help. They did, but my family waited almost an hour, and this was an early ADR like yours. WE were happy they helped, but it was made clear to us that this was not something we should take for granted. ANd I never got my hoodie...

 

[ParrotBill]

Nancy, thanks for the hoodie! Just kidding. I can sympathize as I left my favorite jacket in a van in China last month. I have see late arrivals many times. Almost always they simply say they will get you in when they can and it turns into a long wait... Unless it is real early and has not filled up yet. On the other hand, I've arrived 15 minutes early as requested for an ADR and then waited up to an hour for my table. This is especially the case at resort buffets where tired families tend to set up camp and often overstay the predicted average table time. Cape May, Chef Mickey's and Whispering Canyon are notorious for this.

 

[Nancyg56]

Nancy, thanks for the hoodie! Just kidding. I can sympathize as I left my favorite jacket in a van in China last month. I have see late arrivals many times. Almost always they simply say they will get you in when they can and it turns into a long wait... Unless it is real early and has not filled up yet. On the other hand, I've arrived 15 minutes early as requested for an ADR and then waited up to an hour for my table. This is especially the case at resort buffets where tired families tend to set up camp and often overstay the predicted average table time. Cape May, Chef Mickey's and Whispering Canyon are notorious for this.

You are welcomed! LOL!
You can never tell how your timing will work out. I have found that there are several resort TS restaurants that seem to always run late as well.

I really think that if your circumstances happen that you run a few minutes late, you deal with it. I think it is foolhardy to plan that late arrival. THat level o stress would put me over the edge.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm sure the info can be found somewhere, I am just not having any luck finding it! Say we have a 4:35 p.m. ADR but don't get there until 4:50 p.m., will we still be seated? What is the grace period, if any? TIA

Keep in mind you are asked to be at your ADR 10 minutes ahead. So in the above example you would be 25 minutes late.

There is no way to know for sure ahead of time if you would be seated or not. It is totally up to the discretion of the CMs at the restaurant at that time. You may be seated with only a short wait, treated as a walk up and seated after a long wait, or not seated AND charged the no show fee. The best thing is to not be late. If you are already worried about a certain ADR you may want to look for a new time, or even cancel.

 

[senadler]

I don't know if others are relating their experience, or just quoting what the policies are. I think we all want to be on time for our reservations, but that does not always happen. We had a large group this trip and ran late a few times. Once for an Ohana breakfast, we arrived at 11:25 for a 10:50 reservation. I know this was the very end of breakfast and we were very happy they still seated us. Another time we were about a half hour late for a Teppan Edo lunch. A few of us were on time, and let them know we were waiting for others (they were stuck with a 30 minute wait with a Soaring FP+), and they accommodated us as well.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't know if others are relating their experience, or just quoting what the policies are. I think we all want to be on time for our reservations, but that does not always happen. We had a large group this trip and ran late a few times. Once for an Ohana breakfast, we arrived at 11:25 for a 10:50 reservation. I know this was the very end of breakfast and we were very happy they still seated us. Another time we were about a half hour late for a Teppan Edo lunch. A few of us were on time, and let them know we were waiting for others (they were stuck with a 30 minute wait with a Soaring FP+), and they accommodated us as well.

You were lucky, and your experiences demonstrate what as we all have said, the restaurant will accomodate it they possibly can. What we are trying to ensure the OP understands is that if her plans are s tight that she is anticipating that she will be late before she even arrives, her plan is too tight. Your party had a schedule that aticipated your arriving on time and yet there were times that did not happen. It happened to us on our last trip. You were lucky, and we were as well, but it is not a slam dunk she will have the same result.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

On our last trip (about 4 years ago!!) we had a dinner ADR at California Grill on the day that my ex was arriving and the kids and I were changing resorts to meet him at Caribbean Beach. We went to lunch at Whispering Canyon and then came back to get our room assignment. We had more waiting, even after the check-in time. Then we had a very long wait for our transferred luggage so we have not clothes or anything to get ready with. Then it took forever to get to The Contemporary. By the time we arrived I was so frustrated that I was almost in tears! We were close to an hour late! We went to the check-in desk and the lady there had to call up to see if they could seat us. We were told they would try but it might be awhile. We were ok with that since technically, we were late because of something on our end but it really was not our fault...WE left plenty of time to do what we needed to and be where we were supposed to be. They let us go upstairs to wait and as soon as Skyler and I were our of the restroom, our pager was glowing. SO a matter of maybe 10 minutes!

So, I think most of the time they will try to accommodate you. But don't count on it.

 

[maxiesmom]

On our last trip (about 4 years ago!!) we had a dinner ADR at California Grill on the day that my ex was arriving and the kids and I were changing resorts to meet him at Caribbean Beach. We went to lunch at Whispering Canyon and then came back to get our room assignment. We had more waiting, even after the check-in time. Then we had a very long wait for our transferred luggage so we have not clothes or anything to get ready with. Then it took forever to get to The Contemporary. By the time we arrived I was so frustrated that I was almost in tears! We were close to an hour late! We went to the check-in desk and the lady there had to call up to see if they could seat us. We were told they would try but it might be awhile. We were ok with that since technically, we were late because of something on our end but it really was not our fault...WE left plenty of time to do what we needed to and be where we were supposed to be. They let us go upstairs to wait and as soon as Skyler and I were our of the restroom, our pager was glowing. SO a matter of maybe 10 minutes!

So, I think most of the time they will try to accommodate you. But don't count on it.

A couple of things to keep in mind for future trips:

If you are changing resorts and need access to your luggage before late at night, move the bags yourself. If you let Disney handle them, it will be sometime in the evening before you can get them. And getting them will involve you having your room and then calling down for your bags to be brought up. I've seen posted before to not expect your bags until sometime after 4 pm at the earliest. If you want to have access to your bags, take them with you via a cab to your new resort. Bell Services will hold them, and you will still be able to access them if you need to.

Second, Disney strongly suggests you allow 90 minutes to make it to any ADR using their transportation. Most of the times that is over-kill, but budget less time at your own risk.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

We were well aware of how to transfer resorts...had done it many times. Never had a problem before this one.
I will not pay for a cab when I already "paid" for an included service.

We had built in plenty of time to get to our ADR. As I said above, this wasn't our first rodeo, in fact no where near it! We were/are well aware of timing issues...

This wasn't about me...I was answering the initial post with my experience...not asking for opinions on my situation 4 years ago.

 

[maxiesmom]

We were well aware of how to transfer resorts...had done it many times. Never had a problem before this one.
I will not pay for a cab when I already "paid" for an included service.

We had built in plenty of time to get to our ADR. As I said above, this wasn't our first rodeo, in fact no where near it! We were/are well aware of timing issues...

This wasn't about me...I was answering the initial post with my experience...not asking for opinions on my situation 4 years ago.

None of your prior knowledge was clear by your post, so I was trying to help. Geeze.

The advice still stands. "Paid for" service or not, if you let Disney transfer your bags there is the chance you won't get them until late in the day.

 

[pepperandchips]

I travel as the only "type A", planner, anxious person in my family. Being 10 (or 1) minutes late to an ADR stresses me out, but my lollygagger family has made us as much as 30 minutes late before. I know my experience DOES NOT guarantee anyone else's, but we've never had a problem. In my seven trips since the advent of MDE and 180 day ADRs, we've never had an issue or even a raised eyebrow when checking in late. Like others have said, it's up to the CM and if you catch a grumpy soul who's already stressed, you might hit a snag. A smile and friendly demeanor goes a long way.

I don't think anyone can give you a definitive answer as to whether there's a grace period. For every person like me who's been late to probably dozens of ADRs and always been seated, there's likely someone who has been turned away.

Good luck making it on time and enjoy your trip!!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

but my lollygagger family has made us as much as 30 minutes late before

This is when you tell the family you have a 3:00pm ADR, when the ADR is for 4:30pm.

 

[Nancyg56]

This is when you tell the family you have a 3:00pm ADR, when the ADR is for 4:30pm.

My DH would go through the ceiling if we waited 30 for pokey people! I tell my oldest an hour early so he makes it to anywhere with us in time.

 

[disnut8]

I'm sure the info can be found somewhere, I am just not having any luck finding it! Say we have a 4:35 p.m. ADR but don't get there until 4:50 p.m., will we still be seated? What is the grace period, if any? TIA

Back to the original post. If you are already thinking that you will be 15 minutes late for your seating, the question to ask is why? If it's something that only you can control, Disney won't be as responsive. Like, if you had a FastPass that was for 4:30-5:30 but your seating was at 4:35, eh, not so receptive as you could have changed one or the other.

But, if you were on the monorail at 3:30 going from Magic Kingdom to Epcot for your 4:35 ADR and the monorail broke down, much more tolerance on that issue.

I guess we would need the restaurant, the reasons why you would be late and know that now, before we can offer assistance.

 

[cjsquared]

We were late for a couple reservations last week. One, at BOG, I thought the reservation was for 5:40 but it was actually 5:20. I just so happen to check my phone while we were on The People Mover and realized my mistake. We hightailed it to BOG and was about 20 mins late. They checked us in, no questions asked. We got stuck on the monorail from MK to the TTC and then again on our way to Epcot. We were again 20 mins late to Coral Reef. She said that there were running 15 mins behind schedule and that we would be seated as soon as our table was ready. I was sweating bullets both times and was happy that we were seated.

 

[Chi_Kel]

I have been late to ADR's more times than I can count. I have never had a problem. Usually it just takes a few extra minutes to get our table together. I've never been charged the fee, but do always make sure to take a picture of the receipt and us at the restaurant just in case.