Grace Periods on FP and ADRs?

[Raven01]

What is the grace period on FPs? And ADRs too if they have one?

 

[armerida]

For FP, 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after (technically 14 minutes and 59 seconds). For ADR, 15 minutes.

 

[maxiesmom]

There is no official grace period for ADRs. If you are late they will try and seat you if they can, but no guarantees.

 

[Robo]

1. For FP, 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after (technically 14 minutes and 59 seconds).
2. For ADR, 15 minutes.

1. Yup.
2. An often-repeated idea (but no real basis in practice.)

 

[Shanti]

What is the grace period on FPs? And ADRs too if they have one?

You've opened a real can of worms with this, as people like to argue about it. Yes, both FPs and ADRs have a grace period of 15 minutes after the reservation time.

Yes, I've verified both grace periods with staff, and yes, I've been the beneficiary of the grace period for both.

Have a great trip!

 

[maxiesmom]

The 15 minutes thing is a guideline, not a set in stone rule. That is, they offer it until they can't. And sometimes they can't. The best thing is to not be late. Don't schedule an ADR right next to a Fast Pass. Give yourself ample time to get from point A to B.

 

[maxiesmom]

PS: Nothing about your trip is 100% guaranteed. Not the park hours. Not the cost of snacks. Not that any ride will be running. Not even that you will get the room type you booked, or even that you will be at the resort you booked. Everything is subject to availability. Most of the time everything runs as it should. But sometimes things happen and a ride closes or they have to move a guest to a different resort. I just wanted you to know that, so that if something comes up you won't be totally taken by surprise.

This is coming from someone who had their room downgraded. Twice. Stuff can happen. Best thing is to be able to roll with it.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Regarding adr time:
They will seat you if they can.
Under 10 minutes late, they will almost definitely seat you, but you will have to wait a bit so they can work you back in. You will not be seated immediately.

If you are 15 minutes late, they will most likely seat you, with a wait, but not guaranteed.

If you are an hour late, they still could seat you. This happened to us. FIL left his insulin in the room. By the time we went back for it, we were over an hour late for coral reef. They sat us, but we had to wait about 45 min for a table.

Best advice is try to be 10-15 minutes early so you get seated close to on time.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

For FP, 5 minutes before and 15 minutes after (technically 14 minutes and 59 seconds). For ADR, 15 minutes.

Where is this documented?

 

[Nancyg56]

Where is this documented?

It's is not. A CL concierge made a call for me when one of the youngest Princesses with us had a misfortunate meltdown, and thing went downhill as we approached our ADR time. I wnet to the lounge and explained our concern to her, and she made a call. SHe did say that they have an "unofficial" grace period of 15 minutes that restaurants will try to honor, however it is not official, so if they cannot, there is nothing that binds them to follow it.

I have paraphrased, but this was the gist of it.

Now, with that said, we arrived for our ADR a tad over the 15 minutes, and even with the call from our CM, we had a good 30 minute wait.

ETA that this is for ADR's. I have no idea what the policy is for FP other than I try to get there 5 minutes early if possible.

 

[georgina]

Where is this documented?

Haven't seen it documented for FP, but through experience, the FP light turns green at 5 min before the time.

 

[mesaboy2]

Where is this documented?

For what it’s worth, the FP FAQ since it was first written years ago. I don’t remember any recent examples where the grace period was not honored.

 

[Sunelis]

For the FP+ the grace period is hardcoded in their system. The light turn green without human intervention 5 minutes prior and up to 14m59s after.

 

[Disneyepcot]

I've never been late but have always been 5 minutes early with the green light working. Every time I think I will show up 10 minutes late and see if the FP works, I have been able to modify my FP to a later time instead. I am glad to hear that if I cannot modify my FP, I should be fine scanning in 14.59 seconds late. LOL.

 

[Raven01]

Thanks folks. I don’t want to re-light an argument! But I did want to confirm what those times were.

I’m a planner, but Disney has changed so much since my last trip (about 13 years ago) that our days are much more regimented. We used to walk around and stand in line if we wanted to ride. I think we waited 3 hours for Splash Mountain! Now with FPs and ADRs preset, my biggest worry is trying not to backtrack and increase walking to get from Point A to Point B. I’m using TP to get a route, but grace times help give me on the spot flexibility

With ADRs I figured that a few minutes won’t matter, but15-20 minutes would. I worked way too hard to get those reservations to give them up!

 

[AngiTN]

Regarding adr time:
They will seat you if they can.
Under 10 minutes late, they will almost definitely seat you, but you will have to wait a bit so they can work you back in. You will not be seated immediately.

If you are 15 minutes late, they will most likely seat you, with a wait, but not guaranteed.

If you are an hour late, they still could seat you. This happened to us. FIL left his insulin in the room. By the time we went back for it, we were over an hour late for coral reef. They sat us, but we had to wait about 45 min for a table.

Best advice is try to be 10-15 minutes early so you get seated close to on time.

To be fair, you aren't seated immediately even if you are on time

 

[AngiTN]

Where is this documented?

Documented in writing? It's not. But see this

For the FP+ the grace period is hardcoded in their system. The light turn green without human intervention 5 minutes prior and up to 14m59s after.

It is as documented as possible in that the system will allow you in, no CM intervention. Green ring, you are in. And the above times before/after your FP, gets a green ring. No documentation needed