Grand Floridian Cinderella’s dinner, very upset!

[xenole]

Say there's a couple and 3-4 people in another group waiting to be seated. A table for 6-8 people opens up. Would they then put both parties at the same table in order to speed things up or keep them separate?

 

[wdwtweets]

At this restaurant, they would keep them separate. The only WDW restaurant I know that does the shared tables is Biergarten.

 

[TDC Nala]

Say there's a couple and 3-4 people in another group waiting to be seated. A table for 6-8 people opens up. Would they then put both parties at the same table in order to speed things up or keep them separate?

Not at CRT. They do not combine parties. The only restaurants that combine parties are Biergarten and Teppan Edo.

 

[wdwtweets]

Aw, yes. I forgot about Teppan Edo. I don't know how I did that since I'll be eating there soon!

 

[kdnmom]

Disney does use a system where they do not hold tables open for a party with an ADR - they give that party the first available table that opens up that will fit their party, in the order that the guests checked in, so a party of two with three other parties of two lined up ahead of them will not get the first table for two available - so there is no table waiting for you when you arrive, and yes, that is confusing because they changed the name of the system to Advance Dining Reservations rather than Priority Seating.

."

Bolding mine...

So, if I have a 5:30 ADR, but someone with a 5:45 ADR (of the same party size) checks in before me, they will get the first available table??? Is this true?? That hardly seems fair, but I think that is what happened to us at CP in August. We had an hour wait for our ADR, and ended up chatting with a family of a similar party size (they had 6, we had 5), who had an ADR 10 minutes after ours, yet they got seated first. Crazy!

 

[kmk1180]

And restaurants have patrons already seated who are taking their sweet time finishing up their meals. Get a couple groups of slower diners all in a row, and you've got a wait.

That's true.
It's happened to me at Cal Gril. I had 1 1/2 hour before Wishes ADR.
Didn't get seated till after it started.
Sucks but it happens, and Disney isn't perfect unlike what some expect them to be.
My response is I'll never go to Cal Grill again.
Doesn't mean Disney is losing it's magic. Things like this happen. It's called life.

I agree with previous poster who said should have said something that night to the manager.
As is sounds like after that fact whining.

To OP, you tried to schedule too much in one night.
Character dinner and Illuminations is a bit much, which played a big part in the problem. 2 1/2 hour character dinner isn't that unusual.
6:45 ADR, character meal, and travel back to EPCOT to make Illuminations? If you asked here in advance, I bet most would tell you wasn't going to happen.
Lesson learned. Don't try to overschuedle you'r most likely going to end up frustrated and disapointed.

 

[fall08CP]

The original post is kind of confusing. They paid the bill at 9:20 and were still able to see the end of Illuminations in Epcot in front of SSE? Isn't Illuminations only about 20 minutes long, starting at 9, therefore long over? And I thought at CRT the picture was included in the cost, yet they were asked to purchase it for $30? At least it was included last year when we went for breakfast.

Anyways OP, sorry that it wasn't all you hoped it to be. We weren't super impressed by our meal there either. Was the food at least decent? I wonder if they had some servers call in [sick] that night which would put them behind a bit. At least you now know not to bother with that in the future- lesson learned

 

[figmentgirl]

Emily I'm so sorry your evening went this way

I feel all is forgivable except for how they wouldn't acknowledge that they were inconvienencing you with something as simple as a heartfelt apology. I'm a big believer in that and I feel it's actions like those that seperate Six Flags from WDW.

 

[mom2rtk]

I really dislike spending valuable time waiting in the restaurants. But what you described is actually fairly common at Disney I believe. As such, I always try to schedule in the first seating time frame for any TS meal we eat. It's the ONLY way to assure it won't happen again. Yes, it's early. But then we're off to the parks again and have a snack later.

 

[3_disprincesses]

We never had a problem WAITING, but Mary Poppins was a no-show and my daughter was dressed like her. COMPLETELY like her...hat, gloves, dress and umbrella.
The manager led my daughter into the dining room and said "EVERYONE...HER IS MARY POPPINS", as my daughter waved to the crowd. SHe received claps from everyone. It made her trip!!

AWWW...I bet she was beaming! I always enjoy seeing the kids getting special treatment...At WDW or anywhere else.

 

[vicki_c]

The original post is kind of confusing. They paid the bill at 9:20 and were still able to see the end of Illuminations in Epcot in front of SSE? Isn't Illuminations only about 20 minutes long, starting at 9, therefore long over? And I thought at CRT the picture was included in the cost, yet they were asked to purchase it for $30? At least it was included last year when we went for breakfast.

1 - Illuminations is at 9:30 at this time of year, due to the Candlelight Processional.

2 - the OP was at the Grand Floridian/1900 Park Fare, not at CRT.

 

[Tara922c]

Happend to us last year. We had 7 PM ADRs at LeCelleir. Arrived 15 mintues early (like we were told told to), and were told they were behind, and we can't check in until after 7. There was people screaming at the host, and using foul language saying they have been waiting for over an hour. At 7, they told dh they were behind, and it would be a 1 1/2 hour wait. We ended up leaving because it was pouring down rain, I was hungry, and out 2 year old was screaming. The host told us that there was a chance that we would not be accomidated that night! My theory is that WDW overbooks ADRs on purpose because people are going to cancel, and then when everyone shows up, the rest of us are SOL. I just remember that the ADRs are not reservations, they are a guarantee that my name will be put on a waiting list. Thats horrible you had to wait so long!! This year we are trying something new, late breakfasts, late lunch/early dinners, and late dinners. We hope if we eat at off peak times, we will avoid the wait.

 

[maxiesmom]

We are expected to be at our reservations on time why cant they be ready for them. I am writing a formal letter to Disney about this one. I can understand 15 min or even 30 min but 1hr this is nuts. I am not a person that believes in handouts but Disney should of put effort in comping for there error.

Actually in Disney time, you were late. You are supposed to check in for your ADR 20 minutes prior to your ADR time. It states that right on the web-site. So I have to say you started out making an error, and then Disney compounded it by running late too.

But I would be steamed too at waiting over an hour for the characters to come by the table. That is why most people go to those meals, to see the characters. That is not excusable. Once seated the characters should be by in a timely manner. But I wonder if that is what was causing the back-up with seating, that the characters were running behind for some wierd reason, then the tables wouldn't be turning over when they should, and then it was all a big mess.

 

[kmk1180]

But I would be steamed too at waiting over an hour for the characters to come by the table. That is why most people go to those meals, to see the characters. That is not excusable. Once seated the characters should be by in a timely manner. But I wonder if that is what was causing the back-up with seating, that the characters were running behind for some wierd reason, then the tables wouldn't be turning over when they should, and then it was all a big mess.

I agree I wouldn't have waited the hour to be seated
But it doesn't sound to me like the characters were late. OP said they arrived at 6:45 then waited an hour to be seated. So it's 7:45. Then left at about 9:15 to the car. That gives only 1 1/2 hour for a character meal, during prime dinner hours.
That's not that long really for a character meal. Likely OP just left before characters got around. Our breakfast at Chef Mickey took 2 1/2 hours, I can see dinner being that long as well.
Again, big part of the problem came for over planning and expecting to do much in to little time.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Since this discussion is about a restaurant offering, I've moved it to the Restaurants board.

 

[disney_dreaming_mom]

I am so sorry you had this happen!!! We had a similar experience at The Crystal Palace in March. We ended up waiting over an hour past our ADR and subsequently missing the wishes fireworks display.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Your timing was poorly planned.
2) One should expect to be delayed, especially as the night goes on.
3) Additionally, even if on-time, you would be cutting it close for Illuminations.
4) Also, remember that characters at means are NEVER guaranteed.
5) As for waiters, maybe someone called in sick and they were overloaded.
6) This is not a full excuse for WDW, but one must expect variances.
7) You have to just go-with-the-flow.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I am so sorry you had this happen. It must have been an 'off' night and not the fault of the dining plan. We were there the night before you and had a great experience (the 'Ohana breakfast with the Brazilians is another story). I think they should have at least apologized. I learned the hard way never to make dinner ressies when I 'have' to be somewhere. And BTW we were there last week during free dining and never had to wait more than 10 minutes for our seats.

 

[Tony-NJ]

Maybe the change in party size had something to do with the wait as well?

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I had a similar experience at 1900 Park Fare when we were there in September. We actually showed by 1 hour earlier than our reservation and asked if they could check us in. The CM said absolutely -- the wait shouldn't be too long. Well, we actually were brought into the dining area 20 minutes after our originally scheduled ADR, so technically we waited 1 hour and 20 minutes past checkin. I could not believe the amount of people that showed up while we waited in the lobby.

I also don't understand the excuses made for the waitstaff. It's a buffet. The only thing they need to do is bring you your drinks and the bill. Nothing more. The also have staff who cleans the tables who aren't waitstaff. I saw a lot of hanging around gabbing, since we were seated near the buffet/outside the kitchen door. And the characters are not out at the same time. When we were there, they only had 2 characters out at a time. And when the first two would leave, then the second two would come in. Not an effective use of time IMHO. At Crystal Palace and CRT all the characters are out at the same time. Seems to work much better.