How long does it take to get seated?

[mfp]

This will be our first time doing ADRs, so be patient with me. I am planning on making earlier ones. I have younger kids and they are up early in the morning and so our eating schedule is probably at least 1-2 hrs earlier than, "normal" families. I am wondering how long it takes to be seated. For example, if an ADR is at 5pm, we should get seated asap, right? Since the restaurant would have just opened? If I make one by 5:30pm, will there be a longer wait or would we be able to go in or have just a very short (less than 10 min) wait? We usually eat btwn 5-5:30pm, but I'm wondering how much wiggle room we should give ourselves, since I want to avoid long waits before being seated. My 2 yr old is the one that really worries me when it comes to long waits at restaurants. Thanks!

 

[Nadjalu]

I will be honest....you never know.

Yes it is easier to be sat if your adr time is close to restaurant opening. (like Chef Mickey's at 5pm). The longer in the night some places get behind, especially the popular ones.

So if this is an issue it would be best to make your adrs at the earlier time and if sat late then it won't affect you as much.

 

[squirrel]

Well, my worst one was 1900 Park Fare. I booked a 5pm ADR and by the time I checked in it was just after 5pm (there was a long line). After about 30 min I asked why it was taking so long. The CM said they opened at 4:30pm. I thought I had an opening time, still the ADR system should be set up better if this is a normal occurance. We finally got called at 5:55pm.

The only other one I remember being kind of long was Coral Reef. I didn't time it so I don't know how long it was. It could have been around the same as 1900 Park Fare.

Usually we get seated within 5-15 min of our ADR time.

 

[ancestry]

I always try to check-in about 15 min early. We usually are seated by our ADR time or before. The only places that I usually have to wait a bit are Le Celler, Crystal Palace, and Ohana.

 

[ekraxa]

Last week we consistently checked in 15 minutes prior to our ADR time. We waited almost an hour past our ADR time to get into 1900 Park Fare.

Every other restaurant got us in early or within 10 minutes of our ADR time. That included Coral Reef, Crystal Palace, Hollywood & Vine, and Chef Mickeys.

YMMV.

 

[maxiesmom]

I always try to check-in about 15 min early. We usually are seated by our ADR time or before. The only places that I usually have to wait a bit are Le Celler, Crystal Palace, and Ohana.

And Disney actually suggests you check in 15-20 minutes prior to your ADR time. So you were doing good.

The only place we ever have to wait a bit past our ADR has been The Crystal Palace. I think as they are open all day they tend to get backed up pretty bad.

OP--Maybe look at booking places where there are things for your kids to look at. If you book Chef Mickey's there is the monorail going by, or all the gift shops. If you book Ohanas there is a gift shop and a really neat pin stand on the same level of the Poly.