How long to wait for a reservation

[disneysteve]

Are Open Table reservations actually handled differently at the restaurant? Are you more likely to be seated on time?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Open Table reservations (a) are actual reservations, and (b) do not have a penalty attached for no-shows.

 

[disneysteve]

Open Table reservations (a) are actual reservations, and (b) do not have a penalty attached for no-shows.

So if I have a 7:00 ADR and you have a 7:00 Open Table reservation at the same place and we both show up together, is it likely you’ll be seated first? If so, that’s really good to know.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't know, disneysteve. It's a good question. It'd be ideal if two DISers were to volunteer to test it.

 

[EveDallas]

As is often said, an ADR is Not a traditional reservation. They are not holding a table for you. When you check in they place you in line for the next table that will fit your party size.

I see this week explanation a lot. Perhaps if it's not a reservation, Disney should stop calling them Advanced Dining Reservations.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

As is often said, an ADR is Not a traditional reservation.

As explained above, despite the acronym including a designation for the word 'reservation', you. do. not. have. an actual reservation.

ADR = Call Ahead Seating.

I'm honestly curious...how do you know this information? Disney openly uses the word "reservation" and there is nothing I've seen online or anywhere else to suggest that it's NOT a reservation in the true sense of the word. Therefore I don't know why any reasonable person would show up at a WDW restaurant with an ADR and NOT expect to be seated in the general time frame of the ADR (as in "a reservation").

 

[jrmasm]

I see this week explanation a lot. Perhaps if it's not a reservation, Disney should stop calling them Advanced Dining Reservations.

Seems simple right?

 

[over50visits]

After waiting three times in a row for Ohana for more than one hour we gave up. Disney expects us to arrive on time (they even want us to arrive early), so is it fair for me to expect to be seated on time? Disney is maximizing profit, of course, so they are really good at inconveniencing guests just enough they will keep coming. They would rather have a full waiting room than a single empty (non revenue generating) table.

You have to accept that, and understand their business model. They have enough demand so they can do things that most restaurants wouldn't even consider. Can you imagine any restaurant in your home town making people wait 30 minutes past their reservation time? They's be out of business...whereas Disney has a huge customer base willing to accept that treatment.

We still go, still make reservations at restaurants at WDW that have treated the reservation time as a two-way street, and enjoy eating there. But just like their MDE app terms of use, take it or leave it. Once you're seated, leave your cares behind and enjoy the many and varied quality eating experiences available.

 

[GillianP1301]

I'm honestly curious...how do you know this information? Disney openly uses the word "reservation" and there is nothing I've seen online or anywhere else to suggest that it's NOT a reservation in the true sense of the word. Therefore I don't know why any reasonable person would show up at a WDW restaurant with an ADR and NOT expect to be seated in the general time frame of the ADR (as in "a reservation").

I'm often curious about this too. It is a reservation, it's in the name. Some times I think trying to justify it otherwise is just an attempt to try and make excuses for the fact that WDW chooses to overbook their restaurants. I love WDW as much as the next fanatic, but I'm still not willing to overlook bad service, which making somebody wait 30+ minutes past an ADR is, in my opinion.

As for the original question of how long to wait until the no show fee won't apply, I don't know this to be fact, but it's a pretty reasonable assumption to say if you have waited longer than you are comfortable with and you go back to the podium to let them know you can no longer wait for the table and ask that they not consider you a no show, they won't. We're talking about a restaurant that is obviously overbooked at that point and behind with their ADRs, so some people leaving actually will help them get things back on track.

Personally, I wait 15 - 20 minutes and then I start asking for updates every 5 minutes to be sure I haven't missed anything or that they have made an error in checking in. I'm polite and I don't cut in front of anybody else trying to check in and I rarely have to ask more than once. My max time that I'll wait is 30ish minutes. Fortunately that has only happened to me 2 or 3 times out of the 100 + TS meals I've eaten over the last 5 trips. I've never left without eating, although I came very close at CM this past vacation.

 

[rg35]

It sucks that this is happening (and sounds pretty common) but we must be really lucky. I can't say we've ever really waited more than 10 minutes to be seated for an ADR in 5 trips in a row.

The only exception was in 2016 (i think) at CRT dinner where we either somehow got lost in the shuffle after checking in or they were running really behind. I think we waited something like 40+ minutes, but we got some any time fastpasses for the trouble.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm honestly curious...how do you know this information?

Don't they tell you? I opted not to reactivate my account, so couldn't make a dummy resrvation, but any time Ibve called, and for each meal, i got the "...be seated at the next available table for your party size, at or after..." spiel.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Don't they tell you? I opted not to reactivate my account, so couldn't make a dummy resrvation, but any time Ibve called, and for each meal, i got the "...be seated at the next available table for your party size, at or after..." spiel.

No, the email confirmation says nothing even close to that.



Thank you, Erin, your dining reservation is confirmed.

Dining Confirmation Number

Reservation Detail

Reservation for 1 Guests on Sunday Mar 17, 2019

Ale & Compass Breakfast

9:00 AM - Breakfast


Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Your Dining Party

Disney Dining Plans Accepted

When you book a Disney vacation, you may opt to purchase a Magic Your Way Vacation Package that includes one of our Disney dining plans. Each dining plan provides a set of entitlements you can redeem at select Walt Disney World dining locations.
To learn more, call (407) 939-5277 or visit Disney Dining Plans.

Refer to your specific Disney dining plan for the number of entitlements required per person for this location.


2019 Disney Dining Plans

Entitlements Required

Breakfast

Quick Service

-

Dining

1

Deluxe Dining

1

Reservation Primary Contact

XXXXX
Special Requests

There are no special dietary or accessibility requests for this reservation.

Credit Card Guarantee

Your Visa ending in XXX is being used to guarantee your reservation. It will only be charged in the event that your party does not arrive as scheduled. To keep from being charged, please cancel your reservation within the allotted cancellation period.

Guest Policies

Ver condiciones en Español

Cancel

-

You must cancel at least one day prior to your reservation to avoid a per person cancellation fee. If you fail to cancel or are a no show, the credit card provided at the time of reservation will be charged $10.00 per person.

Restriction / Requirement

-

If applicable, location requires 1 Table Service meal for Disney Dining Plan

-

PTY of 9 or more: Guest must contact the location directly.

-

Allow up to 1 1/2 (or 1.5) hours to travel to your destination when traveling within WDW property.

-

Menu Items, Pricing, and Hours are subject to change without notice.

-

If applicable, 18% gratuity will be automatically added for parties of 6 or more.

Booking Information

-

Most Walt Disney World Resort table service restaurants that accept reservations can accommodate Kosher needs if requested at least 1 Day in advance by 407-WDW-DINE.

At Family Style or Buffet locations Guest will only receive one meal, this will not be all-you-care-to-eat. Guests will be charged the regular buffet or all-you-care-to-enjoy price.

Guests using their package entitlements for dining will be able to mirror those entitlements for Kosher Meals (ex. if the package entitlements are 1 entree and 1 beverage, then the Guest may order 1 Kosher entree, and 1 Kosher beverage.

-

At the Restaurant
Inform the server, chef, or manager on duty of any dietary restrictions when arriving at the restaurant.
Please note that Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will use reasonable efforts to prevent the introduction of the allergen of concern into the food through close attention during our sourcing, preparation and handling processes. However, it is ultimately the Guest's individual discretion to make an informed choice regarding whether to order any particular items. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts cannot guarantee that allergens may not have been introduced during another stage of the food chain process or, even inadvertently, during preparation. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts does not have separate kitchens to prepare allergen-free items or separate dining areas for Guests with allergies or intolerances.


Dinner Shows:
Dinner Shows can be alerted of the special dietary need by marking the need on the reservation. When doing so, please ensure a phone number is provided within the reservation. These locations generally reach out approximately 3 days of arrival to verify the special dietary need.


Locations That Need Additional Info/Contact from Special Diets:

• Disney's Perfectly Princess Tea Party
• Tomorrowland Terrace Wishes Dessert Party
• Children's Pirate Adventure Cruises

Cake Orders:
Cakes must be ordered through the Cake Hotline at 407-827-2253, or 407-827-CAKE. For Guests with special dietary cake requests, they may contact the Cake Hotline or BabyCakes, NYC Bakery at 407-938-9044. The Special Diets team does not assist with ordering cakes.


-

Requesting a Special Meal

The sooner you let us know about your dietary restrictions, the quicker we can provide you with information about alternate dining options. Most restaurants offer no-sugar-added, low-fat, low-sodium and vegetarian options. Advance arrangements are not necessary for Guests with lifestyle dietary requests. Guests can discuss any dietary requests with their server upon arrival.


Online Reservations

Please indicate all food allergies when making the reservation online.


Phone Reservations

Please inform a Cast Member of your dietary requirements when making a dining reservation over the phone. To make a reservation call (407)WDW-DINE or (407)939-3463. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.


At the Restaurant

Inform the server, chef, or manager on duty of any dietary restrictions when arriving at the restaurant.


Please note that Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will use reasonable efforts to prevent the introduction of the allergen of concern into the food through close attention during our sourcing, preparation and handling processes. However, it is ultimately up to the Guest to use his or her individual discretion to make an informed choice regarding whether to order any particular items. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts cannot guarantee that allergens may not have been introduced during another stage of the food chain process or , even inadvertently, during preparation. We do not have separate kitchens to prepare allergen-free items or separate dining areas for Guests with allergies or intolerances.

Need to Make Changes?

To update or change your plans please visit


Contact Us

For assistance, call (407) 939-4357. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Start Planning Your Disney Vacation Now!

 

[kaytieeldr]

That's a lot of text! Especially since some of it seems a bit redundant, there's no reason the sesting policy can't replace, say, one of the allergy blurbs.

Anyway, everybody upset with the actual v. expected seating policy should contact Disney.

 

[BrianL]

I'm honestly curious...how do you know this information? Disney openly uses the word "reservation" and there is nothing I've seen online or anywhere else to suggest that it's NOT a reservation in the true sense of the word. Therefore I don't know why any reasonable person would show up at a WDW restaurant with an ADR and NOT expect to be seated in the general time frame of the ADR (as in "a reservation").

I know. Everyone is saying that it just puts you in line for the next available table, but I thought that was pretty much what a "reservation" was. I mean, aside from the very fancy restaurants that only do one or two total dining-room seatings per night, I don't expect that a restaurant clear off a table all day for me. They should have some idea of what will be available when, an hold it if it clears a few minutes before the arrival of the next reservation holder, but I know they're trying to seat as many parties as possible. I feel like the system usually works fine too, though sometimes it doesn't. I think about 30 minutes would be my limit. Got right up to that one time at Sci-Fi, and I was actually going up to the podium to opt-out when they called me.

 

[Spencer Wright]

On top of points previously made, can anyone confirm the 'official' policy, in terms of how early you are supposed to arrive prior to your ADR? I thought it was 15-20 minutes in years past?

If there gonna have people showing up that early, that there is no way people should be waiting more than ten minutes past their wait time. Otherwise, if they did in fact show up early, than there already pushing the half hour mark.

I NEVER would be sitting 40 minutes past my wait time. A manager would be involved at about the 10-15 minute mark. If Disney is going to expect so much pre-planning and precision from guests, they should reciprocate accordingly.

This is one of the reasons we do dinner so early. It's hard to have a build up at 5pm!!

 

[disneysteve]

Everyone is saying that it just puts you in line for the next available table, but I thought that was pretty much what a "reservation" was. I mean, aside from the very fancy restaurants that only do one or two total dining-room seatings per night, I don't expect that a restaurant clear off a table all day for me. They should have some idea of what will be available when, an hold it if it clears a few minuted before the arrival of the next reservation holder, but I know they're trying to seat as many parties as possible.

Sure, but it's also sort of like the airlines. If they have 150 seats on the plane but sell 165 tickets, there's going to be a problem. If Disney frequently has 30 or 40 or 60 minute waits, it sounds like they are overbooking.

I wonder if at least at some of the most popular places like CRT and BOG it wouldn't be a good idea for Disney to go to a timed system. Have a 4:00 seating, a 6:30 seating, and a 9:00 seating.

 

[BrianL]

Sure, but it's also sort of like the airlines. If they have 150 seats on the plane but sell 165 tickets, there's going to be a problem. If Disney frequently has 30 or 40 or 60 minute waits, it sounds like they are overbooking.

I wonder if at least at some of the most popular places like CRT and BOG it wouldn't be a good idea for Disney to go to a timed system. Have a 4:00 seating, a 6:30 seating, and a 9:00 seating.

Well, in my experience, it hasn't been frequently. In fact, other than that one time at Sci-Fi, I have never waited any more than a couple of minutes after my ADR time, and usually am seated early (though I tend to show up extra early). I know that's just my experience, but I'd be willing to bet that most of the time the system works just fine.

 

[disneysteve]

I don't expect that a restaurant clear off a table all day for me.

Certainly not, but they can clear the table for you close to your arrival time.

We went to a local Mexican place for my birthday last month. When we arrived and identified ourselves, we were immediately taken to our table that had a little "reserved" placard on it. While we were there, I saw a couple come in soon after us without a reservation. There was an empty table and they were told, "We can seat you here but this table is reserved at 7:00. Is that okay?" That way the customers understood that they needed to vacate the table by then.

Ideally, that's how reservations should work.

On the other hand, there used to be a very exclusive French restaurant in Philadelphia that did two seatings for dinner. We went one night for 2nd seating. When we checked in, we were told that our table wasn't available quite yet. The folks from 1st seating were lingering. About 10 minutes later, they came over and apologized for the delay and said they've spoken to the customers to let them know they needed to clear out. They told us to go down to the lounge and enjoy complimentary drinks while we wait and they would come get us. Once we were seated, they brought over wine and an extra appetizer on the house.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Well, in my experience, it hasn't been frequently. In fact, other than that one time at Sci-Fi, I have never waited any more than a couple of minutes after my ADR time, and usually am seated early (though I tend to show up extra early). I know that's just my experience, but I'd be willing to bet that most of the time the system works just fine.

Same here. I think there are a few restaurants that notoriously run behind (I'm looking at you 'Ohana), but I bet most people are otherwise seated in the general time frame of the ADR. Which I how I expect a "reservation" to work...inside or outside of WDW.

 

[BrianL]

Certainly not, but they can clear the table for you close to your arrival time.

We went to a local Mexican place for my birthday last month. When we arrived and identified ourselves, we were immediately taken to our table that had a little "reserved" placard on it. While we were there, I saw a couple come in soon after us without a reservation. There was an empty table and they were told, "We can seat you here but this table is reserved at 7:00. Is that okay?" That way the customers understood that they needed to vacate the table by then.

Ideally, that's how reservations should work.

But, isn't that pretty much what they do at WDW as well? I mean, other than the fact that most of the restaurants are very popular and almost always have the tables full, when they know you are arriving, and the table frees up, and you check-in at the podium, then they give you your table, that's what a "reservation" is, right? It's not like they're seating the walk-up that just happened to be in line in front of you for check-in. They pretty-much never seat walk-ups at all at the popular places.