How Strict Are Dining Reservation Times?

[GillianP1301]

I know of eateries where ADR wait times have increased form a few minutes to over 45-minutes.

That's crazy and I personally would never wait that long. At 15 or 20 minutes, I am at the podium asking for status on my table (I'm polite about it) and I ask 5 minutes after that. I've never waited longer than 25 minutes anywhere (Sci-Fi was my longest wait, twice) and like I said before 90% of the time I'm seated in less than 10 minutes. I'm only in WDW 10 days a year (last trip was 2 months ago), but I do about 25 TS a trip, so I've had my fair share of ADRs. If it got to 30 minutes, I'd let them know I'm leaving and I'd find something else to eat. But that's me, I have pretty high expectations when it comes to customer service, having worked in that area in my younger years for several years. I also know that as the customer I have the power and always the option to walk away if my needs aren't being met.

So, if in fact there are restaurants that re planning on waits of up to 45 minutes, as you suggest by the change in reservation strategy, then they are doing so because they are getting away with it and that's on us, the consumer, not them.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I have the power and always the option to walk away if my needs aren't being met.

1) And more.
2) I reviewed several of the many CM-restaurant sites/blogs. *
. . . customers are waiting longer and longer for a table
. . . on one site, CM's complained of guests THROWING the alert buzzers at the podium CM due to long waits
3) Guests are getting really upset at some of the wait times, especially when waiting in the heat or rain!

* Almost every TS location has a separate Facebook page for CM's (many rides or park divisions also have their own pages). These are usually closed to non-CMs. They use these to talk, to vent, and to even trade unwanted shifts or vacation days with other CM's. Some of the comments are comical, others are ugly.

 

[purple figment]

I've also been seated in nowhere near full restaurants where it's pretty obvious they are choosing not to run at full capacity (including BOG) so if there are increases in wait time is more likely due to less staffing than increased ADRs. Just guessing, I have no insider info.

BOG is a little different from most of the TS restaurants in DW. It has a huge capacity because it is a QS at breakfast and lunch when much of the food is pre-made and can service far more people in less time, but that means they need a lot of tables/seats. At dinner the restaurant's capacity is far less because it takes longer to make meals. It is based on the kitchen's ability to prepare and plate meals in a timely fashion. Often the Music Box room is not used at dinner and not all the tables in the ballroom are booked because if they were all filled, diners would be waiting a very long time for their meals.

 

[GillianP1301]

BOG is a little different from most of the TS restaurants in DW. It has a huge capacity because it is a QS at breakfast and lunch when much of the food is pre-made and can service far more people in less time, but that means they need a lot of tables/seats. At dinner the restaurant's capacity is far less because it takes longer to make meals. It is based on the kitchen's ability to prepare and plate meals in a timely fashion. Often the Music Box room is not used at dinner and not all the tables in the ballroom are booked because if they were all filled, diners would be waiting a very long time for their meals.

I noticed it in other restaurants on our last trip couple of trips. Sci-Fi stands out in my mind because I always wait longer there than most restaurants and at least 1/4 - 1 /3 of the tables were empty when we finally did get seated. Biergarten is another one, but in that case I'm rarely left waiting so it's likely it's just nowhere near fully booked.

 

[oceanmarina]

Yes due to a transportation issue, we were 30 minutes late for Narcroosees this past August (lightning affected boats ), they seated us no problem and did not charge us