I'm not the type whose late but...

[twentyco]

I once showed up at Le Cellier early for a first dinner seating and they told me they were running 30 minutes behind actual ADR times (so it was going to be an hour wait). That sucked so we sat down to wait and got out devices and then 5 minutes later we were seated in an empty restaurant. Not sure what that was all about!

I have found Le Cellier is very strange. About a year ago my husband and I booked it for lunch for our anniversary. When we got there and checked in, they were turning walk ups away. That didn’t surprise me, because it’s popular. But then they sat us in a nearly empty restaurant that did not get close to full the entire time we were there. We asked our server about it, and she said they’d had a ton of ADR cancellations because it was raining. But then why were they turning away walk ups? It was the same when we left; restaurant still practically empty, and we saw them turn away several groups as we were leaving. I found it really odd.

 

[mustinjourney]

CRT will not let you get in early -- at least that is my experience each of the last two times I've been there. Got there 10 minutes early both times, and each time they asked me to wait before I could officially check-in.

 

[MomOTwins]

I was on a phone call with a Disney dining reservations CM the other day and she told me that 10-15 late minutes is no problem. I have NEVER been seated early.

 

[smcabee]

No official grace period for being late. Your chances of being seated early depend on how long the people dining before you take to leave and the number of people arriving late for their ADR's in my opinion.

 

[maxiesmom]

I was on a phone call with a Disney dining reservations CM the other day and she told me that 10-15 late minutes is no problem. I have NEVER been seated early.

No offence, but it wouldn't be a problem for them. They wouldn't be the ones impacted by being late.

Now I am sure Disney seats people when they are late whenever it is at all possible. The problem is, you won't know until you are there, looking for a table, how much leeway there is on that day at that specific time.

The best idea is to not be late. And if a person's plans have them being late, because of FPs or how they have their rides scheduled, then they should rework those plans. It is never ever a good idea to make a plan that has you late before you are even at the parks.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

-how late can you be for an ADR before you lose it?

ADR Times and Tardiness "411":
1) WDW advises you to be at the ADR 15-minutes early.
2) You are expected to meet your ADR time, just like any other appt.
3) Being on-time is your responsibility, not that of WDW.
4) If late, they *can* cancel the ADR.
5) Under normal conditions, they usually allow up to a 15-minute lateness, but this is kindness, not a Grace Period.
6) If really busy, (eg, Free Dining, Holidays), there might be no Grace Period.
7) If you miss the ADR, you *might* have the ability to wait for a table.
8) For waiting times, there is no estimate, waits of 1-1½ hrs are common.
. . . if the eatery is not too busy, wait times could be minimal
. . . just depends upon the individual day-time-etc
9) They also have the option of canceling and just sending you away.
10) These options are at the discretion of the SEATER on duty at the podium.
11) Plus, it is up the eatery manager to decide if you get charged the $10/person no-show fee.

NOTE:
If it is near the end of the ressie period or the end of park hours, do not expect ANY leniency in being late.
You are expected to make your ressie time, with zero excuses.
Courtesy is courtesy.
Plan to make your ressie or ADR times.
Selfishness does not count.