Late to Crystal Palace ADR HelP

[Snowhite23]

Hello everyone
I was wondering how late can you show up to a Crystal Palace reservation? Are they flexible? What is the usual wait time to get in the restaurant for a 7:55 p.m. dinner on a Saturday in November? is there a number to call if you are running late? Any information is greatly appreciated...thank you all

 

[Hopefully]

Hello everyone
I was wondering how late can you show up to a Crystal Palace reservation? Are they flexible? What is the usual wait time to get in the restaurant for a 7:55 p.m. dinner on a Saturday in November? is there a number to call if you are running late? Any information is greatly appreciated...thank you all

Are you planning on being late - that could be risky?
How flexible they will be depends totally on how busy they are, sometimes pretty flexible, sometimes not at all. In general the thought is that they hold ADR's for about 15 minutes. After that you could be considered a no show. An ADR is not a traditional "reservation". There is no number to call because they are not holding "your" table. They expect you to show up about 15 minutes before your ADR to check in.
If you foresee a problem, did you try to change the ADR time?
Good Luck

 

[PictureJumpr]

Almost all locations will hold your ADR for 15-20 minutes without problems.
After all, you are not reserving a table - you are reserving a place in line for a table.

Almost all locations will go ahead and seat you next-available if there is time to do so before they close for the night (with a later-evening ADR especially). In this situation, it is possible to be charged the no-show penalties even though you end up eating there anyway. If that happens, you can take your dinner receipt to the concierge at your resort (assuming it is a WDW resort) and ask to have the charges removed.

If you are running too late and decide to give up, you can try calling the cancellation line (407-939-2625). Sometimes they can cancel you without penalties being charged, even at the last minute, if you are having transportation problems beyond your control or someone has gotten ill. Planning to be late ahead of time is a different matter.

Unfortunately in your case, Crystal Palace is EXTREMELY popular and consequently quite inflexible. If you make it to your ADR on time, you will wait about 15 minutes to be seated. If you miss your ADR and they have to squeeze you in later, expect to wait much, much longer. Also, since they are (1) so popular and (2) inside Magic Kingdom, they may not be able to accomodate you at all before they close if you arrive much later than 8:30.

 

[AmyB2006]

I have been told by several CMs and managers that we are given a 15 minute window on either side of the reserved time. If you haven't checked in by then, they drop it. But... do they really? I don't know. I doubt it.

 

[Cafeen]

I have been told by several CMs and managers that we are given a 15 minute window on either side of the reserved time. If you haven't checked in by then, they drop it. But... do they really? I don't know. I doubt it.

From what I gather, it stays "in the system", but they no longer have to honor it. The last part is up to the discretion of the restaurant which will change based on how busy it is, what they're server/kitchen load is like, etc.

(Based on knowing that it does stay in the computer, since I have been over 15 minutes late (I SWEAR that bus said "Magic Kingdom" and not "Animal Kingdom!") and inconsistent reports by people who were late and were either turned away or accommodated.)

For the OP, Crystal Palace is one of the places that consistently books and is known to run behind. I wouldn't hold out much hope that you'd be accommodated at all if showing up more than 15-20 minutes late (nevermind without a long wait). I'd plan to get there early and shop around Main St until it's time to check in, rather than push it later.

 

[PictureJumpr]

I have been told by several CMs and managers that we are given a 15 minute window on either side of the reserved time. If you haven't checked in by then, they drop it. But... do they really? I don't know. I doubt it.

You're right, the ADR is still in the computer even after the time has passed. They can scroll back and find it. (I know this from unfortunate personal experience - we had a bit of a problem with being stuck on a ride on the opposite end of the park from our ADR, so were almost an hour late.)

Now, whether or not they decide to honor it - that is up to the individual restaurant's management's policy on how they/their CMs handle such a situation.

 

[Pakey]

I can only speak from personal experience. Saturday night, 20 minutes late to Boma. The restaurant was full and many people who had arrived on time for their ADRs were still waiting. They did not honor the reservation.