Leaving if wait too long?

[TheRustyScupper]

If you show up and decide to leave, do you count as a no-show?

1) Usually, YES.
2) Have to be really careful.
3) Leaving without eating constitutes as a No-Show.
. . . you took an ADR that another paying customer could have used
. . . even if the place is packed and has a long line, the theory is the same

NOTE:
The decision to charge a No-Show-Penalty of $10/person is up to the manager on duty at the end of the day.
You are not there to argue your case.
You might get some relief the next day at your hotel Lobby Concierge Desk, but that is getting tougher and tougher.
You are expected to show up for your ADR, and WDW doesn't have to give you an option if you decide t leave without eating.

 

[mlayman7]

I should have walked away from 50's Prime Time. We were there for a lunch and waited 65 minutes for a table. Our first time or we probably would have walked. Then our server was not good. Really don't want to ever go back, and so many people love this place.

It seems like 50's Prime Time Cafe always has waits. We've been the last 3 years in a row, we love the food and theme, but we've always had to wait at least 20 minutes to be seated past our reservation time. You would think they would get this corrected. As you can tell we've still kept going back. However, we are wanting to try Sci Fi for the first time this year.

 

[pickers1982]

had a rubbish exoerience at narcoosee a long time ago and never been back. are issue was we had booked around fireworks (an hour before) and according to.management people were hogging there tables after their meal to watch. spoilt that restaurant for me and never been back. generally i think 30 absolute max is what id waut after that my meal has already been ruined. difficult as you cant force people to keave a table and if i wanted an post dinner drink at my table i would be equally furious if i was getting hints to leave

 

[bumbershoot]

I know "ADR" does not equal "Reservation" and waits are common, but seeing some posts about waiting a half hour or longer after an ADR time has me wondering if you can say thanks anyway and leave without the no show charge?

If you do this, speak with a manager first.

And why would you? Aren’t you still hungry? Won’t you them have to go get in line somewhere else and end up with food you hadn’t chosen for that time slot?

had a rubbish exoerience at narcoosee a long time ago and never been back. are issue was we had booked around fireworks (an hour before) and according to.management people were hogging there tables after their meal to watch. spoilt that restaurant for me and never been back. generally i think 30 absolute max is what id waut after that my meal has already been ruined. difficult as you cant force people to keave a table and if i wanted an post dinner drink at my table i would be equally furious if i was getting hints to leave

So you see both sides of the coin. You don’t want to be rushed, but you know what happens when people don’t want to be rushed.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I would give them 20 min, max. If I show up on time and they can't seat me within 20 minutes, I'll go eat QS or go off property to eat. I pay a lot of money for my ticket, and even more money for the food. If they can't appreciate that and extend the courtesy of running close to on time, then I will spend my money elsewhere.

 

[HarleenQ]

We did this at Brown Derby. I think they were close to an hour behind because it had rained and people lingered at their tables to avoid going outside in it. We had Jedi Training reservations that would have been thrown off.

Talked to the hostess. She gave us our F! tickets since it was the dining package and sent us on our merry way. No charge. And she seemed happy that we were easily accommodated with our tickets and a smile vs giving her a hard time.

 

[Jessirip]

If you do this, speak with a manager first.

And why would you? Aren’t you still hungry? Won’t you them have to go get in line somewhere else and end up with food you hadn’t chosen for that time slot?

Of course I would let them know.

And because I need to feed my hangry 3 and 6 year olds anything at that point and get on with our day.

Someone else mentioned we'd be wasting an ADR someone else could have had, but I think of it more as making it better for others behind me if they are that behind.

Thanks for actual experiences stating if we talk to someone it's most likely ok.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Only once have we had a wait of longer than 30 minutes. That was at La Hacienda de San Angel in EP. After a 45 minute wait, I finally had to go to the manager to either seat us or cancel the ADR without charge as one of our dining party was starting to crash due to her diabetes and we needed to get appropriate nourishment. It was probably a combination of the Florida heat and sun that contributed to the problem since things are generally very well controlled, but the wait certainly played a roll as well.

 

[AngiTN]

You are expected to show up for your ADR, and WDW doesn't have to give you an option if you decide t leave without eating.

My credit card company does though.

If I've checked in on time, or early as I usually do, and waited beyond 30 min past the time of my reservation, you can bet I will dispute any no show charge they attempt to put on my card. The credit card company is not going to understand that a Reservation in Disney terms is not a reservation in real world terms.

 

[Micca]

Someone else mentioned we'd be wasting an ADR someone else could have had

You're right about it being a plus for the people behind you, besides they routinely turn away people who attempt to walk up. Those tables couldn't be difficult to fill.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

My credit card company does though.

If I've checked in on time, or early as I usually do, and waited beyond 30 min past the time of my reservation, you can bet I will dispute any no show charge they attempt to put on my card. The credit card company is not going to understand that a Reservation in Disney terms is not a reservation in real world terms.

1) Alas, all WDW has to do is show the ADR and no payment or cancellation, and your credit card company will fold and have keep the charge on your bill.
2) You would have to show a cancellation confirmation to have the card company delete the billing.
3) Of course, leaving on the same day would not get you a confirmation number.
4) Seen this happen SEVERAL times.

 

[AngiTN]

1) Alas, all WDW has to do is show the ADR and no payment or cancellation, and your credit card company will fold and have keep the charge on your bill.
2) You would have to show a cancellation confirmation to have the card company delete the billing.
3) Of course, leaving on the same day would not get you a confirmation number.
4) Seen this happen SEVERAL times.

When I provide proof that I did show up I am just going to agree to disagree with you. It's for a no show fee. Just read the small print on my confirmation, it doesn't say anything about a minimum order, or an order of any sort, just not showing up. I showed up, so met their requirement. You may have seen it happen but it wasn't to someone willing to fight to the end

 

[gillep]

When I provide proof that I did show up I am just going to agree to disagree with you. It's for a no show fee. I showed. You may have seen it happen but it wasn't to someone willing to fight to the end

Agreed, also it depends on your credit card, my Amex has NEVER asked me for proof for such a small charge back as $10, and I am confident that they would not ask for proof in this case, they would do as they always do and apologize profusely for the negative experience, take the charge off my account immediately, and ask me if there's anything else they can do for me. My other credit cards can be a slightly different story, but I am still not convinced that I wouldn't easily prevail in these circumstances.

 

[AngiTN]

Agreed, also it depends on your credit card, my Amex has NEVER asked me for proof for such a small charge back as $10, and I am confident that they would not ask for proof in this case, they would do as they always do and apologize profusely for the negative experience, take the charge off my account immediately, and ask me if there's anything else they can do for me. My other credit cards can be a slightly different story, but I am still not convinced that I wouldn't easily prevail in these circumstances.

In my opinion it's the wording. Disney's wording doesn't say it's a no order fee. It's a no show fee. Checking in is showing up. I wouldn't ever check in, and then walk off, as a means to get around the fee. Hardly necessary now that you can change the reservation online until a pretty short time prior to the reservation. Walking out after a very lengthy wait is something completely different.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

You're right about it being a plus for the people behind you, besides they routinely turn away people who attempt to walk up. Those tables couldn't be difficult to fill.

If they’re running far enough behind that people are leaving your ADR is not going to go to a walk up. They are overbooked for conditions (be it a staffing problem, a kitchen problem, or too many people running late or taking longer to eat than expected). It’s better for the host/hostess/manager working there and an opportunity to catch up a little bit, to have fewer irrate people waiting. You leaving at that point is win/win. They really shouldn’t charge you a no show fee as long as you’re checked in.

 

[bumbershoot]

And because I need to feed my hangry 3 and 6 year olds anything at that point and get on with our day.

But you’re now going to have to go wait in line somewhere. Feeding them won’t be immediate. That’s what I’m saying. Carry some cheese sticks or something and call it an appetizer.

I’ve walked around trying to find just anything to eat NOW and it’s not easy. Lines are everywhere.

I can be hungry for a long time and control myself. DH and DS cannot. So for them, after a couple experiences of trying to find quick food, I am vigilant about carrying snacks to give to tide them over while we wait or walk around.

 

[bumbershoot]

If they’re running far enough behind that people are leaving your ADR is not going to go to a walk up. They are overbooked for conditions (be it a staffing problem, a kitchen problem, or too many people running late or taking longer to eat than expected). It’s better for the host/hostess/manager working there and an opportunity to catch up a little bit, to have fewer irrate people waiting. You leaving at that point is win/win.

Probably a good point. Thank you for that perspective.

 

[Jessirip]

But you’re now going to have to go wait in line somewhere. Feeding them won’t be immediate. That’s what I’m saying. Carry some cheese sticks or something and call it an appetizer.

I’ve walked around trying to find just anything to eat NOW and it’s not easy. Lines are everywhere.

I can be hungry for a long time and control myself. DH and DS cannot. So for them, after a couple experiences of trying to find quick food, I am vigilant about carrying snacks to give to tide them over while we wait or walk around.

Oh yes we'll have snacks to keep them happy, but if they fill up on snacks I'm waiting in line to pay for a cheaper QS meal they won't eat all of instead. I'll do me and you do you but I appreciate the advice.

 

[Dee McGee]

Only once have we ever waited an exceptionally long time for a table. That was a 7:25(?) dinner reservation at Coral Reef on our 2013 trip. Between the wait and the relatively slow service, we missed the 9pm start of illuminations which is one of our must-dos. As Steve Porter says, #NotaGreatExperience. Needless to say, we booked a patio table at the Rose and Crown for dinner at EPCOT on our 2015 trip to avoid that happening again. That being said, each restaurant is a little different. For instance, its not unheard of to wait at least 20 minutes to be seated at 50s Primetime Cafe, but it is well worth waiting for.

 

[Princess_Lisa]

had a rubbish exoerience at narcoosee a long time ago and never been back. are issue was we had booked around fireworks (an hour before) and according to.management people were hogging there tables after their meal to watch. spoilt that restaurant for me and never been back. generally i think 30 absolute max is what id waut after that my meal has already been ruined. difficult as you cant force people to keave a table and if i wanted an post dinner drink at my table i would be equally furious if i was getting hints to leave

I've been on both sides of this. I hate it when we can't get a table somewhere because people are sitting around, hogging a table, for an hour after they finish their meals talking. On the flip side, it is very annoying when I feel like I'm getting the bum rush. There is a certain local restaurant that is really bad about that. They have a weekly Prime Rib special. Since it is Prime Rib and I don't order Appetizers, many times they will bring it out within minutes of ordering. I've lost count how many times they're dropping the check before I even get my first drink refill. Worse is they disappear and never come back after that until you either hunt them down or give up and break out your credit card.