Liberty Tree Tavern, bad experience and we didnt even get to the food!

[Katedisneylover]

So we'd had LTT booked since 180 days out and planned all our fastpasses around it for the day, was really looking forward to it.
THEN they changed the menu and took all the good things away, apart from the toffee cake. We thought about cancelling but we were on DDP so decided to stay with it and give it a chance.

Turned up to our reservation yesterday to about 100 really annoyed looking people waiting around - bad omen, went to check in realising that they were way behind, we checked in to be told to expect AT LEAST a 30-40minute delay in seating us but we had to stay in the holding pen.

This was too much time for us so we said we would like to cancel, to which their frankly awful front of house lady gladly told me she would charge me a no-show fee for cancelling my ADR last minute! She argued that it was my fault they were late for at least a few minutes, because the menu change has affected them too and I should have anticipated disruption to my ADR time. Thankfully after asking for a manager he quickly agreed that 40 minutes past ADR time was ridiculous and let us go to CHH for a lovely quick service meal with no charge.

Sad to say I will never be going back there. And I hope Disney does some better front of house training soon

 

[Disneylover99]

So we'd had LTT booked since 180 days out and planned all our fastpasses around it for the day, was really looking forward to it.
THEN they changed the menu and took all the good things away, apart from the toffee cake. We thought about cancelling but we were on DDP so decided to stay with it and give it a chance.

Turned up to our reservation yesterday to about 100 really annoyed looking people waiting around - bad omen, went to check in realising that they were way behind, we checked in to be told to expect AT LEAST a 30-40minute delay in seating us but we had to stay in the holding pen.

This was too much time for us so we said we would like to cancel, to which their frankly awful front of house lady gladly told me she would charge me a no-show fee for cancelling my ADR last minute! She argued that it was my fault they were late for at least a few minutes, because the menu change has affected them too and I should have anticipated disruption to my ADR time. Thankfully after asking for a manager he quickly agreed that 40 minutes past ADR time was ridiculous and let us go to CHH for a lovely quick service meal with no charge.

Sad to say I will never be going back there. And I hope Disney does some better front of house training soon

I would have been fine with the wait or paying the cancellation fee. Waits and fees are no surprise.

But I would not take kindly to being blamed for them running behind. Glad you had a nice meal at CHH.

 

[TeresaWen]

40 minute wait and being able to have a drink at the bar - ok.
40 minute wait and a text to my cell phone when my table is ready - still ok
40 minute wait and being told to remain in the holding pen. Not ok. I would have asked for the manager as well.

There is no incentive for a business to improve if customers are tied to their reservation by cancellation fees that were established to discourage no shows. I fully understand situations arise that force restaurants to be behind schedule. A 40 minute wait past ADR time is absolutely not acceptable and guests should be permitted to cancel without penalty.

 

[alliecat523]

I had that the last time we were at LTT. Also have had it at BOG and Via Napoli. Things happen. I don't think it's that big of a deal, but glad you got it worked out to your satisfaction.

 

[gorkt]

My guess is the addition of the all you can eat option is extending the amount of time that people are staying at tables compared to the a-la-carte, which is pushing wait times back as you get to later lunch seatings. They should adjust the amount of ADRs accordingly. We were there last Sunday at 11:30am and got seated right away. We ate the burger (ok), the salad (good) and the pasta (excellent). The toffee cake was fantastic! I am very sorry you didn't get to eat there.

 

[L&Lfan]

I agree that waits and fees are no surprise. Glad yyou were able to find the menu you like at Columbia Harbor House. We don't do Liberty Tree Tavern because we can find that kind of food at home. We ate at Skippers Canteen yesterday. Lots of fun, no wait and the menu was intriguing.

 

[kamik86]

I would have been fine with the wait or paying the cancellation fee. Waits and fees are no surprise.

But I would not take kindly to being blamed for them running behind. Glad you had a nice meal at CHH.

I honestly think its ridiculous that so many people let businesses get away with things like this.

If something happens that causes the customer to be late its the custsomers fault and they have to pay even though things happen.
So why if something happens and the restaurant is late they don't have to give up the no show fee?

Why is it acceptable for them not to keep your dining time but still charge you if you say that doesn't work for you?

Yes stuff happens and customers have to deal with that but that means they have to make the decision to either wait or not eat there. Which is what eventually happened (letting them leave and not charging, frankly they need a few people to drop anyway so they can catch up) - but it should have been done immediately and politely. I don't care if the person is having a bad day because they are behind she is at work and is expected to act professionally.


Things like this is why when DH keeps wanting to go back to disney I keep wanting to go other places. There is no other restaurants I know of that pull this type of thing. If I did I wouldn't go to them either.

 

[jimmytammy]

We haven't been there in a while but DD wants her DH and us to go in DEC(his 1st trip)and this used tone among her faves. So hoping we have a good experience

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm glad you spoke with a manager and he/she worked it out for you. IMHO, it is absolutely ridiculous to tell someone they have to wait 40 minutes past an ADR time in some type of holding area or they will be charged a no-show fee. LTT took reservations 180+ days out and THEN decided to change their menu which, according to the CM you spoke to, has now disrupted their ability to serve people in a timely manner. Their fault, not yours.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I would have been fine with the wait or paying the cancellation fee. Waits and fees are no surprise.

But I would not take kindly to being blamed for them running behind. Glad you had a nice meal at CHH.

Having to wait, IN A HOLDING area for at least 40 min is unacceptable IMO, even at Disney. A text when the table is ready, ect would be fine, but eating up almost an hour of park time because they planned poorly isn't ok. No one should be charged if they choose to walk away from that.

 

[Disneylover99]

I honestly think its ridiculous that so many people let businesses get away with things like this.

If something happens that causes the customer to be late its the custsomers fault and they have to pay even though things happen.
So why if something happens and the restaurant is late they don't have to give up the no show fee?

Why is it acceptable for them not to keep your dining time but still charge you if you say that doesn't work for you?

Yes stuff happens and customers have to deal with that but that means they have to make the decision to either wait or not eat there. Which is what eventually happened (letting them leave and not charging, frankly they need a few people to drop anyway so they can catch up) - but it should have been done immediately and politely. I don't care if the person is having a bad day because they are behind she is at work and is expected to act professionally.


Things like this is why when DH keeps wanting to go back to disney I keep wanting to go other places. There is no other restaurants I know of that pull this type of thing. If I did I wouldn't go to them either.

My understanding is that DW ADR's don't work in the traditional sense that restaurant reservations outside of Disney work.

I pulled this from the Mouse for Less website......

"Disney’s Advance Dining Reservations are not reservations in the “true” sense of the word with definite seating times. They do guarantee, however, that you “will be seated” at the first available table after checking in at the podium for your reservation time. Actually, Disney recommends arriving 15 minutes prior to your ADR time. Waits generally range from a few minutes to a half hour. Think of Disney’s Advance Dining Reservations as Disney’s way of controlling the seating flow in their restaurants. Those that have ADRs will be seated and those that don’t in many cases won’t."

 

[Disneylover99]

Having to wait, IN A HOLDING area for at least 40 min is unacceptable IMO, even at Disney. A text when the table is ready, ect would be fine, but eating up almost an hour of park time because they planned poorly isn't ok. No one should be charged if they choose to walk away from that.

Holding area makes it sound like a prison cell. Aren't you waiting in the lobby at LTT?

I know of a few restaurants that do texts, but do they all? Via Napoli often has waits and you can be packed like sardines near their check in desk.

 

[kamik86]

My understanding is that DW ADR's don't work in the traditional sense that restaurant reservations outside of Disney work.

I pulled this from the Mouse for Less website......

"Disney’s Advance Dining Reservations are not reservations in the “true” sense of the word with definite seating times. They do guarantee, however, that you “will be seated” at the first available table after checking in at the podium for your reservation time. Actually, Disney recommends arriving 15 minutes prior to your ADR time. Waits generally range from a few minutes to a half hour. Think of Disney’s Advance Dining Reservations as Disney’s way of controlling the seating flow in their restaurants. Those that have ADRs will be seated and those that don’t in many cases won’t."

I understand that it doesn't work like the normal reservations and its just a really really far ahead call ahead seating. I don't think it is ridiculous that the OP couldn't be seated for 40 min. I do think its ridiculous that if you show up to the check in desk and the wait time is long that you should be able to cancel without penalty. I dont' think its acceptable for disney to fall behind and then make you take that wait because you don't want to pay the no show fee.

 

[AngiTN]

I would have been fine with the wait or paying the cancellation fee. Waits and fees are no surprise.

But I would not take kindly to being blamed for them running behind. Glad you had a nice meal at CHH.

Seriously? A 40 min wait is to be expected. I do not agree at all. A wait yes, that far after, no. And yes, before you say it (or someone else does) I understand how ADR at Disney work. I know they are not reservations. But I also know that 40 min is not normal and it would be a huge surprise and I would NOT agree to wait that long and would be no fee when I got done. Sorry, not agreeing with you there on that one

 

[MichiganKris]

I think everyone understands the ADR system, and knows their can be waits, but I agree with all the previous posters, if the wait is extreme, perhaps 30 minutes or more, you should be able to cancel without the no-show fee and go elsewhere. That would help their backlog of guests too.

 

[Nancyg56]

My understanding is that DW ADR's don't work in the traditional sense that restaurant reservations outside of Disney work.

I pulled this from the Mouse for Less website......

"Disney’s Advance Dining Reservations are not reservations in the “true” sense of the word with definite seating times. They do guarantee, however, that you “will be seated” at the first available table after checking in at the podium for your reservation time. Actually, Disney recommends arriving 15 minutes prior to your ADR time. Waits generally range from a few minutes to a half hour. Think of Disney’s Advance Dining Reservations as Disney’s way of controlling the seating flow in their restaurants. Those that have ADRs will be seated and those that don’t in many cases won’t."

WDW ADR's are not true reservations, but they are an expectation of a table within a reasonable time. I understand ADR's, use them and allow for extended wait times. I will not accept that when I enter WDW I am entering territory that excludes my being extended the same courtesy that I have extended. LTT has a very small lobby, and even the area outdoors is not conducive to a long wait. If I am told upon my checkin that I will be waiting upwards of 45 minutes, and I do not want to allocate that time, as well as any more unexpected time, I expect to be able to cancel. I do not anticipate that I will be assigned the blame for the late ADR or charges a cancel fee. I was there. I held up my end of the bargain.

 

[HopperFan]

Thoughts -
- LTT has almost always had 10+ minute waits just to check in. (I think on purpose)
- LTT has always had longer than acceptable waits for their tables aka overbooking, one reason we avoided.
- LTT was trying to stay full since many would decide at days end they weren't that hungry.
- 40 minute waits are not acceptable.
- 40 minute waits are beyond acceptable if you are to stay in the loud, minimal seating foyer.
- Disney now requires FP+ for top rides and scheduling that around ADRs.
- If one checks in and is told that the wait is 30+ minutes then all fees should automatically be waived if they can't wait.
- Once Disney instituted the cancellation fee they should have reduced the overbooking to more realistic seatings.
- Once they added all you can eat to the lunch menu, they needed to reduce the number of lunch ADRs being offered.
- Honestly until they get the menus and timeframes settled - I personally will not book there unless early lunch.

 

[wilkeliza]

My understanding is that DW ADR's don't work in the traditional sense that restaurant reservations outside of Disney work.

I pulled this from the Mouse for Less website......

"Disney’s Advance Dining Reservations are not reservations in the “true” sense of the word with definite seating times. They do guarantee, however, that you “will be seated” at the first available table after checking in at the podium for your reservation time. Actually, Disney recommends arriving 15 minutes prior to your ADR time. Waits generally range from a few minutes to a half hour. Think of Disney’s Advance Dining Reservations as Disney’s way of controlling the seating flow in their restaurants. Those that have ADRs will be seated and those that don’t in many cases won’t."

That's how regular Dining Reservations work in the rest of the world too. Dining reservations anywhere are you get the next table around this time that will fit your whole party it is just regular restaurants are really good at knowing how long their average patron takes.Disney often books ADRs to turn over capacity which is irresponsible and we let them get away with it. If more people walked away from reservations where they were quoted 30+ minute waits Disney would have to change the system. Instead people say oh well there is nothing we can do and just wait. They don't complain or anything they just wait.

 

[ElyseInWonderland]

Things like this annoy me SO MUCH with ADRs. We're conditioned to plan every detail of our day down to the second, yet actually being seated within 30 minutes of arriving at your ADR is not guaranteed. It wouldn't be as big of a deal at say maybe Disney Springs, but in MK every minute you spend in ADR purgatory is a minute you could be riding a ride or spending money at a shop. Disney is most inclined to change a process when a revenue stream is affected, and I think they need to streamline their ADR system and make it a better experience for guests and themselves.

 

[Disneylover99]

I understand that it doesn't work like the normal reservations and its just a really really far ahead call ahead seating. I don't think it is ridiculous that the OP couldn't be seated for 40 min. I do think its ridiculous that if you show up to the check in desk and the wait time is long that you should be able to cancel without penalty. I dont' think its acceptable for disney to fall behind and then make you take that wait because you don't want to pay the no show fee.

If somebody wants to complain about their wait time and get their money back, than they should. For me, I feel like I almost always wait 20-30 minutes past my ADR time anyways, so I just don't see an extra 10-20 minutes as a big deal. It's also why I prefer counter service over table service most of the time.