Long wait for ADRs - can you leave? (No Show Policy)

[rachellm]

Totally hypothetical question since I don't have any ADRs in the near future but I was wondering about this ...

Lets say you have a dinner ADR at a busy restaurant and when you arrive the wait time is over an hour (do they ever tell you this though ... or do people just wait and wait without being given an estimated time?)

Would you have the option of just leaving since the restaurant was running so late? Or are you SOL because of the cancellation policy? I understand that an ADR isn't really the same as a typical reservation. But I still don't think some of the longer wait times are acceptable.

Thoughts?

We've had this situation before (pre-cancellation policy) and have opted to just leave and eat counter service. I'm just curious if that would still be an option.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

Based on some preliminary reports, CM's at Crystal Palace, which tends to get behind, are saying that people will be charged the no-show fee if you leave due to excessive waits. No reports of someone actually being charged yet.

 

[rachellm]

Bummer. That's not the answer I was hoping for!

Its unfortunate. I figure I've upheld my part of the agreement by showing up on time for my ADR. If I still have to wait an hour - I don't think Disney is holding up their end of the agreement! I wish they wouldn't penalize people who aren't up for waiting.

I wouldn't expect them to offer that option to people. But if someone specifically said - We can't wait anymore - I wish they'd waive the fee. If the waits are that long chances are they can fill the tables without a problem and wouldn't really lose out on anything.

 

[LilyWDW]

Bummer. That's not the answer I was hoping for!

Its unfortunate. I figure I've upheld my part of the agreement by showing up on time for my ADR. If I still have to wait an hour - I don't think Disney is holding up their end of the agreement! I wish they wouldn't penalize people who aren't up for waiting.

I wouldn't expect them to offer that option to people. But if someone specifically said - We can't wait anymore - I wish they'd waive the fee. If the waits are that long chances are they can fill the tables without a problem and wouldn't really lose out on anything.

How are they not holding up their end of the agreement? An ADR is not an actual reservation but just says you will be seated at the next available table for your party size. It does not guarantee any specific seating time or wait time. Yes, the wait is usually minimal to non-existent, but that is not promised.

 

[rachellm]

How are they not holding up their end of the agreement? An ADR is not an actual reservation but just says you will be seated at the next available table for your party size. It does not guarantee any specific seating time or wait time. Yes, the wait is usually minimal to non-existent, but that is not promised.

It's just my opinion.

I don't think the mechanics of an ADR are explained well by Disney. It's an advance dining reservation, which I think most people assume to mean that they'll have a table within a reasonable wait.

If it weren't for this site I'd have had no idea that long waits are semi-common.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

It's just my opinion.

I don't think the mechanics of an ADR are explained well by Disney. It's an advance dining reservation, which I think most people assume to mean that they'll have a table within a reasonable wait.

If it weren't for this site I'd have had no idea that long waits are semi-common.

I completely agree with you. I get that an ADR is not a real reservation but I think it's a customer service issue. If Disney wants to hold the customer to showing up within 15 minutes of their ADR and charge a fee if you don't show, then they should be expected to not have 45+ minute waits for a table. At a minimum, the fee should be waived if the waits are that long. Disney should be able to effectively manage their venues to not have waits that long.

 

[TeamBlack]

How are they not holding up their end of the agreement? An ADR is not an actual reservation but just says you will be seated at the next available table for your party size. It does not guarantee any specific seating time or wait time. Yes, the wait is usually minimal to non-existent, but that is not promised.

You have got to be a Disney Corporation share holder.
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry reserves a car, but the rental agency lady says "just because you reserved a car doesn't mean we need to have one for you"
If the restaurant cant honor the time you reserved,or within 20 minutes of it, you shouldn't be charged a fee.
Or else change the name from ADR to ADBe here as long as it takes for you to be seated or will charge you, sucker.

 

[Sunnywho]

I avoid restaurants that tend to have excessive waits when making ADRs. I've also heard the advice to schedule an ADR for right when they open, since they won't have had time to get behind yet.

 

[aubriee]

Based on some preliminary reports, CM's at Crystal Palace, which tends to get behind, are saying that people will be charged the no-show fee if you leave due to excessive waits. No reports of someone actually being charged yet.

We were down there Feb 4th-11th. When we checked in for our Le Cellier ADR, there was an angry couple ahead of us arguing with the CM. She had told them they were running 45 minutes to an hour behind. The couple said they did not want to wait that long and the lady at the podium told them that if they left, they would be charged $20.00 for the no show fee. The couple was arguing that they had shown up, but didn't want to wait that long and it wasn't their fault Le Cellier was running that far behind. You could tell the poor CM at the podium was upset about it, but said the manager had told her to tell everyone they were running behind, but if people did not wait, they would definitely be charged as a no show. The couple walked off with the man saying he'd take it up with his credit card company. We chose to wait and was seated almost 50 minutes after our ADR time. We had showed up 20 minutes before our ADR time. So we were there 70 minutes.

 

[maxiesmom]

You have got to be a Disney Corporation share holder.
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry reserves a car, but the rental agency lady says "just because you reserved a car doesn't mean we need to have one for you"
If the restaurant cant honor the time you reserved,or within 20 minutes of it, you shouldn't be charged a fee.
Or else change the name from ADR to ADBe here as long as it takes for you to be seated or will charge you, sucker.

I agree that it does stink to be charged, but going by the letter of the law so to speak Lily is right. There is no need to be angry with her.

Disney used to call ADRS Priority Seating, and to me that is a more accurate name. I'm not sure whey they went away from it. In any case, and ADR does not promise you a specific seating time. And apparently Disney will charge you a fee if you decide the wait is too long and leave. Thinking that it is not fair (which I think too) does not change that.

 

[ladeeesquire]

I don't care what disney wants to call it or how they want to spin it and I'm not exactly sure how an "advance dining reservation" is not a "reservation". If its a contract than both parties have a responsibility to perform. Disney should be bound by the same 20 min timeframe. If we decided we couldn't wait, I wouldn't yell at the cm (honestly, I can think of almost no reason I'd ever yell at a cm) I'd just leave then dispute it with my cc. Good luck to disney trying to get the money under those circumstances.

 

[iheartmickey1111]

Next month will be our first time with ADRs and now you all have me worried about all kinds of horrible waits! Yikes!

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't care what disney wants to call it or how they want to spin it and I'm not exactly sure how an "advance dining reservation" is not a "reservation". If its a contract than both parties have a responsibility to perform. Disney should be bound by the same 20 min timeframe. If we decided we couldn't wait, I wouldn't yell at the cm (honestly, I can think of almost no reason I'd ever yell at a cm) I'd just leave then dispute it with my cc. Good luck to disney trying to get the money under those circumstances.

Where are you getting that Disney should be bound by a 20 minute timeframe? Where are you getting the 20 minutes from?

It really doesn't matter what we all think. It is up to Disney. They are not bound by a set time in which they have to seat you. They tell you up front an ADR is no such thing. So if you think to make an argument that they didn't deliver on it, and as such not pay, then I wish you luck. Though I don't know why anyone would plan to walk away from an ADR knowing they would be charged. You know the rules ahead of time. Either play by them or don't play. It is that simple.

 

[rachellm]

Where are you getting that Disney should be bound by a 20 minute timeframe? Where are you getting the 20 minutes from?

It really doesn't matter what we all think. It is up to Disney. They are not bound by a set time in which they have to seat you. They tell you up front an ADR is no such thing. So if you think to make an argument that they didn't deliver on it, and as such not pay, then I wish you luck. Though I don't know why anyone would plan to walk away from an ADR knowing they would be charged. You know the rules ahead of time. Either play by them or don't play. It is that simple.

I agree that it's up to Disney and they can do whatever they want. They aren't required to do anything. I just wish from a customer service standpoint that they would have more flexibility when it's their fault that there's a wait. I'm sure plenty of people would just opt to wait. But for those that don't want to, it'd be nice to have that option.

I disagree that Disney is up front about an ADR being "no such thing." I may be missing it, but I don't really see anywhere on their site that explains the process well. The dining FAQ specifically say Yes! We take reservations, make a reservation!

As for knowing the rules ahead of time ... I think most people have no problem paying a no show fee because they plan to show! But they do expect a reasonable wait. If that's not the case, than I think most people didn't really "know the rules."

 

[TDC Nala]

I've seen reports from at least two posters who said they asked if they could leave before being seated while actually at the restaurant, and were told that if they left they would be charged as a no-show. If it's done, the action would likely need to be disputed after the fact with Disney, presumably at a Guest Relations before actually leaving the park or resort in question. Possibly that would lead to a resolution faster than a disputed credit card charge, and would serve the extra purpose of alerting Disney to the fact that there is a problem.

And it's true that Disney does not advertise a "reservation" as being a place in line to get the next empty table that will seat the party - there is not a table waiting already empty for the party to arrive, which is likely what most people think a "reservation" is.

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree that it's up to Disney and they can do whatever they want. They aren't required to do anything. I just wish from a customer service standpoint that they would have more flexibility when it's their fault that there's a wait. I'm sure plenty of people would just opt to wait. But for those that don't want to, it'd be nice to have that option.

I disagree that Disney is up front about an ADR being "no such thing." I may be missing it, but I don't really see anywhere on their site that explains the process well. The dining FAQ specifically say Yes! We take reservations, make a reservation!

As for knowing the rules ahead of time ... I think most people have no problem paying a no show fee because they plan to show! But they do expect a reasonable wait. If that's not the case, than I think most people didn't really "know the rules."

If you click on the Disney Dining FAQ one of their example questions asks if you can make reservations at WDW restaurants. Part of their answer is that "You will be seated at the next available table that can accommodate your party size."

It is a typical Disney answer. You kind of have to look hard to find what they really mean. I think it is on par with the whole you may not end up staying at the resort you booked because we can bump you thing. They give themselves an out for everything. Most of the time it doesn't matter, but if you are one of the unfortunate ones it happens to, then you are stuck.

I don't agree with it, but I know I have to deal with it if I make ADRs that need a credit card deposit. I'm honestly not sure what I would do if I was told I had an hour wait for an ADR.

 

[kamik86]

Honestly I would cause a fuss if I didn't want to wait when this happened. Some places I would wait for some I wouldn't. Now I wouldn't be yelling at that girl at the podium but I would be expecting her to get her manager there if she is not able to take the charge off.

The fact is now companies will get away with whatever they can just like people will. So the only way to get what is right is to argue so I'll argue.

I don't care that Disney says its a place in line type of scenario. That still doesn't mean its ok for Disney to take more reservations then they can fit in the operating time

I have to wonder if a place like Le Cellier that is always fully booked is an hour behind what happens to those that had the last ADR of the day? Do they get told "Sorry were closed"?

 

[justakrazymom]

It's just my opinion.

I don't think the mechanics of an ADR are explained well by Disney. It's an advance dining reservation, which I think most people assume to mean that they'll have a table within a reasonable wait.

If it weren't for this site I'd have had no idea that long waits are semi-common.

I think it was better when they called it Priority Seating...

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it was better when they called it Priority Seating...

Agreed. It was more accurate.

 

[kandb]

I think that if the wait is over 20 minutes, the customer should be able to opt out of the adr and not have to pay the $10 no show fee. It's not a "no show", it's a "disney restaurant having unreasonable wait times, when the customer had a reservation". I would fight it in a second. The restaurants are always packed and always have waits, never understood why they put this surcharge into effect. It's ridiculous.