Not a traditional 'reservation'?

[terri33inne]

I have a question...

It's always been my understanding that an ADR at Disney is more of a 'holding' spot vs a traditional real world reservation, and they'd do it more on when you checked-in. Obviously within reason... you can't show up an hour before or an hour after & expect to be seated.

So, on our trip 2 weeks ago, there were a few times we'd arrive for our ADR, and 'check-in', and then wait, wait, & wait while other parties who checked in after us were seated. Most noticeably this happened at Trattorio Il Forno for breakfast, and Be Our Guest for dinner.

I'm just curious if it is perhaps more of a true reservation, and those parties seated before us had a reservation time prior to ours, despite arriving after us.

On a side note... I was also curious about Be Our Guest, as we waited over 30 minutes to be seated, and when we were finally seated in the gallery room it was half empty. I found that curious given the popularity of that ADR, and the wait we had to get in, seems those tables could have been filled as well.

 

[JZCubed]

Folks make a big thing about ADR's not being a 'traditional' reservation. I'm here to tell you - there is no difference.

The folks who get seated after you arrive had one of two things:
1.) Their party-size may have been different and could be accommodated sooner , and/or
2.) Their ADR was prior to yours, regardless of when they checked-in.

Yes, it is extremely frustrating to wait to be seated only to discover a room that is not full. This happens for two reasons at Disney:
1.) You must be seated by a Cast Member and going back-and-forth takes time. My family waited over 10-minutes and walked into an empty dining room. Worse, we were seated at the one table that had already been eaten at that day for lunch - because the ring on mess was still on the floor where a child in high-chair must have been seated.
2.) Disney is controlling how many tables are being seated in a 'station' within a certain timeframe. If a Server gets 'slammed' by having a bunch of tables seated at the same time - everyone waits for drinks, order-taking, etc.

 

[unrequited23]

I believe there are a set number of tables for parties of a certain size and they prefer to fully seat a table versus giving a super large table to a small party. If you are a party of 2, you will not be seated at a table for 6. You will need to wait until the next table for two is open. The parties seated ahead of you may have been different sizes than your party.

 

[georgina]

In my limited experience the Gallery Room at BOG is (intentionally) never full at dinner.

 

[B-Ride]

In our experience ADRs are not perfect but showing up with one is way better than showing up without one.

 

[purple figment]

On a side note... I was also curious about Be Our Guest, as we waited over 30 minutes to be seated, and when we were finally seated in the gallery room it was half empty. I found that curious given the popularity of that ADR, and the wait we had to get in, seems those tables could have been filled as well.

Others have also commented on the empty tables at dinner. It is because at dinner the restaurant's capacity is based on the ability of the kitchen staff to prepare and plate meals in a timely manner. BOG was built with the capacity for a quick service breakfast and lunch which can serve many people quickly because the menu is smaller, simpler and much more can be pre-made. For dinner the dishes takes longer to prepare and plate so if they booked all the tables, everyone would be waiting an extremely long time for their food.

 

[terri33inne]

Others have also commented on the empty tables at dinner. It is because at dinner the restaurant's capacity is based on the ability of the kitchen staff to prepare and plate meals in a timely manner. BOG was built with the capacity for a quick service breakfast and lunch which can serve many people quickly because the menu is smaller, simpler and much more can be pre-made. For dinner the dishes takes longer to prepare and plate so if they booked all the tables, everyone would be waiting an extremely long time for their food.

That makes sense.

 

[1911]

being charged 30 dollars for missing one sure makes it feel like a contract more than a reservation.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

being charged 30 dollars for missing one sure makes it feel like a contract more than a reservation.

Yep. A contract I agree with.