Open Tables at BOG and OHana??

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Solve a mystery for me. We had dinner at BOG and were seated in the Rose room (the one with the music box, not the West Wing with the actual rose) and it was never more than 30 to 40% full (the ball room was full though). Last year we had a lunch reservation at BOG right after they started accepting them at 10:45 and the ballroom was empty. My SIL spent a lot of time trying to get that reservation. And the time we chalked it up to being a very early time for lunch. My husband was also determined that we would be able to walk up at Ohana. I explained that it was a hard to get ADR as we walked by PPO one morning. And I quote, "They won't deny us food, there are open tables." Yes, they will deny us food. Politely I'm sure, but still.

So my question is, why doesn't Disney have ADRs for the full (or nearly full) capacity of their popular restaurants' table space? Do they just not want to staff it? Do they not have capacity in the kitchen to actually prepare that many meals? I'm sure they would not have had an issue with booking those ADRs since all the available ones had been gone for months. It's a little baffling that they're letting that revenue increasing opportunity escape them.

 

[purple figment]

The number of diners in any restaurant at any given time will depend on the amount of time it will take the kitchen to prepare and plate meals in a timely fashion. For a place like BOG at dinner not all the tables will be filled because there is no way the kitchen can pprepare that many meals quickly. If you go to a restaurant at opening or just after opening usually they will seat in groups rather than fill every table within 5 or 10 minutes of opening for the same reason. Even a counter service like BOG will not fill every table at lunchtime immediately, but later it can be at capacity because tables will be turned continuously.

 

[DisneyHardin]

From what I have read, BOG was built to be so big for the QS lunch. It was never designed to be full at dinner.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

From what I have read, BOG was built to be so big for the QS lunch. It was never designed to be full at dinner.

Exactly this, as far as BOG dinner is concerned. BOG dinner is scheduled to the extent the kitchen can keep up.

Staggering seatings some is also why they don't fill every seat in a restaurant for an 8:05ADR PPO. For a restaurant like H&V or Crystal Palace, those 8:35 ADRs? They aren't because they expect the early tables turn in half an hour. It's to get people running through at different stages in their meet/greet, beverage and line queue process.

 

[Lisa F]

This is why I like to book a first seating if I at all can (or close to it). The restaurant is still practically empty and the wait staff isn't frazzled yet. Things go a lot more quickly and smoothly (maybe not the goal if you are having a leisurely adult meal, but a pace that is a little faster than I like when adults only is appreciated when dining solo with my son).

 

[supersnoop]

why doesn't Disney have ADRs for the full (or nearly full) capacity of their popular restaurants' table space?

Short answer; "capacity" isn't always defined by the number of tables.

 

[deakam]

I have dined at BOG almost every trip since it has opened and the Music Box room has never been opened for dinner. It is for breakfast and lunch but I have never seen it opened for dinner. So if you were having dinner in there I would say that they over booked and opened that room as over flow. Unless they have started seating in this room since my last visit which was November 2015.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

From what I have read, BOG was built to be so big for the QS lunch. It was never designed to be full at dinner.

Ahhh, okay. That makes some sense. The whole place was packed at lunch.

Staggering seatings some is also why they don't fill every seat in a restaurant for an 8:05ADR PPO.

We did see this at CRT and Akershus - having a seating so they could start the princesses but the seating was staggered. That probably explains Ohana. Thanks!

I have dined at BOG almost every trip since it has opened and the Music Box room has never been opened for dinner. It is for breakfast and lunch but I have never seen it opened for dinner. So if you were having dinner in there I would say that they over booked and opened that room as over flow. Unless they have started seating in this room since my last visit which was November 2015.

They were 30 mins behind the ADR times so that's probably what happened.

Thanks for the info all. Curiosity sated.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) By UNION CONTRACT, tables need to be (almost) evenly split among Servers to equalize tips opportunity.
2) Where you sit frequently depends upon the load upon other Servers and the TABLE ASSIGNER's judgment.

NOTE:: I have seen times where whole sections of restaurants were empty and people were seated in crowded areas. Again, it is the ASSIGNER's job to make certain tables are split as even as possible. If you were the Server, would you not want an even chance at tips?