Our Anna & Elsa FP starts 6:50, but we have dinner reservations for...

[purple figment]

The last time we were at BOG for dinner, the CMs at the podium made a point of mentioning to latecomers that they were late for their reservation. I don't know what would happen if you are delayed at A&C and arrive more than 15 minutes late.

Also, everyone in the party needed to be at the restaurant in order to check in so sending someone ahead won't work. One time part of our group arrived at the podium while the slow walkers were a minute or so behind, but the CMs would not check us in until everyone was at the podium.

Because it is the most popular restaurant at this time we've found that BOG tends to be strict about the rules.

 

[Fastpassminus]

BOG is not the Ivy for god sakes. I would enter the A&E line at 6:45 & be prepared to be a little late for your ADR. These things happen & it's okay. What if someone had to pee or tie their shoelace.

 

[AlixaLock]

For years, I arrived religiously at my ADRs 15 minutes early and every time they tell me I'll be seated at my ADR time. Multiple CMs have to me this advice is to encourage people to take travel time into consideration. While being prompt for reservations is polite and important, i don't think you will be turned away for being anywhere up to around 15 to 30 minutes late. You will have to wait for a table, of course, but it will be fine.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

If its a busy fp you may be there 30 mins alone waiting for and with A&E. Considering how hard it is the get a fp for both places though it may be worth the risk.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

BOG is not the Ivy for god sakes. I would enter the A&E line at 6:45 & be prepared to be a little late for your ADR. These things happen & it's okay. What if someone had to pee or tie their shoelace.

May not be, but I watched them turn away a family that was a half hour late. They can and will tell you they cannot seat you if you are more than 15 minutes late. They may not do it every time, but it DOES happen.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

When I did the A&E meet and greet last September with my FP the entire experience….the line, the meet-up, everything took exactly 6 minutes. Look, I understand there can be holdups but unless either Anna or Elsa flies the coop I am not thinking there is going to be a huge issue making your ADR. I wouldn't worry.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

If its a busy fp you may be there 30 mins alone waiting for and with A&E. Considering how hard it is the get a fp for both places though it may be worth the risk.

We've never waited more than 5 minutes to meet A&E with a FP+. And we've never checked in for any ADR 15 minutes early and actually been seated before our actual ADR time, so now we check in at the time of our ADR.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

We've never waited more than 5 minutes to meet A&E with a FP+. And we've never checked in for any ADR 15 minutes early and actually been seated before our actual ADR time, so now we check in at the time of our ADR.

I probably should have mentioned with mine that it was on Halloween so was extremely busy. I just wanted to make sure that all possibilities were known so the OP could make their choice with as much info as possible.

 

[SmallWorld71]

FWIW - We used our A & E FP+ on an afternoon when the park had reached it's first closure phase between Christmas and New Year's. So, about as busy as it gets. Even with the crazy hoards we were done in 20 min. While something could certainly go wrong, I think it likely that you'll be fine. To increase your odds, I would be nearby as your time approached and head in 5 min. early at 6:45. If you have more than one adult and you are nearing your time, I would send the faster person to get in the check-in line.

 

[DisneyFinally]

Thanks!! I am not once to chance things..LOL...But I guess we can get on the fast pass line and chat quick with Elsa and Anna. If the time is getting close, I guess we can get off the FP line. We are going mid Septemember with lower crowd levels.
My only thing I'm confused about is I have NEVER ever thru booking, etc had anyone tell me that you are supposed to check into dining reservations 15 minutes early. if my reservation is 7:10 I would assume that means I can arrive at 7:10.

 

[sharona]

Wait, what???? You can be 5 minutes early for FP+? I didn't know that.

 

[kelmcg]

I wouldn't get out of the A&E FP line even if it's running late. Send one person to check-in at BOG.....they can explain that the rest of the group is on their way but stuck in the FP line, etc..... I would think that if one person in your party shows up and they know your party is on its way then they'll do what they can to make sure you will still be seated. This will allow the CM's to seat a group (with a later reservation, but has checked-in early) on "your" table and then you can get "their" table. If ALL of you are 15 minutes late then they have no idea whether or not you are on your way so they may give your table away to a walk-up group.

 

[DisneyFinally]

I wouldn't chance it that close. If everything goes perfect you will make it fine, but if there is any kind of hold up, you will miss your ADR. They don't have to hold it more than 15 min past your time, and at BOG they likely won't hold it longer than that.

If I get on the A&E Line and time gets close, can I simply get off the line and just head to the restaurant. Or once on the A&E FP line, will they make me wait and go thru the meet and greet. A&E is not that important for us. We want to do the BOG most.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Wait, what???? You can be 5 minutes early for FP+? I didn't know that.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

If I get on the A&E Line and time gets close, can I simply get off the line and just head to the restaurant. Or once on the A&E FP line, will they make me wait and go thru the meet and greet. A&E is not that important for us. We want to do the BOG most.

I would think the they would allow you to get out of line at any point, but the logistics of actually doing so may be an issue. You will probably have to push past a lot of people standing in line behind you to get out.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I would think the they would allow you to get out of line at any point, but the logistics of actually doing so may be an issue. You will probably have to push past a lot of people standing in line behind you to get out.

The A&E FP+ return line is extremely short. We've only been in it with one or two other groups all the times we've used it and the physical queue itself isn't long.

Seriously, OP, I think you're getting some bad/paranoid advice in this post. You will likely be in and out of A&E in under 10 minutes and have plenty of time to get to BOG. Our longest "waits" for A&E are actually inside the room, when people take 75,000 different combinations of pictures with Elsa. And we've still always been in and out in under 10 minutes. These horror stories of long FP+ lines for A&E, while they might happen on fluke occasions, are not the norm. In the highly unlikely event that something goes wrong for you, just explain at BOG. If you enter the A&E line 5 minutes early at 6:45 and have to check in late at BOG you'll still have until 7:25 to do so "legally." Under typical conditions that is more than enough time and CMs are normally pretty accommodating with a reasonable excuse.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Wait, what???? You can be 5 minutes early for FP+? I didn't know that.

I wondered if I was the only one having a "what the?" moment about that.

 

[MainMom]

I wondered if I was the only one having a "what the?" moment about that.

Yep, did it all week long.

 

[delilah]

Check in for BOG was a bit annoying for us. We had a lunch reservation for 2 pm. Somehow, a member of our party had been told by a castmember that we needed to check in 30 minutes early. We got there 30 minutes early and were told we couldn't check in for another 25 minutes. Ended up being shooed away from the Gaston meet and greet area, which had some shady areas to sit in, and also from the little gift shop that was air conditioned, when it was about 100 outside. Lunch was nice, but I think overall the restaurant was overrated for what it was. Will probably go somewhere else for the sandwiches they had at lunch.