Pet Peeve about ADR late times

[FairyDust2008]

Why does the Disney Dining Line even book people for LATE dinners that end up being VERY close to the closing of the buffets???? Makes no sense to me other than they get your money for booking and you end up with cold, leftover garbage having a late dinnertime. I had called for an ADR for the 1900 park fare dinner @ the GF and all they had was time for 8:20. The buffet listed on allears.net says it is over at 8:30-WHAT THE HECK They shouldn't even put people in these time slots. That is just wrong. I can imagine the food being cold, picked over and the characters sparse. Anyone else feel the same way or am I missing something with these late dinner times??? It really is annoying me.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

8:30 is the last seating. The characters will be there till closing and the food will not be that old. You haven't even been and you complaining? Either change it or give it a fair shot. We had 9:40 ADRs for WCC last year and everything in the skillet was hot and fresh. Our server was atentive, in fact, we pretty much had her to ourselves. We chose that time so we could see Spectro and catch Wishes from the boat. Worked out great.

 

[Colleen27]

We had a 15 minutes before closing seating at Chef Mickeys, and the food wasn't cold or left over in the least. The published closing times are in reality the last seating time at character buffets, and the restaurant will be busy, the characters making the rounds and the food hot for an hour or so past that time.

 

[turkygurl]

We've had late times at buffets many times (8:20 Biergarten, 8:45 Boma are some of the latest) and we've never had to deal with picked-over or cold food. If there is anything not to your liking, all you have to do is mention it to one of the chefs at the buffet, or your server, and they make things right. I had a problem with the pork roast at the Biergarten *once* (not because it was cold, but it was undercooked, and quite pink in the center-which is a big NO-NO for pork) the chef at the buffet told me that they try to slightly undercook it to keep it moist and I just thanked him and went back to my seat, where I told the waitress what had happened. She looked at my plate, got the exec. chef, and he came right over, talked to me, pulled the roast off the buffet, and then brought me out some HUGE slices of a roast he had just brought out of the oven in the back.

Typically, they want to make sure you are having a great time. The 8:30 closing time is not when the close the buffet, just when they close the doors and stop letting people in. We've been at Boma before until 10:15-10:30, so I wouldn't worry about getting a late ADR. Sometimes they are better. Fewer people crowding the bar with you.

 

[madalex]

Anyone else feel the same way or am I missing something with these late dinner times??? It really is annoying me.

Yes, you are missing something. The latest time you can make a reservation and the closing time of the restaurant are not the same thing. Hopefully you know that now so that you will not be annoyed by something that has not even happened.

 

[acourtwdw]

I understand the OP's concern. When we first started going to WDW 16 years ago,(way before the Dis) we thought the same thing.

OP: You will not find picked over, cold food or will you feel rushed The servers are scheduled way past the closing time and so are the characters. We like the later dining time. As two adults and no kids, we find that we get more character interaction at that time. Last Dec. we had an ADR at 830 for Chefs De France. Sat in the dining room with a great view of Illuminations.

Enjoy your trip

 

[Allison]

You are getting yourself upset over an assumption you made that is not correct.

 

[Pumbaa_]

It is hard for someone who may not have experienced Disney to understand how hteir seating works, heck it is hard for veteran's sometimes!

Give the OP a break, sounds like they are frustrated and afraid that they will have a bad experience.

It's all good

 

[rgf207]

OP. You will have the same experience as everyone else. Actually it may be better. Sometimes when you get the last seating, the restaurant clears out near that time so you almost have the characters to yourself. The food is also very fresh and not at all picked over. You have nothing to worry about

 

[Cass]

I've had late seating before and everything was fine food trays were full, hot and plentiful, characters came around just like usual, (there's a schedule so no one is missed)

Desserts platters were full, salads were fresh, nothing was picked over.

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
We had a late seating for Chef Mickeys for breakfast. It was great! My DGD got extra attention from the characters and the food was great. There was plenty of it and we weren't rushed. We were one of the last people out of the restaurant. I've never had a late time for dinner, so I couldn't help you out with that. Have a great time!!

 

[Raiderhouse]

I was worried about the same thing because we have a late seating for lunch. The only reason I became concerned was because I read a post on here where someone was saying that she and her husband were fighting over the last waffle. I guess maybe they should have asked them to make more?! Hopefully, we will not have the same experience...from what it sounds like everything will be great!! We are sooo excited to go...first time with kids. I can't wait to see their faces!!!

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

I have eaten at the Crystal Palace on many occasions & I've never noticed any difference in the quality of the food when I've had late ADR's ( and I have been one of the last remaining guests left in the restaurant). Sometimes, they will close one of the two buffet lines early, but that's because there are fewer people left eating & both buffet lines have the same food.

 

[stellablue]

I think the OP had a very valid concern and understandable confusion.

From reading what everyone wrote, it sounds like the OP's time will hopefully work out to be great!

I had actually wondered how it worked when you get a late breakfast ADR that might cut into lunch. Do you still get a full breakfast or does it end up to be a mix of leftover breakfast & lunch?

 

[Island Mouse]

OP, I actually prefer the later ADR times. And as others have said, the last seating and the close of the buffet are very different. Having the last seating doesn't mean old, cold, passed over food, just that nobody will be seated after you and throughout the course of the meal, diners will leave and nobody will be sat at the empty tables (which usually means more attention from your server and the characters). Have a great dinner at 1900 Park Fare and don't worry about it. And FWIW, when I started reading this thread, you made it seem like your whole dinner was ruined...and you haven't even gotten there yet. Talk about an overreaction.

 

[FairyDust2008]

Thanks to those posters that responded in a helpful not criticizing way I completely understand now-THANK YOU for explaining it further to a WDW newbie I just didn't want to feel like we were getting shortchanged on the food choices and character interaction because we had a later reservation. Not ever vacationing at Disney or staying onsite/making ADR's, I didn't understand the whole concept of the later reservation times being okay or a positive thing. It is good to know now. Thanks so much again I think we have the perfect time and we are looking forward to it

 

[disnut8]

Why does the Disney Dining Line even book people for LATE dinners that end up being VERY close to the closing of the buffets???? Makes no sense to me other than they get your money for booking and you end up with cold, leftover garbage having a late dinnertime. I had called for an ADR for the 1900 park fare dinner @ the GF and all they had was time for 8:20. The buffet listed on allears.net says it is over at 8:30-WHAT THE HECK They shouldn't even put people in these time slots. That is just wrong. I can imagine the food being cold, picked over and the characters sparse. Anyone else feel the same way or am I missing something with these late dinner times??? It really is annoying me.

Have you ever been to a Disney World buffet that is that close to the closing time? I would think not since Disney World will still stock everything and have the characters available until the last person leaves.

You really are missing something.