Problems with Table of 8 and ADR's During Recent Stay

[dcgrumpy]

This past Thnaksgiving we were a party of 8-10. The longest wait we had was about 30 minutes for lunch at 50's PTC. At HDDR they pushed two tables together for us.

 

[LBKMAMA]

We had 11 in our party and when I started to book ADR's they told me over the phone we'd have to have two tables at some of them and they would do their best to seat next to one another....I said okay. At GF Gala Feast and Maya Grill we were able to get one table, but for others I did 7/4 and 6/5 reservations depending on who my parents were sitting with each day. I have to say we did get tables right next to eachother at PSB and LT. But we waited just about an hour for each with ADR's and sending my dad early to tell them we were there. I think the system could be tweaked little for better wait times.

 

[mikey13v]

The ADR system is set up so that you don't actually have seats reserved, just that you will recieve the next table available for your groups size. So if you have a group of 4, you will probably get a table real soon. When you have a large group, you end up waiting for multple small groups, that happen to be near each other, that are leaving around the same time in order to free up enough space for you.
We dealt with this durring the free dining in 2005. We were a group of 15. We did take it in stride, and waits were not usually too long (5-40min).
I would guess that the problem the OP experienced was that small groups that arived after the OP were seated first, and that a table for their group size never became available (table for 8, or 2 tables of 4 pushed together) because they wearn't paying attention to the fact that they had a larger group waiting. Sounds like poor planning on the person in charge of seating.

 

[kimberh]

We went last Thanksgiving Weekend and had ADR's and a party of 8. We did not have the dining plan. We were together for every meal. At mama' mel rose they told me we would be at separate tables and I explained that we were one check and we were together. The tables were pushed together. The only time I have had a bad experience was a CRT and it was bad with the manager and we will never eat there again. My DH was so mad he just about walked out and we could have eaten a hotdog at that point. It was bad, we were treated so rudely over being a party of 8 but that was a different trip, the last one was great. Chef Mickey's, Ohana's, Mama Mel Rose, Boma's for breakfast, we ate dinner as a smaller party. We have also had good luck at Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner, Hollywood and Vine, Whispering Canyon and Cape may's.

 

[mom2fivecs]

I have made adr's for each day/night of our stay in June for our family of 7. The CM i spoke with never mentioned having to split us up except for when I requested a later time for Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package, she said if I wanted the later time, she couldn't guarantee that we would all sit together. So I kept our earlier adr. I am hoping since it is just me, dh and 5 kids, they will keep us together at my adrs.

 

[Vickie46]

I can say I have family that lives in Florida... we meet them for dinner when we are on vacation..... we are also a party of atleast 7 and never had a problem.. we have ate at Wolf Gang Puck upstairs, Rain Forest DTD, Italy in Epcot etc...

 

[kimberh]

I have made adr's for each day/night of our stay in June for our family of 7. The CM i spoke with never mentioned having to split us up except for when I requested a later time for Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package, she said if I wanted the later time, she couldn't guarantee that we would all sit together. So I kept our earlier adr. I am hoping since it is just me, dh and 5 kids, they will keep us together at my adrs.

They really try hard at Mama Mel Rose. When you get there tell them that you have 5 kids. They will not want the children off on their own. I have ate their 3 times and it was a mature woman that we dealt with at the check-in. They really try to keep families together or that has been my experience. We have never had a long wait either.

 

[bicker]

I would guess that the problem the OP experienced was that small groups that arived after the OP were seated first, and that a table for their group size never became available (table for 8, or 2 tables of 4 pushed together) because they wearn't paying attention to the fact that they had a larger group waiting. Sounds like poor planning on the person in charge of seating.

It would be impossible to know, since it is possible that the smaller parties seated were seated at tables that weren't next to tables that were getting ready to leave. It could simply have been the case that no table of 8, nor two adjacent tables of 4, became available at the same time, for that amount of time.

 

[inky dinky doo]

We almost always have parties ranging in size from 8 to 15, and long waits have never been an issue. When we call to make our ADRs, they invariably encourage us to pick an early time, preferably when the restaurant opens. They've always told us that it's harder to seat us together at the later ADRs. Since we have children, the earlier seatings are fine with us.

And, there's never been a "service charge." They do automatically add the 18% tip to parties of 8 or more, but there's never been an additional "service charge" beyond that.

I would encourage other large parties to make ADRs as close to the opening of the restaurant as possible, and then, don't worry about it. The only place we've ever been split up was at Tony's, and even then, our two tables were side by side.

Pat

 

[bicker]

(I think some folks call it a service charge when the tip is automatically added. You're correct: It's not a service charge, but just an automatically-added gratuity.)

 

[renessa]

When we traveled as a group several years ago we took the first dinner seating....the earliest ADR if you will....we didn't have any trouble, and the tables were already together when we arrived.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I am not sure what point the OP is trying to make.
. . . of course, large groups will wait longer
. . . of course, large groups may not be seated together
2) ADR's do not guarantee you a table at a certain time.
3) They only say you get the next available table of that size.
4) In many cases, even empty tables CANNOT be pushed together
. . . aisle space
. . . ressies for others at the same time frame
. . . fire code regulations


EDITORIAL NOTE: Folks, you are on vacation and at Disney. Chill Out.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

1)
EDITORIAL NOTE: Folks, you are on vacation and at Disney. Chill Out.

But a FAMILY vacation and in our case celebrating 2 birthdays. We would like to sit together for those 2 meals and am just looking for some clues as to what restaurants and or dining times are most accomodating!

 

[julia & nicks mom]

1) I am not sure what point the OP is trying to make.
. . . of course, large groups will wait longer
. . . of course, large groups may not be seated together
2) ADR's do not guarantee you a table at a certain time.
3) They only say you get the next available table of that size.
4) In many cases, even empty tables CANNOT be pushed together
. . . aisle space
. . . ressies for others at the same time frame
. . . fire code regulations


EDITORIAL NOTE: Folks, you are on vacation and at Disney. Chill Out.

That was pretty rude

the OP was expressing disappointment in their experience -

and others expressed the same concern

it appears to me this might be a common concern and maybe Disney could set aside several larger tables to accomodate large groups -

A lot of families go on group vacations - and this will be a concern to them

Isn't that what the DIS is all about - getting advice for your trip and hearing other people's experiences?!!?

 

[kc10family]

1) I am not sure what point the OP is trying to make.
. . . of course, large groups will wait longer
. . . of course, large groups may not be seated together
2) ADR's do not guarantee you a table at a certain time.
3) They only say you get the next available table of that size.
4) In many cases, even empty tables CANNOT be pushed together
. . . aisle space
. . . ressies for others at the same time frame
. . . fire code regulations


EDITORIAL NOTE: Folks, you are on vacation and at Disney. Chill Out.

In Sept we had a group of 15 for more than one meal and more than one place. Tables did go together and we didn't have to wait longer.

I think you are being a bit on the not so nice side. IMO
But everyone has the right to post.

 

[tmfranlk]

1) I am not sure what point the OP is trying to make.
. . . of course, large groups will wait longer
. . . of course, large groups may not be seated together
2) ADR's do not guarantee you a table at a certain time.
3) They only say you get the next available table of that size.
4) In many cases, even empty tables CANNOT be pushed together
. . . aisle space
. . . ressies for others at the same time frame
. . . fire code regulations


EDITORIAL NOTE: Folks, you are on vacation and at Disney. Chill Out.

I don't see why large groups should have to wait that much longer if they have ADRs and the restaurant knows that they are coming. Proper planning should prepare for a bigger group. The ADRs are all there in front of the hosts from the beginning. Plus, if Disney is promoting group travel with the whole Grand Gathering thing, then is seems like seating large groups should be considered by the restaurants as well.

We are travelling as a group of 13 next year and I value hearing how other groups have experienced things. That way I know what we can expect and any tips that might help us succeed at dining, all together, with minimal wait. To the OP, thank you for sharing your experience. I am sorry that things did not go very smoothly for your group.

 

[yellowfish78]

EDITORIAL NOTE: Folks, you are on vacation and at Disney. Chill Out.

Posting opinions and questions is what these boards are about. We are here to get answers to questions that might make one's vacation at Disney unpleasant. Don't we all want our vacation to go perfectly?
My thoughts is that Disney knows this board is out here. They know that these are questions that need to be answered on their end to make group bookings more comfortable traveling to Disney.
Personally I'm glad that people are posting their questions and concerns. This helps me in planning vacations for my clients, and making their experiences more enjoyable...even if it includes a reservation for 8 at two tables. Now I know that they need to be "warned".

 

[lowie]

We were at WDW from 4/7-4/15 and stayed at the BC. I made ADR's for every night of our stay. For 3 of the nights we met my DS and her family for dinner so we were a total of 8. What a nightmare, even with ADR's!

we were in LTT with 10 people, 6 adults and 2 kids. we took an extra early ADR because that is when i was told we could all be together. well, we weren't. there were 4 tables in the section where we were seated, one was filled already, the other tables were a 4 top and 2 6 tops.. well, you'd think they'd at least give us the 4 and 6 next to each other but NO, they absolutely refused. we had to sit diagonally across the room. then i made the big mistake of letting the kids sit together (12-10-5 and 4 yo's) so us adults could sit and talk. it was a huge mess. i was up and down to help the smaller kids so many times, i couldn't enjoy the meal.

 

[lovesdumbo]

1) I am not sure what point the OP is trying to make.
. . . of course, large groups will wait longer
. . . of course, large groups may not be seated together


EDITORIAL NOTE: Folks, you are on vacation and at Disney. Chill Out.

Why does Disney take ADR's for a party of 8 or more? I don't think a party of 8 is a HUGE party. How would they know that they "of course" wouldn't be sitting together? It is not reasonable to have to wait for over an hour when you are told 20 minutes and it doesn't sound like they were told up front how long the wait would really be for them to make the decision. It's hard to "chill out" when you're being strung along 10 more minutes, 10 more minutes and have antsy small children.

I've had good luck at CP with my party of 8 for a birthday celebration. I would have been very disappointed if they seperated us across the room. It would have been difficult to just "chill out".

 

[maria & rossi]

Why just because you are a group of 8 or more should you have to waste precious time waiting around restaurants to be seating. This doesn't seem fair at all. Disney is a big enought organisation to be able to accomodate large parties. We are a group of 10 going in Oct for 17 nights on the dining plan and I hope we don't waste precious hours waiting around on the occasions we choose to dine together. To the op, I can fully understand your disappointment. Maria