Question about ADR Etiquette

[santadog]

Here's my question:

We have a pre-park opening ADR for Crystal Palace.
I have heard horror stories about people showing up for their ADRs and still waiting 20 minutes or more.

The reason I made the ADR was so we'd be fed, and in the park when it opened. I don't want to be eating or (God forbid) still waiting for my table when the park opens.

If I get there, and am told I have to wait, and it becomes apparent that I will not be done eating at rope drop: do you think I'm justified in bailing on the reservation, or do you think I'm obligated to gut it out and wait for the table regardless??

My thought is: I made this reservation 4 months ago, and I did my part by being where I was supposed to be, when I was supposed to be there - if they didn't do what they were supposed to do, it's really not my fault...

 

[Kristina]

I don't think there would be anything wrong, although these are difficult ADR's to get due to F.D. if they run late and you need to bail someone else won't have to wait as long. I also have early ADR but I haven't heard they run late? I think mine is at 8:20, I sure hope they don't run late!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

An ADR is not a true reservation where a table is saved for your party at a particular time. Your ADR just guarantees your party the next available table once you've checked in at the particular restaurant. There may be others ahead of you who have already checked in. It is recommended that you check in about 15 minutes before your ADR time.

If you do want to "bail" then out of courtesy, let the CM at the podium know you are leaving so that the next available party can take your place in line.

 

[Jungle Cruiser]

Like a PP said, an ADR is not a reservation, rather more like a "bump to the head of the line". To be honest, once we decided we didn't want to keep an ADR at Le Cellier, went to the podium to tell them and they couldn't have cared less. I actually felt silly and awkward telling them.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The thing is at some of the popular restaurants it's common that they are running behind and you won't be seated at your scheduled time. While I agree it's frustrating knowing that you showed up on time and held up your end of the deal, the fact is sometimes the restaurants can't predict the type of crowds they have each day.

 

[FireDancer]

If you don't think you will done before park opening I don't think it is a mortal sin to bail. It will just open a spot for other people. Considering you have such an early reservation the chance of waiting, while not eliminated, is not nearly as great as it would be later in the day.

 

[vinotinto]

You are not obligated to stay for your ADR. But at that time of the day, it's unlikely they will be running late. So, don't stress about it, arrive on time and enjoy!

 

[3pletprincesses]

with pre park opening, we have never been seated later the 5 minutes past our ADR time. At that time in the morning, you ahve a bette chance at them being on time if you ask me.Our past 2 trips, we had 8:05 reservations and we were out of there right at rope drop and that was without rushing our meal. We were seated right at about 8:10 both times and we got pictures wit hevery characters. Oh and we were with our 4yo triplets and they are slow eater

 

[jenjersnap]

I would show up 15 minutes early (at least) to get your name on the list, just to be near the head of the line. Last time we had an 8:05 ADR, they didn't start seating anyone until after 8:15 but we were one of the first ones called after that. We had to skip seeing one of the characters in order to be out by RD.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I don't think that you will have any problems being seated and eating before rope drop. We recently ate there with an ADR for 8:20. We actually checked in a little after 8 and were one of the first 20 families seated.

However, it is highly likely you will not get to see all the characters. We saw 3 of the 4, but decided to leave since the 4th was not even on our side of the room yet. We had eaten there twice before so it wasn't such a big deal to not see Eyeore this time.

 

[MSSANDRA]

What time is your ADR?? If it is one of the very first of the day you may be fine. We count on about an hour for a character meal. You can pretty much set the pace of the meal yourself but as someone said you may not see all the characters. One tip is to ask for your check early in the meal so you are not waiting for the waiter after you are done eating. One price so its not like they will be adding dessert or something to it. If you are not able to devote an hour to the meal, I would say to skip it if doing rope drop is more important. There are expensive to rush through and not enjoy.

Depending on when you go, that first 1/2 hour may not be a huge deal in the lines.

 

[tony609]

For Crystal Palace, I always arrive 15 minutes early (all ADR's). Say i have an 8:20 ADR, get in on time, with that I pretty much know I might not be done by RD at 9:00am IF I want to see all the characters. We have actually left before all characters have come around just to hit the rides at RD. Not a big deal for us we have been there many many times.

Also with an early ADR, arriving 15 minutes early I have often, especially at CP been sat early.

 

[carrie1626]

We always arrive at the ADR early, as much as 30 minutes early. And we've been seated as much as 30 minutes early also.
Give yourself the edge and arrive 15 minutes before your ADR time and hopefully you'll be seated by your original time at the latest. Good luck!!

 

[kamik86]

For an early morning ADR the only reason they would be running late is if they aren't set up yet. (Tusker house this happened) but it was only 15 min and we literally had the opening first reservation time of the day (we were the second table in line).

The reason they get backed up is that Disney is predicting how long it will take people for their meal. Although they generally can guess about how long people will stay if more tables take longer and linger, almost all tables order both apps and dessert, etc. Over the course of the day they will get behind. So a 6:00 dinner reservation for a restaurant that has been open since 4:30 may be backed up by then... But that early in the morning there wouldn't be the case of waiting for a table to vacate before you, just waiting for everything to be set up and the servers to be ready

Oh one other tip, ask for your check early when you sit down, since it is a buffet they can do this for you before your really done. This way you don't have to wait for them to bring your check and run your card when you want to leave!!

 

[MSSANDRA]

We had a delay at Tusker house as well. We had a 8 or 8:05 ADR and they did not let anyone into the park for ADRs till 8:00. They lined us up for pictures outside with Donald, and it was going on 9 before we got our table. Not sure if this is typical or not. Not a big deal to us and it was one of our favorite meals but we were almost 10:00 getting out sooooooo.

 

[mpetti]

Last week we had a ADR for 8:20am at CRT and we arrived early at 8am. Went right in and made it out a few moments before rope drop. Good Luck.

Maryann

 

[Hootch]

your check when you get your first set of drinks. It's a fixed cost so no concerns about what you eat later.

 

[Tricia1972]

We had an 8:05 ADR at Crystal Palace this past January. We had a bit of a problem because they didn't open the park up until 8:00 to let anyone in. We ended up in a long line and were still in line waiting to check in at 8:05, a line behind people who were trying to check in for their 8:45 reservations.

However, we were able to rush through breakfast and still make the park opening. It just wasn't a relaxing or fun experience for us at all.

 

[santadog]

We had an 8:05 ADR at Crystal Palace this past January. We had a bit of a problem because they didn't open the park up until 8:00 to let anyone in. We ended up in a long line and were still in line waiting to check in at 8:05, a line behind people who were trying to check in for their 8:45 reservations.

However, we were able to rush through breakfast and still make the park opening. It just wasn't a relaxing or fun experience for us at all.

This is the scenario I am (unfortunately) envisioning. If I am not seated by 8:30, I think I'll just wander around the park for a half hour.

 

[OhThePain]

This is the scenario I am (unfortunately) envisioning. If I am not seated by 8:30, I think I'll just wander around the park for a half hour.

You can't just walk around the park for half an hour. They are going to hold you there until the RD crowd catches up to CP, then they will let you go. If you are really that concearned, maybe you should give up the ADR and just eat something at your resort before heading to RD.