Reservation wiggle room?

[heather13]

If we have 7:55pm reservations at DHS and want to see Fantasmic at 7:30, will they hold the reservation for 10-15 min or should we cancel? Thanks for advice!

 

[JZCubed]

If we have 7:55pm reservations at DHS and want to see Fantasmic at 7:30, will they hold the reservation for 10-15 min or should we cancel? Thanks for advice!

The 'best' answer is, "At the discretion of the person standing at the podium when you check-in."

You'd also likely be on-time if you left Fantasmic! just before the end of the finale to beat the crowds out of the venue.

But generally, you'll find folks on Dis'Boards frown upon these, arguably, overly-aggressive scheduling tactics - because being late is not polite.

I'm of the mind - if Disney can occasionally make you wait 15-minutes for a table (even in a half-empty dining room), then I feel it's OK returning the favor occasionally.....at the discretion of the person standing at the podium.

 

[piccolopat]

It might also depend on when the park is closing. If it closes at 8, they might be less inclined to allow for latecomers.

 

[North of Mouse]

If we have 7:55pm reservations at DHS and want to see Fantasmic at 7:30, will they hold the reservation for 10-15 min or should we cancel? Thanks for advice!

As you are supposed to check in 15 min. before ressie, that would basically make you 25-30 min. late - I wouldn't count on them saving it, especially if they are really busy.

 

[heather13]

Ah, since the park closes at 8 I figured they would be more lenient, since 8:15 reservations have popped up (but I didn't grab them) and I doubt they'll be filling our table when we leave. If we would impact later reservations I wouldn't be asking!!

 

[Dis703]

Personally, I would cancel. Might they let you in if you are 15 minutes late? Maybe, but like pp said it may depend on their closing time that night. But you'd need to leave Fantasmic ahead of the crowds as once people start getting up to leave it can take 20 minutes just to get out of the theatre.

 

[cruisin5]

I'd stop at the podium on the way to Fantasmic and ask if you can be 15 minutes late, or just leave Fantasmic before the end but you'll definitely need to beat the crowd out of the theater.

And the idea of needing to be 15 minutes early for a reservation really irks me. It I wanted an appointment for 15 minutes earlier I would have made it.

 

[heather13]

I'd stop at the podium on the way to Fantasmic and ask if you can be 15 minutes late, or just leave Fantasmic before the end but you'll definitely need to beat the crowd out of the theater.

And the idea of needing to be 15 minutes early for a reservation really irks me. It I wanted an appointment for 15 minutes earlier I would have made it.

that's a really interesting idea! Especially since it's been suggested here to just walk up and see if there's walk up availability, we can just ask then.

 

[GillianP1301]

It really is going to be at the discretion of the CM at the podium, but chances are you will be fine. If your heart is set on that meal and you would be super disappointed if you couldn't get in, then maybe not worth chancing it, but I think the risk is small. I would definitely get a seat at on an aisle and near the back of Fantasmic and bolt a couple minutes before the end because if you get caught in the exit rush, that can take 10 minutes on it's own to get out of.

The checking in 15 minutes early thing is a recommendation and not a requirement. You don't lose your ADR if you check in right on time, you just end up being one of the last with your ADR time slot to be seated. As long as your ADR time wasn't the last bookable time, then I think you will be fine with checking in 10ish minutes late.

 

[nkereina]

As you are supposed to check in 15 min.

It's suggested you do this to ensure you arrive on time, but not a must do nor is it a requirement of an ADR. If you show up at 7:55 for a 7:55 ADR, it's fine.

In the OP's case, I would opt for the standing room section of the theater for Fantasmic. As the show is winding down, I'd proceed to the exit and head over to the restaurant. I'd bet you'd be right on time, barring some kind of unforeseen circumstance or something weird.

 

[Pumbaa_]

If you are seated in the middle of the theater it will take awhile to get out. Standing and darting out before the finale ends is your best strategy

Worst case scenario, you are charged the cancel fee

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't think the idea that "well, no one will be after us" makes your table safe from a walk-up at close when you've not checked in. If you're already late and someone walks up, they might "give away" your spot to guarantee that server their tips.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ADR Times and Tardiness "411":
1) WDW advises you to be at the ADR 15-minutes early.
2) You are expected to meet your ADR time, just like any other appt.
3) Being on-time is your responsibility, not that of WDW.
4) If late, they *can* cancel the ADR.
5) Under normal conditions, they usually allow up to a 15-minute lateness, but this is kindness, not a Grace Period.
6) If really busy, (eg, Free Dining, Holidays), there might be no Grace Period.
7) If you miss the ADR, you *might* have the ability to wait for a table.
8) For waiting times, there is no estimate, waits of 1-1½ hrs are common.
. . . if the eatery is not too busy, wait times could be minimal
. . . just depends upon the individual day-time-etc
9) They also have the option of canceling and just sending you away.
10) These options are at the discretion of the SEATER on duty at the podium.
11) Plus, it is up the eatery manager to decide if you get charged the $10/person no-show fee.

NOTE1:
If it is near the end of the ressie period or the end of park hours, do not expect ANY leniency in being late.
You are expected to make your ressie time, with zero excuses.
Courtesy is courtesy.
Plan to make your ressie or ADR times.

NOTE2:
It sounds like your are planning to be late for your ADR.
This is selfishness and/or rudeness, and should not be allowed.

 

[Heather07438]

Last trip we checked into Sci-Fi 15mins early for our midday ADR as suggested and were told the wait was 45-60 minutes. Ugghh OK, we figured out something to do in the area for a bit and returned 40 minutes later at the podium. There was still a wait so we stay there this time. Shouldn't be much longer, right? No, we wait almost another hour to be seated. 90 minutes total. We were happy once we finally got some food in our stomachs. Oddly during the entire 60 minutes of our slow service dining, there were always one-third of the tables empty. Tables were cleaned but remain empty for 20-30 minutes before they were re-seated. Why?
^tl;dr- 90min wait at Sci-fi.

Not my usual experience with ADRs but several times we've had seriously long waits. Twice we have messed up our ADRs and arrived at the wrong time and they still honored us ...a bit of give and take.

As long as you don't abuse ADRs on a regular basis, i don't feel there's anything "wrong" with finessing an important one if the need arises.
I think the best plan would be as a previous poster suggested: Stop there before you go to F! and let them know your position. If they can accommodate your need, great. If not, you'll need to exit F! a few minutes early.

What i have issue with is people who book a ton of ADRs knowing they'll cancel more than half of them the week/day before. That deserves a good smack

 

[Figmentmommy]

Last trip we checked into Sci-Fi 15mins early for our midday ADR as suggested and were told the wait was 45-60 minutes. Ugghh OK, we figured out something to do in the area for a bit and returned 40 minutes later at the podium. There was still a wait so we stay there this time. Shouldn't be much longer, right? No, we wait almost another hour to be seated. 90 minutes total. We were happy once we finally got some food in our stomachs. Oddly during the entire 60 minutes of our slow service dining, there were always one-third of the tables empty. Tables were cleaned but remain empty for 20-30 minutes before they were re-seated. Why?
^tl;dr- 90min wait at Sci-fi.

Not my usual experience with ADRs but several times we've had seriously long waits. Twice we have messed up our ADRs and arrived at the wrong time and they still honored us ...a bit of give and take.

As long as you don't abuse ADRs on a regular basis, i don't feel there's anything "wrong" with finessing an important one if the need arises.
I think the best plan would be as a previous poster suggested: Stop there before you go to F! and let them know your position. If they can accommodate your need, great. If not, you'll need to exit F! a few minutes early.

What i have issue with is people who book a ton of ADRs knowing they'll cancel more than half of them the week/day before. That deserves a good smack

I give you credit for waiting that long. My party would have given up when we were told about the first wait. 30 minutes is our maximum.

 

[nkereina]

Oddly during the entire 60 minutes of our slow service dining, there were always one-third of the tables empty. Tables were cleaned but remain empty for 20-30 minutes before they were re-seated. Why?

Usually when you see empty tables in a restaurant when there is a wait, it's because they are short staffed. My guess is Sci Fi was shorthanded that day, either due to a lack of servers to cover all the tables or a lack of kitchen help to get the food out fast enough.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Usually when you see empty tables in a restaurant when there is a wait, it's because they are short staffed.

1) Short-Staffed could mean:
. . . absenteeism
. . . tardiness
. . . deliberate staggered shift-start times
2) In the case of staggered start-times, there are STRICT union rules as to how many tables a SEVER can/must take
3) As an example,
. . . If the number for eatery "X" is four tables, Managers cannot force a SERVER to take more tables, regardless how many guests are waiting to eat.
. . . At some locations, the SERVERS will step up and take an extra table or two, due to tips.
. . . This does happen at places like Tusker or CP, where the check size is usually big and so are the tips.

 

[jo-jo]

How many is "we"? Will you have to find your stroller? The bigger the group, the harder is it to dart between people trying to get to ADR. Are there star war/ jingle whatever firework show that night? Will you have to go into that crowd to get to the ADR? I missed where the meal is.


We had a situation with Ohana two weeks. It rained cats and dogs, I was soaked to the skin. We had to go change clothes. Took us over 2 hours to go from MK to BCV to Poly. We knew we were going to be late. We told our DD to go ahead and eat with the family if Ohana said it's now or never. But Ohana said they would put the ADR "on Hold". We were more than 1/2 hour late.

So as was mentioned at the discretion of the manager, we were ok.