Ridiculous wait at Mama Melrose...

[North of Mouse]

I think that by calling it Advanced Dining Reservation, it is making it seem like what it 'isn't'!! Almost like ADR is a misnomer - think Disney should come up with something that doesn't make people 'expect' an 'on time' ressie. Yes, I know the explanation follows this, but how many people really consider that when they make ressies??

 

[BLLB]

I posted my thoughts about it earlier, but this is all I can think of as the debate goes on.

I'm cracking up, this is exactly what I was thinking!,

 

[Dug720]

Had ADR last week for Mama Melrose for 5:10 Fanatsmic. Got there at 5:05, HUGE line out the door for check-in.

They told me it would be 15-20 min they were running late. 20 minutes i check back they said it would be a little longer, then they say you only have been waiting 13 minutes. I told the lady i couldn't check-in on time due to their HUGE line.

Was finally given a seat at 6:05! Manager knew I was mad, gave me 1 fastpass, which made me even more mad! Couldn't make early Fantasmic which we planned, was not happy.

What would you guys have done, i never went to Guest services

#1 it was the week before Christmas!
#2 Exactly, we were on line 10 minutes before reservation. LINE WAS 20 MIN!!!! UNACCEPTABLE!!!

So were you there 5 minutes before like you said in your first post or 10 minutes before like you say in the latest one?

Either way, you were not there at Disney's requested 15 minutes. (I know you think that is unacceptable, but that is what they say and that is how the system is designed. You have a choice to accept it and follow their instructions or not accept it and either not follow their instructions and occasionally find results like you had (it's quite possible that those in front of you in line WERE in fact in their 15 minute window or had planned ahead and were close enough to keep an eye on it and when they saw the line was long GET in line so that they'd be there at the 15 minute window) or eat at counter service restaurants or eat off property. Basically with ADRs, it's Disney's sandbox and they make the rules.)

I don't think Disney is perfect, and I know they can make mistakes. BUT they do have rules and if we choose to play by our own, sometimes we're going to get burned.

FWIW, I've also been in line to check in at other restaurants on property and the system crashed and they had to restart the computers. It's technology, which much as we like to think is failproof, is NOT a failproof system. Had we not been two people from the counter we would not have known what happened - but by the time the computers were back online, there was a pretty sizable line waiting to check in.

 

[Tigger's ally]

It is not REASONABLE for Disney to EXPECT you to show 15 minutes before a reservation!

55 minutes wait is not REASONABLE either!

Why are you screaming? Again! ?

 

[minnie mum]

Why are you screaming? Again! ?

Apparently the OP is unaware of what all caps means when texting or posting. Or perhaps his avatar suits him to a T. It is equally apparent that nothing less than full support and sympathy is acceptable.

Sorry, OP, but Disney restaurants' reservations system has never operated the same way as comparable restaurants in the real world. But then, comparable restaurants in the real world aren't trying to feed hundreds or even thousands of people every day. And AFAIK, they haven't come up with a time limiting policy that will force a party to vacate their table after being seated for x minutes. So waits happen.

We have encountered an hour wait for our table exactly twice in the 40 years we've been visiting. Yes it is unacceptable. So we dealt with the situation with the restaurant manager then and there. And then we LET IT GO and didn't stew about it and rail at the fates for weeks afterwards.

 

[Dug720]

I think that by calling it Advanced Dining Reservation, it is making it seem like what it 'isn't'!! Almost like ADR is a misnomer - think Disney should come up with something that doesn't make people 'expect' an 'on time' ressie. Yes, I know the explanation follows this, but how many people really consider that when they make ressies??

Good point. They used to call it Priority Seating. Why did they change it? That seems to make more sense...

 

[Nancyg56]

Good point. They used to call it Priority Seating. Why did they change it? That seems to make more sense...

I have no idea why it changed. I do know that no matter what Disney decides to call their seating method, there will be people who insist that they have a gauranteed spot at any given time. WE have been regular guests at WDW for over 10 years, since my DGD was 4, and have only encountered one long wait, and never any that lasted over an hour. I know that some restaurants fall behind, and we compensate for that time, either by avoiding them or making ADR's that we can live with if they run late. What I can say fom experience is tgha no matter what, there wil lbe people who want Disney to be the same as the "real World" and will insist that it is their way that matters. The OP seems to be one of those people. No one has suggested the wait was acceptable, but did try to explain why it may have occured. Most of those people have been disparaged by the OP. I am using his "observations" as an example why Disney could call their ADR's Call ahead seating and get in line's" and he would still be upset.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hahaha!!

An hour isn't reasonable, especially when you know they overbook on purpose. They can't control how long peoole sit, but they can control how many adrs they allow in certain time frame. I'd send a letter now. Disney tends to go out of their way to make it right (usually). Make sure you mention that you missed fantasmic and it messed up more than an hour of your plans. Not being there "early enough" for your reservation is no excuse to me, busy season or not.

BINGO.

And I don't get everyone getting so worked up about being only 5 minutes early instead of 15. Did something magical happen in that 10 minutes that would have made a difference?

I also don't get the "It's Christmas" excuse. They have X tables. They accept X ADRs. Do people eat slower the closer it gets to Christmas?

OP, you have to understand. Disney is trying to max how much money they can squeeze out of every inch in the parks. If that means overbooking people and slapping on a CC guarantee so you can't leave when you've waited too long, well that's just how it is.

 

[Dug720]

What could have happened in those 10 minutes? Those who had reservations for the 5 and 10 minutes after the OP could have gotten in line to check in so that they were within the requested window.

 

[mom2rtk]

What could have happened in those 10 minutes? Those who had reservations for the 5 and 10 minutes after the OP could have gotten in line to check in so that they were within the requested window.

Then if it makes that much difference, maybe they should have arrived 20 minutes early, maybe even 25. Heck, if they got there early enough, maybe there wouldn't have been any line at all.

 

[Dug720]

Then if it makes that much difference, maybe they should have arrived 20 minutes early, maybe even 25. Heck, if they got there early enough, maybe there wouldn't have been any line at all.

No, but you would have been in line with people who were checking in at the correct time had you arrived at 15 minutes early.

Bottom line is Disney says 15 minutes early. If you choose to ignore that and arrive 10 or 5 minutes early, you are choosing to let people who do follow the 15 minute guideline get in line in front of you.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think there is a window of reasonableness. On our last trip we waited 30 minutes for our Plaza ADR and yes we got there early. I was not happy about waiting that long to eat a mediocre sandwich but it was quicker to just wait than try to scavenge food elsewhere.

But an hour? Nope. Not reasonable at all.

 

[Pirate Granny]

We have always had issues with Momma Melrose, so much that that we avoid that restaurant at all costs. Food is great....getting seated on time and service is poor...this is over ten years and at least six visits. We've been comped meals twice (without asking or complaining). One time, I didn't get any silverware and my food was cold before I could flag anyone down for help, didn't get meal comped or even a free dessert that time ...that's life, so we avoid that restaurant and O'Hana's which one dinner visit was quite enough for me....

 

[mom2rtk]

We have always had issues with Momma Melrose, so much that that we avoid that restaurant at all costs. Food is great....getting seated on time and service is poor...this is over ten years and at least six visits. We've been comped meals twice (without asking or complaining). One time, I didn't get any silverware and my food was cold before I could flag anyone down for help, didn't get meal comped or even a free dessert that time ...that's life, so we avoid that restaurant and O'Hana's which one dinner visit was quite enough for me....

I was starting to think it was just me. Or that things had gotten better since our last visit. Because we never ate there without a really long wait.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think that by calling it Advanced Dining Reservation, it is making it seem like what it 'isn't'!! Almost like ADR is a misnomer - think Disney should come up with something that doesn't make people 'expect' an 'on time' ressie. Yes, I know the explanation follows this, but how many people really consider that when they make ressies??

I think they should call it a "PWL".

Permission to wait in line.

 

[Topper]

I didn't expect a free meal, just fix my Fanatsmic issue.

If you didn't ask the manager to fix the Fantasmic issue, don't be surprised when they are unable to read your mind and fix it.

 

[Dug720]

If you didn't ask the manager to fix the Fantasmic issue, don't be surprised when they are unable to read your mind and fix it.

Plus, I'm not really sure HOW they could fix it besides expediting the food service as fast as possible (I'm assuming a 7pm Fantasmic here? If it was 6 or 6:30 short of not charging the cancellation fee and letting you leave, I'm not sure what they could do.) It's not like they can call up the folks running the gig over at Fantasmic and say "Hey, we have these people who we were late seating. Please hold the early show just for them."

 

[kaytieeldr]

BINGO.

And I don't get everyone getting so worked up about being only 5 minutes early instead of 15. Did something magical happen in that 10 minutes that would have made a difference?

Interpreting individuals reiterating WDW's standard recommendation to arrive fifteen minutes before the call ahead seating time isn't nearly "everyone getting so worked up." Most people respond to original posts before reading entire threads - so wouldn't realize that or how many others reiterated the arrive early advice.

I also don't get the "It's Christmas" excuse. They have X tables. They accept X ADRs. Do people eat slower the closer it gets to Christmas?

As at least one person surmised above, MM is probably being used by diners this year as a comfortable waiting area for Osborne Lights. And yes people tired from the increasing crowds just might dally over an evening meal.

OP, you have to understand. Disney is trying to max how much money they can squeeze out of every inch in the parks. If that means overbooking people and slapping on a CC guarantee so you can't leave when you've waited too long, well that's just how it is.

Sarcasm gets you nowhere. There are previous reports since the CC hold went into effect that the charge can be waived in certain situations. Management might not volunteer, but with an almost hour long wait, requesting the waiver might be less aggravating than yelling at internet forum responses that one requested.

 

[mom2rtk]

Interpreting individuals reiterating WDW's standard recommendation to arrive fifteen minutes before the call ahead seating time isn't nearly "everyone getting so worked up." Most people respond to original posts before reading entire threads - so wouldn't realize that or how many others reiterated the arrive early advice.

As at least one person surmised above, MM is probably being used by diners this year as a comfortable waiting area for Osborne Lights. And yes people tired from the increasing crowds just might dally over an evening meal.


Sarcasm gets you nowhere. There are previous reports since the CC hold went into effect that the charge can be waived in certain situations. Management might not volunteer, but with an almost hour long wait, requesting the waiver might be less aggravating than yelling at internet forum responses that one requested.

I've had trouble with very long waits at MM for years. So while it might be worse this year, they had a pre-existing issue they apparently have not fixed. And I'm guessing the issue with finding a comfy place to wait for the lights has been an issue for years.

And you must have misread my last comment. I was absolutely serious. While some people might think to ask for a waiver of the fee, I'm sure they're hoping most won't. Given the hassle involved, I'd be more prone to wait it out than to pass on it entirely back when there was no CC guarantee.

I'm still waiting on DLR to refund a CC hold charge they made to my account in error 2 months ago.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I didn't think of the fee....I would think if you told them you were leaving because of the wait they would take you off the fee list which they charge in at the end of the night, but maybe not. I probably shouldn't assume that.