Running late for dining reservations

[goingquackers]

We have a 4pm dinner res at the Japanese restaurant in Epcot. We expect to arrive at the park around 4, but if we are running late, say we arrive at 5pm. Will they still honor the reservation?

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Not really no, I would hope they would treat you strictly as a walk in, and not honor it at all. They may though stick you in the list of those with ADRs but that means that others that arrived on time will be waiting for YOU to be seated which is TOTALLY RUDE of for someone to do.
If your reservation is 4 you are suppose to arrive 15 minutes BEFORE that time. I see no reason you should expect to be seated if you arrive at 5. Call and try to get it changed or try once you get there.

 

[wdw4mealso]

We arrived 45 min. late once at Alfredos in Epcot. They still had our res. but we had to wait about 20 min. They said they keep them for awhile, I'm not sure how long though. Good luck.

 

[PictureJumpr]

We've had it both ways.

It helps to keep in mind that you do not actually have a reservation at all, at least not in the conventional sense. They are not holding a table for you. They are holding a place in line for you, starting at the time indicated. If you want to minimize waiting, you should heed the earlier advice and be 15 minutes early of your ADR time, when they will let you check in and claim your place in line. If this doesn't coincide with the reality of your travel, call and request a later time.

In most cases, when you have not checked in within 15 minutes or so after your ADR time, they have no qualms about releasing your place in line. This, as mentioned by another earlier person, is natural since you did not honor your part of the agreement - to arrive at or very close to the time you requested.

Will they give you a place in line when you show up later? Maybe yes, maybe no. It depends entirely on what is happening there/who is making these decisions on the night in question. If the restaurant has 'closed' to standby diners, it is entirely possible they will turn you away. If they are having a slow-ish night and are taking standbys, they may give you a place in line at the time when you arrive.

Remember that, especially in busy seasons, they overbook ADRs by as much as 25 or 30 percent to compensate for the fact that some folks will opt to not show up.

Also note, if you are making 4pms to try and get in on the lunch menu, if you arrive at 5 and you do get in they will definitely hand you the dinner menu...

 

[goingquackers]

I hope they do not cancel the reservation if we are late. we are celebrating a 30th birthday that evening. We get off the Disney cruise, need to check in the hotel and get to epcot that night. The only reservation available for world showcase was the 4pm slot. has anyone arrived an hour after their res and still got in?

 

[darlak]

When we were there in Sept. 2007, we realized that we were going to be late getting to LLT by our reservation time due to transportation problems from DTD, (a bus broke down). I called and was told that they have recently changed the system so that after a certain amount of time, the computer automatically kicks your reservation out of the system. I can't remember exactly how much time it was though. I think it may have been 30 minutes. I would call and ask.

 

[PictureJumpr]

The latest we have ever been is 45 minutes, technical difficulties with a child, and we did not get in. Ended up eating a CS nearby. This was at MGM last February. The restaurant was closed to walk-ins and we were apologized to but ushered out the door nonetheless. Not that we expected any other result...

The latest we have ever been and still get in was last April at the Plaza in MK, we were about 20 minutes late and the hostess just took our name and confirmation info, and told us to have a seat with the others waiting out front.

Since you are trying to make a birthday dinner, have you considered one of the resort restaurants instead of Japan? Or any of the boardwalk ones? Those are just outside Epcot's back door, literally, so getting into that park after dinner would be easy...

 

[JennyDrake]

In August we were told they hold ressies 15 minutes. Keep in mind that you are supposed to be there 10-15 minutes BEFORE your time. Why don't you try calling back and see if you can get a different seating at that place or another?

 

[Mystry62]

We were 45 minutes late to an ADR last month at Libertt Tree Tavern due to transportation delays. We got in, but we did have to wait 30 minutes. I was thankful they still let us keep our ressie (I was almost sure we were bouond for counter service). The hostess said that had we been any later, our reservation would have been automatically cancelled. It might be a good idea to keep calling every day to see if a later reservation opens up. I would not count on being able to keep a reservation if you are an hour late. Good luck.

 

[Pakey]

We were 20 minutes late once and had to go to the back of the line as 15 minutes was the max the computer held us!!! We understood we were now on standby because it was our reponsibility to get there on time and had to wait about until 9:45 to get a table, which was after they had seated everyone for the evening. That was before places were fully booked like they are now--I would guess that your chances are slim to none if you are an hour late and the place is fully booked for the day.

 

[Luv2Roam]

With the walk ups that are turned away, I can see why they just automatically cancel an apparent no show ADR after a certain number of minutes.
I am sure IF they can accomodate guests, they do.
I have generally heard a 15 minute hold rule. But nothing official.
Once DH and I were late 20 minutes for an ADR at Kona Cafe when the monorail we were on broke down. We were stuck for 20 - 30 minutes and were 20 minutes late due to that. We had to wait at least another 20 minutes to be seated although I am sure they had available tables.
Usually we are early for ADRs. And sometimes we get in, sometimes not until our scheduled time.
Seems like I have always been told at least 5 mnutes before ADR time to be at the podium.

 

[dburg30]

I hope they do not cancel the reservation if we are late. we are celebrating a 30th birthday that evening. We get off the Disney cruise, need to check in the hotel and get to epcot that night. The only reservation available for world showcase was the 4pm slot. has anyone arrived an hour after their res and still got in?

Why? They assign them for a time period for a reason. They try to keep all table tops full throughout the seating. If all they had was a 4:00 and you knew you werent going to be there til 5, then a) you should've planned more ahead, or b) should've just forgot it and found maybe someone off site or at a resort. If I show up for my 5:00 seating, and you walked in an hour late and got 'my' table, I'd be ticked.


edit: and YES I know they arent really reservations, but that's not the point.

 

[punkin413]

that's funny that you guys are saying 15 minutes is the max. i was told by a sci-fi CM that they hold your ADR for 20 minutes after your time. although that's just 5 minutes difference. it helps to have the disney operator number programed in your cell phone (if you have one) so that you can be connected to whatever restaurant you're on your way to if you're late. that doesn't mean they'll hold the table, but if they know you're on your way it might make a difference.

 

[lilgurl25]

we showed up at crystal palace ,2 weeks ago, in mk at 6pm for what i thought was a 620 adr. after checking the computer they told me i did not have an adr. after asking what phone number i booked my adr under they located but it was for 320 earlier that afternoon. i asked the cm if it would still be possible for us to eat there and he said that b/c i did have a adr booked that he would be able to get us in for dinner. and what a great dinner it was. i am still craving the garlic mashed potatoes.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I hope they do not cancel the reservation if we are late. we are celebrating a 30th birthday that evening. We get off the Disney cruise, need to check in the hotel and get to epcot that night. The only reservation available for world showcase was the 4pm slot. has anyone arrived an hour after their res and still got in?

If you are coming from the port that day, you will be getting off the boat around 7AM. There really isn't much of a reason to be an hour late to the restaurant. You can check in as soon as you arrive at WDW, though your room may or may not be ready. Unless you have a lot to do between getting off the boat and going to dinner...

 

[3for Me]

If you are coming from the port that day, you will be getting off the boat around 7AM. There really isn't much of a reason to be an hour late to the restaurant. You can check in as soon as you arrive at WDW, though your room may or may not be ready. Unless you have a lot to do between getting off the boat and going to dinner...

I totally agree!

We are heading to Epcot after our cruise as well and are fully intending to make a 12:10 lunch ressie at Le Cellier. I hope I am not kidding myself, but I figured we would be at the park (after dropping our luggage at the GF and monorailing over) by 10:00 or 10:30.

I honestly think you'll make it with plenty of time to spare.

 

[RJD]

We arrived late at Chef Mickey's once and had to wait awhile.

 

[jess20k]

They will not hold an ADR for that long...but, if they are not booked up then you will get in as a walk up and just have to wait for the next available table.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I hope they do not cancel the reservation if we are late. we are celebrating a 30th birthday that evening. We get off the Disney cruise, need to check in the hotel and get to epcot that night. The only reservation available for world showcase was the 4pm slot. has anyone arrived an hour after their res and still got in?

Just a suggestion but have you thought about eating at one of the Epcot resorts TS restuarants. They have some great choices and may have more availablility to make your ADR a little later. You could still walk over to Epcot and go thru International Gateway to see Illuminations if that is what you were shooting for.

 

[daisy112878]

You have to be off the boat by 9am and it's only a 45min - 1 hour drive so you should be there before lunch.

I was told by a disney dining operator the other week that they only hold the reservations for 15 minutes then the computer cancels it. So the host/hostess might still put you on the list when you get there but I wouldn't count on it esp if they are extremely busy.