Running late

[freshmanjs]

I give up.

One minute us entirely different from the 15 minutes originally stated.

I have personally seen someone get turned away after being less then 10 minutes late. I even asked the CM about it. The restaurant was already behind, they were taking no walk ups, and the person was late. They reserve the right to turn you away if you are late. Period.

Not true!!!!!!

Sometimes you run into someone who just will not let facts interfere with his opinion. You know it happens. I now it happens. However some people insist it does not, and I have no idea what that is based on. I gave up earlier in the thread.

I just don't want other readers to think they will be okay showing up late because someone wants to argue and give incorrect advice.

No, you can't create 100% certainty that you'll be on time because there are factors that come into play. But planning to watch a show that happens at the same time as a dinner reservation is not a risk. It's completely planning to be late.

I'm not sure why you are continuing to argue about this. Lots of "newbies" come to this board looking for advice. To state that "Within 15 min, they will not turn you away." is bad advice, because they certainly could and do turn people away for being late. Multiple people on this thread have stated that you are incorrect, yet you continue to argue?

Okay, you are continuing to insist Disney restaurants will never turn away late folks, and refuse to acknowledge that some of us have either observed this or have actually encountered it ourselves, The problem with your arbitrary statement is that per Disney, there is NO grace period. Not one minute....although I would imagine a minute late is not the same as 15 minutes late in the eyes of a restaurant host. The reality is that since the advent of FP booking in advance, guests have been trying to squeeze FP times into timeframes that have ADR's that were made in advance of the FP, and some restaurants that are notoriously busy or filled have been refusing to accommodate the late arrivals. Should you arrive late to Olivia's I bet a buck the greeter will seat you in a timely manner, but late to BOG dinner? Not likely any more. 'Ohana? If they are backed up 45 minutes, you may be turned away.

Newbies look here for accurate information, and if we continue to sell the news that it is fine to show up late so that they can try to manage plans that are not at all logistically possible, no harm no foul, we are doing them a disservice. Just as Disney has become wise to the "Oh dear, there is a mistake on our ADR, we have 2 more people than you have" strategy when an ADR for 6 was not available, and will on occasion turn the additional 2 folks away, they are also making changes to the leniency they once accorded late arrivals.

While you are comfortable selling news that all will be well if a guest is booking two places at the same time, and arriving late to one in order to have it all, most of us are not. WE have observed what yo insist is never going to happen, and we want to avoid potential disappointment. Better to make an adjustment in advance when it is possible, rather than try to regroup if your ADR has been passed over and you are sent to a CS for dinner.

OK...I emailed Disney and asked them. This is the response I got (as I thought).

We understand that things can happen to make you late to your
reservation. Although there is no official grace period, our dining
locations will hold your reservation for 15 minutes or later. When
you arrive, go to the counter and give the Cast Member your dining
reservation number and your name. They will seat you as soon as
possible.

 

[rdaky]

OK...I emailed Disney and asked them. This is the response I got (as I thought).

We understand that things can happen to make you late to your
reservation. Although there is no official grace period, our dining
locations will hold your reservation for 15 minutes or later. When
you arrive, go to the counter and give the Cast Member your dining
reservation number and your name. They will seat you as soon as
possible.

I still stand by my view that it's rude to knowingly plan to show up late.

 

[freshmanjs]

I still stand by my view that it's rude to knowingly plan to show up late.

I don't think anyone disagrees with that. But, good for you sticking to your guns!

 

[maxiesmom]

OK...I emailed Disney and asked them. This is the response I got (as I thought).

We understand that things can happen to make you late to your
reservation. Although there is no official grace period, our dining
locations will hold your reservation for 15 minutes or later. When
you arrive, go to the counter and give the Cast Member your dining
reservation number and your name. They will seat you as soon as
possible.

As long as you understand the person that sent you the e-mail has no control over what happens at the restaurants. As other posters have stated and seen for themselves, the grace period is not official, and they don't always give you an extra 15 minutes. They can and do turn away guests before that time is up.

I'm not sure what you hope to gain by insisting on your point of view, when others have seen and heard for themselves something else.

 

[freshmanjs]

As long as you understand the person that sent you the e-mail has no control over what happens at the restaurants. As other posters have stated and seen for themselves, the grace period is not official, and they don't always give you an extra 15 minutes. They can and do turn away guests before that time is up.

I'm not sure what you hope to gain by insisting on your point of view, when others have seen and heard for themselves something else.

I'm not giving you my point of view. I am providing the info directly from Disney itself. Thanks for the feedback, though. Still waiting for that first person to say they were hit with a no-show fee for being <15 minutes late.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yeah -- I'll take the word of Disney itself over some randoms on a message board. Thanks for the feedback, though. Still waiting for that first person to say they were hit with a no-show fee for being <15 minutes late.

Then maybe this isn't the place for you. I've had CMs at Disney give me bad info. Sometimes on basic stuff. Like the one time the CM at POR told me there was only one bus stop at the resort.

Yeah, I will trust the people here, thank you. Especially what people have seen and heard happen.

 

[freshmanjs]

Then maybe this isn't the place for you. I've had CMs at Disney give me bad info. Sometimes on basic stuff. Like the one time the CM at POR told me there was only one bus stop at the resort.

Yeah, I will trust the people here, thank you. Especially what people have seen and heard happen.

I really appreciate you taking on the role of message board police. It is great to have someone to suggest who does and doesn't belong here! Thank you!!!

If you trust what every person on here says, and ignore everything from WDW, then you are holding on to a lot of conflicting and wrong information. Good luck with that!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm not giving you my point of view. I am providing the info directly from Disney itself. Thanks for the feedback, though. Still waiting for that first person to say they were hit with a no-show fee for being <15 minutes late.

Ahhhh, that is your point? Okay. I agree that it is possible to get a no show fee removed if you miss your ADR. With that said, you keep insisting that anyone who arrives late will be seated, and we have said we have witnessed that that is not true. Even your message indicates there is no grace period. Please, arrive at 'Ohana, Via Napoli or BOG late on a very busy night when the restaurant is 40 minutes behind, and folks are still camping out at tables. Bring your letter and see how water it holds.

 

[freshmanjs]

Ahhhh, that is your point? Okay. I agree that it is possible to get a no show fee removed if you miss your ADR. With that said, you keep insisting that anyone who arrives late will be seated, and we have said we have witnessed that that is not true. Even your message indicates there is no grace period. Please, arrive at 'Ohana, Via Napoli or BOG late on a very busy night when the restaurant is 40 minutes behind, and folks are still camping out at tables. Bring your letter and see how water it holds.

Have done so at 2 of those 3 places with zero problems. Y'all can jump up and down all day insisting you are right and being nervous about arriving 30 sec late for your reservation. I will have more fun, knowing that if I'm 2 min late, nothing bad is going to happen.

The CMs don't have an easy way in the system to mark someone as showed up, but not seated. There are zero no-show charges being reported within 15 min window.

 

[Nancyg56]

I really appreciate you taking on the role of message board police. It is great to have someone to suggest who does and doesn't belong here! Thank you!!!

If you trust what every person on here says, and ignore everything from WDW, then you are holding on to a lot of conflicting and wrong information. Good luck with that!!!

I trust what I have seen. It was not a pretty sight to see folks turned away for arriving late at 'Ohana, however I saw it.

 

[Nancyg56]

Have done so at 2 of those 3 places with zero problems. Y'all can jump up and down all day insisting you are right and being nervous about arriving 30 sec late for your reservation. I will have more fun, knowing that if I'm 2 min late, nothing bad is going to happen.

The CMs don't have an easy way in the system to mark someone as showed up, but not seated. There are zero no-show charges being reported within 15 min window.

Okay, so not I understand. You are one of the folks who arrives late, so you want validation that not only is this practice socially acceptable, it is Disney endorsed. Got it.

 

[freshmanjs]

Okay, so not I understand. You are one of the folks who arrives late, so you want validation that not only is this practice socially acceptable, it is Disney endorsed. Got it.

You really think it is "socially unacceptable" to be 30 seconds late for a dinner reservation? What a rigid and awful world you live in.

 

[maxiesmom]

I trust what I have seen. It was not a pretty sight to see folks turned away for arriving late at 'Ohana, however I saw it.

THIS!!!!! Sorry, freshmanjs, but what you were sent in an e-mail is not what happens in real life. That is what you are not getting.

If you don't trust the posters here I'm not sure what you are getting from being here. That is why I said I'm not sure this is the place for you. I find them a whole lot more trustworthy than generic CM who isn't at the parks. And has no control over what happens in the parks. They can tell you until they are blue in the face that you will always get an extra 15 minutes past your ADR time. Doesn't hurt them if they are wrong. I do trust the people who have been in the parks and experienced something different.

 

[maxiesmom]

You really think it is "socially unacceptable" to be 30 seconds late for a dinner reservation? What a rigid and awful world you live in.

Don't try to make things up to shore up your side. There is no official grace period. How late you can be is totally up to the restaurant at the time. Best to plan on not being late.

And now, I think I will block you. Toodles!

 

[freshmanjs]

Don't try to make things up to shore up your side. There is no official grace period. How late you can be is totally up to the restaurant at the time. Best to plan on not being late.

And now, I think I will block you. Toodles!

Yeah...it's tough to be so wrong. Take your ball and go home! Toodles!

 

[Nancyg56]

You really think it is "socially unacceptable" to be 30 seconds late for a dinner reservation? What a rigid and awful world you live in.

Again, no one has suggested 30 seconds, which is down from your prior 1 minute late scenario, is an issue. Please, do not try to use this kind of nonsensical verbiage as something I have posted. I have stated before, and I state again, no one here is trying to say that, however you use it as the basis of your argument.

As to my rigid and awful World, I will share how I live. I try to treat people in a manner I want to be treated. I do not intentionally place others behind so I can be accommodate myself. I never lie. I don't cheat, and I do not steal. I am courteous, and I try to be respectful of others and their opinions. I would never put words in anyone else's mouth, and I do not ever tell people they will be accommodated if they break a rule because I plan to do so and have done so.

 

[freshmanjs]

Again, no one has suggested 30 seconds, which is down from your prior 1 minute late scenario, is an issue. Please, do not try to use this kind of nonsensical verbiage as something I have posted. I have stated before, and I state again, no one here is trying to say that, however you use it as the basis of your argument.

As to my rigid and awful World, I will share how I live. I try to treat people in a manner I want to be treated. I do not intentionally place others behind so I can be accommodate myself. I never lie. I don't cheat, and I do not steal. I am courteous, and I try to be respectful of others and their opinions. I would never put words in anyone else's mouth, and I do not ever tell people they will be accommodated if they break a rule because I plan to do so and have done so.

We are talking about the period between 0 and 15 minutes late, right?

Also, there is no "rule" involved. Arriving between 0 and 15 minutes late for a dining reservation does not break any rule.

 

[Lisa F]

I trust what I have seen. It was not a pretty sight to see folks turned away for arriving late at 'Ohana, however I saw it.

I like you and think you're a great poster so don't take this the wrong way, but how did you know how late they actually showed up?

I am never paying attention to anyone else checking in and at a place like 'Ohana where it's a zoo I'm not sure I'd be able to hear what was going on until it escalated to yelling... and I'm guessing knowing Disney it would be yelling on the part of the customer, not the CM. Is it possible the guest's perception of how late they were is different than the reality? I can't even imagine how I'd know what time anyone else's ADR is unless sitting right on top of the podium and they mention it when they check in. I tend to just give my name and not the time.

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

I have had friends turned away for being late to a Tusker House ADR. The restaurant was over 45 minutes late in seating already, when they came in 20 minutes late. The host told them they could not accomadate them, but they did not charge them the $10.00 pp no show fee. I know this for a fact as I was on time for my ADR at the same time as theirs.

 

[maxiesmom]

I like you and think you're a great poster so don't take this the wrong way, but how did you know how late they actually showed up?

I am never paying attention to anyone else checking in and at a place like 'Ohana where it's a zoo I'm not sure I'd be able to hear what was going on until it escalated to yelling... and I'm guessing knowing Disney it would be yelling on the part of the customer, not the CM. Is it possible the guest's perception of how late they were is different than the reality? I can't even imagine how I'd know what time anyone else's ADR is unless sitting right on top of the podium and they mention it when they check in. I tend to just give my name and not the time.

I hope you don't mind if I answer. My one time being late to an ADR was due to an accident on the road (my family was going by taxi to the Poly). At the Kona Cafe there was a line up of people trying to check in. The CM was making no bones about people who were late, and even told us we were lucky that the monorail was having issues, so they were told to accommodate people who were late. And that otherwise we wouldn't have been seated.

Disney will try to err on making the guest happy whenever they can. But I take huge exception to someone claiming anything is fine all of the time. If push comes to shove Disney can tell you you missed your ADR slot. They won't do it if they can avoid it, but to claim they never do it is flat out wrong. It is never ok to tell someone something that can cause such headaches with their vacation. It is fine and dandy to say Disney sent you an e-mail, but who will be there to pick up the pieces if something else happens during your trip? Saying "so and so on the Dis got an e-mail and they say you always seat people who are 15 minutes late!" won't help much.