showing up early for an ADR?

[cropper]

Is it worth showing up 20-30 minutes early for an ADR or are you just wasting time waiting?

No particular place in mind, just curious in general. Most of my ADR are 5:20 to 6:30 time frames.

 

[Bob P]

We've always had good luck showing up early and being seated promptly. But past performance is no guarantee of future results!

 

[Karnak]

Is it worth showing up 20-30 minutes early for an ADR or are you just wasting time waiting?

My best guess would be that it depends upon how crowded the restaurant is at the time. If they are not very busy, I expect that your chances of being seating early are excellent, but if it's a busy time, probably not. I'd say that it would be worth a try, if you are early and have nothing to do but wait anyhow.

Enjoy.

 

[dis-happy]

We've always had good luck showing up early and being seated promptly. But past performance is no guarantee of future results!

Sounds like someone is quoting Warren B.

 

[beattyfamily]

I always show up at least 15 minutes early and for the most part, I've been seated either on time or late. Maybe once I was seated early.

I especially like to arrive early for the really popular places like 50's Prime Time, MM, and Le Cellier...especially when it was tied to the Fantasmic package.

 

[audisight]

It's always good to show up a little early. You may get lucky and get seated Last vacation I showed up at Yachtsman 45 min early and got seated right away . I also showed up at Ohanas about 30 min early and got seated an hour later.

 

[KevinYee]

I've concluded that usually they do not put you into a first-come queue when you check in. They still seat you at your reservation time, more or less. I think what happens is that you are the "first" person at the 7:15 slot, since you checked in at 6:45. All the other 7:15 people will be after you (unless a table needed for your size party isn't ready first).

In the meantime, all the 6:50 and 7:00 people will be seated before you, even if they arrive four minutes after you did and check in.

I can't be sure this is true at EVERY restaurant, but I've seen in multiple times recently.

 

[cropper]

Thank you all for your input.

I love the Dis and all the help it has given me. I am a true TGM believer but couldn't do without the Dis!!

Cheri

 

[summerlandjeff]

Not only is it worth it, I've been told it's required! We had ADR's at LeCellier on April 9 @ 6:20 PM. We arrived around 5:45 PM (early as we thought) and decided to see the O Canada show. An 18 minute film, which ended at 6:14. We strolled to the Maitre'd and gave our name at exactly 6:20, perfect right? Wrong . 25 mins. later we were seated . The hostess told us checking in early, 20 mins. is usually good, pretty much guarantees your seating time.

Next night we arrived at Boma @ 5:40 for 6:10 PM ADR's. We were given the buzzer and enjoyed one drink before being buzzed. It definitely pays to check in early!!!