Tell me it's ok...

[myrtleturtle]

to stop looking for ADRs!

Specifically, 1900 Park Fare. We eat dinner at 5pm at home, so I've been trying to get 1900 at 5 for our arrival day dinner. The closest I can get is 4:40. Do you think it could take us 20 minutes to get seated?

 

[Hopefully]

to stop looking for ADRs!

Specifically, 1900 Park Fare. We eat dinner at 5pm at home, so I've been trying to get 1900 at 5 for our arrival day dinner. The closest I can get is 4:40. Do you think it could take us 20 minutes to get seated?

Are you really going to worry about 20 minutes? If you are this rigid I fear you are going to have a miserable trip. Disney is all about waiting
You should be seated right away, that is the beginning of service. I doubt it will take 20 minutes to seat you. But if it really matters wait 20 minutes after you are seated before you go to the buffet for your food.
Good Luck

 

[myrtleturtle]

I'm not that rigid, but the two toddlers are!

 

[Disneylover99]

I'm not that rigid, but the two toddlers are!

Get a plate of food for yourself first and enjoy.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm not that rigid, but the two toddlers are!

I am not trying to be rude, but 20 minutes? I don't think you can even schedule counter service meals that down to the minute, let alone TS meals. There can be so many things out of your control that will impact the exact time you sit, have your order taken, and then eat.

Hopefully is spot on, WDW is waiting. Waiting for attractions, waiting for transportation, waiting to check in and then waiting to get called to your table. And at buffet character meals waiting to time getting food so you can be seated when your character comes around.

In the case of a 20 minute deviation in your desired dining time, if promptness is that important, I would check in at 4:25 or 4:30 like you will be instructed to do, get seated, and then dawdle til 5. Just be aware that this is a large dining room and the characters have a rotation, so as I was warned when we were not even seated and Lady Tremaine was making her rounds near us...you may miss out if you cannot be flexible.

 

[Dis703]

I agree with pp if you are going to worry about 20 minutes you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Even with ADRs you won't necessarily be eating at those times or even seated at those times. Sometimes you can get sat early, but I've also had some significant waits. I wouldn't worry about getting 5pm exactly. You may find your LOs don't follow their exact schedule either with all of the hustle and bustle going on at Disney. Being a little flexible is kind of a necessity I think when in WDW.

 

[bbak30]

I can't stop either, it's a sickness.

 

[Nancyg56]

I can't stop either, it's a sickness.

Are you looking for specific ADRs that you did not secure or are you fine-tuning to the point of obsession? There is a difference between looking for a time that better suits your family, or a restaurant that you prefer but could not book, and trying to mico manage times to the minute.

WE will often compromise on an ADR if our first preference or time is not available, but then regroup if it turns up. Trying to manage times to the minute is probably not going to pan out and will lead to a lot of frustration because an ADR is really just a place in line. If you are used to traditional dining reservations, this is not them.

 

[GPC0321]

By the time you're seated, get your food and get back to the table it will be darn close to 5pm.
If your kids are going to have a meltdown over eating a few minutes either side of their normal dinner time, it might be a good idea to start relaxing the time at home to get them used to it.

 

[bbak30]

Are you looking for specific ADRs that you did not secure or are you fine-tuning to the point of obsession? There is a difference between looking for a time that better suits your family, or a restaurant that you prefer but could not book, and trying to mico manage times to the minute.

WE will often compromise on an ADR if our first preference or time is not available, but then regroup if it turns up. Trying to manage times to the minute is probably not going to pan out and will lead to a lot of frustration because an ADR is really just a place in line. If you are used to traditional dining reservations, this is not them.

I'm just fine tuning now, we leave in 13 days. Until I got the coveted BOG dinner ADR, I was checking several times a day.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I hate to say it, but there are MANY times that we have got sat up to 45 minutes after our reservation time at many places. The chance that you are sat at EXACTLY that time are slim. You are going to need to be more flexible, or you are going to be miserable at Disney stressing over this.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm just fine tuning now, we leave in 13 days. Until I got the coveted BOG dinner ADR, I was checking several times a day.

Oh I get that! We are at 60 days and I am used to booking far enough out to secure most of what I want. This trip is too close to be too picky, but for the most part I'm good. Except that BOG ADR. My DDIL has never had dinner there so I also am looking. Normally I tweak and let go of the "extras", you know CP before park opening because if you dont book it when it is available you may never get it. This time I don't have any tweakers to let go, just bare bones ADR's. Seems strange! Two months out, I usually dont need to look any more, and have a pretty settled plan

Glad you got all you wanted!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would stop looking. As others have said, by the time you are seated and your server takes your drink order it will most likely be close to 5 pm. Flexibility is the name of the game at WDW.

 

[myrtleturtle]

By the time you're seated, get your food and get back to the table it will be darn close to 5pm.
If your kids are going to have a meltdown over eating a few minutes either side of their normal dinner time, it might be a good idea to start relaxing the time at home to get them used to it.

Thanks, this is a great idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it!

 

[Nancyg56]

By the time you're seated, get your food and get back to the table it will be darn close to 5pm.
If your kids are going to have a meltdown over eating a few minutes either side of their normal dinner time, it might be a good idea to start relaxing the time at home to get them used to it.

WE took the little girls on our street with us in August. They have excellent table manners, and they are accustomed to having to exercise them at home, but dining in Disney can sometimes be a different animal, so my DD and I started taking them out with us in the evening, often adding errands and dinners at odd times. We explained that there would be times when the meal lasted longer than at home, or that when it was hard to wait in lines for rides or to eat, and that although we always would keep them in mind, there were 9 of us traveling. Sometimes people would be shopping or watching things they would not be interested in, and that we were going to spend the Summer practicing their good manners and how to put their patience in their pockets. I will not tell you that this was 100% successful...we had horrendous weather that seemed to impact everything, however they sure did polish up their skills and I was never once on teh brink of having to apologize to my neighbors about their behavior. I cannot say the same for a few other families. My DD and I were really happy and their Mom was beyond pleased that all of her efforts through the years paid off.

 

[LadyLaLa]

I hate to say it, but there are MANY times that we have got sat up to 45 minutes after our reservation time at many places. The chance that you are sat at EXACTLY that time are slim.

For the most part we were sat very close to our reservation time, except for 50's PT... We waited 45 minutes after our reservation to be seated. It was very frustrating to wait around with a hungry toddler. I wasn't expecting that...

 

[wdw4rfam]

For the most part we were sat very close to our reservation time, except for 50's PT... We waited 45 minutes after our reservation to be seated. It was very frustrating to wait around with a hungry toddler. I wasn't expecting that...

I agree, for the most part you will. But you never know when you will hit that 30-45 minute one. For us, it is usually tucker house almost every year, and 1900 if you have a later time. But being that the OP is going almost at opening, they shouldn't be behind yet.

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree, for the most part you will. But you never know when you will hit that 30-45 minute one. For us, it is usually tucker house almost every year, and 1900 if you have a later time. But being that the OP is going almost at opening, they shouldn't be behind yet.

I agree that at opening time the seating should be okay. We usually eat later and still find that with the exception f those few notoriously always run late restaurants, we were seated in a timely manner, but you just never know. Best to be prpared.

 

[Southernswthrt]

Not be rude at all, but i also agree with the others. If you are not flexible at WDW, you're setting yourself up for a miserable time. Have your little ones ever been to WDW? Once our daughter was born, our vacation style completely changed. I'd suggest trying to make your expectations more realistic, so you will not be disappointed. Toddlers will have meltdowns at WDW; it's A LOT of stimulation and most definitely out of the normal daily routine whether you're talking about meals, or nap time, or simply surroundings. Not sure your mode of transportation, but are you going to be able to maintain your normal schedule earlier in the day since it is your arrival day? I always pack snacks in my bag for everyone - even myself. I think we can all get a little cranky when we're hungry .

I usually obsess over getting an ADR period on the day we want - I'm not picky on the time at all. We don't like ADR's past 8 pm, but other than that, we're just happy to get the ones we want.

 

[LadyLaLa]

it is usually tucker house almost every year,

We have a Tusker House planned for 8:45 am on an EMH day. We planned to go ride the Safari ride then go eat. I hope they don't start getting behind until much later in the day.

So, I'm curious. I know that if you don't show up they can charge you $10 a person. What if they are an hour behind, can they waive that fee and let you leave?