Wait Time With ADR's

[jnshakun]

Hi. I'm trying to figure out what time will be best to make ADR's for dinner. If you show up at a restaurant on time for your ADR, how long, on average, do you typically have to wait before you are seated?

My kids tend to eat on the early side--by 5:30. The places I'm considering include Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree, Le Cellier, 'Ohana, Whispering Canyon Cafe and Coral Reef. We're going in May.

Any input you can give would be appreciated! I just don't want to book a time with the assumption we'll get right in and then end up with a long wait for a table with two grumpy little ones.

Thanks.

 

[ciera321]

Just returned this morning and had ADRs for most nights. The longest we had to wait was about 8 minutes, which was really a nice surprise!!!

 

[hmp2z]

Le Cellier has made us wait 24 hours - they were busy the day we went, and told us they would honor our ADR's the next day, not the day we actually had our printed confirmations for. Other than that, we haven't had a problem, except for a 40 minute wait at 'Ohana, but there we had a large group. Oh, and a 45 minute wait at California Grill last year, but this year it was only 10 minutes.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[MelanieC]

This year we had very short waits for our ADR's, even at Ohana and Boma. The longest was approx 10 minutes. Most we waited 2-5. Some years we have had really long waits, especially at Ohana, Boma, dinner at LeCellier, etc.

 

[ekball]

I just asked this question recently and as I understand it, the wait for your table is minimal for the earlier ADR's. Wait increase throughout the evening and can become a bit of a problem come 7:30, 8:00, etc. I made early ADR's for my family as we have 2 little ones that are used to eating around 5:30-6. Keep your ADR's early and you should have no problem.

 

[notnothin]

Le Cellier has made us wait 24 hours - they were busy the day we went, and told us they would honor our ADR's the next day, not the day we actually had our printed confirmations for.

Cheers!
Heather W

Wow, really?!?

That is wild ... I wouldn't be too impressed with that, as it would throw off our entire schedule. I wonder if this happens often, as I've never heard of that before. Were you visiting during peak season?

 

[jnshakun]

That is disappointing to hear! What time was your ADR at Le Cellier?

 

[HaleyB]

Early May or late May?

Early May is not busy and I would not expect too long of a wait, if any, as long as you check in about 10 min. before your ADR time.

The last 10 days or so of May it gets more and more busy- not horribly busy, just not light crowds- anyway I think 10-20 minutes would be a good guess for late May. Sometimes you will have no wait, but if something goes wrong, you might have a long wait.

I always carry some sort of snack just in case.