Wait times with ADR?

[creamypuffs]

It has been a couple of years since I've been down. Last time, I remember some restaurants, we still had to wait a little after checking in as these are just call-ahead seatings.

Does anyone have recent experience of wait times? Were there any restaurants that you had to wait after checking in and approx how long?

 

[figment_jii]

When I was there in October, the wait times ranged from 0 to 45 minutes. In most cases it was around 10 minutes. The worse was Citricos, which took 45 minutes.

 

[creamypuffs]

When I was there in October, the wait times ranged from 0 to 45 minutes. In most cases it was around 10 minutes. The worse was Citricos, which took 45 minutes.

WOW! 45 min?

That is crazy. I might need to re-think some of my reservation times and get an earlier seating so that with waittime, my son will get to eat at a decent hour.

How far can those pagers go that they will give you? Wondering if it is possible to run off for other rides and such if it is restaurants in the park...... probably not too far away.

 

[figment_jii]

WOW! 45 min?

That is crazy. I might need to re-think some of my reservation times and get an earlier seating so that with waittime, my son will get to eat at a decent hour.

How far can those pagers go that they will give you? Wondering if it is possible to run off for other rides and such if it is restaurants in the park...... probably not too far away.

I think Citricos was having a really bad night because everything about the meal was slow. Dinner took almost three hours. Most waits were closer to 10 minutes.

I don't think those pagers go very far and you won't know if the wait is going to be 5 or 45 minutes. I don't know if the restaurant will seat you if part of your party is missing.

 

[creamypuffs]

10-15 min wait is what I sort of vaguely remember and I remember some restaurants had almost no wait and seated us immediately. I'm hoping none of ours will be a long wait.

Is there an advantage to arrive prior to booked ADR time or would you end up waiting even longer because you are early?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

WOW! 45 min?

That is crazy. I might need to re-think some of my reservation times and get an earlier seating so that with waittime, my son will get to eat at a decent hour.

How far can those pagers go that they will give you? Wondering if it is possible to run off for other rides and such if it is restaurants in the park...... probably not too far away.

It really depends on the restaurant and whether or not there is a free dining promo going on which causes the restaurants to be busier. Scheduling for the first seating of a meal is optimal for reducing waits. So if a restaurant starts serving dinner at 5:00, get an ADR for the 5:00 time.

Some of the restaurants have pagers, but many do not. Even those that do, you are expected to stay close to the restaurant. Definitely not leaving to ride rides.

 

[creamypuffs]

sadly, we did book during free dining period and when I booked the trip, I never even thought about the extra busier folks at restaurant. although we're at the tail-end of the promotion so hoping it really will be less wait. *fingers crossed*

 

[hoihoi]

It really depends on the restaurant and whether or not there is a free dining promo going on which causes the restaurants to be busier. Scheduling for the first seating of a meal is optimal for reducing waits. So if a restaurant starts serving dinner at 5:00, get an ADR for the 5:00 time.

Some of the restaurants have pagers, but many do not. Even those that do, you are expected to stay close to the restaurant. Definitely not leaving to ride rides.

^^^^ yes!

My experience has been 15 min at most for the wait in early May with an ADR.

 

[mousefan1972]

We were in Disney Dec. 21-27 and ate at the following restaurants for dinner:

Kona Cafe
'Ohana (breakfast and dinner)
Grand Floridian Cafe
Teppan Edo
Chef Mickey's

The longest wait we had was 10 minutes at 'Ohana for dinner on Christmas night.

 

[nkereina]

our experience in September, which is low crowd season:

Tony's Town Square dinner - they gave us a pager, but it was literally a 2 minute wait
Rose & Crown dinner - took 20 mins just to check-in to the ADR, and about another 25 mins to be sat
Sci Fi lunch - 3-5 minutes, maybe not even
Tusker House breakfast - no wait
Via Napoli dinner - 5 minutes
Ohana breakfast - 10 mins
Whispering Canyon dinner - 20 minutes

 

[creamypuffs]

sorry, a slightly off topic question....

what happens if you're even slightly late to ADR? Do they put you as if you're a walk-in or still next available slot with the ADR folks?

 

[purple figment]

sorry, a slightly off topic question....

what happens if you're even slightly late to ADR? Do they put you as if you're a walk-in or still next available slot with the ADR folks?

It all depends on the restaurant and what you mean by "slightly late." It is recommended that you arrive 15 minutes before your ADR time. As a courtesy most restaurants will not penalize you if you're a few minutes late, but if you show up 20 or 30 minutes after your res time they might put you in the walk up queue. And if the restaurant is extremely busy they might not seat you at all.

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

It all depends on the restaurant and what you mean by "slightly late." It is recommended that you arrive 15 minutes before your ADR time.

Not to nitpick - but this seems to be a popular misconception. The Disney recommended time is actually 5 minutes prior to seating time.

From the WDW Dining FAQ (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/dining/#subCategory3)

Are reservations available at Walt Disney World Resort restaurants?

Yes, reservations are available—and highly recommended—at many Walt Disney World Resort restaurants. You may make reservations online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/, or by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call. It is recommended that you arrive at restaurants 5 minutes prior to your seating time. You will be seated at the next available table that can accommodate your party.

 

[creamypuffs]

Not to nitpick - but this seems to be a popular misconception. The Disney recommended time is actually 5 minutes prior to seating time.

From the WDW Dining FAQ (http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/dining/#subCategory3)

Are reservations available at Walt Disney World Resort restaurants?

Yes, reservations are available—and highly recommended—at many Walt Disney World Resort restaurants. You may make reservations online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/, or by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call. It is recommended that you arrive at restaurants 5 minutes prior to your seating time. You will be seated at the next available table that can accommodate your party.

Yep, that's what I read too so I don't want to get there too early and have to wait extra because we got there early.

So if I'm expected to arrive 5 min before the time, what I meant by slightly late is 5 min after ADR time in case transportation or something stopped us along the way.

 

[budafam]

We were there during free dining in October/November and we waited 5-10 minutes. Most of them we got taken in right away after checking in. We were always early though... sometimes SUPER early by 30 minutes or so... not sure if that was a factor

 

[creamypuffs]

We were there during free dining in October/November and we waited 5-10 minutes. Most of them we got taken in right away after checking in. We were always early though... sometimes SUPER early by 30 minutes or so... not sure if that was a factor

HAHAHA, now you making me second guess about arriving early early.

Oh well, I guess it all depends and we will just hope for the best.