Walking up when you have an ADR

[nbs2]

So I'm making some changes to our plans, and am having some understandable difficulty getting a time that I would like. At this point, I have an Akershus ADR for 8:10pm. While this would be a normal dining time at home, I'd like to get in a little earlier.

I know that walking up can be hit or miss. I figure the worst they can say is, "no walk ups, sorry." I mean, it isn't like they are going to kick me out of the park and our hotel. If I don't get the walk up, I'll live. That said, how likely am I to score a walk up?

But, if I get a walk up, would they let me call that my reservation? I'd hate to get in through a walk up and then be charged the no show fee just a couple hours later.

Someone has to have done something like this before - I'm just wondering how things went.

 

[Tricia1972]

We did this at Biergarten. I just walked up and said "Hi, my name is Tricia _____ and we have a reservation for 2:30pm today. I was wondering if we could be seated a little earlier if possible"

No problem at all. They checked us in with our initial reservation and seated us about two hour early.

It won't work every time, but it would answer the question about being charged a "no show" fee.

 

[Cherinva]

I've done it before also...I had and ADR for Liberty Tree around 6 or so, and by 4:30 we were hungry...I went up and asked them if we could be seated early.....she said sure, give me about 10-15 minutes....we were seated in 5....sometimes it works....all you can do is ask.

 

[nbs2]

I'm glad to see multiple successes.

Now I just need to figure out if the missus would be willing to risk an 8:10 dinner to get Akershus...

 

[MushyMushy]

Did you have to give your credit card for Akershus? I think it's a lot less flexible when you have to give your credit card. We'd tried doing that with CA Grill, and in order to get an earlier reservation, we would have had to pay a cancellation fee on our credit card because we didn't give them enough notice(something like $25 a person ) . Needless to say, we kept our existing reservation.

This was a couple of years ago, so things may have changed. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Tricia1972]

Did you have to give your credit card for Akershus? I think it's a lot less flexible when you have to give your credit card. We'd tried doing that with CA Grill, and in order to get an earlier reservation, we would have had to pay a cancellation fee on our credit card because we didn't give them enough notice(something like $25 a person ) . Needless to say, we kept our existing reservation.

This was a couple of years ago, so things may have changed. Just something to keep in mind.

That happened when you approached the podium to see if you could be seated earlier?

 

[nbs2]

Did you have to give your credit card for Akershus? I think it's a lot less flexible when you have to give your credit card. We'd tried doing that with CA Grill, and in order to get an earlier reservation, we would have had to pay a cancellation fee on our credit card because we didn't give them enough notice(something like $25 a person ) . Needless to say, we kept our existing reservation.

This was a couple of years ago, so things may have changed. Just something to keep in mind.

Akershus does have the CC guaranty, which is why I'm trying to figure out the ideal solution sooner rather than later.

I would prefer to talk to a manager at Akershus directly, but can't seem to get past the reservation gatekeepers (one assures me that neither Akershus nor LC take walk ups; the other says exactly what Tricia said - no guarantee, but is possible).

 

[JimmyV]

The ADR is a "first available table" system, so checking in early is usually not a problem. I have never waited very long at any restaurant for a table if we arrived early. That said, if you are slotted for 8:10 and try to get seated at 6:30-7:00 (prime dinner hour), don't be surprised if the "next available table" isn't until close to 7:30.

And here's a tip the hostess at Bistro de Paris told me. If you want a nice meal and don't have an ADR, try getting in as a walk-in there. Without knowing her "secret", I asked politely one time if they could squeeze in a party of three. She told me that they were fully booked, but that if we could wait a few minutes, she would see if anything opened up. She said that a fair number of people make ADRs there without knowing (or remembering) that this restaurant is not on the Dining Plan. So it is common for people to show up, and then leave in a huff once they are reminded that the meal is not pre-paid. Lo and behold, the very next group of four to arrive at the podium was reminded that this venue did not accept the DDP, and they left. The hostess smiled at me while I waited in the foyer, and we were immediatley shown to our (their) table. This may not work as well now that ADRs are taken on-line, as the confirming e-mail clearly states what level of DP is accepted, if any.

 

[Tricia1972]

See I think walking up would be an issue, but if you have an 8:10 reservation and show up at 7:30 you're not walking up persay, you're just showing up early.

I'd just go ahead and make the 8:10 reservation. If you're hungry before then, walk up to the podium and ask if it'd be a problem to check in early.

 

[TruBlu]

We've been luck enough to check in up to an hour early, but we never count on it. If we get hungry early, we just stop in and ask. Sometimes they say yes, but we've been told no, too. Good luck!

 

[MushyMushy]

That happened when you approached the podium to see if you could be seated earlier?

Well, if I recall correctly we walked up and they told us we needed to call Disney Dining. DD had an earlier reservation, but if we took it, we would have been charged for our other reservation for not cancelling on time.

Maybe it would be different at Akershus, but since it's also a popular venue, maybe not.