What happens if we're a little late ... UPDATE post 37

[lacy1101]

We have a 9:35 p.m. ADR at 'Ohana on our arrival night. Our flight lands at 7:43 p.m. I know we're cutting it very close. We have already made plans to call for a cab to take us to the Poly from CBR after we check-in. If necessary, we are willing to go straight to the Poly after ME drops us off at CBR and check in after dinner (paying OOP for dinner, of course, because we won't have our KTTW since we aren't checked in at this point). If this still doesn't get us there on time, what are the chances of not getting into 'Ohana at that time of night if we're a few minutes late?

 

[TDC Nala]

You are probably going to have trouble making that if you are using DME from the airport. 70-90 minutes is the average trip for DME. It takes about 15 minutes just to get to the ME desk. So you would likely be getting to your resort around 9:30 at the highest estimate.

If you're more than 15 minutes late, it's probable you will lose your ADR and you'd have to go into the "standby" line. That late, you might be luckier than you would if it were not late. If you get there after 10 I don't think they will let you in at all. I believe they do not seat after 10.

You could, of course, get lucky, but if 'Ohana is an important meal for you I'd try making it on another night.

 

[bouncycat]

We were late in june for a few of our dinners, and they sat us when they could when we got there. Example, RnRC broke down, we were stuck in line, and late for Sci FI by like an hour, and they sat us. So I wouldn't worry about it, check in, and then go. If you're late, so be it, as long as they aren't closed.

 

[JimmyV]

There are really two issues raised here. In general, if you are "a little" late, they will seat you at the next available table for your size with no worries. You ADR is not a "reservation" at a specific time like traditional restaurants. (Same holds true if you are "a little" early.) But the second issue is one that relates to your ADR time. If you are just a little late for a 9:35, there should be no problem whatsoever. The restuarant will not be filled to the gills at that time. But if you are more than a little late, the kitchen may close. As you probably know, 'Ohana is not a "cook to order" restaurant. At some point in time, they simply stop cooking and re-loading skewers.

 

[Nadjalu]

It is my experience that Ohana is one of the strickest with this policy.

If you are late they will NOT seat you.

Yes most places "allow" that 15 min window, however it is not that was at Ohana, at least for us it wasn't.

I would recommend changing your adr or changing where you would like to eat. That time frame isn't going to work, even under the best of circumstances. Sorry, I would hate for you to be so disappointed and start your trip off on a bad note.
But in all honesty you need to change something.

 

[vicki_c]

I would switch to something less stressful (meaning different day), but 1 - we would never eat dinner that late, we're almost ready for bed by then and 2 - I wouldn't want to deal with the major hassle.

If we arrived at night (and have), we pretty much get in our room and get ready for an early start the next day.

What if the plane is late? What if the cab gets a flat tire? What if ... there's a million possibilities, I'm sure.

 

[Lehuaann]

We were 15-20 min late for our 8:40 pm ressie (literally got lost and circled TTC parking lot 3 times). By the time we finally arrived there appeared to be a lot of people waiting however, we were seated almost right away.

 

[JimmyV]

It is my experience that Ohana is one of the strickest with this policy.

If you are late they will NOT seat you.

While this may be true generally, the ADR in question is for 9:35 pm. Being a little late means arriving at 9:45-9:50. I really doubt that there will be so many other people waiting to be seated at that time such that the party expected at 9:35 would not get a table.

 

[lacy1101]

Hmmmm . . . what to do, what to do . . .

I really appreciate all of the responses. I know we are really taking a chance of getting there on time or even "a little late." You just hear so many different experiences with ME, i.e. "allow 2 hours," "took me just under an hour," "took me 70 minutes," "took 1 hour from the time the plane landed to getting to my resort," "allow 90 minutes." Do you think the fact that we are coming in after 7:00 p.m. would help our chances at all? I mean, I would think ME would be its busiest during morning and afternoon. If I remember correctly, when we used ME 3 years ago, we arrived in a little over an hour, and that was early afternoon. Maybe wishful thinking on my part . . .

I know 9:35 p.m. is late to be eating to begin with (even though its really 8:35 p.m. for us). Its just such a nice way to start our trip. We are taking another couple that haven't been to Disney for 20+ years and I just didn't want to wait to start the fun until the next morning - especially when we only have 3 full days as it is. Guess I just need to decide if its worth the risk.

Again, thanks!

 

[tndisneyfan]

We were a few minutes late for our Ohana ADR two trips ago. Like 5 or so minutes late. We had no problems getting seated. But as others have posted, I just don't think that ADR is going to work.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Another possibility would be do talk to the ME desk and get a bus to the Poly instead of CBR. Your checked luggage will go to CBR. So all you would have to do is shlep your carry on luggage but you would easily be at 'Ohana on time. Then take a taxi afterwards to CBR and check in.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

To the OP,

I think Cheshire Figment's suggestion may be your only possibility using DME.

Second option: Book a limo (approx $65-$75 plus tip, one way) from MCO to Poly.

Whatever you decide, you need to have a back-up dinner plan. Your timing is just too close to when the restaurant closes.

 

[MissionMouse]

ME is less than magical, since it normally entails stopping at multiple resorts. Even it you state you are going to PR does not mean it goes directly to the PR. Your arrival time to your resort is outside of your control. Even going to the PR with ME just cuts out your time from your resort to the PR. Best suggestion is to take a limo which is under your control and will travel directly to the PR or what option you select to take care of your luggage too.

 

[lacy1101]

Another possibility would be do talk to the ME desk and get a bus to the Poly instead of CBR. Your checked luggage will go to CBR. So all you would have to do is shlep your carry on luggage but you would easily be at 'Ohana on time. Then take a taxi afterwards to CBR and check in.

I had asked this question earlier in another thread but the replies I received were that they would only take me to the resort on my ME documents. If we could talk them into doing this, we would have no problem paying for our meal OOP since we were going to be doing this for a couple of meals anyway. Wonder what the chances are?

To the OP,

I think Cheshire Figment's suggestion may be your only possibility using DME.

Second option: Book a limo (approx $65-$75 plus tip, one way) from MCO to Poly.

Whatever you decide, you need to have a back-up dinner plan. Your timing is just too close to when the restaurant closes.

I am working on a back-up plan right now: 1) Take a bus to the Boardwalk area and just stroll around, and possibly get something to eat at ESPN or go over to Beaches & Cream at the Yacht/Beach Club; or 2) Bus to DTD and eat somewhere there.

 

[vicki_c]

I've read on the Transportation board many many times that ME will only take you to your resort and will only leave from your resort - no getting rides elsewhere. I have never used ME, so I couldn't say. But the mods and others in the know on the Transportation board always say that you can't do that.

 

[drew64]

7:43 is "wheels down" time. That means, if you take off on time and all goes smoothly, the plane will touch down at 7:43. If nothing is parked at your gate to delay you, it will still be most likely 8:10 or so before the plane is parked at the gate, jetway is set, and door is opened for first passengers to deplane.

Dependign on airplane size, where you are sitting, and how slow those ahead of you move in gathering their carry ons, it could easily be 8:20 or later before you get off of the plane physically.

Then you still have to take monorail, walk to ME welcome center, check in, and possibly wait for bus to depart.

It could easily be 9PM before you even leave MCO.

Then after the drive to DW, you could be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd hotel stop.

They will usually hold a reservation for 15-20 min tops in my experience.

 

[lacy1101]

7:43 is "wheels down" time. That means, if you take off on time and all goes smoothly, the plane will touch down at 7:43. If nothing is parked at your gate to delay you, it will still be most likely 8:10 or so before the plane is parked at the gate, jetway is set, and door is opened for first passengers to deplane.

Dependign on airplane size, where you are sitting, and how slow those ahead of you move in gathering their carry ons, it could easily be 8:20 or later before you get off of the plane physically.

Then you still have to take monorail, walk to ME welcome center, check in, and possibly wait for bus to depart.

It could easily be 9PM before you even leave MCO.

Then after the drive to DW, you could be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd hotel stop.

They will usually hold a reservation for 15-20 min tops in my experience.

I just gained 5 minutes! I don't know where I came up with 7:43 p.m. as my arrival time, because its actually 7:38 p.m. I'm sure that will make all the difference!

drew64 - I know there's a first time for everything, but I don't think I have ever sat on a plane once it has hit the runway for 37 minutes waiting to get off. At the most, maybe 15. Maybe I've just been lucky . . .

I totally understand that anything can happen, but I think I'm going to operate on the assumption that things will go smoothly, and have a back-up plan in place just in case they don't.

 

[JimmyV]

I say keep the ADR and see what happens. If you are a no-show for a 9:35ADR, you aren't going to impact the restaurant one way or the other. Make a family game out of trying to make it on time, sort of like the Amazing Race. Could be a good way for the family to all pull together to start the trip. (Wasn't sure if this is a trip with or without kids). This may sound odd, but I actually enjoy these kinds of "meaningless stresses". It might seem stressful to try to pull this off, but there is no downside to trying and no negative ramifications for failing. Unlike the real world where stressful situations can have real consequences. And if it is really important to you to make it, then just take a cab and skip the ME leg of the jouney. You will have absolutely no problem if you do that.

 

[Sugardimples]

I think its foolish to put this kind of pressure on yourself for the arrival evening. Just get to the hotel, get a bite at the hotel restaurant and go to bed.

 

[PEANUT1]

if you are this stressed already about this dinner...seems like it is not worth it and you will not enjoy it. You will be running around to get off of the plane..probably bickering with your travel companions in the process..My advice is that if you are getting in this late, just eat dinner at your resort that night and get an early start the next day.