What happens if you arrive really early for an ADR

[Plutofan1]

If you are really, really hungry and your ADR isn't for another hour, can you arrive, lets say an hour and a half earlier than your ADR, and still get a table within a half hour?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

That depends entirely on how many people are waiting and your party size. Last time I was in that situation, the restaurant was almost empty, (It was 4:30) so of course we were seated.

You'll most likely be put into the queue with the others waiting for a table. I don't think you would be seated before any walkups who were there before you.

Your best bet if you're ever in that situation is to walk over, assess the situation and if you can tell it's very crowded, grab a small snack to tide you over before your ADR time.

 

[MickeyNicki]

There have been many times that DH and I get hungry before the ADR and we give it a shot....most times we luck out and get in, at CP, at Beirgarten, at Teppenyaki but we tried that at H&V and we were not seated until 1 hour after our ADR and the 50's Prime Time we had to wait too.

 

[Brianne]

It's hit or miss, really. We attempted to get seated 1/2 hour early for Rose & Crown one night yet didn't actually get seated until 1/2 hour after our ADR time. However, a few nights later we arrived at 'Ohana 2 hours early (don't ask--it wasn't my decision!) & were seated maybe 15-20 min later? It was really quick--we were finished with our meal by the time our ADR time rolled around, which was weird. All in all though, I personally try to stick to the ADR time since that is when they expect me to be there.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Just depends. We did this at Brown Derby practically in the middle of the afternoon - we ended up waiting a full 1.5 hours, we got there an hour early and were seated 30 minutes after our reservation time.

At Alfredos on the same trip, we were seated immediately.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If it is the Magic Kingdom they will escort you to FantasyLand and have you ride It's a Small World until your ADR time. If Epcot, they will take you to Mexico to ride El Rio del Tiempo until your ADR time. I don't know about MGM or the resorts.

 

[ShannonN]

We arrived about an hour early at CM and was seated about 10 minutes later at the most.

 

[MinMouse]

From posts it seems like it's the luck of the draw. We arrived about 40 minutes early for breakfast at CM. We had given ourselves a little over an our to get their from BWV and had the fastest bus to MK and then monorail to the Contemporary. We checked in mentioning that we knew we were early. We were not seated until our designated time. Maybe it was just a busy morning but as folks came in after us they were seated --- I'm assuming because their ADR was earlier than mine. So we just watched the activities and waited for our meal. We haven't made it to any that early since though! Sounds like if you are willing to take a chance go ahead and try it!

 

[taximomfor4]

When we tried to go early to our ADR at Sci-Fi, we were about 1 hr ahead of our ADR. They sat ADR's who arrived after us (same party size) before us, if their ADR times were before ours. They told us they were going to do that, though. They explained that if another party our size ran a bit late for their ADR, we might get sat there but since their ADRs were all assigned, they didn't have much flexibility to bump us ahead on the list.

I was not too surprised, it was pretty much like many dr's offices...they'll take you a little early if the current appointment time's party is not yet there.

From the other replies on this thread so far, sounds like it depends. I would not plan on it, especially since ADRs are so booked up now. Like, if your ADR is for 7:15 and you get there at 6pm, and the 6:10 party gets there at 6:01, they SHOULD be seated before you if the table size is appropriate.

 

[Kycha]

We were able to do this last September at CRT. It was our arrival day and we had been awake since 4:30am. There was no way I would make it to our 7pm ADR. So, we arrived a little before 6pm and they were able to seat us in about 10 minutes later at a window table overlooking Fantasyland. It was the highlight of our trip.

Now, a few nights later we stopped at Crystal Palace to see if we could snag an earlier seating. They absolutely refused. Told us to come back at our ADR time. We ended up waiting a half hour past our original ADR time. I was starving.

 

[PolyAddict]

If it is the Magic Kingdom they will escort you to FantasyLand and have you ride It's a Small World until your ADR time. If Epcot, they will take you to Mexico to ride El Rio del Tiempo until your ADR time. I don't know about MGM or the resorts.

We arrived an hour early for an 8:30PM (only time I could get) ADR for 1900 Park Fare, we were VERY hungry. I think we were seated about 20 minutes before our ADR.

 

[Deb loves Disney]

I agree with everyone else...It depends on a lot of factors, first and formost is how busy they are and the size of your party.

I have had luck several times getting in early to ADR's. One was on Thanksgiving at Boma....I actually had to tell them I didn't want to eat as early as they were going to seat us, we had just eaten a snack and I wanted us to get our monies worth (we were not dissapointed with this meal, it was great).
We also got in early to a birthday dinner at CP. However, because we were early it didn't feel as special. There was no mickey confetti on the table, and I almost felt like the waitress was hiding the fact that it was my twins birthday. I wasn't real happy with this but the food was excellent.

For the most part I try to get to my ADR's a little early and check in just so that we can get in pretty much on time and not way later.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Plutofan1]

Thanks everyone. I was just curious and i think we might try it a few times.

 

[Luv2Roam]

We were even less than a half hour early at the GF afternoon tea and they shooed us away until ADR time.
At Sci Fi we were 45 minutes early, and were seated close to our ADR time.
Sometimes it matters. Sometimes it doesn't. What I have been told is they will take first those who are there for their appointed ADR time.
You probably will be seated before your ADR time. But not a guarantee. I think it also depends greatly on the number in your party.

 

[Jomrog]

Depends on how busy they are. We had an 11:30 ADR at the Plaza Rest. and arrived at 11am right at opening, they seated us right away. We had a 1:30pm ADR at RFC in AK and tried to check-in and 1pm but they were so busy, we had to come back at 1:15pm so I assume the earliest you can check-in is 15 min. prior to your ADR if they are busy.