What Is The Cutoff If You Arrive For Your ADR Late?

[3princesshome]

Just feeling nervous about planning so many things in advance and making sure I've booked ADRs and Fastpasses with enough time to manage it all and be in the right place at the right time. We will be there during the week between XMas and New Years, I'm expecting that everything (travel time to parks, travel time within parks, time in standby line, and even, time in Fastpass lines) will take longer than expected. We will, of course, plan accordingly for travel time, time in lines, etc - but just wondering how strict the restaurants are if you don't arrive right on time for your ADR. I'm especially concerned about Crystal Palace on our MK day and Le Cellier on our Epcot day. So, for example, do the restaurants have some sort of cut off like if you're 15 minutes or less within your reservation time, they will still accept you? Do they ever turn you away if you're too late?

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Within 5, maybe even 10, they will always seat you.

After that, it’s up to the resetaurant’s discretion. They may seat you, they may not. If they seat you, it may be the normal wait, or they may have you wait a long time to get you into the rotation.

Basically, they will try to accommodate you. It will depend on how busy the restaurant is.

 

[Hopefully]

There is no official grace period. 15 minutes is usually ok. But if they are busy, as they definitely will be that week, they may turn you away and charge the $10/person feeifyou are at all late. It is up to the individual restaurant. No one here can say what will happen, only what has happened to them in the past.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

As others said, there is no formal cutoff time and that’s a really busy week. But based on your post, I wouldn’t worry too much. That’s not to say you don’t need to plan and take crowds into account and allow time for some “cushion” ... you definitely do ... but sounds like you’re already planning accordingly. In the case of some “catastrophic” issue beyond your control like monorails down or bus issue, I’d just explain it. Given crowds, they may or may not be able to accommodate you but can waive the fee. If for some reason the restaurant wasn’t sympathetic, I’d take the issue up at your resort concierge and explain the circumstances, effort you made to arrive on time etc. Have fun!!


For what it’s worth, if pressed for time, a taxi or ride share to Contemporary or Beach Club would let you walk into the MK or Epcot and get to CP or Le Cellier more quickly if you were in a crunch.

 

[goofy4prez]

Like others have said, there is no formal policy on being late for an ADR other than your late you run the risk of being turned away. Back in 2010 we were 15 minutes late at Ohana and was turned away. Another time (2016) we were stuck on a broken down monorail and was late over an hour for our ADR at Narcoossee's and they told us at the check in desk they were aware of the monorail problems and if there were any guests late because of it were accommodated.

 

[POTCfan]

I was on Disney's Magical Express one time and was cutting it really close. I called the reservation line, and they told me that I would be fine up to 15 minutes late (and they also told me you could check in up to 15 minutes early). I do know it is completely specific to the restaurant though. If the restaurant you are going to is running behind on reservations, they will be less likely to accommodate you if you are late.

 

[RealBlast3]

I've been pretty late, as in more than 20 minutes ,maybe even an hour a couple of times, at two eateries that I can remember, but they were both resort restaurants, in my case it was the less busy one at each resort - Kona Cafe at Poly, and Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and both accommodated me pretty quickly and didn't mind though both were probably half full or less.

I was so late at Kona that my reservation went from breakfast to lunch LOL. But they didn't mind, that place is never too busy.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ADR Times and Tardiness "411":
1) WDW advises you to be at the ADR 15-minutes early.
2) You are expected to meet your ADR time, just like any other appt.
3) Being on-time is your responsibility, not that of WDW.
4) If late, they *can* cancel the ADR.
5) Under normal conditions, they usually allow up to a 15-minute lateness, but this is kindness, not a Grace Period.
6) If really busy, (eg, Free Dining, Holidays), there might be no late/tardy arrivals allowed.
7) If you miss the ADR, you *might* have the ability to wait for a table.
8) For waiting times, there is no estimate, waits of 1-1½ hrs are common.
. . . if the eatery is not too busy, wait times could be minimal
. . . just depends upon the individual day-time-etc
9) They also have the option of canceling and just sending you away.
10) These options are at the discretion of the SEATER on duty at the podium.
11) Plus, it is up the eatery manager to decide if you get charged the $10/person no-show fee.

NOTE:
If it is near the end of the ressie meal period or the end of park hours, do not expect ANY leniency in being late.
You are expected to make your ressie time, with zero excuses. Cortesy is courtesy.
Plan to make your ressie or ADR times.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

This is a mad crazy time to be at Disney. Don't be late.