When did "20 minutes before" become the arrival time for ADRs?

[lurkyloo]

So I guess we will continue showing up 10-15 minutes early like we always do. Like many of you, our experience has been that we are seated fairly quickly - it's just those times when you get there way early and are seated waaaaaay late that are

 

[Sleeping Becca]

After many trips rushing around to make sure we were "early" for reservations, we have become much more relaxed. We get there anywhere from 10min early or 10min late and have never had a problem or had to wait a really long time to be seated.

 

[i_heart_the_mouse]

Hmmmm....

I wonder why my itinerary from the Poly CL IPO states to arrive 5 minutes before my ADR time if the policy is 20?

If I had not read this thread, I guess I'd be placed behind many others who have been given different instructions. That doesn't seem right to me being that I'm paying extra for the planning service and all.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

OK, I feel really dumb, but I just noticed on my ADR confirmation email that it says we should arrive 20 minutes before our ADR time. That's so far in advance, it makes me wonder if I should change our ADR times slightly so we don't have to show up until we were planning on showing up.

Is this just because we are going during Free Dining, or has it permanently switched from 15 minutes or 10 minutes or whatever it used to be? (I get confused because at Disneyland you only have to check in 10 minutes ahead.)

I noticed the switch to "arrive 20 minutes prior" on ADRs that I made at wdw.com, however, the ADRs made by the Polynesian Itinerary Planning Office said "arrive 5 minutes prior" . This was for our most recent trip, Sept 24th - Oct 3rd. We arrived anywhere from 15 mins before to 15 mins after and only had to wait ONCE (and that had to do with a specific screw up by the California Grill staff )

I wouldn't worry about it and would show up when you typically would. Have a great trip

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Hmmmm....

I wonder why my itinerary from the Poly CL IPO states to arrive 5 minutes before my ADR time if the policy is 20?

If I had not read this thread, I guess I'd be placed behind many others who have been given different instructions. That doesn't seem right to me being that I'm paying extra for the planning service and all.

I had the same instructions on my ADRs from the Poly IPO and never had an issue (well there was 1, but as I said in my previous post that was a specific screw up by the California Grill staff).

Arrive when you typically would and enjoy your vacation

 

[DonaldTDuck]

The best way to avoid the stress of waiting too long is make ADRs for places like PTC that have a bar. We once had a 3 beer wait there and were happy as larks(or bananas) when we were seated

 

[SarRoc1020]

Hmmmm....

I wonder why my itinerary from the Poly CL IPO states to arrive 5 minutes before my ADR time if the policy is 20?

If I had not read this thread, I guess I'd be placed behind many others who have been given different instructions. That doesn't seem right to me being that I'm paying extra for the planning service and all.

Our itinerary from AKL IPO also states 5 minutes prior.