Understanding reservations!

subvetss · 06-13-2009

It is well for newer visitors to WDW to understand about your dinner reservations. It's kind of like an appointment with a Dr. and wind up reading boring magazines for close to an hour. You may have a reservation at 7PM and find yourself waiting for as much as an hour to be seated. The food is almost always worth the wait but don't show up starving. ( Maybe bring something to read?)
Joe

rlcarmichael · 06-13-2009

It's a strange sort of system. It's more of get your name on the waiting list ahead of time thing. With any luck...

Of course, they can't predict how long the group before you will take get finish and get out.

tnmom · 06-13-2009

You never know, though. I don't think we waited anywhere for more than 5 minutes on our recent trip. That included dining at O'Hanas, Whispering Canyon, Le Cellier, Biergarten, and Boma. It was longer at CRT, but most of the line was for photos. Have fun!!!

**WishUponAStar** · 06-13-2009

I have to be honest, in ALL my trips & over all my years in WDW the longest I ever had to wait with an ADR was about 35 minutes during 'prime time' at O'hana. Le Cellier came in a close 2nd one day and that was about 30. In my experience I'd say our AVERAGE wait time when we have an ADR is only between 7-12 minutes.

tinkfans · 06-13-2009

we didnt have to wait too long anywhere but when we were leaving chef mickeys, there was some sort of breakdown in the reservation system & people were waiting 2+ hrs...they werent too happy!!

**cinderbella** · 06-13-2009

If you have a reservation you won't have to wait terribly long. The longest wait we had with an ADR was at Boma. It was rib night about 7:30 so the place was packed. All told we waited about twenty minutes before our table was ready.

lovemysons · 06-13-2009

I also think the time of your adr has a lot to do with your wait. If you have an adr at peak times, then expect a longer wait. We have had particularly long waits at Rose & Crown (over an hour), Le Cellier (55 mins), both of those times were when we had a Candlelight processional package. Crystal Palace always looks like you are going to wait forever, but they get you in pretty close to your adr time. We waited almost an hour at Mama Melrose, once, but we never did figure out why, I think they had some kind of computer glitch or something.

NokeyNose · 06-13-2009

Last year at Ohana's we waited over an hour, it was pretty frustrating. Not to mention it took about 25 minutes to even give our name. The kids were starving by the time we were actually seated. The only other restaurant we usually have a wait at is Le Cellier. Sometimes quite a while. I never show up (so far) to a restaurant that I don't have an ADR for so I agree, it is crazy, but oh well! At least at both of our long wait locations, the food has been worth it!!

Mickeybug · 06-13-2009

Maybe sometimes it also has to do with the size of your party. Usually a table of 2 or 4 will most definitely get sat before a table of 8 or more, esp if it's at prime eating times. That's standard at most any restaurant anywhere.
But hey, it's food and we all gotta eat

subvetss · 06-15-2009

About 3 or 4 years ago we stopped making reservations and just showed up at a rest. .Most of the time we were seated as soon as we would have been with reservations. If not we just go somewhere else to eat. Going to Disney 4 times a year eating at a particular dining place is not that important to us.
We were there in May and because of the rain we didn't get to a couple of eating places we had planed to eat at. No big deal! we will be there in Sept. and go to those places. We're to old to sweat the little things. Beside, spontaneity is part of our excitement while at WDW.
Joe

**DisneyTeacher** · 06-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

I have to be honest, in ALL my trips & over all my years in WDW the longest I ever had to wait with an ADR was about 35 minutes during 'prime time' at O'hana. Le Cellier came in a close 2nd one day and that was about 30. In my experience I'd say our AVERAGE wait time when we have an ADR is only between 7-12 minutes.

Same with us. We've had a few waits over the years but I would say 9 out of 10 times we're seated in less than 15 minutes no matter how early we arrive. We've had a few waits but we usually take 7-13 day trips and eat one sit down meal a day and rarely wait to be seated. In fact, there are some evenings when we would like to relax with a drink and we're seated so fast we can't do that.

jo-jo · 06-15-2009

One night at Boma we waited and waited and waited. We finally went to ask and they said the beeper wasn't activated or something. They said they had called us but we were sitting about 30 ft from the podium, couldn't have called all that loud. So we asked how long and was told "sorry, you have just to wait until the next table". I was a bit annoyed. I talked to the manager and basically was saying this should not happen. So we get seated after 5 or 10 min. Food is good, everything is fine. We stuff ourselves silly and just when we are about ready to burst, a chef comes by with a dessert. He just drops it off with a smile and a nod. We are thinking "do they have the right table?" , maybe it was somebodies birthday and we got it by mistake. So we are sitting there feeling guilty and the manager comes by. He set it up. We thanked him, we didn't know what it was, but we thanked him. They were deep fried oreo's . So we talked for a bit, and took the whole thing home (BCV). I remember getting on the bus and the driver says "here's my favorite passenger, she brought me a doggie bag".

So from that point on if we see a number of people who arrive after us but are getting seated we double check the beeper.

**Dana** · 06-15-2009

I have never waited that long to eat when I had an ADR...never. I always arrive 15minutes prior to my time as suggested and am seated with in the half hour. I am sorry that has been you experience...it's the the normal one.

**ddoll** · 06-15-2009

I think they're system is not perfect, but it's pretty darn good. I too have had occasional long waits, but nowhere near as long as I have had at popular restaurants at home. It's the nature of the business.

beatman23 · 06-16-2009

We have never waited more than a few minutes. I don't think you can count CRT as you have to wait for pictures and such. Last time we went to LeCellier, we were seated right away. I guess it could have something to do with the size of the party AND the time of the ADR (we always go around 5:00)

06-13-2009	#1 (permalink)
subvetss Mouseketeer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ft. Pierce, Florida Posts: 92	Understanding reservations! It is well for newer visitors to WDW to understand about your dinner reservations. It's kind of like an appointment with a Dr. and wind up reading boring magazines for close to an hour. You may have a reservation at 7PM and find yourself waiting for as much as an hour to be seated. The food is almost always worth the wait but don't show up starving. ( Maybe bring something to read?) Joe

06-13-2009	#2 (permalink)
rlcarmichael Too many DVC points? NST Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chesapeake VA Posts: 1,996	Re: Understanding reservations! It's a strange sort of system. It's more of get your name on the waiting list ahead of time thing. With any luck... Of course, they can't predict how long the group before you will take get finish and get out. __________________ Richard Carmichael, Chesapeake VA DVC Member BLT, VGC & SSR 2009 SSR(x2), AKV, BWV, BLT(x2), VB, DCL Magic; 2008-SSR, WLV, OKW YC; 2007-YC, GF: DCL Wonder; 2006-SSR, SoG, Poly; 2005- Poly (x2), Orange Lake; 1999-Courtyard LB; Disney Inn (RIP - now SoG) '90, '88, '86 Make-A-Wish Volunteer www.wish.org My Wish - no Wish Kids to send to see THE* Mouse.* 2nd Fav Org - Give Kids The World Village www.gktw.org My Disney Countdown Counting down to: BLT Mk Christmas Trip 17 days 13 hours 33 minutes

06-13-2009	#3 (permalink)
tnmom Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Land of Sweet Tea Posts: 191	Re: Understanding reservations! You never know, though. I don't think we waited anywhere for more than 5 minutes on our recent trip. That included dining at O'Hanas, Whispering Canyon, Le Cellier, Biergarten, and Boma. It was longer at CRT, but most of the line was for photos. Have fun!!! __________________ 1976: Fort Wilderness Campground 1993: Offsite 1999: Offsite 2003: Disneyland's Grand Californian 2004: Animal Kingdom Lodge 2007: Port Orleans Riverside 2009: Polynesian

06-13-2009	#4 (permalink)
WishUponAStar Waiting for BLT! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: I'm right here! HI! Posts: 12,746	Re: Understanding reservations! I have to be honest, in ALL my trips & over all my years in WDW the longest I ever had to wait with an ADR was about 35 minutes during 'prime time' at O'hana. Le Cellier came in a close 2nd one day and that was about 30. In my experience I'd say our AVERAGE wait time when we have an ADR is only between 7-12 minutes. __________________ Disneyland & College Program Moderator Upcoming Trips Dec. 16th - 20th '09: Bay Lake Tower June 2010: Alaska Cruise Oct 2010: Spooky Halloween in Disneyland "Life without a vacation countdown is like a cupcake with no frosting." Banner by Mickeysgirlz, she's a rockstar! My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Our first Bay Lake Tower stay 22 days 18 hours 48 minutes

06-13-2009	#5 (permalink)
tinkfans Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangor, PA Posts: 406	Re: Understanding reservations! we didnt have to wait too long anywhere but when we were leaving chef mickeys, there was some sort of breakdown in the reservation system & people were waiting 2+ hrs...they werent too happy!! __________________ ~K~ ~off site '76~ ~off site with highschool '92~ ~off site for honeymoon '99 ~9/08 Pop Century~had a magical time!!! ~03/18/09-03/25/09~Movies for our 10yr anniversary

		MouseBuzz.com > Walt Disney World > WDW Restaurants
Understanding reservations!

06-13-2009	#6 (permalink)
cinderbella Crackhead Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: south carolina Posts: 7,226	Re: Understanding reservations! If you have a reservation you won't have to wait terribly long. The longest wait we had with an ADR was at Boma. It was rib night about 7:30 so the place was packed. All told we waited about twenty minutes before our table was ready. __________________ WDW Restaurants and Resorts Moderator Bella I Deltaco. My Disney Countdown Counting down to: A baby is coming!!!! The baby is here..or at least it should be soon.

06-13-2009	#7 (permalink)
lovemysons Less than 30 to go! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: In my house Posts: 7,712	Re: Understanding reservations! I also think the time of your adr has a lot to do with your wait. If you have an adr at peak times, then expect a longer wait. We have had particularly long waits at Rose & Crown (over an hour), Le Cellier (55 mins), both of those times were when we had a Candlelight processional package. Crystal Palace always looks like you are going to wait forever, but they get you in pretty close to your adr time. We waited almost an hour at Mama Melrose, once, but we never did figure out why, I think they had some kind of computer glitch or something. __________________ Dopey is the boss of us. Missing the madness. Peppy is still my partner in crime. Is that you, Pu? Fabulous avatar, courtesy of the fabulous Mr. R2Go! ´¨) x¸.•´ ¸.•´¨)xxxx¸.•¨) (¸.•´xxxxxx(¸.•`xxx´¨)Make just one person happy. ´¨) My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Holidays full of magic 9 days 6 hours 18 minutes

06-13-2009	#8 (permalink)
NokeyNose Mouse Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,535	Re: Understanding reservations! Last year at Ohana's we waited over an hour, it was pretty frustrating. Not to mention it took about 25 minutes to even give our name. The kids were starving by the time we were actually seated. The only other restaurant we usually have a wait at is Le Cellier. Sometimes quite a while. I never show up (so far) to a restaurant that I don't have an ADR for so I agree, it is crazy, but oh well! At least at both of our long wait locations, the food has been worth it!! __________________ Shannon 1988~Off Property 1999~Off Property 2000~Dixie Landings 2006~OKW (1st DVC Trip) 2007~BWV 2008~SSR 2009~BWV My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Hoping for a Bay Lake Stay 319 days 9 hours 48 minutes

06-13-2009	#9 (permalink)
Mickeybug Big Cheese Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bossier, LA Posts: 502	Re: Understanding reservations! Maybe sometimes it also has to do with the size of your party. Usually a table of 2 or 4 will most definitely get sat before a table of 8 or more, esp if it's at prime eating times. That's standard at most any restaurant anywhere. But hey, it's food and we all gotta eat

06-15-2009	#10 (permalink)
subvetss Mouseketeer Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ft. Pierce, Florida Posts: 92	Re: Understanding reservations! About 3 or 4 years ago we stopped making reservations and just showed up at a rest. .Most of the time we were seated as soon as we would have been with reservations. If not we just go somewhere else to eat. Going to Disney 4 times a year eating at a particular dining place is not that important to us. We were there in May and because of the rain we didn't get to a couple of eating places we had planed to eat at. No big deal! we will be there in Sept. and go to those places. We're to old to sweat the little things. Beside, spontaneity is part of our excitement while at WDW. Joe

06-15-2009	#12 (permalink)
jo-jo Mouse Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,225	Re: Understanding reservations! One night at Boma we waited and waited and waited. We finally went to ask and they said the beeper wasn't activated or something. They said they had called us but we were sitting about 30 ft from the podium, couldn't have called all that loud. So we asked how long and was told "sorry, you have just to wait until the next table". I was a bit annoyed. I talked to the manager and basically was saying this should not happen. So we get seated after 5 or 10 min. Food is good, everything is fine. We stuff ourselves silly and just when we are about ready to burst, a chef comes by with a dessert. He just drops it off with a smile and a nod. We are thinking "do they have the right table?" , maybe it was somebodies birthday and we got it by mistake. So we are sitting there feeling guilty and the manager comes by. He set it up. We thanked him, we didn't know what it was, but we thanked him. They were deep fried oreo's . So we talked for a bit, and took the whole thing home (BCV). I remember getting on the bus and the driver says "here's my favorite passenger, she brought me a doggie bag". So from that point on if we see a number of people who arrive after us but are getting seated we double check the beeper.

06-15-2009	#13 (permalink)
Dana Super Mod/Packen' Kracken Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Joisey Posts: 23,782	Re: Understanding reservations! I have never waited that long to eat when I had an ADR...never. I always arrive 15minutes prior to my time as suggested and am seated with in the half hour. I am sorry that has been you experience...it's the the normal one. __________________ ~82 off-site~91 off-site~97 ASMusic~ ~00 ASMovies~02 Wilderness Lodge~04 Animal Kingdom Lodge~ ~05 Animal Kingdom Lodge & Polynesian~ ~05 Port Orleans French Quarter~06 Old Key West~ ~07 Port Orleans French Quarter~08 Old Key West~ ~09 Saratoga Springs~10 Port Orleans Fench Quarter~ My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 10 day do all or die trying trip. 271 days 18 hours 48 minutes

06-15-2009	#14 (permalink)
ddoll Singing In My Head Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: RI Posts: 5,257	Re: Understanding reservations! I think they're system is not perfect, but it's pretty darn good. I too have had occasional long waits, but nowhere near as long as I have had at popular restaurants at home. It's the nature of the business. __________________ Moderator of DVC, Disney Company • 3/96 Offsite • 9/98 Villa • 10/98 Dixie Landings • 8/00 Villa • 6/01 Disneyland, CA • 5/02 Villa • 6/03 Villa • 11/03 Wilderness Lodge • 8/04 PopCentury, Swan & Royal Pacific • 12/04 Swan • 8/05 Swan & Hard Rock Hotel • 11/05 Swan • 1/06 Swan • 9/06 Disneyland, CA• 12/06 Swan & HRH • 1/07 Swan • 10/07 Hard Rock Hotel • 12/07 Hard Rock & Swan • 1/08 Boardwalk• 10/08 Villa• 1/09 Swan • 8/09 Condo • 1/10 Swan & PBR My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Viva Las Vegas! 17 days 1 hours 48 minutes

06-16-2009	#15 (permalink)
beatman23 Mouseketeer Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disney in my mind Posts: 58	Re: Understanding reservations! We have never waited more than a few minutes. I don't think you can count CRT as you have to wait for pictures and such. Last time we went to LeCellier, we were seated right away. I guess it could have something to do with the size of the party AND the time of the ADR (we always go around 5:00)

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