Preferred solution for (sometimes) long waits at ADR restaurants

[bakerworld]

Have to say we don't reserve any longer - except for LeCellar altho that's more of a game and we don't cancel when we get it - or we haven't so far.... We just keep walking to the next place and if we have to wait - we do it at the bar .

Not sure how this would work for people who need to keep to scheduled eating times or children.

[AZeno]

For the most part, we try to make a meal at any of the Disney signature restaurants an event all it's on. As a result, we're not usually in a hurry to dine and move on to the next activity. If there is a wait for our table we'll find a nice comforatble spot in the lounge (most of the signatures have one), and sit back, enjoy a cocktail and unwind. Having a good table and server is more important to me, and we have in the past, passed on an available table to get a good table or server that we remember from before.

Now that only holds true for the signature dining spots, if it's more of a general meal like Crystal Palace, O'Hana's, or any other of the countless buffets, we'll do a walk up, and if the wait is too long we move along to something else.




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[OttawaMum]

We have routinely waited more than 15 min after our ADR time. This recent trip was the first time we waited LESS than 45 min for Crystal Palace -- sometimes I wonder why we've kept going back, but, we bring new people and think they will enjoy it.

One thing I noticed during our recent trip was that they need a better way to determine whether a party would like to take their time or get out quickly and then they need to be able to implement it. Even asking, "are you looking for a quick or a leisurely meal" when they take your order would be helpful.

We booked lunches and we were travelling with a 6 month old and most of out meals took 2-2.5 hours even though we ate quickly. We would have been happy to leave faster to improve wait times, but, that didn't seem to be an option.

[Pumpkinboy]

Just to , we all know that the root cause of this is the Dining Plan . In fact, there is talk that the DDP might just be the root of all evil too, supplanting the love of money, but I dunno if I'd go that far.

[brp]

Originally Posted by Pumpkinboy

Just to , we all know that the root cause of this is the Dining Plan . In fact, there is talk that the DDP might just be the root of all evil too, supplanting the love of money, but I dunno if I'd go that far.

I'm sure there is some alphabet out there (maybe Klingon?) where the position numbers for the letters DDP = 666. Coincidence? I think not.

Cheers.

[handa]

DW swears by the 180-day rule and we're OK with DDP. Both work for us, so I have no desire to see either go.

However, fewer ADRs would be good by me. It might also spread out some of the ressies to the less-popular TS locations.

Most of our waits have been bearable (within 15 minutes and even when a few minutes over there was some kind of diversion) with the exception of O'Hana breakfast during Florida Spring Break Week. CP used to be much worse than it is now. I was very pleased to have not had to wait uber-long on DW's Birthday trip.

Cali Grill has seated us early twice. Marrakesh has done the same, and I swear that Rose and Crown always gets to us earlier than expected either with or without an ADR.

Le Cellier has ALWAYS been honest aboot wait time for walk-ups and our ADRs have never been delayed very long there either.

Chris

[playtime123]

We just returned from a week at AKL and had daily ADR's. We had to wait for all of them - anywhere from 10 minutes to 40 minutes at California Grill. We were not on the dining plan, so that was not a factor.

Disney is the master of queue management so I know they can do much better IF they want to. When you are spending $100+ per person at a signature restaurant, you are paying for a dining experience, and that really should begin with properly managing the reservation.

So, since it just is what it is, we'll just pick a favorite restaurant or two for future trips and factor in the wait There are actually quite a lot of decent restaurants a few minutes away from AKL and the money saved will pay for the rental car

Stacie Oehlerich

[JSDS]

Originally Posted by playtime123

So, since it just is what it is, we'll just pick a favorite restaurant or two for future trips and factor in the wait There are actually quite a lot of decent restaurants a few minutes away from AKL and the money saved will pay for the rental car

Stacie Oehlerich

We have our favorite on-site restaurants that are on the go-to list and I've been developing a list of off-site restaurants to augment and round-out our dining experiences (in other words, places to eat when we need a break from the fairy dust). I need to re-arrange it and have it based on distance from AKL (20 days away).

[handa]

Originally Posted by JSDS

We have our favorite on-site restaurants that are on the go-to list and I've been developing a list of off-site restaurants to augment and round-out our dining experiences (in other words, places to eat when we need a break from the fairy dust). I need to re-arrange it and have it based on distance from AKL (20 days away).

Is that 20 days on foot, by car, or other mode of transportation?

[JSDS]

Originally Posted by handa

Is that 20 days on foot, by car, or other mode of transportation?

20-days away, via matter-re-arranger (just like on Star Trek). I live in the Virginia Galaxy; it's like no other world. In fact, to get relief from Virginia, I travel all the way to WDW

20-days and we'll pack up the car, just the Beverly Hill Billy's did and head onto the great and wondrous I-95. Google Maps says that it's 13 hours away. I'm trying for 11

The point of contention I'm dealing with is _when_ in the morning will we leave. We're notorious for leaving two-hours later than planned. I think we can be in the car and on-the-road at 4:30 am. I'll find out in less than three weeks.