Hiya Deborah!
Thank you so much for stopping by! You ask a great question! Despite all our best planning, sometimes we do run late, and that can just be the worst feeling! First of all, let me tell you---you aren't the first one! It happens all the time! I hate running late, so I always, always try to pack an extra cushion of time in (just in case) we are running late. Keep in mind, with all dining reservations, it is
recommended that you arrive 15-20 minutes prior to your reservation time. That's where I start. I always start with
that arrival time as my goal. I really think that's helpful for my time management.
Now, back to your original question, "What happens if we are late?" If you are late, check-in with the host or hostess. Let them know your original reservation time and that you are running late. Most of the time, you will be put back in the queue of parties waiting for a table by your arrival time, not by your original reservation time. This really depends on how late you are running. You'll wait and eventually be seated.
If you
miss a reservation completely, you'll need to make sure and read the policies for each location to see if they required a credit card guarantee. If you missed that reservation completely rather than canceling within the policies stated time-frame, your credit card will be charged the per person fee. You can check the reservation policies and other information on the
Disney Dining Reservations page.
Have a magical vacation and thank you so much for stopping by!
Amanda