Found a way to help get the times you want on ADRs

[jjarman]

A coworker said a CM told him this. His last trip they were trying to get CRT. He called every day faithfully and there never was a table for 4 I think is what they needed. Finally he must have been getting the same CM because she asked for is number. She called him back from her cell and said ask for a table for 5. He called back, asked for a table for 5 and got it. I did the same thing on 2 of my reservations this morning. I needed a table for 6, 4 adults and 2 children. 2 different ones I could not get the times I wanted so I changed it to 5 adults and 2 children. Voila! Got the times I wanted. I may now go back and amend the number of guests (not sure if I can) or just wait and when we get there just say someone decided not to come.

[rcraw45425]

A coworker said a CM told him this. His last trip they were trying to get CRT. He called every day faithfully and there never was a table for 4 I think is what they needed. Finally he must have been getting the same CM because she asked for is number. She called him back from her cell and said ask for a table for 5. He called back, asked for a table for 5 and got it. I did the same thing on 2 of my reservations this morning. I needed a table for 6, 4 adults and 2 children. 2 different ones I could not get the times I wanted so I changed it to 5 adults and 2 children. Voila! Got the times I wanted. I may now go back and amend the number of guests (not sure if I can) or just wait and when we get there just say someone decided not to come.

Just rememebr CRT charges up front so your CC will be charged immediately for that extra person

[jb01]

Nice idea as long as they allow you to cancel 1 of the adults without a penalty.

[gilsan]

Add an infant as your extra guests. Infants are not charged but they need a seat.

[RMulieri]

Doesn't work out as well for places that charge a credit card pp to secure it.You get charged for that extra person and need to cancel that person 24 hrs before in order to avoid a charge, and sometimes they will tell you you can't do that and keep your ressie

[jjarman]

Doesn't work out as well for places that charge a credit card pp to secure it.You get charged for that extra person and need to cancel that person 24 hrs before in order to avoid a charge, and sometimes they will tell you you can't do that and keep your ressie

Fortunately none of our ADRs require credit cards. But what I don't understand is why if you are a party of 6 why it makes a difference if you are a party of 7.

[princesslover]

Wow, I just did this and it worked. We're a party of 4, and I tried party of 5 and 6, didn't work. I tried a party of 7, with 3 infants and 2 adults and got close to what I wanted.

Now what should I do to amend? Should I call Disney? Can I make the amendment online?

I feel like I cheated the system and I want to make it 'right -- But thrilled that I got what I wanted!

Thanks!

[brios86]

Wow, I just did this and it worked. We're a party of 4, and I tried party of 5 and 6, didn't work. I tried a party of 7, with 3 infants and 2 adults and got close to what I wanted.

Now what should I do to amend? Should I call Disney? Can I make the amendment online?

I feel like I cheated the system and I want to make it 'right -- But thrilled that I got what I wanted!

Thanks!

You can't change the ADR. If you booked 1 extra person and want to take them off you basically need to hope a ADR for the number of people that you actually need is available and cancel the first one. It defeats the purpose of adding the extra person so you might as well just keep what you have.

[Carmell226]

This morning I could get no times I wanted for 2 adults and 1 Infant BUT I tried for 2 adults and 1 infant and 1 child and got EVERYTHING I wanted. I think it must be because 2 Adults 1 Infant would be seated at a 2 top table and 2 adults 2 children would be a 4 top. All I know is I am glad I tried to change my party size cause I would have been so upset otherwise!
We will just tell them when we get to the restaurant the other person in our party cancelled.
We did not have any "credit card" reservations though, so I can see where that might cause an issue.

[beroh2253]

This is funny, about 2 months ago I wanted an ADR for 3 people at Ohana for dinner, it didn't work so I tried 5 and it worked so I booked it. But my SIL and BIL live in Daytona and love Ohana so we called them and they are coming over with us, they always do join us for 3 or 4 meals during our trips to Disney. But 5 does seem to work and I don't feel guilty doing it thise way by filling all the seats I booked. I would just let then know when you check in to the restaurant that there will be 2 less beople in tour party, nmaybe they can pull the tables apart and take 2 people as a walkup. I will be at Ohanna next week plus 6 other TS meals. :cool1::hippie:

[bangzoom6877]

I guess it's okay to do that, as long as you do cancel that extra person in a sufficient amount of time before your ADR date, and don't just show up with one less person in your party. Remember, if you make a reservation for 7 instead of 6, that will take up a larger table and a true party of 7 or 8 may have missed out on the ADR they wanted because of it. Just a thought.

[princesslover]

I guess it's okay to do that, as long as you do cancel that extra person in a sufficient amount of time before your ADR date, and don't just show up with one less person in your party. Remember, if you make a reservation for 7 instead of 6, that will take up a larger table and a true party of 7 or 8 may have missed out on the ADR they wanted because of it. Just a thought.

Oh, I agree. I was hoping I could call and cancel the extra person out, but it sounds like you can't do that?

I'm going to keep trying for the party I need then, and as soon as I get it, I will make a new ADR. I dislike holding a table for people I know aren't going to be there.

Out of curiosity though, does anyone know for sure whether they will charge a credit card guarantee ADR for an infant that isn't there?

[disneyfan2]

we have a coveted late evening CRT dining with my DNiec (2) we booked her with our table of 6 but pretty much know she won't be able to stay awake so she will leave with her dad. Because she isn't charged due to under 3 if the day comes and we go to show up with 5 instead is the $10 cancellation fee for her or is the price higher

[bangzoom6877]

Oh, I agree. I was hoping I could call and cancel the extra person out, but it sounds like you can't do that?

I'm going to keep trying for the party I need then, and as soon as I get it, I will make a new ADR. I dislike holding a table for people I know aren't going to be there.

Out of curiosity though, does anyone know for sure whether they will charge a credit card guarantee ADR for an infant that isn't there?

Remember also not to give up! Sometimes an ADR opens up while you are actually in Disney World! It's always worth a try to keep checking.

I am not sure about whether or not they charge for the infant that is not there. I know that children younger than age 3 are free at buffets and all-you-can-eat meals (including CRT), but not sure if there would be a penalty at a place like CRT where you pay in advance with a credit card, or at other places where there is simply a credit card guarantee to book your ADR.

[My2QTs]

Tried it - it didn't work for us which is fine (I was curious though!! LOL). We are a party of four, and I tried adding one adult and then tried again adding one more kid instead. I'm not going to go overboard and try adding two and three people - that just makes me nervous. These people aren't stupid. My luck, it would backfire and I'd be out of my ressie altogether, and standing there trying to get in as a walk up. What I wonder about is how many of these people who are lying to get ressies, are going to show their tails when something goes wrong on site and their "plan" doesn't work. It's always interesting to see people flipping out about stuff that doesn't go their way, when they were deceitful to begin with and know it. Good luck people....I don't need anything that badly at DW. A fun time can be had in a booth at McDonald's, as long as we're at Disney!!

[macmom3]

Well we are a party of 5, 2 adults and 3 kids, so let's hope I can make all the ressie I want in 2 weeks.

[kabbie]

I was having problems when I put in 1 person (I'm going solo) then changed it to 2 and voila got all of my ADRs! It doesn't make sense at all since 1 person gets a table for 2 regardless, but I've read that it's a glinch in the system.

[i_heart_the_mouse]

We're a party of 3a, 2c as well and I was thinking the same thing. This is really not a fair thing to do IMO.

[princesslover]

I guess I don't think it's fair that a party of 5 can get a dining reservation that a party of 4 can't. That doesn't seem fair either. :confused3

[Tistal]

I had to do exactly this to get CRT. I had to change my party of 2 to a party of 3. I was using the online system. I simply called in at 7 when they opened and had them drop the extra person with no issues.

[jjarman]

So I guess no one in a dining party ever misses a meal with an ADR? I would not do this (add an extra person to get a better time for an ADR) if I thought it was going to cheat someone out of a table. But a table for 7 would still be the same table as a table for 6. Now if it was a party of 2 saying they were a party of 4 to get a table or time they wanted, that I would disagree with. But you can never convince me that Disney would cancel my reservation at the door if I said one in our party decided not to dine with us that night.

[princesslover]

So I guess no one in a dining party ever misses a meal with an ADR? I would not do this (add an extra person to get a better time for an ADR) if I thought it was going to cheat someone out of a table. But a table for 7 would still be the same table as a table for 6. Now if it was a party of 2 saying they were a party of 4 to get a table or time they wanted, that I would disagree with. But you can never convince me that Disney would cancel my reservation at the door if I said one in our party decided not to dine with us that night.

ITA. Also, you have to remember that ADR's don't actually reserve you a table anyway. They are intended, as I understand it, to guarantee you a spot ahead of a walk in around time, but they are not *reallly* dining reservations like you would make at home where they have a table all ready for you. This is why I don't feel all that guilty about it because I don't see it as taking away a table from anyone. It's not like I added 3-4 people to get a table. I just have a couple of infant twins that will be too sleepy to go. ;)

I am going to call tomorrow and ask if I can have mine adjusted. If not, I'm going to keep looking, and then I'll just cancel this one when I find one for a party of 4.

[TillyMarigold]

So I guess no one in a dining party ever misses a meal with an ADR? I would not do this (add an extra person to get a better time for an ADR) if I thought it was going to cheat someone out of a table. But a table for 7 would still be the same table as a table for 6. Now if it was a party of 2 saying they were a party of 4 to get a table or time they wanted, that I would disagree with. But you can never convince me that Disney would cancel my reservation at the door if I said one in our party decided not to dine with us that night.
Um, no. Most tables hold *even* numbers of people. A party of 6 gets seated at a table for 6. A party of 7 gets seated at a table for 8. So it is *not* the same table for 6 or 7 people.

[jjarman]

Um, no. Most tables hold *even* numbers of people. A party of 6 gets seated at a table for 6. A party of 7 gets seated at a table for 8. So it is *not* the same table for 6 or 7 people.

That is not how we did it when I was a waitress. A table for 6 could actually hold 8 if you put people on the ends.

[jennybell]

:) I am so glad to see this thread! I am making my ADRs next week. At this time we have 7 in our party - 4 A, 2 C, and 1 infant. There is a chance that my MIL might be joining our trip - at this point she is not invited because of her behavior on past WDW trips. Anyway, I didn't know whether to make the ADRs for 7 and then possibly try to add 1 person if we decide to be nice and invite her, or make the ADRs for 8 and cancel 1 person if she does not join us.
What do you think I should do?

[princesslover]

Hi everyone,

FYI - I called today and had my ADR adjusted by a CM. I was completely truthful with her, and told her that I added two infants to get a reservation when 4 didn't work. I asked if she could just take two off, or if I should cancel and try again. I told her I wasn't trying to be sneaky or anthing, and that I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.

She chuckled and said "you are sneaky, you found a way to beat the system!" But she had a joking tone to her voice, and she thanked me for being truthful about it. She said she would be happy to take care of that for me. I told her I didn't want to take a table "away" from someone else, and she didn't seem concerned.

So, I feel better that I was honest about it. I don't know if all CM's will do that, I guess maybe I could have just gotten lucky.

Oh, and I went into the online ressie and double checked, and sure enough, it is changed to 4.

[Emagine]

She chuckled and said "you are sneaky, you found a way to beat the system!" But she had a joking tone to her voice, and she thanked me for being truthful about it. She said she would be happy to take care of that for me. I told her I didn't want to take a table "away" from someone else, and she didn't seem concerned.

Sneaky or dishonest... depends on the CM and the person booking. I would thank you too because today so many ppl teach thier kids to play by the rules and not to be dishonest but few live up to it. I have had many issues in my past work history with ppl being dishonest trying to beat the system.

[cruise pup]

I was having problems when I put in 1 person (I'm going solo) then changed it to 2 and voila got all of my ADRs! It doesn't make sense at all since 1 person gets a table for 2 regardless, but I've read that it's a glinch in the system.

Same thing happened to me. All I could get for dinner at Boma was after 9:00pm. I changed my requested from 1 to 2 and voila, 7:30 pm was available. If anyone asks, I'm eating for 2.:lmao:

[jjarman]

:) I am so glad to see this thread! I am making my ADRs next week. At this time we have 7 in our party - 4 A, 2 C, and 1 infant. There is a chance that my MIL might be joining our trip - at this point she is not invited because of her behavior on past WDW trips. Anyway, I didn't know whether to make the ADRs for 7 and then possibly try to add 1 person if we decide to be nice and invite her, or make the ADRs for 8 and cancel 1 person if she does not join us.
What do you think I should do?

I'd make it for 8 and leave it that way. You never know if she will decide to behave. Besides a table for 7 is probably the same table that a table for 8 would have. I would never ask my mother in law to go. But if my brother doesn't behave we may be eating some meals with one less in our party.:laughing:

[Nancyg56]

You can't change the ADR. If you booked 1 extra person and want to take them off you basically need to hope a ADR for the number of people that you actually need is available and cancel the first one. It defeats the purpose of adding the extra person so you might as well just keep what you have.

I made ADR's for my sister when they went last month. I needed to call to make some changes in the number of people for some meals, removing one or two depending on the day. The CM told me that it was always possible to reduce the number of guests. I don't know if it was true but I have no problems with the changes.