Table for four or table for five?

ILoveMK2008 · Jul 6, 2015

DH and I are ridiculously excited to be bringing our DS on his first trip to WDW in January. He will be almost 18 months at the time. His grandparents will be joining us for part of the trip so some of our ADRs will be for 3 and some will be for five. I know there tend to be less six tops than four tops at some restaurants so I'm worried that by calling us a party of five we'll have more difficulty getting reservations at some places, which is frustrating because we just need a four top with a high chair on the end!! Should I book as a party of four, assuming they can just put a high chair on the end of the table, or might they turn us away if I do that? For reference, the ADRs I'm trying to get for the five of us are Chef Mickeys breakfast, BOG Lunch, Le Cellier Dinner and Citricos dinner.

smidgy · Jul 6, 2015

there are 5 bodies, you need to reserve a table for 5. even if it is just a baby. there might not be room to "just put a high chair at the end".. the table are pretty tight together. the people at the table next to you wouldn't be able to get in and out. or the server couldn't get by.
esp Le cellier, those tables are jammed in together. and a high chair couldn't be "squeezed in kinda between 2 people and sticking out in the aisle. the server could trip with a heavy tray of hot food.

ForMyBoys · Jul 6, 2015

Well to give you my story. We booked all our reservations for 5. At the last minute a friend of mine (who lives in Florida and had planned on being in the area for a convention) asked if we could take her daughter for two days as she had an issue w/ childcare backing out at the last moment. So we had 6 people for two days. We had reservations at Poly for breakfast one day and I was really worried about it, but they let us add the one extra w/o an issue. I would say, look for 5 and try to reserve that. If you can't find a table for 5 I would feel ok reserving for 4 given that the youngest is only 18 months.

So I guess I disagree w/ the PP. I think under 3 would be ok to leave off of a resi.

smidgy · Jul 6, 2015

ForMyBoys said:
Well to give you my story. We booked all our reservations for 5. At the last minute a friend of mine (who lives in Florida and had planned on being in the area for a convention) asked if we could take her daughter for two days as she had an issue w/ childcare backing out at the last moment. So we had 6 people for two days. We had reservations at Poly for breakfast one day and I was really worried about it, but they let us add the one extra w/o an issue. I would say, look for 5 and try to reserve that. If you can't find a table for 5 I would feel ok reserving for 4 given that the youngest is only 18 months.

So I guess I disagree w/ the PP. I think under 3 would be ok to leave off of a resi.

ah herein lies the rub... you are better off with on odd number. a table for 5 can handle a 6th person with NO problem whatsover. they already have a 6 top set up. a table of 3 can handle a 4th person with NO problem whatsover. (they already have a 4 top set up) (believe me, I have been in the restaurant business a long time.) it's all a matter of how the tables are set up.

when making reservations, if you can't get a 2 top, see if you can make reservations for 3. you will not get penalized the $10 for the one person who didn't show up. as long as someone in your party shows up 9now that I posted that, maybe they'll change it.. lol.. do, many hae posted that)

but the point is how many peopel the table can handle if you book for 4, there is a very good chance there won't be room for a 5th, even a high chair. I have never been to the other restaurants, but Iknow BOG and esp Le Cellier are veyr tightly packed. It might not be a problem at someplac like Grand floridian cafe.. maybe tonys? tryng to think of places that could "squeeze in " a high chair without intruding on the table 3 inches away from them and blocking the servers. definintely not scy fy theater! (the kid could sit on the bumper? lol!)

10CJ · Jul 7, 2015

Yes, you need to count your child. Even if you were planning to hold him on your lap you should count him for fire code purposes.

I agree that it would be easier to go from 5-6 than 4-5. If you book for four I would be prepared for someone to eat elsewhere. High chairs take up a lot of room and should be factored into the guest count.

I assume you would count him if you were going to any other restaurant, why would Disney be any different?

Acrosthec · Jul 7, 2015

We have 5 in our reservations (includes our 2yo DD), and have had no problems getting reservations for that number at the places we want, and generally for the times we want. As long as you are on the ball when your ADR date opens, you should be fine! Good luck!

Aliceacc · Jul 7, 2015

Most tables in restaurants are set up to accommodate even numbers.

So going from a 5 to a 6 is normally not a problem-- the table can frequently accommodate 6 anyway.

But going from 4 to 5 is sometimes a HUGE deal, since there simply isn't room for an extra seat.

High chairs in particular take more room than a standard seat.

At the end of the day, you want them to be able to honor your reservation. You want enough room that a server doesn't accidentally pour your iced tea down your back, or drop some scalding scampi sauce on your child.

OP, make the reservations for 5.

And, for what it's worth, we're a family of 5 and have never had an issue getting ADRs at WDW. Our restaurants usually include Chef Mickey's, Coral Reef, Cape May, Le Cellier, Aukerhaus... you name it.

Last year we traveled as a group of 11 (family reunion) and still had no issues. We had dinner at BOG (and the 5 of us had lunch there as well.)

Disney is well used to accommodating families. But give them the information they need to accommodate the people who will actually show up.

smidgy · Jul 7, 2015

many "family" restaurants in Illinois have the 4 top tables with the connected "leaves" turned down.. raising them turns the table into a cirlcle which could then easily accomodate 5 instead of 4. unfortunately I don't know of any restauratns at WDW that have these. there probably wouldn't be enough aisle room anyway.
good luck getting the reservations you want, it sholdn't be a problem.. have fun!

Pumbaa_ · Jul 7, 2015

Rule of thumb - if there is a pulse you need to include them in the ADRS

Many disney dining establishments seat 2 on the inside, and 2 on the outside, with a table right next to yours. AKA there is no END of the table, only skinny little place to crabwalk sideways to get to your seat (that was a very long run on sentence)

Keep trying for 5 or check for 6 (Disney systems can be persnickety about odd numbers)

Have a great trip!

tinkerbella16 · Jul 7, 2015

Count everyone, even infants need to be counted. Before my friend made her adrs, she asked about this since she will have a 4 month old and she was told that even the baby needs to be counted. Better safe than sorry. You should not have any problems booking adrs for 5 people. We have had no problems booking for an odd numbered party. I would definitely book for 5, so you don't have to worry about it.

Table for four or table for five?

ILoveMK2008

Every girl's a princess! Love my Prince Charming

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ForMyBoys

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smidgy

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10CJ

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Acrosthec

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Aliceacc

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smidgy

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Pumbaa_

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