Adding a guest to existing ADRs

[Moushe]

We have a trip planned for January 2016. All ADR have been made. My mother in law had originally said she didnt want to come, but now she's changed her mind. Do I have to call to get her added to our ADRs?

 

[crabbygal902]

I would call and try. However, I wouldn't stress too much if you can't add her to the ADR. Disney has been accommodating when we have had an extra person or 2 to show up. Smile, be nice, and thank the cast members profusely.

 

[wdwrich]

I would call and try. However, I wouldn't stress too much if you can't add her to the ADR. Disney has been accommodating when we have had an extra person or 2 to show up. Smile, be nice, and thank the cast members profusely.

Don't count on it if it's a busy time and/or a popular restaurant. Disney has gotten wise to the "Oh sorry, an unexpected family member joined us at the last minute" routine. There have been many reports on these boards of the extra people not being seated. If that happens, you have to decide whether to have the extra person(s) dine separately elsewhere, or for the whole group to dine elsewhere and pay the $10 per person no-show fees at the place where you had the ADR.
Best plan is to keep calling to see if the extra person can be added to the ADR.

 

[Alesia]

I would call and try. However, I wouldn't stress too much if you can't add her to the ADR. Disney has been accommodating when we have had an extra person or 2 to show up. Smile, be nice, and thank the cast members profusely.

But keep in mind that they may not be able to accommodate the extra person. They do their best, but it's not always possible. Your mother-in-law should have a back up plan.

 

[jne7043]

It's usually not possible to call and just "add" a new person to a reservation. You have to actually cancel your reservation and make a new one for the new number of people. Or, you can also look for a reservation for 1 at the same time as your reservations. However, in this case there is no guarantee that the extra person will be able to sit at your table. They may actually be sitting at a table for 1 (or 2) and your party would need to split up. Please do not count on showing up with an extra person and expect that you will be accommodated. As someone else already mentioned cast members have been told not to allow this anymore. In this case 1 person in your party would have to find a QS to eat at by themselves. If the whole family walks away you will be charged the $10 no show fee for every person in your party.

 

[HopperFan]

- You have time so keep looking for a new table with the correct number.
- At about 60 days out when folks get their FP+ they will release ADRS they don't need now (yes people still double book).
- At about 45 days start looking as folks who are cancelling their package to get deposit back will release ADR so not charged.
- Then keep checking because folks are constantly changing plans.
- Agree with PP, zero guarantee you can walk up with her, have a backup plan for her if you decide to risk it.

 

[smhwalker2011]

I actually did this the other day. You just call and let them know you need to add on another person! They will tell you"no problem!" and you just have to have your confirmation numbers ready. We honestly thought out BOG & Ohana would get cancelled because of this, but it was no issue at all. Just a matter of a phone call.

 

[wdwrich]

I actually did this the other day. You just call and let them know you need to add on another person! They will tell you"no problem!" and you just have to have your confirmation numbers ready. We honestly thought out BOG & Ohana would get cancelled because of this, but it was no issue at all. Just a matter of a phone call.

It all depends on availability. Sometimes they will say "no problem", and sometimes they say "no, sorry".

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It also depends on how big your original ADR is.

Realistically, if you had an ADR for 3 and are adding 1? Unless you're at a place with communal seating like Teppan Edo, that can often be accommodated because most tables are multiples of 2, and going from 3 to 4 just makes the existing table more profitable/efficient. Going from 4 to 5 is harder.

 

[schoen]

This happened to me a few trips ago, and folks on this very discussion board had me freaking out that I they would never let me eat at any of my reservations. When I got there it was never an issue at all. I spent a lot of time stressing about nothing!

 

[zela02]

We are in a similar situation - adding two more to a 4 person reservation at BOG. I called Disney Dining and they said no go. I asked if it would do any good to ask at the restaurant, she said, "Don't count on it." Of course, I'm going to ask anyway, but if they say no, my son and husband will go just ride and give their spots to my sister and brother-in-law since they have never been.

 

[luvallprincesses]

In the same boat with a BOG lunch. Have 2 ADRs for 2 people, to total 4 but I need 2 more people. I just keep looking online. I got the first one when up at midnight to make fastpasses at 60 days and the other at around 45 days on a Sunday at 6 am. I think the key is to look at off times like that. I've called a few times and been told there's no availability to add more guests. At least I don't have to worry about us not getting seated together by being in different reservations since BOG is seat yourself. (I also won't be devastated if I can't get the other seats, two of us will go have fruit Nutella waffles instead!)

 

[KSellers88]

I called and they told me to keep calling 2-3 times a week and checking online for availability. I need to go from a table for 2 to a table for 3, though.

 

[RyMickey]

With BOG, keep checking in while you're there on vacation. I lucked out getting a reservation for two for lunch about 24 hours ahead of the seating. Things do open up as you get closer - although it's certainly a roll of the dice in terms of luck.

 

[DEDisneylover]

I am in this same boat for an early December Minnie's Holiday dine- I got a reservation for 4 but need 5. Have called multiple times and each time it's a no. Will just keep checking and cross my fingers. Good luck to you!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

THE QUESTION OF AN EXTRA PERSON or EXTRA PEOPLE (the "411"):
1) Disney is getting wise to the "but, they decided to join us" or "I miscounted".
2) People can't always get the ADR they want.
3) So, they under-count to get a table.
4) Then, they show up with "unexpected" additional people.
5) In a team meeting, CM's have been told to warn guests against this.
6) If there is room, WDW will not turn away revenue.
7) But, if busy, they will turn away the additions.
8) Go ahead and arrive with the extras, if you like.
9) Just be prepared to have someone stand around while you eat.
10) I have heard explanations such as . . .
. . . "but, Aunt Suzy decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, two friends from off-site decided to join us and we need two extra seats"
. . . "but, brother-in-law decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, the entire Boy Scout Troop decided to join us and we need 14 extra sets"
. . . "but, my baby is so small that I didn't count her in the number of eaters"
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NOTE1: It is far easier going from an odd-number to an even number, such as from 7-people to 8-people, adding a person to an even number of diners, such as going from 6-people to 7-people. Adding odd person can mean adding a table, and this might not be possible. Going from an odd-to-even might only mean adding a chair or using an empty seat. So, if going from even-to-odd, you might not get the extra person a seat. It is always better to get another ADR with the proper people-count.
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NOTE2: Frequently a party-of-two will try to add a third person at the podium. This can be risky, because many eateries do have tables-for-two. If the guest was slated for one of these, there simply might not be a table available to seat the third person - even if an infant. The extra chair location might extend into an aisle and block access for other guests or Servers.
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NOTE3: Sometimes it is a threesome adding a fourth. Unfortunately, there are many eateries that do have 3-top tables - usually against a wall or pillar. They can't add a fourth chair, since that would invade the aisle and be unsafe for SERVERS.