Adding a guest when walking in for reservation

tadamom

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Messages
2,220
Forgive me if this has been asked before but I didn't see it:

We have reservations for 11 at Chef Mickey's on our last day, my SIL decided to add her nanny to the vacation after I had already made reservations. I have tried & tried to change the reservation from 11 to 12 with no luck. The reservation lady tried different scenarios and it was a no go -- the dining room is completely booked for that morning. (As a matter of fact, every restaurant is booked that I could find for that morning).

Anyways, if we walk in for our reservation will it be no big deal for us to add one more? Or has anyone ever done this and Disney told them no and they weren't seated?

I'm not really freaking out about this b/c it wasn't my screw up -- I know they have enough room for my family of 4 (haha).

Thanks!
 
This will probably work UNLESS the restaurant is full to capacity for fire codes. That's very rare, but if it does happen, one member of your party won't be admitted.
 
In our experience, we've never had a problem. The hostess will take care of you. Now if you were trying to add four people, that might be another story! Good luck!
 
I just asked about this when booking our vacation package. DH is scheduled to deploy, but I asked if he could be added on to our ADRs later (in case of a deployment cancellation miracle:littleangel:) and I was told absolutely, that it wouldn't be a problem.
 

I just asked about this when booking our vacation package. DH is scheduled to deploy, but I asked if he could be added on to our ADRs later (in case of a deployment cancellation miracle:littleangel:) and I was told absolutely, that it wouldn't be a problem.

Unfortunately, the person you spoke with has no way of knowing for sure. It will depend on how full the restaurant is at the time. There is no way of knowing until then if they will have room for extra guests or not. It shouldn't be a problem, but no one should count on it 100%.
 
I just asked about this when booking our vacation package. DH is scheduled to deploy, but I asked if he could be added on to our ADRs later (in case of a deployment cancellation miracle:littleangel:) and I was told absolutely, that it wouldn't be a problem.

It's always best to make the reservations for the maximum number of people who might be there. It's so much easier to show up with 1 less person than to add an extra person at the podium. It's not often a problem, but in the end the final decision rests with the CMs at the restaurant and not someone on the phone.

As an example we were at Le Cellier one night when they were running quite a bit behind so anyone trying to add people at the podium or anyone showing up late was being turned away.
 
This June we were able to add an extra person to our party of 6 at Chef Mickey's for dinner. I just told the person at the podium when checking in and they were fine with it.
 
I have found it to be no problem when you are rounding up to an even number. It happens to us since my daughters friends sometimes joins us so I usually book for 3 and then if one more shows up, I just ask to add when I check in. Have never had an issue with this yet.

Most tables seat even so it would be odd that they could not give you the extra seat.
 
When we have gone before with the 11, they usually seat us at 2 round tables pushed together, so you kind of lose some seating area. I wonder if this is why they are telling they can't add one on to my reservation. My SIL seems to think that everyone should have to cancel and not go. I'm not the one that screwed up and this is the only character meal that we will do and it is our tradition since we started taking kids to Disney that we do Chef Mickey's on the last day as a fun farewell.
 
We had reservations at CRT for dinner in Febraury and they were able to add my dad when we checked in. I wasn't able to get the reservation changed before we left. I can understand trying to scramble to add everyone. My parents were asked in September when I booked the trip if they wanted to go and they didn't. Fast forward 1-2 weeks before our trip and I had changes reservations to 5 people and then to 6. We did have to wait a little longer for a bigger table, but it allowed my girls to get twirling time with Cinderella. Good luck!
 
When we have gone before with the 11, they usually seat us at 2 round tables pushed together, so you kind of lose some seating area. I wonder if this is why they are telling they can't add one on to my reservation. My SIL seems to think that everyone should have to cancel and not go. I'm not the one that screwed up and this is the only character meal that we will do and it is our tradition since we started taking kids to Disney that we do Chef Mickey's on the last day as a fun farewell.

this sounds like your SIL's problem..not yours. It would be one thing if it was a family member but the nanny?

I'd tell 'sis' she could try but be prepared to have nanny turned away (coz they can't always...we have been turned away before in this circumstance) but the rest of us were going.
 
this sounds like your SIL's problem..not yours. It would be one thing if it was a family member but the nanny?

I'd tell 'sis' she could try but be prepared to have nanny turned away (coz they can't always...we have been turned away before in this circumstance) but the rest of us were going.

Yep. Absolutely agree.
 
Usually bumping up from an odd to an even number by just 1 person isn't a huge issue, but you need to be prepared to be told 'no' when checking in. We've usually been OK, but we did have a situation at Mama Melrose back in 2010 where they told us absolutely no way they would let us go from a party of 6 to a party of 8. We were prepared for it...still doesn't hurt to ask.
 
I have also read on the boards that if you reserve for 8 and show up with 7, they won't charge your cc for the 1 no show. Has anyone experienced this?
 
Stinkerbe11 said:
I have also read on the boards that if you reserve for 8 and show up with 7, they won't charge your cc for the 1 no show. Has anyone experienced this?

Yes just two weeks ago I had a reservation for four at LeCellier and only three showed up and we were. It charged for the one no show.

Liz
 
I don't know if we're just lucky or what, but we have never had a problem adding one. It didn't matter if it made it an even or an odd number. We have found that the restaurants are very willing to adjust and make it work.

I'm talking about hard to get places too like Prime Time and even Le Cellier. It has not happened very often but when it did, I was just up front and understanding and told them if it couldn't be done, it was fine, but if they could, etc....

Good luck. Don't let it worry you too much. Especially since it is a buffet situation, I think it'll be fine.
 




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