Addition to Reservation

[finleyd]

I have a reservation at 1900 Park Fare for 3, 2 adults and 1 child and I now need the reservation for 3 adults and 2 children. I can't find any availability. Will they seat us if we go with the original reservation or will they turn us away.? I really love this buffet and would hate to lose it.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

most likely you will be turned away unless you just use the 3 people plus most likely you will be charged the $30.00 no show fee if you refuse the 3. look for a ressie for 2 at about the same time. most have better luck with even number ressie than odd number. you will not be charge no show if some of ressie show. example you have ressies for 5 but only 4 show no charge but if you show up with 4 and ressie is only for 3 and you decided to eat else where you are charged $30.00 no show because you did not cancel day before

 

[sharonabe]

I have a reservation at 1900 Park Fare for 3, 2 adults and 1 child and I now need the reservation for 3 adults and 2 children. I can't find any availability. Will they seat us if we go with the original reservation or will they turn us away.? I really love this buffet and would hate to lose it.

This has become almost too common and Disney is not as forgiving as they once were. Yours sounds legitimate, but many people are making the ADR for what they can get, i.e. 3 people at BoG even though they have 5 people in their party, but there aren't any 5 people ADRs available. When they get to BoG (or any restaurant), they then have a story for the two extra people. Unfortunately, this is happening so often, that Disney is not as able to accommodate those who truly have a good reason for having more than their ADR.

That doesn't mean they won't seat you, but your chances are definitely slim. Keep trying to get that ADR and sign up for Touring Plans reservation finder.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I have a reservation at 1900 Park Fare for 3, 2 adults and 1 child and I now need the reservation for 3 adults and 2 children. I can't find any availability. Will they seat us if we go with the original reservation or will they turn us away.? I really love this buffet and would hate to lose it.

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"
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
.
NOTE4: The final question is that of how many people are in the eatery. There are Fire Codes which dictate the maximum amount of people. If the capacity is exceeded, there are some big fines possible. And, Disney will not violate the max-capacity of an eatery.

 

[JerseyJanice]

most likely you will be turned away unless you just use the 3 people plus most likely you will be charged the $30.00 no show fee if you refuse the 3. look for a ressie for 2 at about the same time. most have better luck with even number ressie than odd number. you will not be charge no show if some of ressie show. example you have ressies for 5 but only 4 show no charge but if you show up with 4 and ressie is only for 3 and you decided to eat else where you are charged $30.00 no show because you did not cancel day before

If this were the truth and Disney did this to me, I would never make another Disney ADR ever again in my life. And I mean that sincerely.

OP, I doubt that there are many tables at the restaurant for 3. Keep trying to get an ADR for 4 if one or more of the children in your party is under 3 years old, and somebody is willing to seat those children on their lap. Don't sweat it if this the case. They will find a way to fit non-paying infants at any table.

If all the children in your group are age 3 or older, keep trying for 5 or 6 people. You will find more availability as you get closer to the date you want to be there. Good luck.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Disney won't care. They have more than enough business at this point

 

[Betty Rohrer]

If this were the truth and Disney did this to me, I would never make another Disney ADR ever again in my life. And I mean that sincerely.

OP, I doubt that there are many tables at the restaurant for 3. Keep trying to get an ADR for 4 if one or more of the children in your party is under 3 years old, and somebody is willing to seat those children on their lap. Don't sweat it if this the case. They will find a way to fit non-paying infants at any table.

If all the children in your group are age 3 or older, keep trying for 5 or 6 people. You will find more availability as you get closer to the date you want to be there. Good luck.

it is a fire code number of people in restaurant if that is reached they have to count anyone even lap kids in that count. so yes even with a lap child and that includes a tiny baby needs to be in the count. for some reason it seems to be easier to get an even number ressie than a odd one. so if cant get a 5 try one for 6 as that seems to help

 

[JerseyJanice]

it is a fire code number of people in restaurant if that is reached they have to count anyone even lap kids in that count. so yes even with a lap child and that includes a tiny baby needs to be in the count. for some reason it seems to be easier to get an even number ressie than a odd one. so if cant get a 5 try one for 6 as that seems to help

Not everyone shows up with the number of people that they reserved, and there is no penalty for having less people than the ADR number.

If there aren't enough seats when you show up with a larger party, they don't have to seat you at all. But they are not going to hit you with a no-show penalty.

Doing that would be a draconian measure that would be the height of bad customer service. No way are they going to do that and I wish people on this board would stop making up stories like this.

They are not turning away families with an extra baby or two because of fire code and hitting them with no-show penalties for trying to bend the rules.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Not everyone shows up with the number of people that they reserved, and there is no penalty for having less people than the ADR number.

If there aren't enough seats when you show up with a larger party, they don't have to seat you at all. But they are not going to hit you with a no-show penalty.

Doing that would be a draconian measure that would be the height of bad customer service. No way are they going to do that and I wish people on this board would stop making up stories like this.

They are not turning away families with an extra baby or two because of fire code and hitting them with no-show penalties for trying to bend the rules.

friends of ours had this happen to them they were given a choice of taking the ressie for the number and not add the extra person or leaving with no one eating and being charged the no show fee. and yes this was family who did not count young baby

 

[JerseyJanice]

friends of ours had this happen to them they were given a choice of taking the ressie for the number and not add the extra person or leaving with no one eating and being charged the no show fee. and yes this was family who did not count young baby

Wow! I can't believe Disney would be that punitive. How inhospitable! At which restaurant did this happen?

I guess I need to read the fine print in the confirmation agreement next time I make an ADR to see how they can do that. It was always my impression that the $10 fee per person was for no-shows or people who didn't cancel in time.

If there is a clause in there that states you can be assessed the no-show penalty fit for showing up with an extra non-paying baby, then I guess I won't be making any more ADRs.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

If this were the truth and Disney did this to me, I would never make another Disney ADR ever again in my life.

I can't believe Disney would be that punitive.

1) Huh?
2) Why should Disney inconvenience other guests because some guests try to add to their reservation?
3) Adding people is rude to other guests waiting for a table.
4) Why not add the correct amount of people to start?
5) I have dealt with guest diners at WDW for a long time, and in most cases,
. . . they knew ahead of time there might be an added person.
. . . or, the guest could not get an ADR for the number of guests they wanted and booked for fewer people, hoping they would still be seated.

 

[Kaytie]

OP, I doubt that there are many tables at the restaurant for 3. Keep trying to get an ADR for 4 if one or more of the children in your party is under 3 years old, and somebody is willing to seat those children on their lap. Don't sweat it if this the case. They will find a way to fit non-paying infants at any table.

Every. Single. Person. who will be at the table needs to be included on the reservation.

Not everyone shows up with the number of people that they reserved, and there is no penalty for having less people than the ADR number

No reasonable person should rely on or expect this possibility. Or that they will be seated just because some other party is missing a person. Or that the timing will mesh.

Doing that would be a draconian measure that would be the height of bad customer service.

The number of parties attempting this subterfuge has made it necessary. When the customer doesn't keep their end of the agreement, the business is completely reasonable to, in this case, charge a penalty of which the customer is aware. Bad planning on [the customer's] part does not constitute an emergency on [the merchant's] part.

 

[JerseyJanice]

When you are attempting to make ADRs and don't get what you are looking for, the website tells to try again by adjusting the number of guests.

One thing I wonder about when I read threads like this one is whether Disney is really hung up on guests showing up for ADRs with the exact number. Or whether the school marm-types on this board are the ones who really care about guests following the rules.

Disney has offered a lot of AP discounts this year and just extended them through almost the end of the year. Gotta wonder if they'd prefer more business versus having guests strictly following rules.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

When you are attempting to make ADRs and don't get what you are looking for, the website tells to try again by adjusting the number of guests.

One thing I wonder about when I read threads like this one is whether Disney is really hung up on guests showing up for ADRs with the exact number. Or whether the school marm-types on this board are the ones who really care about guests following the rules.

Disney has offered a lot of AP discounts this year and just extended them through almost the end of the year. Gotta wonder if they'd prefer more business versus having guests strictly following rules.

You can ask any table service CM. They will NEVER put 9 people at an 8-top arrangement, 5 people at a 4-top, etc. Not even a baby. There's no grabbing a chair or high chair and adding it to a smaller table.

People have made additions at the door but it is not a guarantee and should not be an expectation. It's a sliver of hope. If you show up and there was a last minute cancellation or the restaurant just wasn't booked full to begin with and there's a chance they can make the proper arrangement, people have a chance.

I am not a "school-marm type." I am a realist who knows specific examples of people being turned away. If they can't add the person, they will likely be turned away. I personally know people this has happened to Christmas week. They didn't include their baby on ADRs.

They aren't going to inconvenience guests who made correct ADRs to accommodate someone with a late addition (or someone the group always knew was coming and couldn't get an ADR for.) From a long-term perspective, increasing the waits of people who made correct ADRs is more detrimental to their business. They want to get those people in quickly so they don't go online after and complain about the wait. Online complaints from people who had proper ADRs are more detrimental to future business than an online complaint from someone about not being able to add at the door.

Also, they extend and add more discounts in part to sell more APs. Also a response to people who have complained that AP perks have decreased over the years to get them to renew. They have no problem filling up their restaurants, and discounts do help drive people there, but they also definitely want to sell more APs. A new or renewed AP holder means more money spent on everything at WDW.

 

[maxiesmom]

Disney has offered a lot of AP discounts this year and just extended them through almost the end of the year. Gotta wonder if they'd prefer more business versus having guests strictly following rules.

Disney won't turn away guests if they have room. But they have to have the room for them. They can't add extra chairs to tables, they are already so tight there is no room. A table for 4 does not have room for 5 or 6. And yes. there are a few restaurants that have tables for 3, where the ends are pushed up to a window, for example.

Disney won't finger wag at a guest "No-no, you made an ADR for 4 and showed up with 6, so you are naughty and we won't seat you". If they have the room they will seat the extras. But there is no way to know ahead of time if they will have the room.

The moral of the story is to not expect extras to be seated. And to not play games and under-count how many are in your party just to snag an ADR you want. It is always best to make the ADR that you need.

OP--Keep trying to get an ADR for your new party size. Maybe use the Touring Plans finder. Showing up with extras should be your last resort, and done with the understanding that they may be turned away. So have a back up plan. Good luck!!!

 

[JerseyJanice]

I don't see anything wrong with the restaurant turning away parties that they don't have room for, but charging the $10 no-show fee per person is another story.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't see anything wrong with the restaurant turning away parties that they don't have room for, but charging the $10 no-show fee per person is another story.

If you don't take your table you are a no show. Seems pretty clear. You booked a table and didn't use it, when someone else probably would have.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

When you are attempting to make ADRs and don't get what you are looking for, the website tells to try again by adjusting the number of guests.

1) Sure.
2) But, it also assumes you will make another ADR for guests not included in the new ADR.

 

[Kaytie]

One thing I wonder about when I read threads like this one is whether Disney is really hung up on guests showing up for ADRs with the exact number.

WDW restaurants are fine with the reserved number of diners or fewer show up (although according to the website, each restaurant has its own cancellation policy.) Guests hoping to be accommodated with more diners may be out of luck.

If they leave instead of the proper number (or fewer) accepting the table, that's a last minute cancellation by the guest, and yes, it's 100% reasonable for the venue to charge the no-show fee.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Or whether the school marm-types on this board are the ones who really care about guests following the rules.

1) Is it improper to assume people should be on-time for a appointment or reservation time?
2) Why do people ask ahead of time if they can be late?
3) It is almost like (in some people's minds) that they plan to be late.
4) If people think late is a possibility, then make a later ADR.
5) Or, set you watch 30-minutes ahead of the real time, so they can be on-time for the actual appointment.