Additional people in party

[mawatcha]

Hello,

I have a few dining reservations booked for the week of Jan 7-16th. I am a little concerned as I have an extra person coming with us who I wasn't counting when I made the reservations. Does anyone have experience in bringing an extra person with them who isn't part of the reservation? Will Disney just charge $10 (as I believe it says on website) and still welcome them?

I have tried calling them but didn't get much help.

If not, friend can find their own place to eat .

Thanks for any responses!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

That's not the $10 charge. The $10 charge is for your party no-showing.

Depending on the restaurant, if Disney can accommodate you they will. However, they may turn away your extra guest due to capacity, table availability or other ADRs. People bring "extra guests!" all the time, and they simply can't seat everyone's extras all the time depending on time of day and other parties booked.

You need to look for either ADRs for 1 and try to get her seated with you, or find new ADRs for the entire party, to be assured she will be seated.

 

[HopperFan]

So much factors in ... when are you going date wise, what time are you trying to eat, which restaurant are you going to, are you going from odd to even or even to odd, is the restaurant running behind, is the restaurant at capacity either code or kitchen wise, how you present your case, what kind of mood the CM is in.....

Best advice is keep looking and try to get them changed for a number that covers you all
AND
if you can't then have a back up plan if they say they can't seat the extra person.

PP is correct, that $10 per person is only if you don't show up or you show up but refuse to be seated (aka if your extra is not going to be seated and you all decide to leave).

 

[mawatcha]

Thanks to both of you! The reservation I'd love to squeeze an extra person in on is Beaches n Cream but it's on the marathon Sunday... so I'm not expecting them to be able to accommodate. Great to have clarification on the $10 charge, luckily the extra person is super flex and understanding, we've had a chat about potential reservation issues already.

 

[HopperFan]

Oh the problem there is its so small with mostly small tables. Party size will definitely come in to play.

 

[supersnoop]

Thanks to both of you! The reservation I'd love to squeeze an extra person in on is Beaches n Cream but it's on the marathon Sunday... so I'm not expecting them to be able to accommodate. Great to have clarification on the $10 charge, luckily the extra person is super flex and understanding, we've had a chat about potential reservation issues already.

How many people are on the reservation? Going from three to four is a lot different than going for 8 to 9.

 

[mawatcha]

How many people are on the reservation? Going from three to four is a lot different than going for 8 to 9.

5 to 6. Not expecting it to happen but a few of the people in our party are little, we'll hopefully be able to squish

 

[wilkeliza]

5 to 6. Not expecting it to happen but a few of the people in our party are little, we'll hopefully be able to squish

No guarentee because it isn't just a will they fit thing it is also a fire code issue. At beaches and cream with how small it is I could definitly see them saying no. Now other restaurants 5 to 6 may not be a big deal but you never really know.

 

[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"
.
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.

 

[Nancyg56]

5 to 6. Not expecting it to happen but a few of the people in our party are little, we'll hopefully be able to squish

That place is close on a good day. We had 5 and they squeezed us in one little table. it was very tight. I cannot imagine that table holding 6. OI do wish you luck though!

 

[Polydweller]

Keep in mind that a restaurant won't even try if it is at room capacity. That's the maximum people that can be in the room according to fire code. So, keep trying to change your ADRs and have a backup plan if the extra is turned away. Because Disney restaurants are always near capacity being turned away is always a possibility.

 

[Gracie09]

Thanks to both of you! The reservation I'd love to squeeze an extra person in on is Beaches n Cream but it's on the marathon Sunday... so I'm not expecting them to be able to accommodate. Great to have clarification on the $10 charge, luckily the extra person is super flex and understanding, we've had a chat about potential reservation issues already.

just to further clarify - the charge is $10 per person not per reservation. So your party of five would be charged $50 if they no show or decline to be seated.