ADR frustration

[MommaBarb]

We are traveling with 5 people, 3 adults, 2 children. I'm getting almost all crappy reservation times. But if I look at 4 people or 6 people, the times I want are there. I tried to add one to my BoG reservation and I couldn't do it without changing from 6 pm to 9 pm, which is not going to happen with my 4 & 6 yr old. We let them stay up later at Disney, but not for dinner at 9.

I'm at 179 days out. This is just driving me bonkers trying to figure it out. I'm tempted to make all the ones I have to for 6 and taking someone off later.

 

[Rowdymom81]

Everything I've read says just make for 6 and don't worry about it. Tell 'em when you arrive there's only 5.

 

[purple figment]

Go ahead and make the reservations for 6. The Disney reservation system has a quirk that makes it harder for odd numbered groups. Even though a party of 5 will usually be seated at a 6 top, the system wants to fill every seat at the table. So when you input a party of 5 it will bypass you. Add 1 more person and often things will show up because now you're filling all the seats at the table. When you get to the restaurant just let the CM at the podium know that there are only 5 of you. There is no need to call and change the reservation in advance. If it is a restaurant with a credit card guarantee you will not be charged for the "missing" guest as long as at least 1 person shows up. As a group of 3 this happens to us frequently.

One more note - everyone who will be at the table, even infants and non-eaters, must be included in the reservation so don't subtract one person and look for a smaller table than your group size. This is because of safety and fire code regulations. It's always easier to subtract a person at the podium, than hope that they'll be able to seat an extra person.

 

[Destynee29]

Go ahead and make the reservations for 6. The Disney reservation system has a quirk that makes it harder for odd numbered groups. Even though a party of 5 will usually be seated at a 6 top, the system wants to fill every seat at the table. So when you input a party of 5 it will bypass you. Add 1 more person and often things will show up because now you're filling all the seats at the table. When you get to the restaurant just let the CM at the podium know that there are only 5 of you. There is no need to call and change the reservation in advance.

Thanks so much for this tip!