ADR made for 7, show up with 4?

[LoveMyBoys]

Ok, this is the first time we will be traveling to WDW with another family.
This is their first trip, and they are not interested in making any plans .
Their motto is "we'll just follow you, and eat all our meals with you, and you know what you're doing, so we'll be fine" . I am afraid that after this trip, we will never travel anywhere together again .

We are all on the DDP, and I've been trying to explain it to them, but I don't think they are even listening .

Now to my question, I made all our ADRs for 7, except the Princess Storybook Lunch (they are doing that without us), however if they decide last minute not to join us, will we have problems being seated? The one I am mostly concerned them not making is an 8am ADR at CP. They are not morning people, and even though they are telling me they'll try to get up early I'm not buying it (I've traveled with them before).

So will they seat the 4 of us, or are we out of luck. We also have ADRs at Coral Reef, LeCellier, etc...

Thanks for any insight

 

[4mykids]

First of all, good luck with your trip! My DD and I traveled to WDW last July with her best friend and best friend's mom. Never again! Prior to the trip (they had never been) the mom told me they would just follow us. I told her that would be great, but sometimes my DD and I would want to do things on our own. They wanted to shop every shop in WDW! OMG! After mom blew up at my DD, we split up for awhile. Everything returned to semi-normal, but never again! Only with my family or my best friend. But, I am off topic!

We have arrived to TS restaurants with less people than our ADRs and it has not been a problem. What would be even better is if you made ADR's for 2 tables. That they can cancel one if not needed. Does that make sense?

Seriously, make some ground rules prior to arrival at WDW to ensure you all have a great trip! Its a lot of money not to be happy!

 

[LoveMyBoys]

Thank you for your insight.

We are really good friends, but live in different cities, so don't see each other that often. They are coming down for Labor Day to visit us, and I am trying to organize everything, so I can explain everything to them.

Wish me luck

 

[DisneyNotes]

Seriously, make some ground rules . . .

I agree! Make ground rules. If they don't show for ADRs, then tell them to call you when they've eaten and are ready to catch up with you.

 

[lyzziesmom]

Good luck. I'm anticipating the same issues. We will be going to WDW with my parents (did that last year and they're pretty good about following the plan) and my brother & his girlfriend. DB & GF think noon is EARLY! They say they will show up for meals, but I'll really be surprised if they make it to more than one or two, out of nine days of ADRs. They are chronically late -- I'm talking 3+ hours late, even to his own graduation party! -- and just want to go party and drink the whole time. We've already told them that if they don't show up for ADRs they are on their own, and good luck finding a walkin place. They too glaze over when I try to explain the DDP, or transportation, or anything. Oh also? They are not bringing any money. My parents are footing the bill for them (not for us) as a graduation gift. So if he misses the ADRs and can't find a place, I fear they will waste their DDP credits because they don't understand how it works, or will end up not having enough credits and no money! I need to quit worrying about them and the what-ifs and just enjoy MY part of the trip, but as the resident planner I can't help it!

 

[jennynoel]

I need to quit worrying about them and the what-ifs and just enjoy MY part of the trip, but as the resident planner I can't help it!

That sounds like good advice to me, Lyzziesmom! Let your brother have his idea of a great Disney graduation trip, and you have your great family trip. Wherever those two visions overlap: gravy.

I'm working on my second trip as "resident planner" and I've learned two lessons: 1) I do this for myself - if no one else cares about my knowledge and efforts that's fine. 2) A "perfect" trip does not mean everything goes according to plan!

Then again, as Alice says: "I give myself such very good advice, and yet I seldom follow it!"

 

[LoveMyBoys]

Thanks,
Lyzziesmom, it made me laugh reading about your brother, because the friends we are going with were over an hour late for their DD's 1st B-day party. They were having a big party at a catering place, and there were over 50 people there all waiting for them and the little girl to show up .

 

[HLAuburn]

I hate to make this a more difficult situation than it already is for you guys, but I would be worried about having a res for 7 and showing up with 4. The reason I say that is because last year when we went, they had us down as 6 rather than 5 at Crystal Palace (a computer mistake, I guess), and they just about blew a gasket! The girl at the podium seemed all put out by it, and then when we got to the table, the waitress and a guy who seemed to be a manager were all in a huff over the one extra seat.

Now with free dining, it would benefit them to have empty seats at a table, so hopefully things will be different, but that experience really stuck in my head b/c of the big deal they made about it. Hopefully you can explain to your friends that the entire party needs to be there to be seated, and they'll be courteous enough to show up.

Have a good trip!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The thing to do when you get to the restaurant and the other three do not show up is to see if there are any walk-ins who would like to join you (separate checks, of course). In a way this would be similar to one of the locations where you are seated with others at large tables. You will be helping others out and may meet some friendly and interesting people.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Oh Lizziesmom, I feel your pain! 5 years ago we did a family trip for my parents 40th anniversary. It was not pretty. You think it would have been a great family trip, but it wasn't. We had 1 person (my older brother) who just was the most obnoxious person. It was bad.

Fast forward 5 years. We are doing it again for my parents 45th anniversary. Yup, I am a glutton for punishment. However, I am doing it for my parents and my 2 nieces.

My new motto is let it go. My DH has instructions to repeat that phrase as often as is necessary. I made fewer meal plans, I scheduled each niece a special meal with the grandparents and parents. And once we are therte, I plan on letting it go

Good luck on your trip and remember, just let it go....

 

[gone2disney]

I just called Dining last night to ask the same question. The rep. that I talked to said yes-it would be a problem if less people showed on our ADR. He had me change all of our reservations as 2 tables (4 and 4) so that if the other party backed out our ADR would not be effected. He said that we would in most cases when possible we would be seated at tables right next to each other or pushed together. I decided to take his advice since he said that reducing the number could jeopardize our ADR since that is how the restaurant plans and is booked.