Anyone else been a victim of the "squeeze"?

[bornwiththeears]

On our last trip to world I made daily reservations for our family (five adults - 3 over 6'). At every restaurant, with the exception of O'Hanas, we were squeezed into a table or booth for four with an extra place setting added. The booth at Mama Melroses was ridiculous....three adults on one side does not cut it. When we asked for a table to accommodate 5 we were told they were booked totally. Our reservations were made months in advance so it was not like we were walk ins. Should I make reservations for six to get a larger table? Also, we plan to eat at Sci Fi on our next trip. do you think two reservations, for three and two would be better. I can't remember how large the car seating is.

 

[TAKitty]

We frequently travel with five and do get the extra person on the end a lot. We thought the booths at Mama Melrose were big enough for the five of us, three on one side and two on the other. However, except for my Dh we are not as tall as your family.

I wouldn't make the reservation for six because they will likely look at your party when you get there and put you at a table for 5. You could always ask to wait to be seated at a larger table.

I can't help you about sci fi. If you make two reservations you run the risk of not sitting together.

Maybe think of the closeness as extra family bonding time.

 

[colleen costello]

Our worst SQUEEZE was at Garden Grill at Epcot. They tried to stick my family of 4, plus my parents, into a TEENY table practically in the laps of the adjacent family. I politely insisted we be given a table with ROOM -- my Dad is six-foot-three and has had a knee replaced... No WAY he was going to be comfortable! The hostess was gracious and did move us to a much larger table. I think that you can always ask for a roomier table! They seem to at least try to accomodate.

 

[LAWalz23]

With 5 people this is very common as most of WDW tables are for 4 or 6 so in order to get more folks in they set an extra place at a place that was intended for 4 people. It seems that this has gotten worse since the advent of DDP because more folks seem to be eating at the sitdown restaurants.

 

[deedeetoo]

Hmmm. We went with 5 last year and didn't have this problem once. Most of the time we were seated at one of the round tables that fit 6. At Boma we were at a long table and there was another party next to us. I can't remember one instance of being squished in. We are going again with 5 this year so we will see if we have the same luck. We leave in a month.

 

[Bama_C]

On our last trip to world I made daily reservations for our family (five adults - 3 over 6'). At every restaurant, with the exception of O'Hanas, we were squeezed into a table or booth for four with an extra place setting added.

Know what you mean. We have 3 guys in our fam and DS15 & DS13 are both nearly 6 ft. The 13 y-o DS has probably grown 6 inches since our trip last Sept., so this could be a real problem for us this year. However, My DD10 can still comfortably hang the end of a table, I think. It just gets to me ...trying to find the space on a table for 4, for dishes for 5! But, somehow we manage ...and still have a blast!

Would they let you do a table for 6 with only 5... I'm not sure. Can't help you with Sci Fi; we've never been.

Pixie dust to you!

 

[teacher31]

I really hate to say this, but we've never been squished into a 4-seater. Our family has 5 and we are always sat at a table for 6. And we're not big people at all. I wonder if it has to do with the time of the reservation. We typically eat lunch around 11:30 and dinner around 5:30. Maybe since that is earlier they don't feel the need to condense people. Good luck on getting your extra space!

 

[PatsGirl]

I'd make ressies for 6 and when you arrive just let them know that one was not able to make it. A party of 5 should always be sat at a table for at least 5, never 4 + and I'd be pretty upset being crowded into a booth, etc. The only exception might be a young child as the 5th (highchair on the end of a table, that sort of thing). They have your adult/child ratio so...

I don't know the policy but I can't imagine you would lose your ADR if one out of 6 in your party couldn't "make it".

Flame away

 

[hematite153]

The problem may have originated when you were booking your ADRs.

I recently made bookings for a party of 5 and discovered that the CM I was speaking with had intentionally booked a couple of ADRs at tables for 4 with a note to add the 5th. In one case she'd booked two tables, one for 4 and one for 1. I made it clear that we weren't interested in splitting up and she changed that.

Since one of our 5 is a baby who currently refuses to sit in a chair separate from her parents I figured the squeeze into a table for 4 wouldn't be a problem though.

When you make your ADRs for 5, you may want to specifically say that you don't want a table for 4+. I think it will limit your times and options but may ensure you get a table for 6.

 

[bornwiththeears]

This past trip was our 21st. We always make ADR's and this was the first time this has happened....I was just surprised that it happened more than once. It may be because of the DDP. I think I will be very specific when we make our reservations and in the restaurants we were "squeezed" I will make reservations for six. By the way the problems occurred at Le Cellier (where we have eaten a number of times - our very favorite restaurant), Whispering Canyon and Mama Melroses.