BOG Lunch Walkup with Reservation for half our group

[SuperOstah]

I called today to try to increase the size of our party for a lunch reservation at BOG from party of 2 to a party of 5. As would be expected, they couldn't. However, the wonderful CM suggested that it shouldn't be a problem for us to go with our entire group even though we wouldn't have a reservation for everyone since it's a quick service restaurant.

While I like the idea and can see how this would work at any other quick service, am I correct in assuming that they would allow two of us through to the front of the line and the rest of us would be expected to wait in the normal line?

I haven't been to BOG since they began accepting reservations, but I know previously, they had a long line out across the bridge waiting to get in for lunch.

Thanks for your input!

 

[melanielll]

There is no line for reservations and line for walk ups. If you try to walk up (which I have seen done successfully), you check in at the little hut and then get in line with everyone else on the bridge - all of whom have reservations and have already checked in or have walked up successfully. The shorter line is for those with reservations who have preordered their meals.

The wonderful CM seems to not know how the restaurant works. Walking up is a long shot. I say you try, but have some plan in place to decide who gets in if only the reservation is upheld. I suggest arm wrestling.

 

[Capang]

It might work, but it might not. I have seen it go both ways. Try to pick up an adr for an overlapping time. That way everyone is guaranteed entry and you can all sit together as you choose your own seats.

 

[Pumbaa_]

If you do try let us know how it goes

 

[SuperOstah]

Thanks for the input. I'm not exactly happy to know my fears are valid, but I'm glad I checked instead of just happily trotting to the checkin desk only to be shot down.
I'm searching MDE constantly for a reservation, so hopefully I won't even have to test it. But I'll definitely come back and let you all know how it goes.

 

[IrishNYC]

As someone above suggested, try to get an overlapping reservation for 3, because there's only one line - the reservation line. Tales of walk-ups getting a table are few and far between, and of dubious validity.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

However, the wonderful CM suggested that it shouldn't be a problem for us to go with our entire group even though we wouldn't have a reservation for everyone since it's a quick service restaurant.

Another fine example of limited CM training.

 

[pigletto]

Thanks for the input. I'm not exactly happy to know my fears are valid, but I'm glad I checked instead of just happily trotting to the checkin desk only to be shot down.
I'm searching MDE constantly for a reservation, so hopefully I won't even have to test it. But I'll definitely come back and let you all know how it goes.

Might I suggest trying the Touring Plans reservation finder service? We added three people to our trip after making this reservation. The three people now coming have never been to Disney and are so excited and I really wanted them to be able to see BOG. I used the reservation finding service to find a lunch on our MK day for a party of 7 knowing it was an absolute long shot and after a week or more it was found. I missed that one.. I saw the text about 10 minutes after it was sent. Talk about a bummer. But I resubmitted my request and I got another shot at a lunch for 7 on our specific day. I saw this text the second it came in and snagged the reservation! I was so pleased.
Give it a try!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As someone above suggested, try to get an overlapping reservation for 3, because there's only one line - the reservation line. Tales of walk-ups getting a table are few and far between, and of dubious validity.

We've walked up, successfully, with a party of two, twice. No dubious validity here. What motivation would anyone have to lie about that? Having said that, there are zero guarantees it will work. We were in the area so thought we would give it a try. If we had been turned away, we simply would have gone somewhere else. As PP's have pointed out, your best bet is to look for a reservation for 3 around the time of your existing reservation. Or even a reservation for 1 and a reservation for 2. Once you are inside, you can all sit together. For those with reservations, I highly recommend pre-ordering as the lines for the ordering kiosks get really long. In fact, I don't know if I would ever attempt a walk-up at BOG again as you have no ability to pre-order by walking up and standing in line to order took a big bite out of park time. If you can't get extra reservations for your party of 3, try the walk-up. If it doesn't work, for those without reservations, Pinocchio Village Haus is practically next door and Columbia Harbor House and Cosmic Ray's are a short walk away. Not ideal, but you can always split up for lunch and meet up again afterward.

 

[SuperOstah]

@pigletto
Actually just found them a few minutes ago and have a search in place. For both a five person group and a three person, just in case one of them works out.

@_auroraborealis_
I'm sure CM training has got to be below the standard knowledge of folks who hang out on here, but at the same time, it felt more like an offer of her insider info than actual Disney standards. And it makes sense in theory, but I can't help questioning how it would work in reality.

EDIT:
my quotes didn't work...I apparently don't use this forum often enough. added names to make myself less vague

 

[Pkltm]

last year we had success by making 4 reservations for 1 in overlapping times.

 

[melanielll]

I have seen walk ups get in at BOG and Ohana. It's a long shot, but worth a try if you can't get a reservation.

Another good way to get in for lunch and breakfast is to add reservations for 1 guest. Those open more than others. It takes accessing other people's account or having fake ones, and it makes your credit card/room charge statement a mess, but it does work.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

@pigletto
Actually just found them a few minutes ago and have a search in place. For both a five person group and a three person, just in case one of them works out.

@_auroraborealis_
I'm sure CM training has got to be below the standard knowledge of folks who hang out on here, but at the same time, it felt more like an offer of her insider info than actual Disney standards. And it makes sense in theory, but I can't help questioning how it would work in reality.

EDIT:
my quotes didn't work...I apparently don't use this forum often enough. added names to make myself less vague

Unfortunately, the CM on the phone isn't privy to what's actually happening on the ground at BOG on a day-to-day, moment-to-moment basis. I can only share my experience with walk-ups. We got one once because I noticed a reservation for 1 on the MDE app and thought, if they can seat 1, maybe they can seat 2. We literally high-tailed it over (we were over by the teacups if I recall) and sure enough, based on whatever she saw in the system, she could let us in. The second time, we were literally passing by and thought we would ask, really nicely! The CM looked at the line on the bridge (it wasn't terribly long, I guess), handed us two menus and told us to enjoy our lunch. It really felt like a pixie dust moment that could have gone either way depending on that line and the CM's mood. So, you were smart to sign up for the reservation finder! There is just no way to guarantee a walk-up! And, I have seen people being turned away from walking up as well (certainly our small party size made a difference in our luck).

 

[IrishNYC]

We've walked up, successfully, with a party of two, twice. No dubious validity here. What motivation would anyone have to lie about that? Having said that, there are zero guarantees it will work. We were in the area so thought we would give it a try. If we had been turned away, we simply would have gone somewhere else. As PP's have pointed out, your best bet is to look for a reservation for 3 around the time of your existing reservation. Or even a reservation for 1 and a reservation for 2. Once you are inside, you can all sit together. For those with reservations, I highly recommend pre-ordering as the lines for the ordering kiosks get really long. In fact, I don't know if I would ever attempt a walk-up at BOG again as you have no ability to pre-order by walking up and standing in line to order took a big bite out of park time. If you can't get extra reservations for your party of 3, try the walk-up. If it doesn't work, for those without reservations, Pinocchio Village Haus is practically next door and Columbia Harbor House and Cosmic Ray's are a short walk away. Not ideal, but you can always split up for lunch and meet up again afterward.

A one time, one-off stroke of luck, I believe. I've seen responses here before that said they've never had a reservation and always get a table - numerous times. I don't believe that.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

A one time, one-off stroke of luck, I believe. I've seen responses here before that said they've never had a reservation and always get a table - numerous times. I don't believe that.

Two times, actually. But, as I've repeatedly said, you can't count on it and we walked up on a whim and wouldn't have cared if we had been turned away. If it's a must-do or you really want to eat with others who have reservations (in OP's case), it's not the ideal way to go. Anyone suggesting a walk-up as a guaranteed way to get into BOG is not giving good advice, IMHO!

 

[wenpop]

How do you get over lapping times?? Every time I try it says I need to cancel the first reservation to make a new reservation, Even when the first reservation is a party of 1

 

[melanielll]

To get overlapping reservations you either have to call, have multiple accounts, or do something that we can't discuss here.

The first two are relatively easy. The first one - I would avoid because being on hold is not enjoyable to me. The second one - have everyone in your party get an MDE account. Have everyone who is in the party give their passwords to the reservations maker - who then makes the reservations under the different accounts. You all stroll up with reservations for 1. You can also make fake accounts - this may be necessary if some of your party are too young to actually book reservations in their own names. I don't have small kids anymore, so I don't know the age cutoffs on this. Because of the age cutoff problem - I think we can still discuss this method here. If not - sorry - and mods please delete this post.

 

[illinidp]

How do you get over lapping times?? Every time I try it says I need to cancel the first reservation to make a new reservation, Even when the first reservation is a party of 1

You have to make somebody else the lead guest.

 

[SuperOstah]

Just a heads up that I ended up finding a reservation for our whole part through the Touring Plans Reservation Finder. That thing is mighty slick. Guess I won't be able to test out the theory the reservation desk gave me.

 

[HopperFan]

Just a heads up that I ended up finding a reservation for our whole part through the Touring Plans Reservation Finder. That thing is mighty slick. Guess I won't be able to test out the theory the reservation desk gave me.

YEAH!

And the last thing you want to do is test a "theory" aka "I have no idea but I'll make you feel better."

ENJOY!