Can I be honest or do I have to be sneaky?

mhalpern

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Joined
Dec 7, 2008
Messages
381
I have to call soon for my ADRs and I want to be prepared. One night my parents may join us or they may skip it depending on how my Dad feels. Can I ask for an ADR for 4 people and one for 6 people for the same restaurant on the same night? Or do I have to make one reservation and then call back and make the other? I'd rather be honest but I don't know how they feel about multiple reservations for the same night. Of course if I call back they can see what reservations I already made so this question might not make sense. What would you suggest?
 
I would make 1 ressie for 6 people. If your parents can't make it, no biggie just tell them when you get there it is now 4.
 
Can't you just make 1 reservation for 6 people and then if they show up, they show up, and if they don't you an still go, just with 2 fewer people than originally planned?
 
The system won't let you make two reservations for the same restaurant around the same time, on the same day. I agree with the others. Make one ressie for 6 people, then change it when you get there if it changes.
 

Agree with pp - make a ressie for 6 and if it ends up being only for 4 this will not be a problem.

Sue:goodvibes
 
I agree with the others to do one for 6. If you make two different reservations you are blocking another table for someone else that may want one and may not be able to get because you are holding two. The rumors are that with the new dining system you won't be able to make two anyway. I am sure people will find ways around that too but for now that is what we are hearing
 
No need to be sneaky at all. As others said, make the reservation for 6 and it's no big deal if just 4 show up.

Some restaurants require a credit card hold, but you'd definitely be better off making one reservation for 6 and having 2 not show up than making a reservation for 10 and having 4 definitely not show up and potentially 6 not show up if your mom and dad don't make it)

One one of our trips my sister had a kidney infection and couldn't join us for our first few days of vacation. We just showed up without her and it was never an issue.
 
I am in the same boat, we booked ALL our ADRs for 4 (with my mom being the 4th member) people and my mom is not sure if she is coming or not. If she does not decide to come I will just have to say my mom canceled the trip at the last minute or she is not feeling well or something. The CM on the phone told me I would have to call and change my ADRs if one member is missing, but seriously what if you did have an emergency where 1 person wasn't feeling well or had to cancel the tip? then you would lose out on your meals and the money you paid into the DDP (if you are on it).

What can I do? They would probably put us at a 4 top anyways so I dont see the big deal. I am not making any ADRs @ CRT or any of those places that require advance payment so hopefully we'll be ok.

I have also gotten the same advice, keep the ressies, you dont want to loose them. I thought of calling and making 2 sets but I also got the same advice you did.

Although last year my sis could not get out of bed for cape may cafe breakfast and we had ressies for 6 and w/o her we were 5 and they didn't say anything.
 
I also agree with the PP's to make it for 6. We were supposed to be at Disney right now :sad2: with my parents, but I had too much going on at work. They went on without DH and I and when they checked in at the restaurants just told them it was 2 instead of 4...no issues.
 
Our trip was supposed to be with the IL's but knowing them I didn't make all of our ADR's together for a party of 7.

I made tables of 4 for my family and then did tables of 3 in her name for them.

I'm glad I did that since they cancelled. Especially for Akershus and CRT!
 
Hmmmm....thanks for the advice but I wonder if there have been some policy changes. Last time we were at WDW a few years ago I had a reservation for 6 at the Sci Fi Diner. The folks couldn't make so as a courtesy I called to change our ADR to 4 people. We were told that we couldn't use our reservation for 6 and had to reschedule for a much earlier time that we didn't want.

I guess I'll book it for 6 and hope for the best.
 
Hmmmm....thanks for the advice but I wonder if there have been some policy changes. Last time we were at WDW a few years ago I had a reservation for 6 at the Sci Fi Diner. The folks couldn't make so as a courtesy I called to change our ADR to 4 people. We were told that we couldn't use our reservation for 6 and had to reschedule for a much earlier time that we didn't want.

I guess I'll book it for 6 and hope for the best.

That is what they'll tell you if you call - they want to put you at a smaller table. But if you show up with fewer people they're not going to turn you away. On our wedding trip last year we showed up at a couple of places 2 people short, and a couple 1 or 2 people over. They never said a word. I wouldn't try that somewhere like CRT, but most places are fine.
 
I am in the sort of the same boat. We are going to Disney in May, and my good friend lives in Orlando, and we want to spend the weekend with her, and her fiance. She works for Disney, so doesn't have to worry about park tickets. We made all our reservations for 3 people. My friend isn't 100% sure of their work schedule at that time. I talked to a CM at the Disney Dining Line, and she told me if we have one extra person show up, it wont be a problem because being a family of 3, they will put at us at a table for 4, but if we become a party of 5, they may not be able to sit us. She said if I made a reservation for 5, and wanted to change it to 3 that you can't do that. She said they would have to make a new reservation for 3, and their might not be anything available. She also said if there isn't a 5 top available when I make my ADR, I can make a reservation for 3, and another around the same time for 2, and they may be able to accomidate us. I don't want to eat at seperate tables though. So I am going to call, and try to see if I can change our reservations to 5. I am sure if they can't go, they will still seat us. I used to work at Disney, and saw the things that went on, so I am sure they wont deny us seating because we are missing 2 people. (I will just say they weren't feeling well) If we can't get a ADR for 5, I am just going to make one for a party of 2, and hope we can sit together. I will let the host know we don't mind waiting for awhile. If my friends are in the parks with us all day, I don't want to say, "oh we have to go eat now, see ya later!!". If I were you, I would just make the ADR for 6 people, and if 2 don't show up, oh well. I am sure they overbook for those reasons, and I am sure your not the only person that day in the same boat. I bet tons of people each day don't show up for their ADRs, and never canceled.
 
I'd make a reservation for 4 and have my parents make a reservation for 6. As soon as you know which one you are going to use cancel the other.

Yes, someone may call and be told there's no availability because you are holding two reservations, but if you show up with 4 instead of 6 you are taking away a reservation for a party of 5 or 6 which means less people get to eat there.
 
I'd make a reservation for 4 and have my parents make a reservation for 6. As soon as you know which one you are going to use cancel the other.

Yes, someone may call and be told there's no availability because you are holding two reservations, but if you show up with 4 instead of 6 you are taking away a reservation for a party of 5 or 6 which means less people get to eat there.

But making two reservations would tie up 10 spots instead of just 6
 
But making two reservations would tie up 10 spots instead of just 6

Only until they know what they are doing, then they (and whomever else gets the newly vacated ressie) use all 10 slots, producing the maximum use of the spots for both guests and Disney.
 
I'd make a reservation for four, and have the parents make a separate reservation for two (or the OP can do it for them, with their name and phone number, immediately after making hers), as close as possible in time to the OP's reservation.

Then, if all six go, they can ask to be seated together. If it's at all possible, the restaurant will comply.

If the parents don't go, someone can call back as soon as they know of the change in plans and cancel that reservation for two.
 


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