Changing Party Size?

[jawa7400]

We are taking a multi family trip in 10 days and we've had one family have to cancel recently. Two of the families made a reservation for a party of 7 at SciFi for lunch. Another family is wanting to fill the open spots but it would change to a party of 8 (8th person would be a 3 year old). Do we need to call and change anything or just show up and it will be fine?

 

[beck00]

It's not guaranteed that they will seat you. There are many threads about this and the consensus is usually be prepared with a back-up plan. However, we had our party change from 7 to 8 before our Thanksgiving 2015 trip. I stayed on top of the reservations until I was able to add the newbie to most of our ADRs, and Disney was very accommodating to us for the ones I couldn't get an additional spot for. We approached each of those and nicely asked if there was any way to add one more, always stating we understood if we would need to wait. BOG lunch, Hollywood & Vine dinner, and 'Ohana Thanksgiving dinner were all fabulous about it!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Have you tried changing the ADR to 8?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Do we need to call and change anything or just show up and it will be fine?

THE QUESTION OF AN EXTRA PERSON or EXTRA PEOPLE (the "411"):
1) Disney is getting wise to the "but, they decided to join us" or "I miscounted".
2) People can't always get the ADR they want.
3) So, they under-count to get a table.
4) Then, they show up with "unexpected" additional people.
5) In a team meeting, CM's have been told to warn guests against this.
6) If there is room, WDW will not turn away revenue.
7) But, if busy, they will turn away the additions.
8) Go ahead and arrive with the extras, if you like.
9) Just be prepared to have someone stand around while you eat.
10) I have heard explanations such as . . .
. . . "but, Aunt Suzy decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, two friends from off-site decided to join us and we need two extra seats"
. . . "but, brother-in-law decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, the entire Boy Scout Troop decided to join us and we need 14 extra sets"
. . . "but, my baby is so small that I didn't count her in the number of eaters"
.
NOTE1: It is far easier going from an odd-number to an even number, such as from 7-people to 8-people, adding a person to an even number of diners, such as going from 6-people to 7-people. Adding odd person can mean adding a table, and this might not be possible. Going from an odd-to-even might only mean adding a chair or using an empty seat. So, if going from even-to-odd, you might not get the extra person a seat. It is always better to get another ADR with the proper people-count.
.
NOTE2: Frequently a party-of-two will try to add a third person at the podium. This can be risky, because many eateries do have tables-for-two. If the guest was slated for one of these, there simply might not be a table available to seat the third person - even if an infant. The extra chair location might extend into an aisle and block access for other guests or Servers.
.
NOTE3: Sometimes it is a threesome adding a fourth. Unfortunately, there are many eateries that do have 3-top tables - usually against a wall or pillar. They can't add a fourth chair, since that would invade the aisle and be unsafe for SERVERS.
.
NOTE4: The final question is that of how many people are in the eatery. There are Fire Codes
which dictate the maximum amount of people. If the capacity is exceeded, there are some big
fines possible. And, Disney will not violate the max-capacity of an eatery.

 

[jawa7400]

THE QUESTION OF AN EXTRA PERSON or EXTRA PEOPLE (the "411"):
1) Disney is getting wise to the "but, they decided to join us" or "I miscounted".
2) People can't always get the ADR they want.
3) So, they under-count to get a table.
4) Then, they show up with "unexpected" additional people.
5) In a team meeting, CM's have been told to warn guests against this.
6) If there is room, WDW will not turn away revenue.
7) But, if busy, they will turn away the additions.
8) Go ahead and arrive with the extras, if you like.
9) Just be prepared to have someone stand around while you eat.
10) I have heard explanations such as . . .
. . . "but, Aunt Suzy decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, two friends from off-site decided to join us and we need two extra seats"
. . . "but, brother-in-law decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, the entire Boy Scout Troop decided to join us and we need 14 extra sets"
. . . "but, my baby is so small that I didn't count her in the number of eaters"
.
NOTE1: It is far easier going from an odd-number to an even number, such as from 7-people to 8-people, adding a person to an even number of diners, such as going from 6-people to 7-people. Adding odd person can mean adding a table, and this might not be possible. Going from an odd-to-even might only mean adding a chair or using an empty seat. So, if going from even-to-odd, you might not get the extra person a seat. It is always better to get another ADR with the proper people-count.
.
NOTE2: Frequently a party-of-two will try to add a third person at the podium. This can be risky, because many eateries do have tables-for-two. If the guest was slated for one of these, there simply might not be a table available to seat the third person - even if an infant. The extra chair location might extend into an aisle and block access for other guests or Servers.
.
NOTE3: Sometimes it is a threesome adding a fourth. Unfortunately, there are many eateries that do have 3-top tables - usually against a wall or pillar. They can't add a fourth chair, since that would invade the aisle and be unsafe for SERVERS.
.
NOTE4: The final question is that of how many people are in the eatery. There are Fire Codes
which dictate the maximum amount of people. If the capacity is exceeded, there are some big
fines possible. And, Disney will not violate the max-capacity of an eatery.

Very helpful, thank you! We called and tried to change from 7 to 8 and they couldn't accommodate as they were full. Both parties will show up and see if it's possible, but we won't count on it. If it isn't possible, my add-on party of 4 will go somewhere else and I guess a walk-up party of 3 will feel very lucky! I'm not too worried, just understanding my options.

 

[jawa7400]

Very helpful, thank you! We called and tried to change from 7 to 8 and they couldn't accommodate as they were full. Both parties will show up and see if it's possible, but we won't count on it. If it isn't possible, my add-on party of 4 will go somewhere else and I guess a walk-up party of 3 will feel very lucky! I'm not too worried, just understanding my options.

Thought of something else... If their ADR is for 7 but they only come with a party of 4 because the new party of 4 can't be accommodated, will they be charged the no-show cost for the original 3 party members?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thought of something else... If their ADR is for 7 but they only come with a party of 4 because the new party of 4 can't be accommodated, will they be charged the no-show cost for the original 3 party members?

No. Only if everyone walks.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I love these threads. Keep em coming. A troop of thirty five people showed up at BoatWrights one night we were there. It was the first time I ever saw CM's seat a random party that large anywhere without an ADR. The restaurant was empty.