Changing reservation party

[Brer Kevin]

We will be at WDW in October and have all of our ADRs set up. We are arriving on Sunday and have a reservation at Sci-Fi for 3 people, but it turns out that one person in our party won't be able to make it that day.

I searched for a table of two on that day but nothing is available. I was wondering if anyone had been in a similar situation and if they were still charged with the $10 fee if one party member doesn't show up but the rest of the group is there. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[butterfly71076]

Not to worry, keep your reservation and when you get there just tell them 2 instead of 3. You will not be charged for the one person not being there. They only charge you if no one shows up. Have fun!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ADR "NO-SHOW" CANCELLATION FEES 411:
ALL Table Service eateries, both Disney-owned and non-Disney-owned are covered by this policy.
1) The rule says you are charged $10 per person for "no-show" ADR's.
. . . penalty applies when none of the party appears for the ADR
. . . penalty does not apply as long as some guests in party appear
2) The "no-show" penalty procedure
. . . podium person lists ADR as no-show (checks "On Hold" box in computer)
. . . usually after 30-minutes tardiness you are marked as a "no-show"
. . . once listed as "no-show", your name and number of your guests are listed
. . . the computer is reviewed by a manager at the end of the operating day
. . . the eatery manager SOLELY determines whether or not to charge you
. . . if charged, the cost penalty is on your credit/debit card immediately
. . . there are no exceptions for missing ADR's for such things as late flights
. . . if worried about late/delayed flights, don't book a TS meal until well after arrival time
. . . there are NO exceptons for being delayed due to crowded WDW rides or attractions
. . . it is up to you to plan you day to meet ADR times
. . . if you get there and decide not to wait for your ADR< you WILL be charged the no-show-fee
3) Exceptions - policy
. . . penalty is not assessed for cancellations made the day before ADR
. . . the ADR must be canceled by 11:59pm the previous day to avoid a no-show penalty
. . . for pre-paid meals, there are 24-48 hour cancel periods (eg. CRT, HDDR, Luau)
4) Exceptions - not policy, and at manager's discretion
. . . cancellations for lunch/dinner made early in the same day
. . . you come to the eatery ANYTIME during the same day and apologize
. . . a few minutes tardy, podium person usually will not denote you as "On Hold"
5) No-Show Penalty Trial Period Backstory
. . . this was done on a trial-basis for 4-weeks in Epcot
. . . cut down no-shows by over 75% at Epcot eateries
. . . Le Cellier cut daily no-shows to 1-page from 2-3 pages
. . . now a policy, as no-shows greatly can reduce eatery revenue
. . . a no-show takes a ressie someone else might have kept
. . . the policy was then trialled for character meals and signature meals
. . . being so successful, it is in effect for almost all table service meals across-the-property

NOTE: During busy periods, there might not be a grace period and late-is-late, and they
might even cancel your ADR. However, whether the ADR was canceled due to tardiness or
not, the penalty fee will not be imposed, as long as you showed at the podium.

 

[crostorfer]

I sometimes make reservations for different numbers of people, just to secure a reservation. Nothing crazy, like booking a party of 8 and showing up with 2. But I will routinely book for 4 people when there are just 2 of us, or book a party of 2 when there are 3 of us. It's never been an issue.

 

[lizard1]

You can also call and have them MODIFY the reservation so that you only have 2 people on it.

 

[purple figment]

I sometimes make reservations for different numbers of people, just to secure a reservation. Nothing crazy, like booking a party of 8 and showing up with 2. But I will routinely book for 4 people when there are just 2 of us, or book a party of 2 when there are 3 of us. It's never been an issue.

Disney takes fire code regulations seriously so while the castmembers at the podium will do their best to seat extra people not on the reservation there is always the outside chance that the extra person in your party will not be accommodated and will have to go elsewhere to eat so it is better to find a reservation that will include everyone. We were at a DW restaurant that would not seat anyone not on the reservation. The party was not happy, but they had to decide who in their group would get a CS dinner instead.

 

[Loves The Mouse]

Not to worry, keep your reservation and when you get there just tell them 2 instead of 3. You will not be charged for the one person not being there. They only charge you if no one shows up. Have fun!

That's what they did for us last year when my son was not feeling well for a breakfast, we didn't get charged. Also the night before one breakfast I was really ill and knew I wasn't able to get up early for a breakfast, my family didn't want to go with out me. We cancelled the night before and they didn't charge us. I think they just wanted to sleep in, and this was their excuse!!

 

[22Tink]

I sometimes make reservations for different numbers of people, just to secure a reservation. Nothing crazy, like booking a party of 8 and showing up with 2. But I will routinely book for 4 people when there are just 2 of us, or book a party of 2 when there are 3 of us. It's never been an issue.

They don't question it? I currently have a ressie for 5 but there are only 3 of us. It's all that was available. I'm feeling guilty having a bigger table when there are only 3 of us but I couldn't find a smaller table for us. I will keep checking for a smaller table though..

 

[butterfly71076]

I have never had anyone question it. When you check in, just tell them you will have 3 instead of 5. They will adjust table size for the size of your party, whatever is open. As far as I have noticed, they really don't care, as long as you are there for the reservation.