CRT - Table for 5 vs Table for 6

[Bearvet]

I can make our ADRs on the dreaded Oct. 27 for our Feb. trip. We have never eaten in the castle before and would like to do it this trip. I've been playing around with the online system so I'm prepared for Tuesday LOL. I'm hoping to get an early (8:05 AM) ADR.

There will be 5 of us - when I put in 5 people, I get a 9:10 time slot. Just for ha-has I put in 6 people (same date) and got the 8:05. We are staying off-site, so paying OOP, so I know my CC will be charged. Should I make the ADR for 6 people at the time I want? Can I cancel 1 person later and still keep our ADR time? It's important to us to get the early ADR if possible.
Thanks for your help!

 

[ktlm]

If you can get the time you want with 6, but not 5 (common at WDW), make your imaginary person (No. 6) an infant or 2 year old who would be free. That way you can have the earlier time without any additional fee. They don't let you call and change the number of people on an ADR- you have to completely rebook based on what is then available for your party number. When I couldn't get an ADR for 5 at 1900 on our last trip, the CM (pre-online booking) strongly hinted that if I could "find" an extra person or "baby" we could add, I would have my choice of times. I said- Oh yes we are 6 people then and she laughed and happily gave us the exact time I was looking for.

 

[princesslover]

If you can get the time you want with 6, but not 5 (common at WDW), make your imaginary person (No. 6) an infant or 2 year old who would be free. That way you can have the earlier time without any additional fee. They don't let you call and change the number of people on an ADR- you have to completely rebook based on what is then available for your party number. When I couldn't get an ADR for 5 at 1900 on our last trip, the CM (pre-online booking) strongly hinted that if I could "find" an extra person or "baby" we could add, I would have my choice of times. I said- Oh yes we are 6 people then and she laughed and happily gave us the exact time I was looking for.

This was not my experience at all. I booked two extra people (infants) for Akershus. I called and spoke with a CM to ask if I could have them taken off. I was completely honest and told her I added them on purpose to get the reservation. She happily took them off for me, and I went back in later and confirmed that we were down to a reservation of 4. I also asked her if we would have been charged had they not been there, and she said yes there still would have been a fee for anyone who did not show. I didn't ask what it was, but I think it's like $10pp. Ironically, I ended up cancelling this reservation in favor of a breakfast instead, so it was all a moot point for me.

If you think about it, of course they have to be willing to take them off...what if someone gets sick or changes their mind? It happens all the time. But it is not true that infants can be added on and not charged for..at least according to the CM I spoke with.