Dinning reservations ?

[dvcdenise]

How do you make reservations 11 months in advance when you may not know how many people will be on vacation with you. I choose a date then ask other people and my grown kids to go who would like to go. However I do not know a firm number when I need to make reservations. I do not want to make multiople reservations, but would not rule it out. How does Disney react if yow make a reservaion for 6 but only 4 show up or reservaion for 8 but only 6 show up. What would happen if reservation was for 4 and 6 showed up? I don't realy know what to do. What does everyone else do?

 

[erionm]

You can't make dining reservations 11 months out. You can begin to make dining reservations 180 days (approx 6 months) out.

 

[dvcdenise]

I stand corrected I was thing booking the room, but at 6 months I still have a dilemma.

 

[DizGirl20]

I have never been in this situation, but personally I would rather over-estimate than under-estimate. I would make reservations for who you think might come and then you can always call and reduce the numbers later. Seems like it would be easier to go from more to less than less to more. Hope I am making sense?

 

[castleri]

I made a room reservation last week and told the CM I was not certain if my DH would be coming also. She said just add him later if he decided to come. You can set it up for those you know will be coming and then call and add the others at a later date.

We have shown up at restaurants with one or two more or less than on the reservation and it has not been a problem but I don't think it would work if you are talking about going from 4 to 8 or something similar.

 

[Dean]

Make your best guess (most likely) and make a reservation for that number. IF you show up with less, they won't turn you away but if you show up with more than reserved, it can be a problem. The only issue then becomes the locations that require a CC. Even then you can make duplicates and cancel the applicable options once you know more.

The same issue holds for villas and is more complicated if your unit size may vary with your party size or you might borrow points you wouldn't need. Making duplicate or multiple reservations also works in this situation if you have enough points, you then cancel any necessary later.

 

[goofy4tink]

Make your best guess for any ADRS that you 'must' have. Then, depending on when you're going, you may be able to wait a bit longer before making any others. You may find that if it's a less busy time of year, you can wait until you have a better idea of who will be going.

 

[skelooch]

Please don't make multiple reservations for the same night at different restaurants, it may serve your needs but it will prevent others from obtaining theirs.
It's difficult enough already to get ADRs. And there are only a handful of restaurants left that are worthwhile due to watered down menus and quality of food because of the various dining plans, both paid and free.
All ADRs should require a CC, IMHO

 

[MrShiny]

I would make the dining reservation for the maximum number of guests and then change it once things are firm - even if you are calling a few days (or even hours) before, restaurants appreciate knowing.

Restaurants tend not to mind finding they have more seats as demand usually outstrips supply. Better to given them seats back hten try to get more!

Keep in mind the seating at restarants too. Most are 4 tops, which can seat 1,2,3 or 4. Next would be 6 tops. After that, many need to put tables together (which they won't do until you check in).

So if you are expanding reservations and still fit at the same type of table, it usually isn't a problem. That is reserving for 3 and then showing up with 4 or reserving for 5 and showing up with 6 isn't a big deal because it will probably be the same table. But reserving 4 and showing up with 6 could be a problem.

So best policy is reserve high and cancel when you know. If things fall apart at the last minute, don't fret too much. Your no-show just probably made the day of a walk-in!

 

[MrShiny]

Please don't make multiple reservations for the same night at different restaurants, it may serve your needs but it will prevent others from obtaining theirs.

Also, Disney may cancel them. Remember the brewhaha over that web site that booked multiple res in the castle and then doled them out to their subscribers (before you had to put a deposit down)?

The system is designed to accomodate a certain number of no-shows and a certain number of walk-ins based on the idea that most people book what they think they might need, so try to do that. I say book for the maximum you expect and modify the reservation after that if that changes.