Does 2 people vs 3 people really matter? & Chef Mickey question

[Aurora Belle]

My mother-in-law recently decided to join my husband and I on our Disney trip in December. I added her to our reservation so she could get the free dining. I already had all of our reservations booked, so I had to change them all to add a third person. There were only two that did not have any availability for 3 people: Le Cellier on 12/12 at 5:45pm and Chef Mickeys on 12/10 at 10:20 am. The reservation specialist looked at other times too. But does it matter if we update the reservation? Could we just show up with an extra person? My husband and I are almost always seated at tables for four people anyway. Also, at Le Cellier the current reservation is for three people because my dad will be joining us. I doubt that they have a three person only table.

My other question is about Chef Mickeys. I reserved a later time for breakfast, 10:20am, with the hope that it would be less crowded and we would have some one-on-one time with the charaters, yet there is no availability to change the reservation. Is Chef Mickey's really that crowded all morning?

Any advise on this is greatly appreciated.

 

[mickeyfan1973]

I'm anxious to hear a reply to this, as I have the same problem for Chef Mickey's. I have reserved for 3 adults and 3 children (1 of which is considered an infant and will still require a highchair), but I made these ressie's before I knew my friend's mom would be joining us. I have tried to make a change...but no luck. So I'm thinking if we just show up with an extra person....would they turn us away? I can't imagine they wouldn't be able to accomodate one more person at a table for 6 (or even 3 in your case).

 

[ElementCamper]

Can you 'show up' with an extra person? It really depends on how the restaurant is setup.

Restaurant tables can be what's called a '2 top' or '4 top' where a 2 top seats only two people, 4 top seats 4.

If your reservation is for 2 and the restaurant has combination of 2 and 4 tops, you may have been preassigned to a 2 top, a 4 top may not be available.

Parties of 3 are assigned a 4 top, so an extra seat will 'probably' be available.

It really depends and you are taking chances by not calling and changing the reservation. You may be accomodated or be disappointed by not being able to be seated at all or more likely since it is Disney after all, they will try to accomodate you but it will require a much longer wait for an available table.

 

[Straughn]

It does make a difference. While you may have been lucky getting to sit at a 4-top with only two people, that doesn't always happen. If they have you assigned to a 2-top, then they can't add a third person. If you are at a 4-top than they can. Unfortunately, the table assignment is done when you check in, not when you make the ADR. The ADR folks are looking at the total number of reservations for a particular time factoring in the table configurations at the restaurant, the size of other parties, , and if adding an extra person would throw that out of whack, they will tell you they don't have room. You can always show up and hope for the best, but I wouldn't count on it if it is a busy night.

The one I don't get is why I can't get a table for one at a particular time, but I can get a table for two. Go figure that one.

I am sure that table seating is a fine science in the restaurant business and that there is more to it than the # of people that a table can seat. Maybe we will hear from a restaurant person who really knows how this all works.

 

[MouseMomx2]

You cannot, in general, expect to show up with more people than you reserved for and be seated but this is especially true at Le Cellier and Chef Mickeys which are two of the hardest-to-get ADRs at WDW. It may work out and it may not but there is definitely a very good chance of being told that it is not possible to seat you. If you're willing to get there and have them tell you no then give it a try. Otherwise, keep trying to get an ADR for all of your or come up with some other plan for that meal.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

The ONLY time I have seen this work is when you are a party of ONE, and change it to a party of TWO at the last minute.
That is only because a solo person is usually seated at a table for two anyway.

 

[Darcy03231]

When we were at Coral Reef last fall the party ahead of us showed up with 1 extra person and they were told they couldn't accomodate them. They did offer to see what other restaurants had availability for their party size.

 

[Pakey]

There is just no way of predicting ahead of time; it will depend on how busy they are.

I know, from personal experience, that the one time we tried showing up with an extra person, they were not able to accommodate us. This was at Whispering Canyon Cafe on a Saturday night.

 

[aviva5675]

I had been trying off an on to get an 8pm ressie for WPC after La Nouba, for 3 people. I was only able to get 830. Finally I tried to get a ressie for 4 people at 8pm--and --voila, no problem. Which doesnt make sense to me because 3 people should be at a table 'for four' anyway...It's not great-showing up with 3 people, but we were able to get the time we wanted, and it shouldnt make a table size difference.

 

[djp0630]

You can show up, but don't be disappointed if it is turned down. Le Cellier and Chef Mickey's are 2 of the busiest restaurants at WDW.

I was just at Chef Mickey's for breakfast on Saturday, yes, it is busy all morning. I was there from 8:30- 10 or so.

 

[onelilspark]

We did it at Chef Mickey's a couple years ago without a problem...it was actualy suggested to us by a CM.

And my cousin used to be a hostess at a Disney restaurant. She recommends just showing up with your extra person. It's easier for the restaurant to accomidate you than it is to reschedule. It helps if you show up early and let the host(ess) know that you are willing to wait.