Does everyone in the party have to be present to be seated? How flexible are they?

[WaDiWo]

Hi all! I understand in general all members of the party must be present in order to be seated for a dining reservation, and that's appropriate. However how flexible are they with some circumstances? We have an ADR for a party of 4 but one member might not be sure until last minute.

 

[mouschievous]

Are you concerned that they may not show up at all, or that they may show up late? As long as at least 1 person shows up, you're good. When you check in they ask how many people. We had a couple times that we ended up being fewer people than expected and no one cared.

 

[WaDiWo]

Are you concerned that they may not show up at all, or that they may show up late? As long as at least 1 person shows up, you're good. When you check in they ask how many people. We had a couple times that we ended up being fewer people than expected and no one cared.

Concerned that he'll be late depending on his schedule that day. We were just afraid that the rest of us 3 would have to wait. I always figured with a party of 3 or 4 it would be a 4-top table anyway so wouldn't be much change. Versus say a table for 4 vs a table for 5.

 

[mouschievous]

Concerned that he'll be late depending on his schedule that day. We were just afraid that the rest of us 3 would have to wait. I always figured with a party of 3 or 4 it would be a 4-top table anyway so wouldn't be much change. Versus say a table for 4 vs a table for 5.

Gotchya. I know when we were there they always asked if everyone in our party was present. I don't know what would have happened if we'd said no. Sorry I can't help!

 

[purpliequeen]

Here now and dined at several restaurants. Seems to be that they ask for entire party to be present prior to seating. However, given the circumstances, I feel like some restaurants might be more flex. For instance, Beaches and Cream is always packed and the host area tends to be staffed by surly folks. I can imagine them being picky there. Same with signature restaurants.

That being said, the larger restaurants that we’ve dined at like Grand Floridian Cafe and Morimoto seem more laid back and easy going… can’t imagine they’d be difficult given the situation you’re describing.

 

[Malcon10t]

I've had them seat me with out the entire party and I've had them have us wait until everyone is there. Depends on the host/hostess. (I've had both situations at the same restaurant in the same weekend.). Just be prepared that 3 of you will need to wait. This is for Disneyland.

 

[shosh1530]

We had a reservation at Blue Bayou in late January. Two of our friends were still walking into the park. I thought they'd be right there, so I went ahead and did the online check in. But they took longer than expected and the host stand would not seat us. They slight scolded me for checking in on the app and said now we'd have to wait longer for the table (making me think they were going to give it to someone else).

So in our case they would not seat us without everyone right there. Our friends showed up 5 minutes later and they did seat us right away.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think "it depends." We were at Disneyland yesterday, Cafe Orleans, and for a group of 9 (two tables that they combined), we all had to be there before they seated us. We waited 15 minutes while part of our group were stuck on attractions.

 

[Malcon10t]

I think "it depends." We were at Disneyland yesterday, Cafe Orleans, and for a group of 9 (two tables that they combined), we all had to be there before they seated us. We waited 15 minutes while part of our group were stuck on attractions.

MOST of the time, everyone has to be there.

 

[HashberryOTG]

Generally, they do expect everyone to be there. It prevents half of the party showing up half way through the meal, which is more awkward for planning, as well as turning the table. They may grant you some pixie dust and seat you, but be prepared for the 'whole party must be there' to be upheld.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I

Concerned that he'll be late depending on his schedule that day. We were just afraid that the rest of us 3 would have to wait. I always figured with a party of 3 or 4 it would be a 4-top table anyway so wouldn't be much change. Versus say a table for 4 vs a table for 5.

It's not so much about the extra seat, it's the longer table times if he starts his order 30 minutes after yours with turnaround, kitchen timing, etc. I'm a seater at WDW and we're pretty strict about entire party being there and servers get upset with us if we seat partial parties! That being said, if you can tell them you'll order for the person if you look at the menu ahead of time and it's only 1 person, I usually seat them![/QUOTE]

 

[ktlm]

Most places they will not seat you until your entire party is there. We had a situation at DLR where we had checked in and were waiting and DD and I ran to the bathroom and they called the table while we were gone and would not seat DH even though he told them we were there and were just in the bathroom. Someone else was given our table and we had to wait for another one- it didn't take too long that time though. We've had had the same thing happen at WDW twice. I remember the WDW ones distinctly because once we were at San Angel Inn and the bathroom is basically right next to the waiting area- we had been waiting a while for a table already when DD and I went to the restroom and then because we were in the bathroom they wouldn't seat DH even though he told them we were right there in the bathroom and we had to wait 20 minutes for another table!!! We walked out of the bathroom right as they were grabbing another party and giving them our table- literally about one minute after telling DH they wouldn't seat us. DH was furious. The other time we were at Biergarten and DD and I had gone inside the restaurant to go to the bathroom while DH waited outside the restaurant for them to call the table and they wouldn't seat him when the table was called even though DD and I were inside the restaurant while he was outside at the check in stand. Now he won't let us go to the bathroom until we get a table no matter how long it takes (so basically instead of just being a minute late to the table - we have to wait to get the table and then slow things down at least 5 minutes or more by immediately leaving the table for DD to go to the restroom). Sounds like you may be worried your person is not coming at all? That is different, you can check in for a 4 person table and say only 3 of you are dining and the other is not coming. You won't be charged for one person not showing up- only if no one shows up.