flame suit on!!!

[pooch]

Ok, Called at 180 days and all I could get for a party of 2 for Coral Reef was 8PM. Called several more times with no luck. One more try and CM gave me a much better time then, OOPS that's not for 2 people. 2 people- 8PM.

We have to get up at 4AM for our flight and waiting until 8PM for dinner was going to be tough!!! So I called back & asked for a party of 3 & got exactly the time I wanted, in fact I could have ANY time I wanted!! SO I TOOK IT!! This is my third Sept trip in a row and I deserve it

 

[daisy112878]

This is one thing I don't understand about WDW restaurants. All the restaurants where I live no matter how nice takes your reservation no matter the party size if they have that time open. Sometimes you get seated at a 2 person table sometimes at a 4 person table. But you called first before a 3 or more party called so your 2 party reservation gets the table. Why can't WDW do this too? It sucks for us that only have 2 people.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Its weird that they would make you wait for a party of two. It should be first call first serve..

 

[willis37862]

No flames from me. I also believe it should be first come first serve. You called and they had available tables at the time you wanted they should have given you one. Hope you enjoy your dinner

 

[pooch]

I feel less guilty!

 

[LilyWDW]

This is one thing I don't understand about WDW restaurants. All the restaurants where I live no matter how nice takes your reservation no matter the party size if they have that time open. Sometimes you get seated at a 2 person table sometimes at a 4 person table. But you called first before a 3 or more party called so your 2 party reservation gets the table. Why can't WDW do this too? It sucks for us that only have 2 people.

Disney doesn't do it just by time slots, they do it based on the tables available. So lets say they have:

5 tables for 1-2
13 tables for 3-4
9 tables for 5-6
2 tables for 7+

Once those 5 tables are gone for a specific time period the system will show with no availability for a party of 2. Now, lets say turn over is an even hour. Not all of those tables will be available for every hour as when people call, they may request a time on the :15 or :30 of the hour.

Since Disney knows it can fill all those tables for 3-4 with parties of 3-4, then it would be a "waste" to allow it to be booked for a party of 2.

I see nothing wrong with what you did. We booked for 3 last May because we actually THOUGHT we would have 3. We never waited longer after telling them it would only be two, but we never were seated at a table for more then two.

 

[sandym718]

I totally agree! I guess it's the "we'll make more $$ if we fill every possible single seat strategy" and I guess it works for them, b/c they're making a boatload. But, it does seem unfair - especially b/c parties of 3 (or 5, etc.) are not restricted to only getting ADR's for tables that seat 3 -they are sat at tables for 4. I don't get why 2's (or, I'm assuming, singles? Is that right?) can only be sat at 2-tops. I've never known another restaurant that does this, but maybe some do - in major tourist areas? Anyone know? Seems unfair to me.

ETA- I posted at same time as above poster. I just wanted to add this - yes, it might be waste to seat 2 at a table for 4, but it still is to seat 3 there. I think first call, first served is more fair.

 

[pixie08]

No flames here...I feel your pain. It is usually just DH and I and we have to deal with that as well. Should be first come first serve!

 

[Haley]

I've even had Disney CM's suggest this.

I was making an ADR for CRT for 5 people and the CM said "yes, I have a table for 4" and I said "oh, I said 5", and she said "Uh huh, should I book your table for 4 for you?" I caught on and said ok, sounds good and we both laughed.

 

[KatMark]

We stopped at City Hall to change a ressie on our last trip. We wanted to change a dinner from 5:30 to 7:30. All they had were tables of 3 and the CM gave our name for the 7:30 time. He said to us, "when you show up, just say one of the party decided not to join you."

 

[lindakmonty]

no flames here!

a lot of people make adr's that they don't even use and people show up w/a different # than their adr's are for all the time...if they have a table that will be close, they should book you in that slot! if saying 3 makes it work for you, I'd do it too ! If you're at a table for 4...then you won't be so cramped anyway

 

[davinakb]

I've even had Disney CM's suggest this.... I was making an ADR for CRT for 5 people and the CM said "yes, I have a table for 4" and I said "oh, I said 5", and she said "Uh huh, should I book your table for 4 for you?" I caught on and said ok, sounds good and we both laughed.

Hee! No flames from me either. In fact I may try that for future bookings, ask for table for 3, then 2 and finesse the system to get what I really want. After experiencing similar situations booking, trying to add on person or drop one person, blah blah we also just show up either one person short or one person over, without any issue. I remember a particular annoyance with booking Narcoosees about a month in advance, wanted to add one to our 4 top making a party of 5; was told no time until 2 hours after our existing ADR. Kept the ADR for 4 people, walked in with 5, was sat immediately with no problem... and noticed empty tables most of the night. FWIW.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yep, count me in the no flame throwing category! I just have to laugh a bit, the things we have to go through to eat at WDW! Have a nice dinner at Coral Reef!

 

[septbaby]

I think at 180 you're too far out to know. I think things tend to adjust closer to the trip. That's what happened for us(party of 3). I'd call back much closer to your trip and try to book a table for 2. Also did you try for a late lunch? We ended up having lunch and loved the meal. Since you have such an early start a late lunch might be nice. You could get in a bit more park time, have the one last WDW snack and call it a night.

 

[centurythree]

I don't have a problem with Disney's strategy--in fact, it sounds like a policy I'd propose.

But, I also don't have a problem with you booking for an extra person "just in case." I think you did the right thing.

So based on an earlier post, it looks like Disney uses tables that seat four for parties of three. Therefore, it should never be an issue to add a fourth person to an existing reservation for three, right?

 

[kim_o]

Ok, Called at 180 days and all I could get for a party of 2 for Coral Reef was 8PM. Called several more times with no luck. One more try and CM gave me a much better time then, OOPS that's not for 2 people. 2 people- 8PM.

We have to get up at 4AM for our flight and waiting until 8PM for dinner was going to be tough!!! So I called back & asked for a party of 3 & got exactly the time I wanted, in fact I could have ANY time I wanted!! SO I TOOK IT!! This is my third Sept trip in a row and I deserve it

I did the same thing...so no flaming here (booked for 6 instead of 5)

 

[kim_o]

I don't have a problem with Disney's strategy--in fact, it sounds like a policy I'd propose.

But, I also don't have a problem with you booking for an extra person "just in case." I think you did the right thing.

So based on an earlier post, it looks like Disney uses tables that seat four for parties of three. Therefore, it should never be an issue to add a fourth person to an existing reservation for three, right?

I know that's not the case for 5. Some of my reservations I could add an extra person and some of them had to be changed because I was at a table that only took a maximum of 5.

 

[disnut8]

Not flaming here but if all the parties of two start calling and asking for seatings for three or four, then all the tables for two won't be utilized. So a family of four will possibly shut out. And then the tables for four inside the restaurant will only have two at each.

It's just my husband and me so I can understand why people are inclined to do this. I just hope that I'm not denying a family of four a chance at that restaurant.

On the other hand, since it's just the two of us, I've had great luck at calling for same day reservations for two and getting them for just a few hours away.

 

[willis37862]

Not flaming here but if all the parties of two start calling and asking for seatings for three or four, then all the tables for two won't be utilized. So a family of four will possibly shut out. And then the tables for four inside the restaurant will only have two at each.

That makes sense. I think you should only enlarge the size of your party if you are unable to get a table at a time within reason of what you wanted.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Not flaming here but if all the parties of two start calling and asking for seatings for three or four, then all the tables for two won't be utilized. So a family of four will possibly shut out. And then the tables for four inside the restaurant will only have two at each.

It's just my husband and me so I can understand why people are inclined to do this. I just hope that I'm not denying a family of four a chance at that restaurant.

On the other hand, since it's just the two of us, I've had great luck at calling for same day reservations for two and getting them for just a few hours away.

Well, I think what's happening is that people call up and ask for a reservation for two and if there's none available, they ask about a reservation for 3 or 4. I understand the logic behind it, but I think all tables should be on a first come, first serve basis.