Getting ADRs for 'odd' number parties?

[LisaTN]

I keep reading that it's hard getting ADRs for odd numbered parties... of course in October there will be five of us.

Is this really turning out to be the case? Should I search for 6 instead of five? I've seen lots of reports on here that they were told no availability for their dates, but when they bumped up to an even number, ADRs appeared?

 

[Linda T.]

I didn't have any trouble booking 5 guests for our ADR's. I booked for July and got every restaurant I wanted. Good Luck!

 

[amomma23]

We're a family of 5. I had to make Chef Mickey's for 6, but had no problems with our other ADR.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

We are a family of three. Never had any issues making our ADRs.

 

[ktlm]

We've almost always had 3 or 5 on our trips and we have run into that issue on more than one occasion. Actually, the first time it happened was before online ADRs, and the telephone CM told me that she had nothing for me at 1900 Park Fare for a party of 5, but (hint hint) if I were to bring the "baby" (non-existent) and made a reservation for 6, she might be able to find something, and it wouldn't be any big deal if we decided the "baby" didn't feel like going to dinner when we got to WDW. When I said "Oh yes, I forgot about the baby, add her in", she laughed and said what time do you want because ANY time is open for a party of 6I've had luck switching to an even number online too. Most places we pick up ADRs for 3, but occasionally I have to put in an even number to get one.

Search for 5, and if you don't get the place or time you want, try 6 and see what happens.

 

[LisaTN]

thanks!! I'll definitely search for five first! If I don't see anything, we'll make it 6 and see what happens... I'm so happy for these boards.. I definitely feel more prepared with all my inside "Dis Board" info

 

[watkinsme]

My DD wants badly to go try the grey stuff at BOG - they had no tables for 6 or 5 but we ended up getting a table under my name for 3 (me and the girls) and a table for 2 under DH's name (for DH and DS) at the very same time slot

 

[Disney Obsession]

I couldn't get a BOG reservation for 5, but I was able to for 6. All of my other reservations (Hollywood & Vine, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, and T-Rex), I had no issue getting a table of 5. Good luck!

 

[figment_jii]

I've found that it's kind of hit or miss with "odd" versus "even'. My family is a party of three and sometimes I found reservations for three without a problem and other times I had to bump it up to four. I generally start with three and then if nothing comes up at the right time, I increase the party to four and try again.

 

[Wendy31]

We are a family of 5, & I was able to get every ADR I wanted on our 180+10 day - even Be our Guest.

That said, I was not able to get the times I wanted for Be our Guest, Crystal Palace, 'Ohana, & Sci-Fi.

I went ahead & booked the times available for a party of 5 on my 180+10 day. However, in the next couple of days, when I was checking the website for better times, I noticed there were more times available when I changed the party size to 6 - specifically Crystal Palace. There is an ADR available for the exact time I want for a party of 6.

I haven't changed any of our ADRs though, because I don't want to book for 6 & then be charged $10 when we only have 5 show up.

 

[figment_jii]

I haven't changed any of our ADRs though, because I don't want to book for 6 & then be charged $10 when we only have 5 show up.

You will not be charged the no show fee in this case. The no show fee is only applied if no one from your reservation shows up. As long as someone shows up for the reservation you'll be fine. I had this happen on my March trip (as well as other trips in the past). Just tell the CM at the podium that you're a party of five now and they'll seat you accordingly (most likely you'll be at a table for 6 anyway).

[Note: I've never done this for a fully pre-paid location, like CRT or HDDR, so I don't know how those venue work.]

 

[Pangela]

Our 180 +10 window opened this morning. We are a party of 5, although one of our party will only be 3 months, and we had no problem getting any of the reservations that we wanted including Be Our Guest for a party of 5 for the time and day we wanted. DH was also online at 6:00 am to book our reservations, but Be Our Guest wasn't our first ressie to grab. DH used the old booking website and had no problems. Good luck!

 

[AquaDame]

You will not be charged the no show fee in this case. The no show fee is only applied if no one from your reservation shows up. As long as someone shows up for the reservation you'll be fine. I had this happen on my March trip (as well as other trips in the past). Just tell the CM at the podium that you're a party of five now and they'll seat you accordingly (most likely you'll be at a table for 6 anyway).

[Note: I've never done this for a fully pre-paid location, like CRT or HDDR, so I don't know how those venue work.]

You can also book it, then call in and have them change them to 5 without losing the reservations. It is a silly system and I wish it weren't so.

 

[Wendy31]

You will not be charged the no show fee in this case. The no show fee is only applied if no one from your reservation shows up. As long as someone shows up for the reservation you'll be fine. I had this happen on my March trip (as well as other trips in the past). Just tell the CM at the podium that you're a party of five now and they'll seat you accordingly (most likely you'll be at a table for 6 anyway).

[Note: I've never done this for a fully pre-paid location, like CRT or HDDR, so I don't know how those venue work.]

Really? Hmm... that really makes me want to go snag that Crystal Palace ADR!

But I am still nervous... LOL!

 

[Wendy31]

You will not be charged the no show fee in this case. The no show fee is only applied if no one from your reservation shows up. As long as someone shows up for the reservation you'll be fine. I had this happen on my March trip (as well as other trips in the past). Just tell the CM at the podium that you're a party of five now and they'll seat you accordingly (most likely you'll be at a table for 6 anyway).

[Note: I've never done this for a fully pre-paid location, like CRT or HDDR, so I don't know how those venue work.]

You can also book it, then call in and have them change them to 5 without losing the reservations. It is a silly system and I wish it weren't so.

Now I'm even more tempted! Seriously? I can book for 6 & the call & change it to 5 w/o any problems?

 

[sjv919]

Now I'm even more tempted! Seriously? I can book for 6 & the call & change it to 5 w/o any problems?

You definitely can! Mine is almost always a party of 2 and sometimes/rarely to get a better time or what not I have to bump it up to 4, for some reason, and I've never had an issue taking 2 of the 4 off the ADR. Go for it!

 

[purple figment]

Now I'm even more tempted! Seriously? I can book for 6 & the call & change it to 5 w/o any problems?

You don't even need to call. When you check in just let the CM at the podium know that there are only 5 of you. If it's a restaurant with a credit card guarantee you won't be charged for the missing person. The only places I would call to have an accurate count is CRT or the dinner shows because they are prepaid meals and I want to be sure I'll get a refund for the "missing" person.

 

[just teachin]

Definitely try to bump your five to a six. I was stalking BOG for WEEKS (didn't book our trip until about 5 mos out) for a table for 3. Then I read here to try for a party of four and INSTANTLY got an ADR. I called a few weeks later and easily changed it from 4 to 3.

 

[Wendy31]

You will not be charged the no show fee in this case. The no show fee is only applied if no one from your reservation shows up. As long as someone shows up for the reservation you'll be fine. I had this happen on my March trip (as well as other trips in the past). Just tell the CM at the podium that you're a party of five now and they'll seat you accordingly (most likely you'll be at a table for 6 anyway).

[Note: I've never done this for a fully pre-paid location, like CRT or HDDR, so I don't know how those venue work.]

You definitely can! Mine is almost always a party of 2 and sometimes/rarely to get a better time or what not I have to bump it up to 4, for some reason, and I've never had an issue taking 2 of the 4 off the ADR. Go for it!

You don't even need to call. When you check in just let the CM at the podium know that there are only 5 of you. If it's a restaurant with a credit card guarantee you won't be charged for the missing person. The only places I would call to have an accurate count is CRT or the dinner shows because they are prepaid meals and I want to be sure I'll get a refund for the "missing" person.

Definitely try to bump your five to a six. I was stalking BOG for WEEKS (didn't book our trip until about 5 mos out) for a table for 3. Then I read here to try for a party of four and INSTANTLY got an ADR. I called a few weeks later and easily changed it from 4 to 3.

Oh my goodness!! I just did it!! I changed our party size to 6 & got the exact time I wanted for our Crystal Palace ADR!!

Thank you!!

(And I feel like I just got away w/ something! LOL!)

 

[Colleen27]

We've had a few issues where we couldn't get a table for 5 but could for 6 and one instance where we couldn't get an ADR for 7 but could for 8, but from what I've seen 1 is the worst. I almost always have to search for 2 to get any availability for my upcoming solo trip.