Have ADR for six @ Chef Mickey's. What happens if I show up w/ seven?

[madelyn]

A couple of months ago we didn't know whether my brother would be able to come on our trip with us. At that time, I was only able to get a reservation for six at Chef Mickey's but went w/ it since it would have been fine if my brother couldn't make the trip. I also made an ADR at Crystal Palace that was for all of us if my brother could make the trip. My brother is able to come along so today I called Disney Dining expecting that they could add an additional person to our reservation. It was only one more and 2 in our party are smaller kids. She could not add the additional person. So what should I do? Wait until a few days before the reservation and call again? Show up at the Chef Mickey's with one more additional person? Our other choices are to go w/ Crystal Palace or maybe see if my brother and sister are willing to take our kids to Chef Mickey's while DH and I have dinner @ The Wave.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

Just show up, they'll seat all of you.

 

[madelyn]

Thanks. Good to know. My thought was that it wouldn't be hard to add an extra chair to a table for six. It wasn't like I made the reservation for four and was showing up with seven.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just show up, they'll seat all of you.

Bad advice! Going from 6 to 7 people means the OP will need a bigger table. There is no guarantee one will be available. Just showing up with an extra guest is a huge chance to take. Most tables are so close together there is no room to just pull up another chair.

OP--You need to keep calling and see if they can add your extra person, or see if you can make an ADR for 1 at roughly the same time, and then ask to be seated together. Showing up with an extra person should be your last resort! Disney can only seat your extra person if they have room, and if the restaurant isn't already at capacity. And Chef Mickeys is usually booked full.

If worst comes to worst, show up with your extra guests extra early for your ADR and explain the situation. They MAY be able to seat everyone. But it is by no means a given thing.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

Well, I'm only giving advice based on my experience. I've always made ressies for the amount of people in my party, but sometimes, someone is sick or decided to do something else and I've shown up with LESS people and I've never had a problem.

Other times, friends or family happen to be in WDW at the same time, and will decide to join us and so we would be MORE people and still, I've never had a problem.

Just my opinion and advice based on my experiences in WDW since 1986.

 

[maxiesmom]

Showing up with less is easy, showing up with more is a bit harder. And while Disney will do what they can (they like to make us all happy, after all) there is no guarantee they will be able to seat an extra guest. It is best not to tell someone they will for sure be seated, when that is not always the case. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are not.

My advice is to try and change your ADR to the true number, and just show up with an extra as a last resort. Hopefully if it comes to that, you will get an extra bit of Disney magic and your guest will be more than welcome. But then, I've only been going to WDW since 1996, so maybe I'm wrong

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

Showing up with less is easy, showing up with more is a bit harder. And while Disney will do what they can (they like to make us all happy, after all) there is no guarantee they will be able to seat an extra guest. It is best not to tell someone they will for sure be seated, when that is not always the case. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are not.

My advice is to try and change your ADR to the true number, and just show up with an extra as a last resort. Hopefully if it comes to that, you will get an extra bit of Disney magic and your guest will be more than welcome. But then, I've only been going to WDW since 1996, so maybe I'm wrong

LOL...you're certainly not wrong! That's good advice

 

[purple figment]

Showing up with less is easy, showing up with more is a bit harder. And while Disney will do what they can (they like to make us all happy, after all) there is no guarantee they will be able to seat an extra guest. It is best not to tell someone they will for sure be seated, when that is not always the case. Sometimes you are lucky, sometimes you are not.

My advice is to try and change your ADR to the true number, and just show up with an extra as a last resort. Hopefully if it comes to that, you will get an extra bit of Disney magic and your guest will be more than welcome. But then, I've only been going to WDW since 1996, so maybe I'm wrong

Definitely do everything you can to have a res for the correct number of diners. Go online multiple times a day starting now to see if a table for 7 or even 1 opens up. Since it's a cc guarantee restaurant people will cancel if they change their plans.

It's true CMs will do everything they can to seat all of you, but you will need a larger table when going from 6 to 7 people so it's not a matter of just "pull up another chair" especially in a restaurant where the characters, guests and servers all need to move around at the same time.

If you're going at a peak time or the restaurant is busy, they can turn away the extra person. We saw that happen at Le Cellier, so while it probably doesn't happen too often, it's best not to assume that it'll never happen.

It's good that you have a couple of back up plans just in case CM doesn't work out, but I hope you'll all be able to eat there.