Have to search every party size?

[DisMommyTX]

Hi, plans changed four months out from our Dec trip so I am still trying to get some of our reservations. Of course, BOG is the most elusive. I am trying to find lunch or dinner on either of two days. Our party really has 7 interested, but even a reservation for 3 will let me take in the youngest girls. We will just decide who attends based on reservation size, assuming I ever snag one. So, I have been searching every party size individually 3-7 people, for both meals on both days.

Is this necessary, or can I just search the smallest party? If party of 4 shows no availability, is it possible to find a party of 6? Or, would an availability for 7 also show up as available for 6, 5, 4, and 3? I hope that makes sense!

Also, does anyone know of a better search interface? I thought I used to use one that would search over multiple days, but I can't find anything other than the individual search and the one to find all available restaurants at a certain time.

20 individual searches, multiple times per day is making it all a bit less magical.

 

[purple figment]

Since BOG is the hardest reservation to find, you need to find a reservation for the maximum number of people in your group that MIGHT attend. So for a group of 7 you should start with 7 (then 8) since either group size will probably be seated at the same size table. If you cannot find a 7 or 8, you can look for a smaller group size (e.g. a party of 4 and 3) at times that are close, but the second reservation will need to be booked in another person's name and MDE account. If you get 2 reservations for lunch you can sit together because everyone seats themselves. When you check in at dinner, you can ask the castmembers at the podium if you can be seated together and they will do their best to seat you together or nearby.

If you find a table for 7 and fewer decide to eat, you will not be charged the no show fee for the missing people as long as at least one person shows up for the reservation. On the other hand, not everyone may be seated if you only find a reservation for 4 and all 7 of you decide to dine at BOG.

Edited: If you look for a party of 4 the system will only look for a table that will fit up to 4 people. The system wants to fill every seat at the table so it is not going to look for a 8 top if you input party of 4. If you want a table for 7 or 8 you need to look for a table for that size party. Even if the system shows no availability for a 4 top, there might be an 8 top available.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I think you are doing what you have to do. From what I can tell, the system is set up by table size (we have 3 tables for 4 people, 2 tables for 6 people...). For LUNCH, if you are able to find smaller reservations close in time - even for 1 or 2 people - you can use those. The first person in the door can just look for a table big enough for everyone.

There were third parties that had more flexible searches, but I think they have all been shut down.