Help please!!

[wrmiller13]

So, going to Disney Nov19th till the 25th. Travelling with a party of 8 ( us, 3 bios, 1 adopted and 2 little foster peeps) but suddenly coming to the realization that our other little foster peep may not have transitioned home by then after speaking with bio parents today ( services haven't been started, missed appointments, haven't obtained stable housing...) I already have all my dining set up for the week for a party of 8. Now seeing that we may have him with us, I went in to change party to 9...lol, no luck at all! Of course!! He will be 18 months at time of trip. I am wondering if it would be possible to,just add a high chair to the end of our table of 8? I know it might get in the way....wondering if I can call the individual restaurants and at least ask if that is possible? Or, lol, am I just out of luck,and need to see what i can get now for party of 9? Thanks!!

 

[ThistleMae]

So, going to Disney Nov19th till the 25th. Travelling with a party of 8 ( us, 3 bios, 1 adopted and 2 little foster peeps) but suddenly coming to the realization that our other little foster peep may not have transitioned home by then after speaking with bio parents today ( services haven't been started, missed appointments, haven't obtained stable housing...) I already have all my dining set up for the week for a party of 8. Now seeing that we may have him with us, I went in to change party to 9...lol, no luck at all! Of course!! He will be 18 months at time of trip. I am wondering if it would be possible to,just add a high chair to the end of our table of 8? I know it might get in the way....wondering if I can call the individual restaurants and at least ask if that is possible? Or, lol, am I just out of luck,and need to see what i can get now for party of 9? Thanks!!

What is your question?

 

[wrmiller13]

Has this ever happened to anyone? Can I,just ask them to,stick him in a high chair at end of table? Should I call restaurant individually and ask if they can make it work? Or....am i just out of luck,and need to start over with a party of 9? Looking for guidance on how to handle unexpected, but beloved, extra small dining guest.

 

[wrmiller13]

If he was sitting in a "chair" i would never ask, i was just "hoping" because he was "small" they could possibly accommodate him....but I totally get it if not. I'm not trying to be "sneaky" or " privileged" I am just honestly asking for advice.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

If I follow correctly, you've made reservations for a party of 8 but may have 9. I'd keep trying to find reservations for 9. You never know- things open up all the time. The Touring Plans reservation finder might be good to use to search for any must-dos (it will search and text you if there's an opening - up to you to log in and book it). You can certainly ask to be accommodated when you walk up, but there are no guarantees. Good luck!!!

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I cannot speak from experience, but others have posted on here in other threads that due to both table size and restaurant capacity, if you show up with an extra person, they can turn you away, even if it's a toddler in a high chair. Especially since you're going from 8 people to 9, that will require a large table and they may not have any available to accommodate a party of that size. I've heard that they generally won't just add a high chair to the end of a full table due to the safety hazard of having someone sticking out in the aisle where people have to walk. Also,the restaurants are often full to capacity so they have to pay attention to numbers as well to ensure they are not allowing more people on the restaurant that what is legally permitted due to the fire code.

That being said, it's possible that some restaurants might be able to accommodate you, but it's also possible they will say no. If that happens, you would be without an ADR and could be charged the $10/ person No Show fee or your party would have to split up with an adult and/or an adult plus toddler eating somewhere else while the rest of the party stays.

 

[bumbershoot]

He needs to be on the reservation. Even a one day old baby needs to be on the reservation. It's possible that they will accommodate him the day of, but it's also possible that they won't. It all depends on restaurant capacity.

 

[wrmiller13]

If I follow correctly, you've made reservations for a party of 8 but may have 9. I'd keep trying to find reservations for 9. You never know- things open up all the time. The Touring Plans reservation finder might be good to use to search for any must-dos (it will search and text you if there's an opening - up to you to log in and book it). You can certainly ask to be accommodated when you walk up, but there are no guarantees. Good luck!!!

Yes! I have reservations ALL WEEK LONG, lol. We are on deluxe dining. So I would have to try to change or find 12 new reservations for a party of 9....all while losing my highly coveted ones I have scored! But, if that's what happens, that's what happens! I guess I secretly just wanted someone to say "they can just stick a high chair at the end of table, no worries!' Hahaha!!

 

[piccolopat]

If you can't change to a table of 9, see if there is a table for 1 or 2 open at or very close to the same time. You can then ask to be seated next to each other (though not guaranteed).

 

[wrmiller13]

If you can't change to a table of 9, see if there is a table for 1 or 2 open at or very close to the same time. You can then ask to be seated next to each other (though not guaranteed).

Thank you! Great idea! Thanks!!

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you! Great idea! Thanks!!

No, not Great idea! That would put one parent at a table with ONE child and the other parent with all the other children, and you could be all the way across the room from one another. Please don't try it that way.

The Touring plans idea is your best bet (and it's free). With them trying and you trying, you'll probably be able to get most of what you want.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We go with a party of 10 or 12 and very rarely have to be split up. Every restaurant is always very accommodating. You can call and have a CM try to add 1 more to each reservation or grab a reservation for 1 - but you will have to use a different MDE account if you do it. If you call they can put the other reservation under the same MDE account. I have had 2 or 3 reservations and we get seated together almost all of the time. Just make sure the ADRs are within about 20 minutes of each other. Have fun.

 

[piccolopat]

No, not Great idea! That would put one parent at a table with ONE child and the other parent with all the other children, and you could be all the way across the room from one another. Please don't try it that way.

The Touring plans idea is your best bet (and it's free). With them trying and you trying, you'll probably be able to get most of what you want.

My suggestion was in case a table for 9 didn't open up at all. It doesn't hurt to book a table for 2 now and then cancel if a table for 9 opens up. OP didn't indicate how old the kids are and so it might be possible for the two oldest to sit together. Chances are that if they have reservations for the entire party, even at two tables, the CMs would do everything they could to put them all together.

 

[unrequited23]

I've heard some people have had luck looking for an even number reservation vs an odd number. In your case, you might want to look for 10 instead of 9.

 

[wrmiller13]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate all of these suggestions!! The "kids" are 20, 17, 15, 13, 4, 14 months and 8 months. ( right now) its really ok to be split up if need be, we have lots of big helpers!! I appreciate everyone's kind words and suggestions! Going to take all of them to heart!!

 

[DisMommyTX]

We have had to do this as well when party size changed from 8 to 9 after reservations were booked. Here is what we did: 1) try to modify reservations online to 9 or 10 (even works better sometimes); 2) try calling to add one; 3) book an additional smaller reservation then modify yours down to the correct size if you really don't mind splitting. As a last resort, we had two res at BOG dinner and SciFi that I couldn't get for the right number, so I checked in early and explained the situation (very politely offering to split up or change times) but both were easily accommodated. We had prepared for DH and DS to skip the res and eat somewhere else, but it was not a problem. Don't cancel anything! Most will work out fine, but have a backup plan just in case.

And thanks for giving your foster kiddos a safe haven. It really does mean the world!

 

[tsme]

Have you tried calling?

 

[Blackadder337]

Before you cancel your reservations, you should CALL each restaurant that this may affect. We were told that they don't put all available tables online as they need to keep some for walk ins etc... But if you call and explain your situation, they may be able to help you

 

[wrmiller13]

We have had to do this as well when party size changed from 8 to 9 after reservations were booked. Here is what we did: 1) try to modify reservations online to 9 or 10 (even works better sometimes); 2) try calling to add one; 3) book an additional smaller reservation then modify yours down to the correct size if you really don't mind splitting. As a last resort, we had two res at BOG dinner and SciFi that I couldn't get for the right number, so I checked in early and explained the situation (very politely offering to split up or change times) but both were easily accommodated. We had prepared for DH and DS to skip the res and eat somewhere else, but it was not a problem. Don't cancel anything! Most will work out fine, but have a backup plan just in case.

And thanks for giving your foster kiddos a safe haven. It really does mean the world!

Thank you for this advice! Thank you for your kind words! We have fostered for 10 years. I love my babies and am excited to share Disney with them! Thank you again for your encouragement!!

 

[wrmiller13]

Before you cancel your reservations, you should CALL each restaurant that this may affect. We were told that they don't put all available tables online as they need to keep some for walk ins etc... But if you call and explain your situation, they may be able to help you

Can I call the restaurants directly? I can start with calling disney dining, but would live to be able to call individual
restaurants! Thanks for understanding the situation and helping me out!! I appreciate it!