I know it's rude, but......

[soar2014]

I am taking a party of 5 to F! Jedi Mickey at H and V. I was able to get a reservation for four. One in our party is less than 2 years old. I'm trying as hard as I can to get another res. for the baby,,,,,,but what if I can't? WWYD?

 

[BigAlsGal]

Show up and beg for mercy. They might seat you. They might not. Just be prepared either way.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

This might be a stupid question...but did you call and ask if they can add the baby?

Under normal circumstances I'd say just forget it, but I know how special and hard to get this event is...I think I'd do what the pp suggested...show up and beg for mercy!

 

[maxiesmom]

If you show up with an extra, and even a baby is considered an extra guest, then you need to be prepared to be told only 4 can be seated. They will seat everyone if they can, but by no means is it guaranteed. You really need to think about what you will do if they can't accommodate a party of 5 at a reservation for 4. Who will walk away?

Making an ADR for 4 when you need one for 5 is just not a wise idea. Keep checking and see if one for your whole family of 5 opens up. If not, you really need to think about what you will do if they can't seat all of you.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Think of it this way. They have you set for a table which holds four people. Even a 2 year old is going to take up space, either in a regular seat, a booster, or a high chair. They may not have a table that will hold 5 people, especially at an event as busy as that. They're not going to give you a table which they were holding for another party of 5. You may get lucky and get a table, but chances are you won't.

 

[kcpinwdw]

Keep trying but show up if you can't add them. We had a 9th person join us on our trip last year and I couldn't change many reservations. But we had two two-year-olds and one 5 month old infant... Had to ask nicely for the add at Tusker House and the Tomorrowland Dessert party and both let the extra person in no problem (for the dessert party I purposefully made sure it was the infant that wasn't counted so there wouldn't be any payment issues). We had a back up plan just in case but they made it work. I hear some places are stricter than others.

 

[maxiesmom]

Keep trying but show up if you can't add them. We had a 9th person join us on our trip last year and I couldn't change many reservations. But we had two two-year-olds and one 5 month old infant... Had to ask nicely for the add at Tusker House and the Tomorrowland Dessert party and both let the extra person in no problem (for the dessert party I purposefully made sure it was the infant that wasn't counted so there wouldn't be any payment issues). We had a back up plan just in case but they made it work. I hear some places are stricter than others.

The Tusker House has their own policy of seating everyone who shows up for an ADR. So they are not a good point of reference.

I agree the OP should show up if they can't add the extra person--BUT they also need to know what they will do if they are told they can't fit in an extra guest. And even a baby counts as an extra guest.

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, you can try showing up at the reservation and hoping that they will be able to seat you with the additional individual. They may be able to, they may not, or you may be treated as a walk-up, which means a longer wait. I would keep trying to find a reservation for either 5 or 6. The system doesn't always know that a party of 5 can be seated at a table for 6, so you might have an easier time finding a table for 6. Personally, I would try to find a reservation for 5 or 6 rather than chance it because if they cannot accommodate the fifth person and you opt to forgo the reservation, you will be charged the no show fee ($10 per person on the ADR).

 

[TJA]

Is the baby still able to be put in a front carrier? My twins were small so I carried them in my front carrier for a long time. I can remember eating a meal with a baby sound asleep in my carrier -- I removed her when it was time to eat, and she continued to sleep in a sling on our lap and when she woke up just kind of sat there on our laps with no problem, so she didn't take up any extra room at our table. I'm not sure exactly how old your child will be at that time or if that's even an option, but just thought I'd mention it. If you go into the ADR with a table for 4 and a baby on a lap, it might work for you. However, in the meantime, I'd call to see if a baby can be added to your reservation. Good luck!

 

[maxiesmom]

Is the baby still able to be put in a front carrier? My twins were small so I carried them in my front carrier for a long time. I can remember eating a meal with a baby sound asleep in my carrier -- I removed her when it was time to eat, and she continued to sleep in a sling on our lap and when she woke up just kind of sat there on our laps with no problem, so she didn't take up any extra room at our table. I'm not sure exactly how old your child will be at that time or if that's even an option, but just thought I'd mention it. If you go into the ADR with a table for 4 and a baby on a lap, it might work for you. However, in the meantime, I'd call to see if a baby can be added to your reservation. Good luck!

It doesn't matter if the baby is in a carrier or not. They are still a party of 5, not the 4 she booked. They count every person, no matter how small.

 

[Kingdome8]

When my kid was one. I didn't put her on and reservations. Then I found I out I needed to include her. Especially since would be 4-5 people. They all added no problem.

 

[figment_jii]

They count every person, no matter how small.

I totally had Horton Hears a Who come to mind..."A person's a person, no matter how small."

I think in most cases, the restaurant will do whatever they can to accommodate you. However, there is always the chance that they're truly fully booked and running up against fire code capacity limits. If that happens, the additional individual would still not be permitted in the restaurant.

 

[TJA]

When my kid was one. I didn't put her on and reservations. Then I found I out I needed to include her. Especially since would be 4-5 people. They all added no problem.

Right, I remember doing that too. When my twins were babies, most of the time we didn't need the highchairs, so they'd place us at tables for 2 if they had them available. It opened up bigger tables for families without babies, so we were happy to accommodate.

OP - I agree with the others that most restaurants will do whatever they can to accommodate. I'll bet when you call, they will make the note on your reservation and you'll be fine! Have a great trip!

 

[krista113]

The same thing happened to me at CRT, but I was going from 2 to 3, I called and checked MDE frequently, and nothing ever opened up, so I let it ride, knowing more than likely we would be turned away. I was so nervous when I went to check in, and it was no problem at all, they didn't even blink an eye at what I said, and sat us right away. Now, I probably got extremely lucky, but if its that important for you to go, give it a try, but prepare yourself that it may not work out.

 

[mummabear]

It doesn't matter if the baby is in a carrier or not. They are still a party of 5, not the 4 she booked. They count every person, no matter how small.

Really? A person who is too small to eat food(as in a 3 month old baby) sleeping in a carrier not taking up a chair would stop them from seating you-unlikely.

 

[maxiesmom]

Really? A person who is too small to eat food(as in a 3 month old baby) sleeping in a carrier not taking up a chair would stop them from seating you-unlikely.

Yes. They count bodies. It is the same with the automatic tip. Even if you are a party of 5 and a 1 month old, you are still counted as 6 and have the auto tip added to your bill.

Disney counts every person. Every. Person.

They won't turn away guests if they have room. But they also need to count each head for fire code reasons.

 

[Gracie09]

Really? A person who is too small to eat food(as in a 3 month old baby) sleeping in a carrier not taking up a chair would stop them from seating you-unlikely.

According to the fire code a person is a person. If the event is full and the room is at capacity, they may turn you away. Its one person, but one person times 200 groups adds up

 

[dpswift]

Really? A person who is too small to eat food(as in a 3 month old baby) sleeping in a carrier not taking up a chair would stop them from seating you-unlikely.

Many tables are close together. in some cases there would be no room for a carrier. I have been to many restaurants where there would be no space for one. If they have room sure if not do not be disappointed

 

[mummabear]

Yes. They count bodies. It is the same with the automatic tip. Even if you are a party of 5 and a 1 month old, you are still counted as 6 and have the auto tip added to your bill.

Disney counts every person. Every. Person.

They won't turn away guests if they have room. But they also need to count each head for fire code reasons.

Ah totally understand the Fire code, makes perfect sense.
However adding an extra tip for someone who you provide no service for is poor.
At Ariels Grotto at DLR I was really disappointed when as a party of 10 we were not seated together (as I understand we are warned in the t&c's) yet we were not allowed and provided two photos with Ariel (only one per group) and then added the extra automatic gratuity (which was also added onto the cake we had pre-ordered). Yet if we were 2 groups of 5 we would have paid less, and gotten the 2 photos, it makes no sense.

 

[MomiTo2SwtGuys]

We planned a trip last October. After making reservations, my parents decided 2 weeks before our trip to tag along. I told them we may not be able to get them on our reservations we had made. We were able to get them on all of them except Ohana before leaving for our trip. When we arrived we talked to concierge and they told us it was noted on our account and we should be fine when arriving at Ohana. After we got there, we talked to the check in desk and they were completely fine adding two more people to our reservation.

BUT, we did go prepared to maybe not being able to have dinner there. So, we were ok with it either way. I do think they try to accommodate if they can at all.

Best of luck. Hoping it works out for you.