I Lied for the Princesses

[npcougar]

We tried for a ADR's at 180 days out on both of our trips this year - September and December - we were not able to get reservations either time. I really find it hard to believe that this place is that booked for both lunch and dinner. I guess we will have a better chance of getting in when they more Le Cellier to "Signature Dining" and raise the price.

LeCellier has spots held back for dinner during Dec for the candlelight packages.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Now I feel really bad about all the animosity on here. When I originally posted this, it was not about being bad or tricking the system. I really just meant to show how desparate I was to see the princesses and what a Disney nerd I am.
If I could go back and unpost this whole thread, I think I would.
Nothing but love for you guys. Aren't we all on here because we love Disney so much?

Don't feel bad, you did nothing wrong

Disney's reservation system is broken, they know it and will tell you that. We are a party of 2 that often will book up a table since thre are so few actual 2 toppers

Don't feel bad, hey you are going to Disney

 

[ktlm]

Now I feel really bad about all the animosity on here. When I originally posted this, it was not about being bad or tricking the system. I really just meant to show how desparate I was to see the princesses and what a Disney nerd I am.
If I could go back and unpost this whole thread, I think I would.
Nothing but love for you guys. Aren't we all on here because we love Disney so much?

Don't stress about it and don't feel bad, you did nothing wrong. We are a family of 3 and if we take the in-laws 5. We have had trouble getting reservations for those numbers. I was trying to get a princess ADR and there was absolutely no availability the day I wanted to go. The CM told me that if I suddenly "grew" a person, preferably an infant that would not be charged for, that she would be able to get me a time. I said "Oh yes, I forgot about the 2 year old". She started laughing and then said that I could have any time available the entire night, it was wide open for parties of 4. In other words, the restaurant was wide open unless you had 3 people. (Kind of makes you feel like you are being punished for not beeing the standard little perfect family with 2 kids! I would have liked to have had 2 kids, it just didn't happen) There were certainly no 3 people tables in the restaurant, so basically even though the restaurant was wide open the whole night, if you were going to have an empty chair at the table, they weren't giving you a table. It is a reservation system glitch- the system doesn't like odd numbers. (Or maybe it is WDW's way to try to make more money by trying to fill every empty chair). For those who complained that WDW is losing money, what they make is no different whether we showed up with 3 people at the table, or 4 people with one of them being a child under 3 who was free of charge.

 

[parlay]

Just wanted to say Enjoy your meal with the Princesses! Its always Magical there when we go!

 

[sndral]

I wonder if only certain restaurants have the odd no. issues, we are a party of 3 and had no trouble getting our ADRs - including Le Cellier, for next dec.

 

[onelilspark]

First, my comments were directed for the princess dinners. There is no liquor served there. But as for the majority of other restaurants on property, I think my hypothesis still holds:

Disney knows that a majority of its 3 person table tops are going to involve 1 kid. - so why not go for 4? Sorry, although 3 adults can easily outspend the 2 by 2 tabletop, my bet is that the majority of people who frequent disney restaraunts as groups of 3 are two adults, one child combos. So, my hypothesis is that Disney holds out for the 4 tabletop.

If you walk into a local restaurant with 2 in your party and the only open table is a 4-top, that restaurant will seat you at the 4-top, not hold out for a party of 4.

That's how the restaurants themselves operate at Disney too...not the reservation system, but the actual restaurant.

To the OP: do not feel bad. This is standard practice at Disney. Back in 2003, I booked Chef Mickey's for 2. My cousin who lived in FL at the time, came up and joined me. I called back to try and change it to 3, but couldn't. The CM on the phone told me to just show up, it wouldn't be a problem. Talked to the hostess, she didn't even bat an eye when I said I had an extra person with us.

Another cousin of mine (the sister to the one above) worked as a hostess at MM. She has said that the ADR system is flawed and it's much easier for the restaurants to work in (or out) that extra person. They have the ability to do it, not the ADR system. So yes, this is SOP.

We can debate if there's a better system out there until we're blue in the face. Right now though, you need to work with what you have. And if that means you need to book 1 over or under your party, then do it. Play the game.

 

[Moms]

OMG! This thread is cracking me up! We travel to Disney just about every year and have never stressed over our meals ... it is a vacation after all! Gosh! I remember when you made your reservations the day you went to the park. At EPCOT you just walked up to a computer screen in the building behind Spaceship Earth and told the CM where you wanted to eat and when ... and back then you couldn't GIVE me a meal at LeCellier (apparentely it has improved since then?).

 

[aceys_h0ney]

OP have a great time! You did not do anything wrong. The reservation system is wonky and flawed but I hope your meal there is perfect!

 

[Rekenna]

You shouldn't feel guilty, that's a stupid system flaw. Have fun with the Princesses!

 

[shannonstar]

So, it turns out I didn't lie after all. I just had the foresight to include my sister's child in my vacation. Apparently, she has decided that it's just cheaper to send him with me than to go herself.
I hope that makes all the haters feel better.
My son is excited though. And I'm glad we don't have to play the rider swap game.

 

[ipodluvr287]

I too, think the reservation system is a bit flawed. I have to hope for the best whenever I make reservations because I have a party of 5. I was trying for CRT at 8AM-9AM before MK opens and there were none for a party of 5 until 9:30, but there was for every other party number except 5 before 9AM. I could have added a 6th person, but I did not feel like paying another $50 for an imaginary person b/c you have to pay in advance for CRT. Oh well, 9:30 isn't that bad I guess. I have Crystal Palace on another day at 8:15 AM.

 

[fenrir58]

So, it turns out I didn't lie after all. I just had the foresight to include my sister's child in my vacation. Apparently, she has decided that it's just cheaper to send him with me than to go herself.
I hope that makes all the haters feel better.
My son is excited though. And I'm glad we don't have to play the rider swap game.

People are whiny. Enjoy yourself!!!!

 

[bytheblood]

While I would not brag about lying, (LOL) in your situation I would not be too worried. A family of 3 and a family of 4 will take up the same table.

 

[Cafeen]

I too, think the reservation system is a bit flawed. I have to hope for the best whenever I make reservations because I have a party of 5. I was trying for CRT at 8AM-9AM before MK opens and there were none for a party of 5 until 9:30, but there was for every other party number except 5 before 9AM. I could have added a 6th person, but I did not feel like paying another $50 for an imaginary person b/c you have to pay in advance for CRT. Oh well, 9:30 isn't that bad I guess. I have Crystal Palace on another day at 8:15 AM.

However, magically grown infants under 2 are still free at prepaid locations (yes, this is a Disney approved method as suggested in this thread and several others).

 

[ChrisHartman]

So, it turns out I didn't lie after all. I just had the foresight to include my sister's child in my vacation. Apparently, she has decided that it's just cheaper to send him with me than to go herself.
I hope that makes all the haters feel better.
My son is excited though. And I'm glad we don't have to play the rider swap game.

That is awesome news for your nephew!! Have an awesome time!!!

Love,
The woman who lied to Mickey Mouse for a table at Chef Mickey's

 

[shannonstar]

That is awesome news for your nephew!! Have an awesome time!!!

Love,
The woman who lied to Mickey Mouse for a table at Chef Mickey's

Thanks for being a fellow "liar".
At least now I don't have to sit in the rider swap line.
Have fun at Chef Mickey's!!!

 

[alicat07]

However, magically grown infants under 2 are still free at prepaid locations (yes, this is a Disney approved method as suggested in this thread and several others).

LOL yes my friend had to do this for CRT, she is a party of 3 and booked for 4 with one being a free infant ....Disney does approve of this method

 

[tami82]

Congrats I guess. I feel sorry for any family of four you just kept out.

Thats not fair to say. You have to do what you have to do.

 

[castleri]

OMG! This thread is cracking me up! We travel to Disney just about every year and have never stressed over our meals ... it is a vacation after all! Gosh! I remember when you made your reservations the day you went to the park. At EPCOT you just walked up to a computer screen in the building behind Spaceship Earth and told the CM where you wanted to eat and when ... and back then you couldn't GIVE me a meal at LeCellier (apparentely it has improved since then?).

I have been thinkng the same things- We ate at LeCellier a couple of years ago and it won't bother me if I never eat there again - just don't know what all the fuss is about- the meal was okay but nothing that would make me stress over not being able to eat there. It is on my don't bother to try for this one list.

We have had several occasions where they said they couldn't give us a table for the 8 or 9 people we had but could give us two tables- the restaurant has always found us a table for the number we had when we got there and never made a fuss if there was one or two more or less if plans changed.

I thought there was something in place to keep people from making multiple reservations for the same day and time as when I called one time to change something I forgot to cancel the first one and when she went to make the new one she said we already had a reservation and she had to cancel it. I suppose as with everything people use different ways to get around the rules.