Is this going to be impossible?

[lugnut33]

I'm asking, but probably know the answer. Am I out of luck showing up to a reservation with an extra person? We were 4, but my daughter's friend is coming along so now we are 5. Going back in and redoing the reservations will result in no reservations, because lets face it, the times and places I already have will not be available. Advice?

 

[DisBuckMan]

You'll probably have mixed results, but might experience some magic along the way. Going from 4 to 5 is a difficult undertaking in a packed restaurant where they reserved a 4 top for you, but now need a 6 top that's more than likely already reserved by another party.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

I would try and find a new reservation. 4 to 5 is a difficult number. They have tables for 4, but a table for 5 may be harder to accommodate. They can turn you away if you're busy or you're faced with the awkwardness of the extra person not eating with you.

 

[mkraw74]

If you decide to try getting new reservations, you might try to see if you can get a new reservation for two and let your daughter and friend eat toether. If that works you can change original to 3 people. Of course this depends on there age etc. I know you would rather eat together but if that doesn't work smaller numbers may.

 

[HopperFan]

Agree with others since you need a new table size it will be more difficult depending on your travel dates and which restaurants you are talking about. If during Free Dining and hard to get places they could easily turn you away. And note that if you decide to try to show up and they say they can not seat you - the system would charge you the $10 per person no show fee. Honestly if it were me and I decided to now bring another person, I'd just find different places to eat for now for 5 then keep checking to see if the others open up.

 

[POTCfan]

Depending on how long you have until your trip, I would keep trying for the same reservations. I would try for 5, 6, and 2 (and if you got one for two at the same time, you could ask them at the front desk if you could be seated together, but be prepared to eat separately). There is always changes, the key is being there to pick it up when somebody does change. Like someone said before, if free dining is going on it will be harder, but I managed to get O'hana and Via Napoli relatively last minute for prime dinner times. Though I was checking a lot and had several options I was willing to take.

 

[lugnut33]

Not going during free dining. I've already changed one from Via Napoli (couldn't find res. for 5) to Chefs, which seems like an OK trade off.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

MY STOCK RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION OF AN EXTRA PERSON or EXTRA PEOPLE:
.
1) Disney is getting wise to the "but, they decided to join us" or "I miscounted".
2) People can't always get the ADR they want.
3) So, they under-count to get a table.
4) Then, they show up with "unexpected" additional people.
5) In a team meeting, CM's have been told to warn guests against this.
6) If there is room, WDW will not turn away revenue.
7) But, if busy, they will turn away the additions.
8) Go ahead and arrive with the extras, if you like.
9) Just be prepared to have someone stand around while you eat.
10) I have heard explanations such as . . .
. . . "but, Aunt Suzy decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, two friends from off-site decided to join us and we need a extra seats"
. . . "but, brother-in-law decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, the entire Boy Scout Troop decided to join us and we need 14 extra sets"
. . . "but, my baby is so small that I didn't count her in the number of eaters"
.
NOTE1: It is far easier going from an odd-number to an even number, such as from 7-people to 8-people, adding a person to an even number of diners, such as going from 6-people to 7-people. Adding odd person can mean adding a table, and this might not be possible. Going from an odd-to-even might only mean adding a chair or using an empty seat. So, if going from even-to-odd, you might not get the extra person a seat. It is always better to get another ADR with the proper people-count.
.
NOTE2: Frequently a party-of-two will try to add a third person at the podium. This can be risky, because many eateries do have tables-for-two. If the guest was slated for one of these, there simply might not be a table available to seat the third person - even if an infant. The extra chair location might extend into an aisle and block access for other guests or Servers.
.
NOTE3: Sometimes is a threesome adding a fourth. Unfortunately, there are many ateries that do have 3-top tables - usually against a wall or pillar. They can't add a fourth chair, since that would invade the aisle and be unsafe for SERVERS.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would try calling to make changes. You never know and perhaps the Cm can help to split the party up in order to accomodate the additional person. Several years ago my DS showed up but we had not expected him. He was able to join us in every restauant, but we had not booked "difficult" ones. We had Kona before it was so popular and the YSH, so dining worked out. I wuld not try it today.

 

[dpswift]

Like others have said I would search for a 2 or 5 top. One or the other should become available before you go.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I was able to add on an extra by searching for a 2-top. It took a few weeks, but in the end I was able to add on the extra person. If you don't feel like constantly searching it might be worth it to pay for a "scout" so you'll be alerted when a ressie for 5 opens up.

 

[twocat]

Agree with others since you need a new table size it will be more difficult depending on your travel dates and which restaurants you are talking about. If during Free Dining and hard to get places they could easily turn you away. And note that if you decide to try to show up and they say they can not seat you - the system would charge you the $10 per person no show fee. Honestly if it were me and I decided to now bring another person, I'd just find different places to eat for now for 5 then keep checking to see if the others open up.

That is simply not true.

Once you check in, you're checked in. If you show up with 5 and have a reservation for 4, you've checked in so they will NOT charge you.

I've even checked in and told them I wouldn't be able to dine because I wasn't feeling well. I was not charged. The woman checking me in said since she had me down as checking in, I wouldn't be charged.

And if you have a reservation for 4 and only 2 show up, you will not be charged for the 2 missing people.

 

[lugnut33]

OK, I'm trying to get a table for 2, but it won't let me change my existing reservation without cancelling. Also, I can't hold two reservations at the same time. This is what i dislike about the system, it's difficult to work around.

 

[DisBuckMan]

OK, I'm trying to get a table for 2, but it won't let me change my existing reservation without cancelling. Also, I can't hold two reservations at the same time. This is what i dislike about the system, it's difficult to work around.

Well, the inability of holding two reservations at the same time makes sense. It keeps one person from tying up tables.

You can register a seperate account for your spouse, drop him/her from your current reservation, and make the reservation for 2 in his/her name.

 

[dwight16]

honestly i would not worry about it just say you have an extra person and your sorry tell them you will squeeze if you need to......just go a few minutes early i have done this before a few times ADRs are not really real reservations where your table is waiting for you its more of a guide and a glorafid call a head seating program...that is why you always wait 5 to 20 minutes....say hey so sorry we have 5 we will squeeze if need be.....i am sure 95% of the time they will do what they can

 

[dpswift]

OK, I'm trying to get a table for 2, but it won't let me change my existing reservation without cancelling. Also, I can't hold two reservations at the same time. This is what i dislike about the system, it's difficult to work around.

You can call and they will not add it to your MDE. However I would see about adding the extra account with your husbands name and put one adult on each ADR. saddly those who cheat the system ruin it for everyone else.

 

[HopperFan]

That is simply not true.

Once you check in, you're checked in. If you show up with 5 and have a reservation for 4, you've checked in so they will NOT charge you.

I've even checked in and told them I wouldn't be able to dine because I wasn't feeling well. I was not charged. The woman checking me in said since she had me down as checking in, I wouldn't be charged.

And if you have a reservation for 4 and only 2 show up, you will not be charged for the 2 missing people.

I disagree with not telling posters all the possibilities that could happen. Disney has rules and guidelines and it's up to CMs, sometimes a manager if they wish to override the system. At any given moment a different result can happen. Technically this is true and can happen. Just because any one of us were given a pass does not mean it will happen for the.

I agree that once you are checked in that you should be good BUT if you show up with more than your ADR and they tell you that they can not seat you and you choose to walk away - you are not checked in. Just like I can't check in until all my party has arrived. Just like folks have stated that they arrived late, missed their window but the CM allowed them to wait for next table - they still got charged the no show fee because they technically did not show for their ADR. These can be reversed when Disney can see you were seated but the system is there to charge you if you are not checked in to be seated.

When you showed up and said you were ill, the CM made the decision to override the system.

Disney has never charged for persons missing from a party as long as some showed up.

Having a credit card guarantee was not to help all those trying to book against double bookers it was so Disney didn't have empty tables waiting on no shows who went to their other reservation. They need to seat close to capacity and sell those seats to maximize profit. It's a puzzle with many factors to get the room full yet not over capacity. Squeezing people into a table is not the issue, they aren't concerned with your comfort - it's about fire code capacity (why an infant must be included) and the safety of the aisles for servers and guests. It's not as simple as throwing an extra chair at a table.

Every guest who is trying to show up with extra guests needs to be prepared for all scenarios and one of them is guest being refused (particularly at popular ones, they are on to the "add a friend" story - not stating that is OP but it common as Mr. Scupper says), guest decided to leave and since they can't check you in and seat you, guest being charged. And honestly they should be, they made a reservation, knowingly brought extra guests and chose to not utilize ADR when extra guest could not be seated.

DISNEY-
"Your credit card won’t be charged before you dine with us unless you either don’t show up for your reservation or cancel after 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the day before your arrival. So, we encourage you to keep your reservation and enjoy your dining experience!"

So walking away from a restaurant because they can't seat your guest(s) not on reservation is technically canceling day of.

 

[lugnut33]

I've changed two of the 3 reservations I had. Not optimal, but I'm used to that with Disney lately.
I'm taking my chances with Be Our Guest Lunch since there is not assigned seating like a real sit down restaurant.

 

[lugnut33]

And yeah, I'd not be disappointed if they couldn't seat us, that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

OK, I'm trying to get a table for 2, but it won't let me change my existing reservation without cancelling. Also, I can't hold two reservations at the same time. This is what i dislike about the system, it's difficult to work around.

We had this problem with BOG lunch (had ADR for 5, needed 6, found a new one for 1 but wouldn't let me book since I "already had a reservation at that time") - I had to phone, but they were able to fix it easily.