Just Showing Up for a Reservation?

[rivercountry]

We are traveling down in November to surprise our family and have tacked on to some of their reservations. However others seem completely booked and won't even take 2 people separately. The group would be increased from 8 to 10 people so I'm wondering what the odds are if we just walked in with the group and said "oops two more". I don't want to be rude about it and will keep trying to call and see whats available, but I'm hoping if they already have a table of 8 setup that adding 2 chairs would not be too much of hassle.

I tried looking at the cancellation post but that seems a little complex since you cannot post "wanteds" there so it looks really hit or miss if your searching for a specific time/place. We are looking at 2 character breakfasts and one dinner to jump onto. We did get into the Brown Derby 40 minutes before my families reservation but I'm going to see if we can bump that or trade out, is there a place to trade reservations?

I guess in my head I just think party of 8 already is using a large table or two connected tables so adding two seats does not seem that big a deal, but that's just me.

Any thoughts, help, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ariel on Land]

If you were adding on one making it a 7 to 8 for instance, I'd say that would probably work just fine. Even going from 6-8 might work easier, but going from 8 to 10 will be more challenging. You can always try-- there's no harm in asking, but I would be understanding and gracious if they either tell you no or that you'll have to wait quite a bit. Keep checking for cancellations and just keep looking. I've noticed the night before, a lot of breakfasts will open up as families decide they're too tired to make the reservation and would rather sleep in.

 

[AlabamaBound]

I would strongly advise against it for a few reasons. First of all, from what I've read here, Disney tends to be very particular about the number of people in the reservations versus the number of people that show up (i.e. no wiggle room). Sure, adding just 2 more people to a table for 8 does not seem like that big of a deal, but there are reasons for the restrictions.

All restaurants have a restriction on the number of people that can be there at any given time (staff and guests) for fire safety reasons and there is zero flexibility for that sort of thing. Also, you don't know the layout of the restaurant, so adding on 2 more people may actually be a bigger deal than you realize. What if one end of the table is against the wall? Are you both going to try to squeeze in on the other end? And even if it's not against the wall and you're each able to sit on opposite ends, they would likely still not allow it because you would be infringing on the walkways between tables. It may not seem like a big deal when you're just a guest trying to squeeze between tables, but try being the server carrying a large oval tray with several plates on it and it's a very different story . Clear walkways also tie into the whole fire safety issue as well. And since you were unable to get a reservation for 2, it leads me to believe that they are already at maximum capacity, so it is pretty safe to say that there is not going to be a random two seat table sitting empty that you can join on to the original table.

With all that being said, I would suggest just accepting the fact that you won't be able to join your family for all meals during your visit. I think it would be best just to avoid that awkward situation of getting up to the hostess stand and being told that they won't let you add on two more people. Because even if you're okay with walking away and letting your family enjoy their reservation, they are inevitably going to feel bad about going in without you. By all means, keep trying to get added on between now and the time you get down there, but don't count on it. Perhaps look at some restaurants that you may enjoy that your family does not have reservations for, and book a table there for the nights that you can't join them. Just a thought. I hope this helps

 

[CalvaryMike]

What others have said here is about right. There's a chance by adding one more, but two is highly unlikely. I have seen if your reservations are during a slow time of year and time a day, your chances are a little better. Although, Tusker House seems to be the exception to the rule.

 

[KimmiP]

ITA with what the other posters are saying. Plus think about it. To you it might not seem like a big deal to add a 2-top to the end of the table, but then the 2 people who had the reservation now have to wait since you now have their table. Not really fair.

Just keep trying you never know what you may get last minute!

 

[scard192]

A CM posted recently that Disney was cracking down on people just showing up with more people than on their ADR. Seems people are abusing the system by making an ADR for less than the number in their party because that was all that was available and then showing up with the extra guests and trying to be seated.

As PP stated, needing an additional table could inconvience some one who made ADR months ago and might have to wait longer; especially if they made their ADR 6 months in advance.