Lap sitting babies -- still counted in the reservation?

[bladiator]

I am taking my next trip with another family. There will be 4 adults and 2 1-year olds (and I mean .. on the 1-year old line, not 18 month olds). Do I need to get reservations for 6 or for 4? I understand the need for room for high chairs, but I can imagine that there will be meals where both babies are going to be sleeping!

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

The reservations should be made for 6. Every body counts.

 

[AnneK]

Due to fire codes every person must be counted, even babies.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Everyone who will be there has to be counted for, whether they are in your lap or not due to fire codes. So it will be 6 you will book for.

 

[sharonabe]

And there is a chance you will be charged the 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more.

 

[bumbershoot]

And there is a chance you will be charged the 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more.

They should expect that they will be, since it’s a party of 6. But it’s only charged on the food ordered, so if the one year olds aren’t eating, it’s not like they’ll be charged for them.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Everyone with a pulse is counted

Good point on the auto gratuity. It will be applied. You can get split bills w the appropriate gratuity added to each bill. Keep an eye on it, you do not want to tip twice

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Due to fire codes every person must be counted, even babies.

1) That is the LAW
2) That is the WDW policy.
3) If the place is really busy, ANY number of guests over the ADR might not be seated and have to wait outside.

And there is a chance you will be charged the 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more.

4) Six people (babies, kids, or adults) are counted in the 6-person-automatic-18%-gratuity.
5) Fair?
6) Maybe not,
7) But those are the rules, and stated within the Union Contract (since some people do not tip adequately when table sizes get larger).
8) Your option is Quick Service eateries.

 

[rg35]

For the most part, nobody who plans on leaving an appropriate tip should care about the 18% auto gratuity.

Aside from that, and unfortunately, since service workers are not paid a living wage by their employers in this country, that difference is made up by tips. Tips have become more about helping people make a living rather than as an "extra something" for good service. Most Disney servers are part time and capped at 24 hours (or at least were in the past). Personally, I'd rather just pay higher menu prices than have to worry about tipping - some restaurants here in NYC have started doing that and I'd be happy for it to become more widespread.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Personally, I'd rather just pay higher menu prices than have to worry about tipping . . .

AGREED !!!

 

[bladiator]

For the most part, nobody who plans on leaving an appropriate tip should care about the 18% auto gratuity.

Aside from that, and unfortunately, since service workers are not paid a living wage by their employers in this country, that difference is made up by tips. Tips have become more about helping people make a living rather than as an "extra something" for good service. Most Disney servers are part time and capped at 24 hours (or at least were in the past). Personally, I'd rather just pay higher menu prices than have to worry about tipping - some restaurants here in NYC have started doing that and I'd be happy for it to become more widespread.

I think I'd like that better as well. I'm on the (much disparaged) side of thinking that 18% is not always necessary. My reasoning is always that if I were to buy a $100 bottle of wine, the amount of work done did not just instantly increase $18. I want to be able to make the decisions on tipping, and yes, I believe that 18% (or more) does not always fit the bill.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Personal tipping habits is not a topic we allow.

Move along

 

[ozliz]

Regardless of what Disney requires you to do, do you really want to squish 4 adults and 2 lap babies around a table for 4 when you could have a bit more elbow space?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

do you really want to squish 4 adults and 2 lap babies around a table for 4

Would make an interesting (and crowded) Selfie.

 

[sponica]

Regardless of what Disney requires you to do, do you really want to squish 4 adults and 2 lap babies around a table for 4 when you could have a bit more elbow space?

I have a giant toddler (almost 3 feet and not even 18 months) I cringe at the thought of a meal with her on my lap...but to each their own...

 

[Mrs Geek]

My husband and I were just there with the in-laws, the 4-year-old, and the 4-month old, and we were counted as a party of 6 which, yes, meant that they automatically charged the 18%. (And I mean literally automatically- at our first meal they scanned our MagicBands for the dining plan AND charged the gratuity to the room credit card without saying that they did so, so I was going to leave what would then be an additional 20% tip. Thankfully hubby noticed it on the receipt before I did so.)

 

[KrazeeK120]

I have a giant toddler (almost 3 feet and not even 18 months) I cringe at the thought of a meal with her on my lap...but to each their own...

My 2 year old weighed 27 lbs at a year...I wouldn’t have wanted him on my lap for the duration of a meal back then. Also, I can 150% guarantee he wouldn’t have sat nicely on my lap for the duration of a meal either, but yeah, like you say, to each their own...

 

[nkereina]

Regardless of what Disney requires you to do, do you really want to squish 4 adults and 2 lap babies around a table for 4 when you could have a bit more elbow space?

This is what I was thinking. If you book as a party of 4, you will be seated at a 4-top table. And Disney restaurant seating is tight to maximize the number of tables. There certainly wouldn't be room for high chairs, and barely any room on the lap because in some cases you can't push your chair out much because of how close the table next to you is!

 

[MickeyWaffles]

You must make the reservations for 6, as others have stated.

My friend was not aware of this (I wish she had asked me!) and was turned away from CRT and a couple others Christmas week because she had not counted her small baby and there was not a table configuration to accomodate the updated number. At a couple of places they were able to accomodate.

You do not want to intentionally leave them out of the count. Trust me.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you make the reservation for 4 but you show up with 6, sleeping or not, they won't put you in as a party of 4. They have to list you as a party of 6. So no matter what you do, you'll be a party of 6.