May split my party of 6 at California Grill?

[ChrisM]

I just made an ADR at the California Grill for a party of 6 the evening of Saturday, December 3rd and there's a giant warning in the confirmation email that my party may be seated at more than one table.

Since this is a for a birthday dinner, that wouldn't work out particularly well. Should I expect this will happen, or is this just a CYA move by Disney and we will still likely be seated together, even if it means we have a bit of a wait? Or am I just hoping that's the case?

 

[boo1928]

we were there last week and we were seated as a six, so should be no problems .

 

[Hopefully]

It is pretty much a CYA by Disney. Folks have reported seeing the message even in ADR's for 1.
Although it is always a possibility, it is highly unlikely that your party will be split.

 

[n2mm]

We get this warning ALOT. Most of the time we are all at a table together, but we have been split. The last times we were split were at the Plaza Res. and CRT. I guess it's just required to tell you that it "may" happen.

 

[maxiesmom]

You really have no way of knowing until you are at the restaurant if they will split you up or not. We have been split up once, as a party of 8 for breakfast in the Castle. So splitting up does happen, but it sounds like not very often.

I'm not sure what would happen if you refused to be split. If you would just have to wait a while, or if you would forefit your reservation.

 

[TisBit]

I would never say that it can't happen, because it can.....

But, it is not common to have parties of 6 split (8 are more common) and a lot of times if you don't want to split you might have to wait.....and it could be a long wait, because you are depending on someone else to finish their meal, pay and leave. A lot of people will linger after a meal and can be their for an extremely long time.

The reason that this happens is that most restaurants are full of four person tables and a few 6-8 person tables. Fire codes don't let them just push any tables together, it is only certain areas that can be modified based on the aisle widths and location of fire exits, etc......

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have sometimes made a reservation for myself only and have received that warning message.

If that actually happened to me (1) I would have been extremely upset, (2) The blood and guts all over the place would have upset the other diners, and (3) it would have been a real mess to clean up.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I got this message few weeks ago when making ADRs for 4. I was able to move my time by 15 minutes and no longer got the message.

My thought is that it is likely, but not definate. I agree with the others that it probably is a 50/50 and you just have to wait and see. There are only so many tables to fit each party size. If the people who hold the table for you size are not done, then you would need to be split. I also would not guarantee that you would be allowed to wait since you agree to the possibility of being split when you saw the warning yet continued with the ADR. If the CM lets you wait then the next party who has made an ADR for your table size will not be able to get in.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

"Please note that your party may be seated at more than one table":

1) All eateries have different types of tables.
. . . eg. two-seat table (generically called a "2-top")
. . . eg. three-seat table
. . . eg. four-seat table
. . . eg. six-seat table
. . . eg. eight-seat table
2) When possible, they can move tables together.
3) At other times, based upon other ressies, they cannot move together.
. . . the tables are not close to each other
. . . the seats don't match (available 2-top and 3-top for six people)
. . . moving a table would block or narrrow and aisle
4) This statement saves them from problems and complaints.
5) Usually, a party sits together, but just as often, they are split.

6) Understand how WDW makes reservations
. . . think of a grid sheet on computer ADR screen
. . . . . . vertical rows shows time (6:00, 6:10, 6:20-, etc)
. . . . . . horizonal columns shows table types available
. . . . . . example: if 2, time slot has 2-tables @ four seats available
. . . . . . example: if zero, time slot is booked for those table types
. . . . . . example: if red 2, means overbooked by 2 table types
. . . you make a ressie for eight people for 6:00pm
. . . the computer assigns tables (eg, 2 tables @ four seats each)
. . . reduces count at 6:00 under 4-top tables column by 2 tables
. . . continues until all tables are reserved for 6:00pm row
. . . when you arrive, CM's try their best to arrange a single table
. . . if not available, they give you 2 tables @ four each

NOTE1:
If more then five on the ressie, mandatory 18% tip imposed.
Even if the party is split at different tables.
The key is "on the ressie", not where you sit.

NOTE2:
Some concierge have an override code.
Usually 1-2 per resort.
This allows ressies even if ADR screen shows no tables available.
If over-capacity, screen shows negative numbers for that time.
This is how eateries become over-booked, and over-crowded.



SAMPLE ADR SCREEN:
. . . . . . . two . .three . four . six . . .
6:00pm . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . 3 . . . 4 (several table sizes open)
6:10pm . . . 0 . . . 0 . . . 0 . . . 2 (only 2 six-person tables open)
6:20pm . . . 2 . . . 2 . . . 2 . . . 2 (only 2 of each size table open)

 

[Colleen27]

That seems to be a standard warning for groups of 6, though we've gotten it in the past as a party of 4 or 5 as well (and never been split up). In tweaking my ADRs to accommodate adding a 6th to our cast I got that at more places than not, but a quick search of the boards turned up many, many reports of people who got that warning being seated together and only a handful of reports (mostly with larger parties, usually 8+) of being split up.

 

[Hooked On The Mouse]

NOTE1:
If more then five on the ressie, mandatory 18% tip imposed.
Even if the party is split at different tables.
The key is "on the ressie", not where you sit.

Does this mean if you have a party of 8, you may as well make 2 separate reservations for 4? I'm perfectly willing to pay an extra couple percent gratuity so our whole group can sit together, but I'm not too happy to pay it if we have to sit apart anyway.