Need Advice Regarding Reservations

[ancestry]

Even though I am a seasoned Disney veteran, I need some advice regarding dining reservations for our upcoming trip in April due to some unusual circumstances.

Our late April trip consists of five people -- Me (the only adult), my 16 year old son, my son's friend who is 17, and my 9 year old twins. I and the twins have APs the other two boys do not.

I have a TIW card but at this point have not made any dining reservations. I enjoy having one table service meal a day.

Here is the problem. I don't know how many people to make each reservation for. The teenage boys are both so fickle. They may say the want or don't want to eat at a specific place right now but when we are there I know them well enough to know that things will probably change -- either they may not want to go to a specific place at a specific time or they will sudden change their mind and want to come.

How do you deal with making dining reservations when you aren't certain about how many people will actually be eating at each table service meal?

I hate to go ahead and make reservations for just me and the two younger ones only to have the older two pouting when they don't get a good sit down meal during the day but on the other hand I don't want to make reservations and have them decide to do something else.

There is also a chance that DS's friend may not end up coming with us which of course changes everything. <sigh>

Sorry for rambling but I don't know how to proceed.....Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[purple figment]

I would make all the reservations for the maximum number of people who might be dining at that meal - in your case 5 people. It's always easier to show up with fewer than to add people later on. At restaurants without the credit card guarantee there is no penalty for showing up with fewer people.

If you are not familiar with the new credit card guarantee policy for character meals and signature restaurants, there is a sticky at the top of this page. There have been conflicting reports on what happens if only part of the group shows up and exactly when the cut off time to cancel/revise the reservation, but hopefully by the time you go it will be clearer so you will know if you need to revise your reservations if the teenagers decide not to join you.

 

[KristinAnne]

Is there anyway you can narrow them down to anything specifically? Maybe they could guarantee you that they would be at a certain dinner at a certain time, but not a breakfast for example? That way you could have at least a couple definites, then make the rest for 5 and figure it out as you go. It might be best to make sure you have the dining line number with you too, in case of last minute changes.

 

[canopynut66]

Even though I am a seasoned Disney veteran, I need some advice regarding dining reservations for our upcoming trip in April due to some unusual circumstances.

Our late April trip consists of five people -- Me (the only adult), my 16 year old son, my son's friend who is 17, and my 9 year old twins. I and the twins have APs the other two boys do not.

I have a TIW card but at this point have not made any dining reservations. I enjoy having one table service meal a day.

Here is the problem. I don't know how many people to make each reservation for. The teenage boys are both so fickle. They may say the want or don't want to eat at a specific place right now but when we are there I know them well enough to know that things will probably change -- either they may not want to go to a specific place at a specific time or they will sudden change their mind and want to come.

How do you deal with making dining reservations when you aren't certain about how many people will actually be eating at each table service meal?

I hate to go ahead and make reservations for just me and the two younger ones only to have the older two pouting when they don't get a good sit down meal during the day but on the other hand I don't want to make reservations and have them decide to do something else.

There is also a chance that DS's friend may not end up coming with us which of course changes everything. <sigh>

Sorry for rambling but I don't know how to proceed.....Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Have been to disney a lot and have "never" been seated until all that reservation for is there..as we had a small problem once with DBL as he was not with us and we had ressies for three and they would not seat us.. then two years ago I had made all ADR"S as thought my cousin and her husband going and at last minute they backed out. so I had ressies for 5 and when we went to eat at Tony's we had to get into the wait line for a table for three since they were not there they would not seat us a that large of table...so i would be sure and change amount of people going. it is easier to go down than up by the way.....when making them

 

[purple figment]

Have been to disney a lot and have "never" been seated until all that reservation for is there

We've never had a problem arriving with fewer people than listed on the reservation. We make our reservation for 4, but one person doesn't know if he'll be able to come because of work commitments. If he's not there we'll tell the CM at the podium that it's only 3 of us and we've never been told we'll have to be in the walk up queue.

If you're expecting your son and his friend to join you, then the restaurant won't seat you until everyone in your party is there.

 

[mom2rtk]

I doubt you will have trouble showing up with fewer than your ADR was for. what you WILL have trouble with is the new CC guarantee. Show up with fewer at one of those spots and you will most likely be charged $10 a head for the no-shows.

I'm afraid "fickle" and the new policy don't really mix.

 

[Jty1220]

I love these advice threads because I need the same advice