No more room to add people to ADR, WWYD?

[Sarahboo]

We're leaving in 9 days for our trip. My husband's dad just called and said they'd like to meet us there on Saturday the 30th and spend the day with us.

Great! We live in Oregon and don't get to see them often. The only problem is that we have 5pm ADR at O'Hana, my very first choice in restaurants. I've called Disney Dining and they have absolutely zero availability to add 2 people to the reservation (unless we want to eat at 9:30 pm and we have a 19 month old and 5 year old, so no). I checked other nights, and there's no other night we could go to O'Hana, everything is totally booked.

So I guess we have 2 options, we can just show up with 2 people and hope they can fit us in, or we have to cancel the reservation and won't get to eat there while on vacation. Of course, I'll keep checking to see if there's room between now and the 30th, but if nothing changes, what would you do?

 

[tinka-belle]

If you have your heart set on O'Hana, see if there's an ADR slot available for 2 people at Kona Cafe next door (if your in-laws wouldn't mind eating without you!) and you can all meet up again after dinner IF O'hana can't seat your entire party. Check in as soon as O'hana opens (5:00 or 5:30?) to see if they can accomodate you, you may have to wait a bit for a larger table to open up. People cancel ADRs all the time, esp. on the day of the meal.

If O'hana can seat the entire party be sure to walk over to Kona Cafe (literally about 10 steps away) and cancel the ADR for 2.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Can you ask your father-in-law to meet you on a different day?

I would not show up with two extra people hoping you can be seated. What if you can't be? What do you plan on doing with the 19 month old and the 5 year old then?

I think the only thing you can do is to keep calling and calling, like you said but keep in mind there's a very good chance you won't be eating at Ohana's for this trip.

 

[Sarahboo]

Thanks for the quick responses!

We're going to call FIL again today. In the end, I'm not going to have them drive down to see us and then split up for dinner. I'll be really disappointed if I don't get to eat at O'Hana, but family comes first.

 

[Palendat]

Personally, I would just show up. If they can't seat you, they can't seat you. The alternative (besides continuing to try, which you are doing) is to not eat there. I completely understand your dilemma, as I love 'Ohana as well (I choose it as my B-day meal whenever I can). I hope it works out for you.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I would absolutely just show up. Maybe it's the New Yorker in me, but I'm pretty certain they will squeeze your in-laws in at the table.

 

[Nadjalu]

Personally I would go to dinner.
If they want to try and come that is fine. And I agree family is family, but your feelings should be just as important and it is YOUR vacation.

What is taking 2 hours to eat dinner? If he can't meet another time, meet them and split for dinner IF they can't get in. Then meet back up. That isn't hard to do.

My best friend lives down there and we do that when she can't eat with us.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would absolutely just show up. Maybe it's the New Yorker in me, but I'm pretty certain they will squeeze your in-laws in at the table.

It is worth a shot, but no way guaranteed that they will squeeze you in. the tables at the Disney restaurants are pretty tight to begin with, so they can't just add a couple extra chairs to a table. And the OP will have to have a different sized table than the one their ADR is for to accomodate 2 extra people.

Keep trying to change your ADR beforehand. If you want to try getting into Ohanas with a couple extra people then show up early. But be prepared with an alternate idea in case you are turned away.

 

[squirrel]

I went during Free Dining and we had to add at least one person to our reservation. It might have been two people, I can't remember if I was able to change that reservation to 7 before we had 8 people on the trip. So our ADR went from either 6 or 7 to 8 people.

We were able to get everyone seated at the same table.

 

[DeniseinNS]

maybe see if there are any reservations for 2 open around the same time and then hope you can be sat together or at least closeby

 

[flipflopmom]

maybe see if there are any reservations for 2 open around the same time and then hope you can be sat together or at least closeby

That is what I would do.... Check the online site frequently, less hassle than calling, for an ADR for your entire party, also.

 

[tammydel]

I know it feels like a risk, but I would show up early and ask. I've had to add people at the last minute a number of times and never had a problem. I know that doesn't mean that you won't, but I think you have a good chance. Disney Dining Computer system is just by the numbers. When you are actually there there is a real person who in my experience will always try to help - actually in my experience I was usually humble to the point of ready to beg, and the cast members seemed like it was not a problem at all. Good Luck!

Tammy

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would show up with everyone, even early, as someone suggested. Maybe with luck you can all be seated.
But I would also see about getting them in a Kona for a table for 2, as someone else suggested. It's just a meal. And the restaurants are right next to each other. Just meet up again after the meal.