PPO breakfast security - strict about number of guests on ADR?

[ofcabbagesandkings]

My mom is joining us on our trip next week at the very last minute, and I've been able to change all of our reservations to 5 except for a PPO at Garden Grill. We have a baby in our party, so we can sit at a 4 top table with him in our arms if they can't seat us with a highchair or booster. My question is when we go to check in at the line for people with PPO reservations - will they count the number of guests or will it be enough to say "Smith Family, Garden Grill" and they will wave us in? Thanks!

 

[CinderDuffy]

You need the reservation to be for 5 or you may not be able to enter the restaurant, much less the park. It doesn't matter that one person is a baby.

 

[Gehrig1B]

I don't know about entering the park but we have always had success getting an additional member (just 1) added to a reservation at Disney restaurants. Sometimes we are told we have to wait for availability but I can't remember ever waiting an inordinate amount of time.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I’ll defer to others but in terms of the getting in the park part, when DD was a toddler I can’t remember them ever paying any attention to her at the front gate for a PPO ADR. Maybe I just never noticed, but it didn’t seem like they did.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We have a baby in our party, so we can sit at a 4 top table with him in our arms if they can't seat us with a highchair or booster.

THE QUESTION OF AN EXTRA PERSON or EXTRA PEOPLE (the "411"):
1) Disney is getting wise to the "but, they decided to join us" or "I miscounted".
2) People can't always get the ADR they want.
3) So, they under-count to get a table.
4) Then, they show up with "unexpected" additional people.
5) In a team meeting, CM's have been told to warn guests against this.
6) If there is room, WDW will not turn away revenue.
7) But, if busy, they will turn away the additions.
8) Go ahead and arrive with the extras, if you like.
9) Just be prepared to have someone stand around while you eat.
10) I have heard explanations such as . . .
. . . "but, Aunt Suzy decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, two friends from off-site decided to join us and we need two extra seats"
. . . "but, brother-in-law decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, the entire Boy Scout Troop decided to join us and we need 14 extra sets"
. . . "but, my baby is so small that I didn't count her in the number of eaters, but can be a lap-baby"
.
NOTE1: It is far easier going from an odd-number to an even number, such as from 7-people to 8-people, adding a person to an even number of diners, such as going from 6-people to 7-people. Adding odd person can mean adding a table, and this might not be possible. Going from an odd-to-even might only mean adding a chair or using an empty seat. So, if going from even-to-odd, you might not get the extra person a seat. It is always better to get another ADR with the proper people-count.
.
NOTE2: Frequently a party-of-two will try to add a third person at the podium. This can be risky, because many eateries do have tables-for-two. If the guest was slated for one of these, there simply might not be a table available to seat the third person - even if an infant. The extra chair location might extend into an aisle and block access for other guests or Servers.
.
NOTE3: Sometimes it is a threesome adding a fourth. Unfortunately, there are many eateries that do have 3-top tables - usually against a wall or pillar. They can't add a fourth chair, since that would invade the aisle and be unsafe for SERVERS.
.
NOTE4: The final question is that of how many people are in the eatery. There are Fire Codes which dictate the maximum amount of people. If the capacity is exceeded, there are some big fines possible. And, Disney will not violate the max-capacity of an eatery.

 

[Alesia]

They might let you in, they might not. It just depends. I would have a backup plan if I were you

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

THE QUESTION OF AN EXTRA PERSON or EXTRA PEOPLE (the "411"):
1) Disney is getting wise to the "but, they decided to join us" or "I miscounted"

NOTE4: The final question is that of how many people are in the eatery. There are Fire Codes which dictate the maximum amount of people. If the capacity is exceeded, there are some big fines possible. And, Disney will not violate the max-capacity of an eatery.

This is the only one that makes sense to me in our case, since he really could be a lap baby. And we're not trying to be tricky, I got this reservation 6 months ago on my 180 day, mom decided to join us yesterday.

 

[TinkerPan]

When we went for a PPO, they counted the number of people in our group prior to letting us enter that part of MK early. You'd have an easier time adding your mother last minute to an ADR is it wasn't a PPO reservation. My understanding is even lap babies are counted as needing a reservation. I've called trying to add folks to the reservation and that didn't help. I'd have a back up plan if you are denied entry.

 

[Alesia]

There is no such thing as a "lap baby" in a crowded restaurant. Every single human counts toward the maximum capacity.

 

[hllb]

Is it policy to count the baby? I just ask because they don’t count them for the dining plan. I can’t remember if we made our reservations for 5 when our son was little.

 

[hllb]

I don't know about entering the park but we have always had success getting an additional member (just 1) added to a reservation at Disney restaurants. Sometimes we are told we have to wait for availability but I can't remember ever waiting an inordinate amount of time.

Do you mean added by calling (ahead of time) or added at check in? Wondering because we had to split our party of 5 for one reservation. Everyone has a reservation, they’re just done as parties of 4 and 1.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Is it policy to count the baby? I just ask because they don’t count them for the dining plan. I can’t remember if we made our reservations for 5 when our son was little.

Yes, you have to include a baby in the ADR count.

 

[scrapquitler]

Try making an additional reservation for 1 person close to the same time as your existing reservation.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Is it policy to count the baby?

1) Yes, yes, yes, yes yes.
2) It is another person.

 

[Cinderella94]

Is it policy to count the baby? I just ask because they don’t count them for the dining plan. I can’t remember if we made our reservations for 5 when our son was little.

They don't count them for the dining plans in terms of payment but they still count in terms of number of bodies when making each ADR.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I was able to change the reservation at Garden Grill! It's for 10 minutes later but since my mom is part of the equation that extra ten minutes to get there is probably for the best. So the only one I can't change online is Tiffins because it's a ROL package. Still, at 4 days out, I count this as a success!

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I was able to change the reservation at Garden Grill! It's for 10 minutes later but since my mom is part of the equation that extra ten minutes to get there is probably for the best. So the only one I can't change online is Tiffins because it's a ROL package. Still, at 4 days out, I count this as a success!

Woo-hoo! Glad it all worked out!

 

[brockash]

My mom is joining us on our trip next week at the very last minute, and I've been able to change all of our reservations to 5 except for a PPO at Garden Grill. We have a baby in our party, so we can sit at a 4 top table with him in our arms if they can't seat us with a highchair or booster. My question is when we go to check in at the line for people with PPO reservations - will they count the number of guests or will it be enough to say "Smith Family, Garden Grill" and they will wave us in? Thanks!

They will just need the confirmation number or scan your band and they'll let all of you through. They don't count the exact number of ppl. At Garden Grill, let them know the situation and 99% of the time, especially at that time, they'll fix it and you'll be fine. There will be others who will probably try to tell you you can't/won't be able to do this, but from personal experience of a few different situations, one being at Garden Grill, we have never not been able to get it worked out. Nothing is 100%, but I'm 99.9% sure, you'll be fine, just going with the 4 ppl. A DR, getting through the prepark opening and all 5 of you being seated shortly after you arrive at GG.

Don't get me wrong, I'd keep looking for a 5, but if you can't get it, it'll still work out.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

This is the only one that makes sense to me in our case, since he really could be a lap baby. And we're not trying to be tricky, I got this reservation 6 months ago on my 180 day, mom decided to join us yesterday.

yes he will be counted even if he is being held on a lap. we had to count 4 month who could not sit in highchair and was held at most meals

 

[supersnoop]

They will just need the confirmation number or scan your band and they'll let all of you through. They don't count the exact number of ppl.

They’ve always counted the number of people when we’ve had a PPO reservation; probably 15 or so times. We’ve never tried to sneak anyone in, but they’ve always made a point of saying how many were on the reservation and then counting to make sure we were all there.