Questions about reservations & walk-ups

[NatsFan78]

I am having a hard time getting some of the reservations. I have Chef Mickey’s breakfast but it is on our last day for example, we had hoped to take the kids on our first morning to kick off the trip. I have come across people on Facebook groups with stacked reservations for the same restaurant. For example, one person had Chef Mickey’s breakfast on the day I was looking for but they had three reservations 15 minutes apart. She also had other restaurants for breakfast the same day. Unfortunately I was unable to trade with her as I had nothing she was looking for. I saw a few posts about how people are loading up on a ton of reservations that will not use. Not really sure why that’s a thing or why the system allows it.

Since they obviously will not be able to use all of them I’m hoping that means a chance for getting in on the walk-up list. Does anyone know what the chances are of getting in last minute for:

Chef Mickey’s breakfast between 7:30 and 9:00
Rainforest Cafe at AK dinner between 5:00 and 6:45
Via Napoli dinner between 5:00 and 6:45
Liberty Tree at 4:00 on a Halloween party day

I have reservations on the right day for Rainforest Cafe but not until 7:30 and Via Napoli but not not until 8:00. I will be traveling with my three grandsons, 10 months, 2 years, and 3 years. They do not eat well that late and will be very grumpy. I can make the one at Liberty Tree work if I need to. I took what I could get hoping to get something better before we arrive. I have signed up for alerts but nothing yet. We have 8 in our party so that complicates things. Do I have a decent chance of getting in with walk-up at the restaurants above? Also, if I find a reservation for 6 is it possible I could add 2 to it? If so, how do I do that? Thank you!

 

[raidermatt]

Personally I would not rely on walkups for a group of 8. When we visit its a group of 8-12 and I gave up on walk-ups long ago, at least at any semi popular place. Not saying it can't happen, I just wouldn't try it.

Try booking whatever reservations you can during your desired timeframes. Can't get an 8? (Many restaurants won't even accept a reservation for 8). Book two 4's at the same or close to the same time. Book a 6 and 2. We have done this many, many times and never has any restaurant in WDW failed to seat us together. That said, we never assume and always ask politely, and I always prepare the group for the possibility we could be split up. But it has never happened.

This really should work at those earlier dinner times between 4:00 and 5:00. That's when we eat dinner at WDW and it is much easier to accommodate you than later in the dinner rush.

The Chef Mickey's one is the only one I could see being a problem, but I would still try using the above strategy. If you can't even get a couple of smaller reservations though, then I would either keep what you have or find another option.

 

[supersnoop]

Also, if I find a reservation for 6 is it possible I could add 2 to it?

No. You might be able to add one when you check in, but you won't be able to add two people.

I don't think you'll get any sort of reservation on a party night after 4pm other than the special they have going for CRT and BOG.

Those people hoarding reservations have to let them go at some point. I've had great luck checking the night before and finding plenty of great options available.

 

[NatsFan78]

Personally I would not rely on walkups for a group of 8. When we visit its a group of 8-12 and I gave up on walk-ups long ago, at least at any semi popular place. Not saying it can't happen, I just wouldn't try it.

Try booking whatever reservations you can during your desired timeframes. Can't get an 8? (Many restaurants won't even accept a reservation for 8). Book two 4's at the same or close to the same time. Book a 6 and 2. We have done this many, many times and never has any restaurant in WDW failed to seat us together. That said, we never assume and always ask politely, and I always prepare the group for the possibility we could be split up. But it has never happened.

This really should work at those earlier dinner times between 4:00 and 5:00. That's when we eat dinner at WDW and it is much easier to accommodate you than later in the dinner rush.

The Chef Mickey's one is the only one I could see being a problem, but I would still try using the above strategy. If you can't even get a couple of smaller reservations though, then I would either keep what you have or find another option.

Thank you for your help. I am going to start looking for that. Hopefully that will help.

 

[NatsFan78]

No. You might be able to add one when you check in, but you won't be able to add two people.

I don't think you'll get any sort of reservation on a party night after 4pm other than the special they have going for CRT and BOG.

Those people hoarding reservations have to let them go at some point. I've had great luck checking the night before and finding plenty of great options available.

I didn’t think that would work but figured it was worth asking. I am hoping the people hoarding for that week will let stuff go soon. Thank you for your help.

 

[CarolynFH]

I didn’t think that would work but figured it was worth asking. I am hoping the people hoarding for that week will let stuff go soon. Thank you for your help.

They’ll probably hold them until a day or two before, so check frequently but especially more often the closer you get!

 

[raidermatt]

I didn’t think that would work but figured it was worth asking. I am hoping the people hoarding for that week will let stuff go soon. Thank you for your help.

Just adding, I completely disagree with the idea you would not be able to add 2 people to a reservation for 6 upon arrival at the podium. Of course it's better if you have a reservation for 6 and for 2 and ask to be seated together, but we have sometimes needed to add more than 1 upon arrival, and again, have never been denied. On a recent trip we had a reservation for 5 at Via Napoli and upon arrival asked to add 3 (long story), and it was no problem. We waited about 10 minutes for our table.

It never hurts to ask. Disney's system is not a traditional reservation system. They do not hold tables waiting for people to arrive. It's almost like a FP or G+ system. You book a time and when you arrive it puts you next in line for a table (behind other reservations who have also arrived of course). The negative to this is you can still have to wait a while for your table, especially at peak times. But the positive for Disney is it keeps tables from sitting empty and it gives them greater flexibility. I'm not saying its a guarantee they will accommodate, but they really will do so if at all possible. They would much rather find a way to add 2 than to send the whole party away.

 

[NatsFan78]

Just adding, I completely disagree with the idea you would not be able to add 2 people to a reservation for 6 upon arrival at the podium. Of course it's better if you have a reservation for 6 and for 2 and ask to be seated together, but we have sometimes needed to add more than 1 upon arrival, and again, have never been denied. On a recent trip we had a reservation for 5 at Via Napoli and upon arrival asked to add 3 (long story), and it was no problem. We waited about 10 minutes for our table.

It never hurts to ask. Disney's system is not a traditional reservation system. They do not hold tables waiting for people to arrive. It's almost like a FP or G+ system. You book a time and when you arrive it puts you next in line for a table (behind other reservations who have also arrived of course). The negative to this is you can still have to wait a while for your table, especially at peak times. But the positive for Disney is it keeps tables from sitting empty and it gives them greater flexibility. I'm not saying its a guarantee they will accommodate, but they really will do so if at all possible. They would much rather find a way to add 2 than to send the whole party away.

I was able to get Via Napoli at 4:25 for six people and at 4:45 for six people. If I change the 4:45 reservation to two people and keep the 4:25 for six people could I show for the 4:25 and explain that I have the two reservations and ask if I can wait to be seated as a party of 8? I don’t mind if I have to wait a while. Thank you for your help.

 

[CarolynFH]

I was able to get Via Napoli at 4:25 for six people and at 4:45 for six people. If I change the 4:45 reservation to two people and keep the 4:25 for six people could I show for the 4:25 and explain that I have the two reservations and ask if I can wait to be seated as a party of 8? I don’t mind if I have to wait a while. Thank you for your help.

Yes, if you have a 4:25 ADR for six people and a 4:45 for 2 (or 6) people, make sure everyone is at the restaurant by 4:15 and check in for both ADRs with the CM, not via MDE. Tell them you’re together and would like to sit as close together as possible. Be patient - they’ll do their best!

 

[PrinceRaki]

I was able to get Via Napoli at 4:25 for six people and at 4:45 for six people. If I change the 4:45 reservation to two people and keep the 4:25 for six people could I show for the 4:25 and explain that I have the two reservations and ask if I can wait to be seated as a party of 8? I don’t mind if I have to wait a while. Thank you for your help.

Yes you can, thats your best bet. Book whatever you can now and keep checking MDE. We have done 2 reservations 20-25 mins apart and still seated together. Check in at the podium and let them now, if they can't acomodate your whole party in a table they will do their best to give you tables as close as possible. They also let you know that if you all sit together a 18% gratuity will be applied to your bill (party of 6 or more)

 

[NatsFan78]

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[raidermatt]

Just echoing I agree with the last couple of answers. Be prepared to be split up, but I think it is highly likely they will seat you together, especially given it is an early dinner timeframe.

 

[NatsFan78]

Thank you!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

The system used to not let you book 2 reservations in the same hour timeframe to discourage hoarding. Has that changed? It let me book two breakfast reservations yesterday but one was at 8 and the other at 11 so I thought that the 3-hour separation was big enough, but I immediately dropped the one I knew I wouldn't use. People who hoard multiple reservations for hard to get restaurants are really selfish IMHO, especially if they're on the same day! And I can't believe she was looking to trade with you instead of just letting you have it if she knew she wasn't going to use them.

 

[NatsFan78]

The system used to not let you book 2 reservations in the same hour timeframe to discourage hoarding. Has that changed? It let me book two breakfast reservations yesterday but one was at 8 and the other at 11 so I thought that the 3-hour separation was big enough, but I immediately dropped the one I knew I wouldn't use. People who hoard multiple reservations for hard to get restaurants are really selfish IMHO, especially if they're on the same day! And I can't believe she was looking to trade with you instead of just letting you have it if she knew she wasn't going to use them.

The planning has been extremely frustrating this time. I really don’t understand the hoarding either. I have seen posts on Facebook groups with people having a ridiculous amount of reservations for one day. One person had four ‘Ohana and three Chef Mickey’s all around 15-35 minutes apart the same morning. I am trying to get reservations for Hollywood & Vine but it is so annoying I doubt it is worth it. I am using 3 different free alert sites but with no luck. I don’t understand the trading thing, if you have such a long list you can’t possibly trade all of them for something you would use.

 

[CarolynFH]

The system used to not let you book 2 reservations in the same hour timeframe to discourage hoarding. Has that changed? It let me book two breakfast reservations yesterday but one was at 8 and the other at 11 so I thought that the 3-hour separation was big enough, but I immediately dropped the one I knew I wouldn't use. People who hoard multiple reservations for hard to get restaurants are really selfish IMHO, especially if they're on the same day! And I can't believe she was looking to trade with you instead of just letting you have it if she knew she wasn't going to use them.

I agree. I’ve read that there are FB groups where people sell hard to get ADRs.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I agree. I’ve read that there are FB groups where people sell hard to get ADRs.

That wouldn’t surprise me, sadly.

 

[NatsFan78]

I suspected this was the case. I really wanted to eat at Hollywood & Vine but I will not pay someone for their reservation.

 

[CarolynFH]

I suspected this was the case. I really wanted to eat at Hollywood & Vine but I will not pay someone for their reservation.

Yes, that’s one of the reasons (a sad reason) why checking the day before often allows you to book. If they can’t sell the ADR by then, they cancel it to avoid the $10 pp no-show fee.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

The system is absolutely allowing crazy stacking. It let me book two tables for the same restaurant, party of 4 and party of 6, plus another one at a different restaurant all within 5 minutes of each other. I dropped the two I'm not using immediately but this is why there are no tables anywhere. Insane. I bet there are some folks holding like 4 reservations for Space 220 for each day of their trips. I feel so badly for first-timers, or the once-in-a-lifetime folks, especially if they're staying off-property. They don't have a chance.