Reservations for two, but not for one?

[dolphingirl47]

I have tried for ages to get a breakfast reservation for just me at 'Ohana. I love Stitch and I had a fantastic interaction with him there in 2010. Anyway, on none of the days I could do, there are any breakfast ADRs for a party of 1. However, on one of those days, some ADRs for two is available. I assume they don't have any tables for one so I wonder why this is.

Corinna

 

[TDC Nala]

It is typical. The system has a bias for even-numbered parties. It is especially difficult to get a reservation for one.

Take the reservation for 2 and when you show up, say there will only be one.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Thanks. Do you know if they charge me for the second person if I do this? I was only in the market for three ADRs this time round as we are staying offsite this time round. I had no trouble getting an ADR for one for lunch at Tusker House and for the Candlelight Processional Lunch Package at Biergarten, but breakfast at 'Ohana just seemed to elude me.

Corinna

 

[MADnNOLA]

Thanks. Do you know if they charge me for the second person if I do this? I was only in the market for three ADRs this time round as we are staying offsite this time round. I had no trouble getting an ADR for one for lunch at Tusker House and for the Candlelight Processional Lunch Package at Biergarten, but breakfast at 'Ohana just seemed to elude me.

Corinna

You will only be charged for two people if it is a prepay meal event. Otherwise you are good to go!

I travel solo all the time (4 trips in the last year, 2 more coming up) and I usually have to search for a party of 2 for and ADR. It is not even an issue when I show up alone and tell them 1 instead of two.

 

[FiggieFan]

As long as someone shows up for the ADR, you will not be charged for additional people on the reservation. I believe CRT and dinner shows may be different, but for credit card guaranteed meals, they will only charge if it is not cancelled and no one appears. Have a great time!

 

[dolphingirl47]

Thanks for all your input. This is just a standard credit card guaranteed ADR. I have now jumped on it and managed to snag a 9:40 AM ADR for my Magic Kingdom day. Stitch, here I come.

Corinna

 

[jillgunter]

The system is funny, I have problems with having 3 people. I got two reservations by putting in 4, nothing for the two reservations when I tried 3.

 

[shell1974]

I agree, I just lost a res that was very kindly offered to me as it was for 6......I stupidly put in 4 thinking they would have split it for a 4 and a 2 but no I lost the whole thing even though I briefly saw it for 6. Should have reserved then downscaled but trusted the system to ave common sense......won't make that mistake again!

 

[LilyWDW]

I agree, I just lost a res that was very kindly offered to me as it was for 6......I stupidly put in 4 thinking they would have split it for a 4 and a 2 but no I lost the whole thing even though I briefly saw it for 6. Should have reserved then downscaled but trusted the system to ave common sense......won't make that mistake again!

If it offered you a reservation for 6, then that was because a 6 top was available. It CAN'T split it 4 and 2 because it is a single table. Disney's system wants to maximize the use of their tables which makes total sense. Why would a 6 top be reserved for 4 when they can get 2 more in those seats?

However, this does mean that the system has issues with odd numbers. Tables are, the vast majority of time, set for an even number. 2, 4, 6, 8 and such. So, when you go to look for 1 it doesn't WANT to give a table for 2 to a single. It wants 2 people at that table. So you just have to book for the 2.

 

[Cafeen]

The system is funny, I have problems with having 3 people. I got two reservations by putting in 4, nothing for the two reservations when I tried 3.

Just wait until you book an ADR for 1...and it tells you that your party may be seated at different tables That's a fun one.

I think it has to do with the backend of the system itself (note that this "odd-number issue" has been present since before online ADRs came out, in 2009) and is likely deeply ingrained into the base architecture. Probably something along the lines of listing tables for specific party sizes, but most tables only going in for max size, so the 4 tops only see Capacity=4 and not Capacity=3,4. At least, that's my theory and is random filler to make the one liner above not seem so lonely.

 

[Cafeen]

(Edit: Ok, it's the back button that's causing the dupes not the refresh, or maybe it's both...either way, it's new and a bit annoying )