Reserve for 4 or 5?

[KeriWDE]

There are 5 of us. The youngest will be 4 when we travel, but she is small and generally sits at the end of a table on a booster or in a high chair.

I'm wondering if I will have more luck getting reservations if I look for tables for 4 and then ask for a high chair when we arrive with the toddler.

Is this going to work? Will the restaurant CMs tell us "tough luck" or will they accommodate us as a party of 5?

TIA!

 

[nalajms]

The party size is a fire code issue. You may be turned away if you showed up with 5 for a reservation for 4. I always book more than less because we have family locally who may or may not show up. I also don't think booking 4 or 5 makes much difference. Booking 2 versus 4, yes.

 

[purple figment]

As nalajms said, you need to book for every person that will be at the table because of fire code regulations. While restaurants will not routinely turn away extra people, there is always a chance and we have seen it happen at a DW restaurant.

You can look for a table for 5 or 6. If you get a res for 6, when you check in at the restaurant let the castmembers at the podium know there are only 5 of you. As long as at least one person shows up for the reservation, you will not be charged for the "missing" person.

 

[kam1011]

You have to book for five.

 

[DISNEY1975]

You should reserve for 5. A party of 4 will definitely be at a table that seats 4. Even squeezing in a high chair could impair the waitstaffs ability to move around between tables. A booster would require another chair at the table.

 

[disney world dreamer]

you need to book it for 5 because your 4yr old is a person too.
your 4yr old will count towards how many people are in the restaurant for safety reasons and fire code.
also your 4yr old will take up a chair whether it be a regular chair or a high chair.