Shady reservations, yes or no?

[AvonPooh]

I am trying to make reservations for a breakfast at CP. When I try to reserve a table for the two of us and our infant around 8am it says no, closest would be 9am,, which I don't want because I really wanted to be able to be in park early for pics of empty castle and all. But when I push through that there are 4 of us +baby it says 8:10 am. Can i do this or is this not allowed? I don't want to be shady but at the same time, if they can feed a table of four, why can't we get a reservation for three of us? I don't want to get our reservation cancelled or get in trouble so help if you can! Thanks!

 

[mickey2000]

I am trying to make reservations for a breakfast at CP. When I try to reserve a table for the two of us and our infant around 8am it says no, closest would be 9am,, which I don't want because I really wanted to be able to be in park early for pics of empty castle and all. But when I push through that there are 4 of us +baby it says 8:10 am. Can i do this or is this not allowed? I don't want to be shady but at the same time, if they can feed a table of four, why can't we get a reservation for three of us? I don't want to get our reservation cancelled or get in trouble so help if you can! Thanks!

My friend tried this and was charged for the 4th person, as a no show.
IMO it is also unfair to others trying to make reservations as the seats are so hard to get ! JMO

 

[jenb1023]

They will charge you for no shows at meals where you have to give a credit card hold for the ADR. However, I have not heard of them charging for no shows at a regular meal. We had an ADR for six and only had five people and had no issues whatsoever and were not charged. I personally would make the reservation for four since it would probably be the same size table anyway so it is not like you are taking an eight person table for the three of you.

 

[shellybaxter]

I understand mickey2000's concerns but I've actually had CM suggest this when we couldn't find a table for 2. The only time I've heard of it being a problem for a no-show is when the ressie is a pre-pay or a CC hold. Crystal Palace is not a CC hold so you should be fine.

 

[bubblycoconut]

My friend tried this and was charged for the 4th person, as a no show.
IMO it is also unfair to others trying to make reservations as the seats are so hard to get ! JMO

I agree with this.

I am trying to make reservations for a breakfast at CP. When I try to reserve a table for the two of us and our infant around 8am it says no, closest would be 9am,, which I don't want because I really wanted to be able to be in park early for pics of empty castle and all. But when I push through that there are 4 of us +baby it says 8:10 am. Can i do this or is this not allowed? I don't want to be shady but at the same time, if they can feed a table of four, why can't we get a reservation for three of us? I don't want to get our reservation cancelled or get in trouble so help if you can! Thanks!

When you book a table for the two of you plus the infant you will be at a 4 top but when you book as 4 adults plus an infant you would be at a 6 top. Different size tables which is why the avaibilty is different. I wouldn't book with the incorrect number of people. When you arrive at the restaurant I doubt they would seat you at the larger table anyway. I would just wait and see if any tables of the correct size open up.

 

[TDC Nala]

It could possibly be considered unfair by some to book a table for that many more people than there are in your party (four plus infant is a table for five) - but to address the other concern mentioned here - Crystal Palace is not a restaurant that charges for no-shows.

 

[mickey2000]

My friend haad the problem at CRT .....

 

[Natersmom]

I was worried about the same thing. I'm going in September with DH & DS(4).

When I put in 2 adult and 1 child for Tusker House I saw 8:20am, but when I put in 3 adult & 1 child 8:05am popped up. I don't get it - 2 adults and 1 child would sit at the same 4 top table as 3 adults and 1 child. Maybe I'm missing something but it doesn't make sense. I booked the 8:05am because I figured one less person at a 4 top would not make a difference. However, I am going to keep looking at Tusker for a 3 person reservation at 8:05am - just in case!

 

[squirrel]

Some restaurants do have tables for 3. They are tables that seat 4 but are up against a wall.

 

[cnjmom]

Maybe I'm missing something but it doesn't make sense.

Can I ask how old the child is? I am convinced that WCC figured my 13 month old didn't really take up that much space and seated my family of five at a four-top. Problem is, he's at the age where he loves to grab at everything in his path, so we have to clear a pretty big area around him so he doesn't pull everything off the table. We were pretty cramped at that meal.

And yes, I booked the ADR 2 months ahead of time for five people.

 

[Natersmom]

My son is 4 1/2 years old. I would hope they consider him big enough to take up space at the table.

 

[JoanneNC]

I would book it for 4 and reduce the number that day.
My recent trip I had a few reservations for between 7-14 people and they each changed (lower) by some combination either a few days before or minutes before and each time when I called or checked in, I was told that dropping a diner is never a problem.

 

[SHammett]

I have been told many times by different CM's that it is easier to drop a person than to add them, so make the reservation for the larger party size. As long as you don't have a CC holding your ressie, you will be fine. We have dropped our teenagers at check-in several times due to them being at a different location (darned unpredictable things). We have never had any problem doing this.

 

[CathieArms]

Go back and work with it a little more. Try modifying your reservation request time by 15 minutes. In other words, if you want a 9:00, start with 8:30, then 8:45, then 9, then 9:15....sometimes it's tricky, but I know with CP I've had luck that way. In other words, I want an 8:30 or 8:45 time. When I put in 8:30, I get something like 9:25. But, if I put in 8:45, 9:10 pops up. It's interesting.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The reason you can get a 4+infant and not a 3+infant is they have probably reserved all the 3/4 tables while there are 5/6 tables available. An infant is always considered to require a seat. Otherwise what will you do with the child, shove him under the table?

 

[Pumbaa_]

AvonPooh, book and don't give it another thought. We are a party of two and often have trouble getting a table until we become a party of 3 then the reservations are wide open

Unless and until Disney gives first come first ressie ability, we will continue to do it and not give it a second thought,

Have a fabulous vacation!!

 

[princesswendy720]

Go back and work with it a little more. Try modifying your reservation request time by 15 minutes. In other words, if you want a 9:00, start with 8:30, then 8:45, then 9, then 9:15....sometimes it's tricky, but I know with CP I've had luck that way. In other words, I want an 8:30 or 8:45 time. When I put in 8:30, I get something like 9:25. But, if I put in 8:45, 9:10 pops up. It's interesting.

this has been my observation at CP as well. I was looking for something close to 8, when I tried 7:45, 8:00, and 8:15 it said 8:45. When I tried 8:30 I got 8:15!

 

[AvonPooh]

Ok so now that everyone thinks I am evil here for booking such a large party, I am happy to report that thanks to the post about tweaking my time, we now have a 8:15 am reservation for just the two of us and our 1 year old baby. So the shady reservation has been cancelled and now open for all of you to grab. Thanks for your help and don't worry I won't be shady anymore