Should I reserve for more guests than I have with me?

[Goldilocks07]

Meaning, right now I'm a party of 3- and I'm busy making all of our dining reservations. I'm the planner, and get that with Disney, everything has to be handled half a year out. BUT, none of my friends are. They think I'm crazy to plan so far in advance....little do they know...
Anyway, I am hoping another group joins us on my October trip, but I won't know until 1-2 months before that vacation. Should I book dining for 6 people instead of 3? What has everyone else done in this situation? Is it a problem to lower your dining count?

I know, I know....I hate the idea of tying up dinner reservations when others know their plans and want to have reservations in the books. However, it's so dag-gone hard to get reservations for anything Disney and I will be a single parent by then- and I am really hoping another family joins us on our trip. I don't know my plans either but want to have everything locked in as well. If another family joins us, I don't want to have to cancel my reservations at CRT because (as we all know) it's impossible to add on more people as the date approaches.

Thoughts? Guidance? I'm open.

 

[POTCfan]

I book for how many people I think I will have. When I know for wure how many people are going, I try to rebook for the right amount of people. Sometimes I can, sometimes I find a different restaurant that I prefer more, and sometimes I can't and I just keep the original reservation (as of now, there is no penalty for showing up with less than your full party). Note that if no one shows up for your reservation, you will be penalized more by having more people on the reservation. Specifically regarding CRT - you have to pay upfront. And if your friends do not decide to go, and you can't rebook when you find out the exact number of people, you will have to wait until you eat at the restaurant to get reimbursed for the people that didn't show.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It is easier to lower your dining count than to add to it.

 

[ryukage]

Now that you can edit your reservation, both time and number, it's better to subtract people than add them. No need to rebook the reservation, just change it on the website (it's not currently possible in the app).

 

[purple figment]

Book for the maximum number of people that you think will be dining with you because it is always easier to reduce the number or show up with fewer than on the reservations. The reverse is a lot harder - trying to add more people especially since going from 3 to 6 will require a larger table size and at one to two months before your trip many places will be fully booked so you will be looking for cancellations. While people will cancel, you may as well book now when there are more choices available.

 

[Goldilocks07]

Ok sounds good. I will start working on rebooking my dining. I hope I can increase it. Worst case I suppose I'll just get on the Disney site daily to check.