Showing Up With More People Than On ADR

[JuffoWup]

My agent said it shouldn't be a problem since I'm going mid-Sept, and I even called Disney and they said it should be fine. Just wondering if anybody has experience with this.

A buddy's parents are joining us at BOG QS our first day, and no, we didn't pre-order food so I think we should be fine.

Ohana we have 4 on paper but are showing up with 5.

Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

BOG and Ohana? You're joking surely. I giggle.

 

[elcmum]

The tough thing with going from four to five (in any dining situation) is that you're basically asking the host to snag a chair and make a four-top fit five.

It's doable at most places, but it would be almost easier if you were going from 5-6 guests.

If it were me, I would call Disney back and just get a second opinion. I'm unsure of seating arrangements at BOG (self-seating, correct?) so it may not pose *too* much of a problem.

Good luck!

 

[JJZMgailey]

Definitely not a good plan. The restaurants have capacity limitations that are set by the fire marshall; there can only be a certain number of people in a building at any given time - open chairs or not. We dine at Table Service restaurants frequently and have seen plenty of upset people who were turned away trying to do what you described. You're really setting yourself up for disappointment if you plan on showing up with more people than your reservation is for - even if it's only one person.

Just keep calling Disney Dining between now and your arrival date/time to try to bump each of your reservations up by one person...that's far easier!

 

[purple figment]

My agent said it shouldn't be a problem since I'm going mid-Sept, and I even called Disney and they said it should be fine. Just wondering if anybody has experience with this.

A buddy's parents are joining us at BOG QS our first day, and no, we didn't pre-order food so I think we should be fine.

Ohana we have 4 on paper but are showing up with 5.

Let me know your thoughts.

Regardless of whether your agent or someone on the phone says you should be fine, neither of them are the ones who make the ultimate decision so you cannot depend on what they say. It will be up to the staff at the restaurant when you arrive for your meal.

Disney restaurants have to adhere to the fire code as Webmaster Jackie posted. Also, it depends on how busy the restaurant is and both 'Ohana and BOG are usually fully booked, so very busy. You will need a larger table because a party of 5 will be seated at a 6 top. Disney restaurants do not pull up another chair to squeeze a 5th person into a 4 top.

Keep checking online for a reservation for the correct size group. For BOG you can look for a table for 2 at the same time as your current reservation since you can choose your own table because it is Quick Service.

For 'Ohana you can look for another table for 2 and ask to be seated together. There is no guarantee, but castmembers will do their best to accommodate you. You can also look for a table for 5 (or 6) since either group size will be seated at a 6 top.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I can't imagine anyone at Disney saying to just go ahead and do it.

 

[kandb]

We have showed up with one extra more then one time at dinner at Disney restaurants (one was Ohana's) and there was no problem. I would go with 5 and not worry about it.

 

[gem21]

You may be seated, you may not... it's not a guarantee as you can see from the previous posts. Are you willing to take that risk?

And mid-September while lower crowds, is also free dining and so the restaurants will all be booked solid as people take full advantage of the plan.

 

[mickeynut1]

As others have said, you might get seated, you might not. It all depends on how busy the restaurant is and if they can easily accommodate you. With that said, I would keep trying to change the ADR to 5. If you can't find availability for 5 prior to going, it is very possible they won't be able to seat you at the restaurant. As a pp mentioned, you will be going from a four top to a five top, which might not be doable. If you do decide to show up with 5, I'd have a back up plan just in case you do get turned away. Also, keep in mind that if they can't seat you and you choose to go elsewhere, you will most likely be charged a no show fee for Ohana. If it were me, I wouldn't risk it (but that's just me).

 

[JuffoWup]

Thanks (mostly) all for the good advice. I'll keep trying and if not I'll just throw a hail mary and see what happens.

 

[kashzan]

35 trips to Disney, and i tried this once. In January, a slow time of year. We went with 5, and our Ressie was for 4. tried , and was turned away.
I would strongly suggest that instead of throwing a hail mary, you tried to correct the ressie , or make it elsewhere. I would hate for you to have no plan B.
The info you have gotten has all been correct. Please be sure your reservations are for the correct #. It would be sad for you to be turned away from a place you wanted to have dinner at.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Yes it won't hurt to keep trying to get an adr for 5.. I honestly think you will find one since many people cancel much closer to the day of the adr. Especially try the night before and day of. I am not sure that I would have told you it would be just fine to show up with 1 more, especially at BOG and Ohana but people have gotten into Ohana just walking up with no adr, so it could happen there. I would be more worried about BOG.

 

[mommajo143]

DH & I have been trying to snag ohanas for 5 during an earlier time slot for several months - and the crowd calendars all have my Sept dates as extremely low crowds... I wouldn't risk it. With FD most places are full, esp BOG & Ohana's - I'd keep trying as suggested because I've almost never heard of this strategy working... Esp at high demand places.

 

[JuffoWup]

I managed to snag an 8:30 table at Ohana for 6 the same night, and released my party of 4. Thanks for the help everybody!

 

[julluvsdisney]

I have showed up to both of these with 2 extra people last thanksgiving week. Neither place cared. all I got was at Ohana " ok you may have to wait a little longer". Ok I'm ok with that! We have actually done this on several trips since people join us last minute several times. I have never been turned away. That being said obviously this is not a guarantee just my experience! Good luck!