Showing up with one less than the reservation

[CSPAGHETTI]

We'll be in Disney World in January with my family of 4 and my mom. I've made all of our dining reservations for 5 people, but my mom is expressing hesitation about eating indoors now because of omicron. Do I need to re-reserve each place for a party of 4, or can I keep the reservations I've made for 5 and just show up with 4?

 

[Pumbaa_]

as Lon as 1 person dines you are covered.

 

[CarolynFH]

No worries, as above, as long as at least one person shows up there is no penalty.

 

[disney2you]

Solo traveler here. Had to get so many reservations for 4 people cause that is all that is available (esp at Disneyland, Disneyworld actually has 1 person res at some places). When you check-in just edit it to 1 person. Never had an issue.
Not sure about pre-paid dining reservations though... dessert fireworks, R&C fireworks dining, etc... I think they might charge you.

 

[AndreaDM]

The only issue I see is that there are many tables for parties of up to 4. A party of 5 would require a table of at least 6 guests, and to be fair, I have no idea how many tables of that size most restaurants have, but if not many I would feel bad taking up a larger table if that meant another larger party couldn't get an ADR.

 

[CarolynFH]

The only issue I see is that there are many tables for parties of up to 4. A party of 5 would require a table of at least 6 guests, and to be fair, I have no idea how many tables of that size most restaurants have, but if not many I would feel bad taking up a larger table if that meant another larger party couldn't get an ADR.

I assume you mean you'd feel bad if your party of 1-4 booked a table for 6. I hope you wouldn't feel bad if your party of 5 took up a table for 6. And of course the issue is with Disney's dining reservation system itself. The guests who post here would love to make ADRs for 3 people or 5 people or 1 person rather than trying unsuccessfully to book for the actual number they want, then having to try again and being successful booking for a larger group than they actually have.

 

[AndreaDM]

I assume you mean you'd feel bad if your party of 1-4 booked a table for 6. I hope you wouldn't feel bad if your party of 5 took up a table for 6. And of course the issue is with Disney's dining reservation system itself. The guests who post here would love to make ADRs for 3 people or 5 people or 1 person rather than trying unsuccessfully to book for the actual number they want, then having to try again and being successful booking for a larger group than they actually have.

Yes, that's what I meant. If I took up a table for 6 but only had 4 guests which could be seated at a 4 top. And I agree, the reservation system is awful!

 

[CarolynFH]

Yes, that's what I meant. If I took up a table for 6 but only had 4 guests which could be seated at a 4 top. And I agree, the reservation system is awful!

Thinking about it, when a party of 4 shows up for an ADR for 6, maybe that allows the restaurant to give the option of adding a person or two to another ADR that's checking in, since the party of 4 will most likely be seated at a table for 4.