Suggestion for dinner with party of 7?

[poohj80]

I'm hoping those of you have traveled with larger groups may be able to help us.

We have an ADR for dinner at Boma for a party of 6 (5 adults + 1 toddler). We found out today that one person is bringing a significant other that we had not planned on. We had hoped we could still be accommodated at the same table since the infant will be in a high chair at a table corner, but the CM at WDW-DINE said that would not be possible due to fire marshall rules.

Can anyone confirm this is really the case or is this just what they are supposed to tell us and the CMs at Boma may be able to accommodate us any way?

I have tried to find a reservation for 7 without luck. As an alternative, can anyone recommend a restaurant outside the parks which may be easier to accommodate larger groups?

Thanks for any tips you may offer!

PJ

 

[mrstomrice]

We loved Whispering Canyon Cafe in Wilderness Lodge. Great food as well as atmosphere! There were several types of tables available and many had 8+ people at them. It's a fun experience!

 

[ElizabethB]

I don't understand the fire code comment. Yes, restaurants have a limit to the number of people who can be inside at any one time. But, just because all reservations are booked, it doesn't mean everyone with an ADR will show up. Also, ADR's are given out based on the number who can be accommodated and fed and served at any one time, not how many seats there are. It's likely if you show up with an extra, someone else will show up with one fewer than they booked for. Finally, an ADR at 7 p.m. doesn't mean you have a claim on a table for either 6 or 7 at that time. It means, as they tell you when you book, "you'll be seated at the next available table for your party size."

If you want to go there and you can't change the number on your ADR, I'd just show up and say, "We're one more than we expected."

The fire code is a very weird comment. It assumes that the restaurant is completely full for the entire hour and a half you'll be eating and that your single extra person puts the maximum occupancy over the top. That's not realistic, IMO. Who trains phone CM's these days???

I suppose you could show up and be turned away, but I'd be surprised if that happened.

 

[poohj80]

Thanks Elizabeth B! That was exactly what we were thinking, but would hate to drive all the way out to AKL to be turned away. Disney is usually as accommodating as they can be which was why I was surprised by the fire marshall comment as well. If we had 7 adults, I would understand that the table we had reserved would not accommodate an extra person, but with a high chair I thought it might be possible.

And thanks for the suggestion of Whispering Canyon. We do love it as well, but it was booked up too.

 

[daisy112878]

Keep trying to change the adr to 7 but if it doens't happen just go and tell the Boma CM you have one extra. We've had to do this before when my cousin who works for disney was able to come to dinner at Le Cellier. They were fine with it and we were sat right on time.

 

[poohj80]

Keep trying to change the adr to 7 but if it doens't happen just go and tell the Boma CM you have one extra. We've had to do this before when my cousin who works for disney was able to come to dinner at Le Cellier. They were fine with it and we were sat right on time.

Thanks for the feedback. That's what I was hoping to hear!