Suggestions for our messed up reservations

[_auroraborealis_]

Is the infant one of the two? In which case can they 'wear' the baby? Not sure if that'll help but one may be easier than 2.

Baby still has to be on reservation.

 

[kamik86]

Is the infant one of the two? In which case can they 'wear' the baby? Not sure if that'll help but one may be easier than 2.

reservations are supposed to be based on heads so if they want to be a stickler they still could, however this suggestion would work well if you have a place that is trying to accomodate you as it would give you more space then putting a high chair or stroller around the table too.

My biggest suggestion would be the above have a plan B. know at each location if you would still go and if so which people are leaving and going somewhere else.

 

[Lisa F]

It may not even be fire codes I could think of other reasons to have a top capacity that its just policy to not ever go over. It could be an issue with the kitchen there are many reasons they might choose to say no and risk that you probably aren't going to have all of you leave and that even if you all DID decide to leave at the really popular places disney could possibly even make more money then letting you dine. Charge you 130 for no show fees for the 13 that didn't dine and then take walk ups to cover the rest because the popular places always have the option to take walk ups

One reason to turn away at the most popular places would even be so that people don't start abusing this generosity and expecting it. If they ALWAYS allowed this how many people do you think would get BOG for 4 knowing all along they really are bringing 5 if that was all they could fine for example.

I understand there are reasons to turn people away and to be strict about your reservation policy. That is why I suggested they speak to someone who can put them in touch with the individual restaurant managers in advance. But if they tell you that it's due to "fire codes" that is very likely a lie (I can't speak to it in ALL circumstances). Very few venues even at thier preferred capacity get to a capacity when it starts to become illegal. It would be quite packed if that were the case. if they have enough chairs for everyone it is not a fire code issue. if it was, even just coming in to ASK would be breaking the fire code!

 

[kamik86]

I understand there are reasons to turn people away and to be strict about your reservation policy. That is why I suggested they speak to someone who can put them in touch with the individual restaurant managers in advance. But if they tell you that it's due to "fire codes" that is very likely a lie (I can't speak to it in ALL circumstances). Very few venues even at thier preferred capacity get to a capacity when it starts to become illegal. It would be quite packed if that were the case. if they have enough chairs for everyone it is not a fire code issue. if it was, even just coming in to ASK would be breaking the fire code!

That I will agree on. However I can understand why the staff would give that lie. Many of them probably believe it as that is the lie the management gave them on why this is policy. Which is done because more people are willing to believe that and stop argueing that if you say it is policy because seating would be impossible if everyone started expecting we would do this for everyone.

 

[crabbygal902]

Oh, man! What a bummer! If I were in this situation, I'd try the following in this order:

1. Get someone (preferably a manager) on the phone from Disney Dining ASAP and throw yourself at their mercy. They may be able to sprinkle some pixie dust and add the 2 people to some, if not all the ADRs. (I think you already mentioned that this was your first step)

2. Try to add a table for 2 at the same times that the party of 13 is scheduled. I'm sure you are aware that there is a pretty good chance your large group will be split up anyway. It could be fun to have a few groups around the restaurant so that you can have more personal conversations at smaller tables.

3. Cancel those ADRs and schedule new ones that can accommodate your large group of 15. You probably won't get 'Ohana or BOG, but you may end up discovering a new favorite. Biergarten comes to mind, you could sit at 2 tables for 8 and availability is pretty easy to come by. Or Trails End buffet. Or Nine Dragons. Or Tokyo Dining. Or Cape May...great, now I'm hungry.

4. Show up with your 15 instead of 13 and be upbeat, positive, and truly grateful for anything that the host/hostess can do to accommodate you. Once, I got Le Cellier to adjust an ADR for 18 people **during its heyday and on a Holiday weekend** and accommodate part of our group who didn't plan their time wisely and showed up an hour late for the ADR! I am STILL kinda mad at those family members about that!! I am a nice person (despite my screen name) but buddy, I laid the sugar on thick!! I totally would've understood if Le Cellier said no, but they were so nice to work with me and I won't forget that.

5. Draw straws to see who gets to eat. (KIDDING)

 

[gandb26]

Ok, wow, I didn't realize that this post would cause so much dissension. If we don't get all the reservations we need and we show up and they cant accommodate us, two of us will go somewhere else, its that simple. I'm not really a rule breaker. The mother of the infant will be wearing him and the dining reservations say, "10 adults, 2 children and an infant" So we don't know if they are allowing space for a high chair or a child who is under 3 (who would need a seat) the baby is 3 months old. Someone will be holding him. I am down to needing just a few reservations. I know that BOG is going to be next to impossible. Thank you to the person who suggested calling some of the restaurants directly. I didn't know that was an option. It's a very special trip (as everyones are) and we had just hoped to be able to eat together some of the time. If it doesn't work out, I will have a great time because I always make the best of things.

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks for the detailed description.
Do the rules, regulations and laws vary by state? Or are they National standards? Is your experience in the Florida venues. It is good to hear about it.

it's by state and sometimes locality but they are mostly based on international standards and then tweaked. For example, another reason besides exiting that occupancy is important is to determine the number of bathrooms required to adequately serve the venue. NYC has a "potty parity" law where more female bathrooms are required than male in public buildings. But regardless of what the law is where, no one is designing spaces that are so close to being in danger of being overloaded that two extra people would suddenly be a fire hazard. I agree it might throw a monkey wrench in laying out seats in a busy restaurant but if disney restaurants were 2 people away from an occupancy problem they would be kicking people out on a regular basis.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

the person in charge of dining did a great job and obtained them all 180 days out, BUT she gave the wrong number of people and shorted every reservation

THE QUESTION OF AN EXTRA PERSON or EXTRA PEOPLE (the "411"):
1) Disney is getting wise to the "but, they decided to join us" or "I miscounted".
2) People can't always get the ADR they want.
3) So, they under-count to get a table.
4) Then, they show up with "unexpected" additional people.
5) In a team meeting, CM's have been told to warn guests against this.
6) If there is room, WDW will not turn away revenue.
7) But, if busy, they will turn away the additions.
8) Go ahead and arrive with the extras, if you like.
9) Just be prepared to have someone stand around while you eat.
10) I have heard explanations such as . . .
. . . "but, Aunt Suzy decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, two friends from off-site decided to join us and we need two extra seats"
. . . "but, brother-in-law decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, the entire Boy Scout Troop decided to join us and we need 14 extra sets"
. . . "but, my baby is so small that I didn't count her in the number of eaters"
.
NOTE1: It is far easier going from an odd-number to an even number, such as from 7-people to 8-people, adding a person to an even number of diners, such as going from 6-people to 7-people. Adding odd person can mean adding a table, and this might not be possible. Going from an odd-to-even might only mean adding a chair or using an empty seat. So, if going from even-to-odd, you might not get the extra person a seat. It is always better to get another ADR with the proper people-count.
.
NOTE2: Frequently a party-of-two will try to add a third person at the podium. This can be risky, because many eateries do have tables-for-two. If the guest was slated for one of these, there simply might not be a table available to seat the third person - even if an infant. The extra chair location might extend into an aisle and block access for other guests or Servers.
.
NOTE3: Sometimes it is a threesome adding a fourth. Unfortunately, there are many eateries that do have 3-top tables - usually against a wall or pillar. They can't add a fourth chair, since that would invade the aisle and be unsafe for SERVERS.
.
NOTE4: The final question is that of how many people are in the eatery. There are Fire Codes which dictate the maximum amount of people. If the capacity is exceeded, there are some big fines possible. And, Disney will not violate the max-capacity of an eatery.

 

[Lisa F]

THE QUESTION OF AN EXTRA PERSON or EXTRA PEOPLE (the "411"):
1) Disney is getting wise to the "but, they decided to join us" or "I miscounted".
2) People can't always get the ADR they want.
3) So, they under-count to get a table.
4) Then, they show up with "unexpected" additional people.
5) In a team meeting, CM's have been told to warn guests against this.
6) If there is room, WDW will not turn away revenue.
7) But, if busy, they will turn away the additions.
8) Go ahead and arrive with the extras, if you like.
9) Just be prepared to have someone stand around while you eat.
10) I have heard explanations such as . . .
. . . "but, Aunt Suzy decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, two friends from off-site decided to join us and we need two extra seats"
. . . "but, brother-in-law decided to join us and we need an extra seat"
. . . "but, the entire Boy Scout Troop decided to join us and we need 14 extra sets"
. . . "but, my baby is so small that I didn't count her in the number of eaters"
.
NOTE1: It is far easier going from an odd-number to an even number, such as from 7-people to 8-people, adding a person to an even number of diners, such as going from 6-people to 7-people. Adding odd person can mean adding a table, and this might not be possible. Going from an odd-to-even might only mean adding a chair or using an empty seat. So, if going from even-to-odd, you might not get the extra person a seat. It is always better to get another ADR with the proper people-count.
.
NOTE2: Frequently a party-of-two will try to add a third person at the podium. This can be risky, because many eateries do have tables-for-two. If the guest was slated for one of these, there simply might not be a table available to seat the third person - even if an infant. The extra chair location might extend into an aisle and block access for other guests or Servers.
.
NOTE3: Sometimes it is a threesome adding a fourth. Unfortunately, there are many eateries that do have 3-top tables - usually against a wall or pillar. They can't add a fourth chair, since that would invade the aisle and be unsafe for SERVERS.
.
NOTE4: The final question is that of how many people are in the eatery. There are Fire Codes which dictate the maximum amount of people. If the capacity is exceeded, there are some big fines possible. And, Disney will not violate the max-capacity of an eatery.

you seriously need to have stuff like this in one place like the buffet sticky (also like the HDDR seating FAQ).

 

[Nancyg56]

I've shown up several times at a few different restaurants with two extra guests that I didn't know were going to be joining us for the day, and we've always been accomodated. Guess we've been lucky. We've never been turned away. Might have to wait a little before being seated, but it's never been a problem for us.

You were lucky. I also showed up with an extra when my son surprised us and we were accomodated, but we were prepared to deal with it if there was no room.

This is becoming an issue at Disney though, since folks who cannot find an ADR for the correct number of people often choose what they can find and then show up and ask for accomodation. I have read too many posts that have folks suggesting blaming CMS for the mistake in order to bully their way in, so I think that practice is also wearing thing at the gate.

I alwasy say try everything else first, and then if all else fails, it never hurts to ask, but someone needs to be prepared to walk away.

Is the infant one of the two? In which case can they 'wear' the baby? Not sure if that'll help but one may be easier than 2.

It does not help. The number of heads counts, not how they sit.

OP- even if you find an ADR for two, try that. Large parties may be separated, it has happened to us. The restaurant may also try to push the two parties together, you never know. It all depends on what the situation is at the restaurant when you arrive.

 

[beesly]

Is the infant one of the two? In which case can they 'wear' the baby? Not sure if that'll help but one may be easier than 2.

When I arrived to check in for a BOG dinner this past Sunday, the party in front of me had not included their infant on the reservation. BOG accommodated them, but told them that in the future they needed to count infants - even if they would be on an adult's lap - because the restaurant needs to have an accurate count of exactly how many people are in the facility at a given time.

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

I agree about the plan B.

If you have a couple each time who volunteers to bow if if they can't be seated then they can make other plans for that meal rather than the whole group having to be disappointed.