TA missed the infant on reservation

[hjbvet]

So... we are going in December 2017 and our "Disney infant" is not on our most coveted reservation (she will be 24 months, but is a very very big 24 month old...). We have seats for 8 at CRT and so far I have no expectation of finding an extra table to combine (a cast member advised me to try this route)... Should I double book this night in case we are turned away? I hate to double book a night.. feels like I'm taking reservations from someone else...
Thoughts? Any hope we can plead our case and get her in as a lap infant?
tia.
Hillary

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The only thing is - if you show up and are turned away, you are going to get charged the full amount for CRT. I would keep trying to add the infant to the reservation (or try to find a combination of reservations that will accommodate your party - party of 5 plus party of 4, etc.) and if you can't do it, you might have to re-think you reservations for the evening. If the TA made the mistake, I would ask him/her to try to resolve this for you.

 

[hjbvet]

The only thing is - if you show up and are turned away, you are going to get charged the full amount for CRT. I would keep trying to add the infant to the reservation (or try to find a combination of reservations that will accommodate your party - party of 5 plus party of 4, etc.) and if you can't do it, you might have to re-think you reservations for the evening. If the TA made the mistake, I would ask him/her to try to resolve this for you.

I didn't even think of that-- being charged if they deny me admission... gosh. OK. Thanks for that thought. Right now there is nothing. NOTHING. for weeks in either direction.

 

[hjbvet]

Ohhh. I know... I will hand the 2 year old to the CM and everyone else with a seat will go in. Free baby sitting?

 

[purple figment]

Since you are not going until December you have plenty of time to check online for a reservation to accommodate your whole party or an additional reservation for one more person. If you look for a second reservation or two smaller ones (e.g. party of 4 and party of 5), the second reservation needs to be in a different person's name and MDE account. If you are able to find two reservations for the same time or close to one another, you can ask to be seated together when you check in. The castmembers will do their best, but it is only a request. You can also subscribe to the December cancellation thread at the top of the Dining Reservations board. Also, many have had good luck with the Touring Plans reservation finder.

Showing up with an extra person would be a last resort. The hostess at the check in desk will try to accommodate your extra person, but CRT has to abide by the safety and fire codes in case of an emergency, especially since it is on the second floor. Also, you will need a larger sized table since you're going from an even to an odd number. They can't just pull up an additional chair because aisles need to be kept clear for the princesses and servers. If you show up with an extra person, decide in advance who will not be dining at CRT.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Did this TA miss the infant on any other reservation? Or just this one?

 

[hjbvet]

Did this TA miss the infant on any other reservation? Or just this one?

2 out of 7. They knew it was missed, but assured me that a phone call would resolve it... but that didn't happen. Since then I have been reading more and working on a resolution myself. (we have one 1/2 way resolved- i.e. reservation on two different accounts with smaller parties)

Thank you @purple figment! I know it is a last resort. I would never expect them to compromise safety. If they allowed the baby, she would sit in a lap so as not to block an aisle. But certainly hoping for a better resolution than that.

 

[hjbvet]

You can also subscribe to the December cancellation thread at the top of the Dining Reservations board. Also, many have had good luck with the Touring Plans reservation finder.

Yes, thank you. I am on that and an additional dining search page!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

2 out of 7. They knew it was missed, but assured me that a phone call would resolve it... but that didn't happen. Since then I have been reading more and working on a resolution myself. (we have one 1/2 way resolved- i.e. reservation on two different accounts with smaller parties)

Thank you @purple figment! I know it is a last resort. I would never expect them to compromise safety. If they allowed the baby, she would sit in a lap so as not to block an aisle. But certainly hoping for a better resolution than that.

In reality, any TA worth their salt would know better. Cast Members have heard it all, when it comes to having an extra person.

Chances are, when they made the reservation, the TA knew that there wasn't a reservation available for the entire party. And just hoped that something would open up.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Thank you @purple figment! I know it is a last resort. I would never expect them to compromise safety. If they allowed the baby, she would sit in a lap so as not to block an aisle. But certainly hoping for a better resolution than that.

They won't allow anyone as a lap infant- not even a one week old. It's for fire code/occupancy reasons. But I never really say never because you never know if another table is a no show or something. But as a PP said you run the risk of getting fully charged if turned away (likely).

I think you are going the right route by constantly checking and having two smaller reservations.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

In reality, any TA worth their salt would know better. Cast Members have heard it all, when it comes to having an extra person.

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 or "miscounted" 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, and she can sit on my lap"
.
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.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Who was that masked man?

@TheRustyScupper. I should really copy a link to that post. So I can quote it and give you credit.

 

[lovewdwfun]

I would not count on being able to go in, but it is absolutely not true that Disney will not let you add a lap baby. I once went to Disney for a week and made all of our reservations for four when I actually had four plus a baby (highchair). Every single restaurant let us in, including CP, CM, and BoG. No one questioned us or even told us we should've included him when we booked. I just told them all I had four plus an infant when we went to the desk. I hear a lot of people without kids saying you will be turned away and it is a fire code issue. I haven't seen many, if any, people actually report being turned away.

 

[GillianP1301]

You will more than likely get seated with the missed infant on the ADR. I don't recall ever reading about somebody being turned away in this same situation. That being said, I'm the type of person who likes every detail taken care of, so I would continue to try adding 1 to your ADR right up until the day of so that you don't have to be concerned about it.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Honestly, if you can't add the baby, worst case scenario, CRT says no and one adult stays with the baby? I know it's not ideal, but, just throwing it out there as an option.

 

[Micca]

CRT says no and one adult stays with the baby?

And you pay for the no-show adult. In other circumstances I'd agree this would be an option, but an ADR/full payment in advance...not so sure.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

And you pay for the no-show adult. In other circumstances I'd agree this would be an option, but an ADR/full payment in advance...not so sure.

I agree it's not ideal, but if the only other option is cancelling and having everyone completely miss it, it's still an option. In this situation, I, personally, would consider paying the full no-show for one (if we weren't able to add the infant as a walk-up) so at least the majority of the family could eat there. No matter how you slice this, if OP can't modify or add on to the reservation, there are really no great options here.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

And you pay for the no-show adult. In other circumstances I'd agree this would be an option, but an ADR/full payment in advance...not so sure.

I totally forgot about the fact that you have to pay for this reservation, up front.

That makes it even worse that the TA made this reservation, knowing that they were missing the child.

I couldn't imagine holding even a small 2 year old for a meal there.

 

[lovewdwfun]

I agree it's not ideal, but if the only other option is cancelling and having everyone completely miss it, it's still an option. In this situation, I, personally, would consider paying the full no-show for one (if we weren't able to add the infant as a walk-up) so at least the majority of the family could eat there. No matter how you slice this, if OP can't modify or add on to the reservation, there are really no great options here.

I agree. If it were me, I would go and hope for the best. If one person actually had to pay (I bet they would refund you) and not go in, I would switch off and order food for both. One parent can order and then eat quickly and then switch with the other parent who could also eat. Not ideal, but it could work.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I would not count on being able to go in, but it is absolutely not true that Disney will not let you add a lap baby. I once went to Disney for a week and made all of our reservations for four when I actually had four plus a baby (highchair). Every single restaurant let us in, including CP, CM, and BoG. No one questioned us or even told us we should've included him when we booked. I just told them all I had four plus an infant when we went to the desk. I hear a lot of people without kids saying you will be turned away and it is a fire code issue. I haven't seen many, if any, people actually report being turned away.

Well, it was absolutely true for my friend who did not include her 3 month old on any reservations Christmas week. They would not allow them to add her at the podium at CRT or Ohana so they cancelled the rest of their ADRs as they couldn't get any other times they wanted anywhere they wanted to eat. So perhaps it depends on the restaurant or the the time of year or how many people are in the restaurant, but I personally know someone who was turned away twice.

As you said, no one should count on being able to go in. But I agree its worth a shot (but I wouldn't risk it at a place like CRT where you pre pay in full, although my friend was refunded- also something I wouldn't count on.)