table for 1

[friendoffigment]

going solo in jan. i have been trying to make ADR's and find that when i put in 1 guest there are no tables available. but when i put in 2 guests for that same restaurant it shows tables available. do solo guests have to put in 2 guests to get better availability. hate to deceive

 

[brad813]

going solo in jan. i have been trying to make ADR's and find that when i put in 1 guest there are no tables available. but when i put in 2 guests for that same restaurant it shows tables available. do solo guests have to put in 2 guests to get better availability. hate to deceive

Sometimes you do, and you can always add a friend or family member as the second guest and have them accept the friends and family list invitation(if not, I am happy to offer to help there), and then go into change reservation once it confirms and reduce it to one person. I have done that a few times. It's not so much deception as a quirk in Disney's system.

 

[purple figment]

It is not deception. The dining reservation system has a quirk that makes it difficult for odd numbered parties (1, 3, 5...) to book tables. The system wants to fill every seat and since most tables are 2, 4, 6...tops the system bypasses availability if you put in an odd number. Add 1 and it will look for tables for a party of 2 and it often finds more availability. Book for 2 and as long as you show up you will not be charged for the "missing" person.

 

[srwarden1928]

I found that I sometimes needed to book for 2 in order to get a table at the time I wanted, but I was always able to subsequently modify the ADR to a table for 1 without a problem.

 

[Clare Voince]

Trail's End would not let me book an ADR for 1, so I had to book for 2. It was no problem. I don't recall them even asking about my party size.

 

[nancy155]

I actually called Disney about this. I was told by the cast member it was fine to put two down so I could obtain the reservation and then when I arrive just let them know there is just one of me. Was told there would be no penalty and not extra charge. Only time when extra charge would occur is when it is a prepaid reservation.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

It's totally fine to do that. They'll put you at a table for 2 anyway. We've changed party numbers (going down, not up) when we show up for ADRs sometimes because people decide they want to do other things. Some of mine are for a party of 1, and some are 2 and I put my friend who lives in Orlando on them to make the online reservation system happy. It's funny because if you do party of 1, and then try to ADD a second person, you can't. Happened to me when I had December dining reservations and my mom said she wanted to come with me. That doesn't make sense IMO because they're going to put me at a table for 2 anyway, but *shrug*.

 

[nursejackie]

I always book for two, even though it's just me on some occasions. The first time I made some lame excuse than my plus one was unwell and had returned to the resort, but after that I thought 'I don't need to make excuses', so I just told them I couldn't book for 1 and they were fine. As others have said, I'm using a table for two anyway, even if I could book for one.

 

[karly05]

I found that I sometimes needed to book for 2 in order to get a table at the time I wanted, but I was always able to subsequently modify the ADR to a table for 1 without a problem.

This is what I've done. But I've hardly ever had to. I usually have no trouble booking for 1. I'm pretty sure Narcoosee's was the first time I had to book for 2 and adjust. This year I had to take a 2 at Cali Grill to get the time I want, but again no problem adjusting.

Just showing up alone should be fine, too, as others have said (I guess unless it's a pre-paid thing). I wouldn't even explain why I was alone or where my invisible friend was. A smile and a simple, "it's just me tonight" should be enough.

 

[Simba's Mom]

going solo in jan. i have been trying to make ADR's and find that when i put in 1 guest there are no tables available. but when i put in 2 guests for that same restaurant it shows tables available. do solo guests have to put in 2 guests to get better availability. hate to deceive

On all my solo trips, I've made all my table ADRs for two, then showed up solo. I'm so glad to hear that a WDW CM said it was OK. I always hope that either DH will surprise me and show up, or I'll meet a fellow solo whom I want to invite to share a meal with me. Unfortunately, neither has happened, so solo it is.