Turning 12 into 13???

[andeesings]

I booked TONS of ADR's for my very LARGE party of 12 (including my 2 yr. old Goddaughter, who will be in a highchair) for my trip starting 8/27-9/1.

Now one person in the party's mom is coming to join for the last three (or four) days. I called Disney Dining, and the only way they can do it is to CANCEL my reservations for twelve and try to get the thirteen (because obviously everything is already booked when trying to make the thirteen first), she said they just can't add a person. This person's mom said she doesn't want to be a bother, etc etc etc, but my question is this:

Will they be able to ADD number thirteen if we just walk up and say someone added at the last minute can we add the thirteenth? What are the chances? The only reason I thought it might be possible was because the baby was in a highchair and I figured she could be pulled up to any corner and squished in anywhere.

The restaurants are (and you'll see why I don't want to give up the reservations!):
California Grill
Chef Mickey's
Coral Reef
Akershus
Le Cellier
1900 Park Fare

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Personally, I wouldn't give them up. I would take my chance with it and put the baby in my lap if I had to. My guess is they will be willing to work with you though.

The only other thing would be to rebook for 13 before you cancel, but you may have already tried that.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's not about the space at the table, it's about capacity for fire codes. If that is the case it will not matter where the baby sits, since the baby counts as a person.

If the restaurant is filled to capacity for fire codes, the extra person won't be admitted.

This is rather rare though. What is more likely to happen is you may have to wait longer while they secure a larger table for your party.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

I will tell you my experience....we took 13 family members during Thanksgiving week in 2009 and 2011...
If i only had a ADR for 12 people i would walk up to the podium at the restaurant we were eating at and ask if they might have room for the 13th person...most generally we were always seated
This was at Ohana's,Kozzunias,Boma's to name a few.......

 

[andeesings]

It's not about the space at the table, it's about capacity for fire codes. If that is the case it will not matter where the baby sits, since the baby counts as a person.

This is interesting!!! I never would've thought about this. Thanks for the responses! I've tried making the 13 before I cancelled the 12, it definitely didn't work!! But I'll just walk up to the podium and ask really, really nicely. If it's Cali Grill, she said she'd sit at the bar and then watch the fireworks with us, so that should be alright.

 

[andeesings]

I will tell you my experience....we took 13 family members during Thanksgiving week in 2009 and 2011...
If i only had a ADR for 12 people i would walk up to the podium at the restaurant we were eating at and ask if they might have room for the 13th person...most generally we were always seated
This was at Ohana's,Kozzunias,Boma's to name a few.......

Was there are restaurant you WEREN'T seated at? Which was it??

 

[Buzzsgramma]

We weren't turned away at any restaurant....actually...its very difficult to make an ADR at some restaurants for that many..At Yachtsman i had to make a ADR for 6 then another for 6 hoping to add one as we got there..and maybe just sit close to one another......we ended up cancelling that one anyway...
I cant imagine seating 13 people in LeCellier is so crowded in there....we did have 10 at a table at Narcossee's it was a bit tight....
This is just our experience....

 

[AdventureIsOutThere]

Have you thought about making a reservation for 1 and looking for a similar timeframe? When you get there you can inform the host of the situation, but that way each person is accounted for and expecting a table?

Also on another thread here they were disucssion how even numbered parties get better reservations than odd numbered parties. It may be worth checking out. Something to the effect of "4 better than 3" and how it is a quirk in the ADR system.

Best of luck getting it all to work out. I went from a group of 3 to 5 to 7 and had to make changes all along the way. Now, if they are not on my ressie they will eat on their own

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't give up those ADRs either! If you can't change them to 13 show up extra early for your meals. They will probably be able to seat you, but it may take a bit of shuffling around of tables. They won't be able to just pull up a chair as Disney doesn't leave any extra space to do that. Keep in mind though there is a slight chance they won't be able to seat the extra guest.

Best of luck!

 

[andeesings]

Thanks for the replys, everyone!! I will keep checking for ADR's for 13 around the date, and then cancel the 12 if I can.

If I can't we'll take our chances!! Thank you so much!

 

[mom-of-twins-2002]

I was wondering the same thing about changing some of our 6's to 8's. This is all good food for thought!

 

[julluvsdisney]

I'm just trying to change our ohana from 4 to 6 everything else I was able to change everything else. Anyone have experience with ohana and adding on?I have a 500 ADR so I'm hoping that works in my favor!

 

[LovesTimone]

We were a party of 8 and some of our friends found out that they were going to be at the WDW the same day we were arriving and that was their last night, so we invited them to join us, we were not sure, but the hostess was very nice about it. We did check in about 30 mins earlier than ADR time, and we were seated within 10 mins of our ADR time. So it worked out.

I would keep your AR's and just check in a bit early, they can figure things out.