Unplanned guest at dinner

[kimis]

Hello! My dh and I will be there Jan/Feb and we have all of our ADR;s. However my 18 year old neice just discovered she may be in the area the same time we are and wants to spend a day with us. Will the resturants let her sit with us at our table. She isn't for sure she will make it so I don't want to change the ADR;s in case she isn't there. If anyone knows I would sure appreciate it. Thanks to you all.

 

[Tricia1972]

All reports that I've read about indicated either little to no wait if you show up with one extra guest.

On the other hand, if you show up with one less guest there is also no penalty at most places. The only time there would be a penalty is someplace that requires a CC guarantee, and the penalty is only enforced if you don't adjust your reservation within the guidelines.

 

[musicmama]

I think it depends on the restaurant and what time you're dining. DD and I had ressies during last year's Free Dining (although we were paying) and my DNiece wanted to join us. Was OK for Teppanyaki dinner but a real problem for Le Cellier dinner and Crystal Palace breakfast. Ended up going from dinner to lunch at LC and going from 8:00am CP breakfast to 10:15am to get the third person.

I would check ahead with the ones that are usually "problems" - like Le Cellier - as an ADR for 2 usually means a table for 2, not 4.

 

[shellybaxter]

I think it depends on the restaurant and what time you're dining. DD and I had ressies during last year's Free Dining (although we were paying) and my DNiece wanted to join us. Was OK for Teppanyaki dinner but a real problem for Le Cellier dinner and Crystal Palace breakfast. Ended up going from dinner to lunch at LC and going from 8:00am CP breakfast to 10:15am to get the third person.

I would check ahead with the ones that are usually "problems" - like Le Cellier - as an ADR for 2 usually means a table for 2, not 4.

Musicmama - I'm curious, did you just show up for your ADR time with an extra or did you try to change the ADR though the dining line? From what I've read on these boards and my own experience calling and changing through the dining line is much harder than just showing up with an extra. I don't think I've ever read of someone being turned away because of an extra.

 

[Pakey]

Due to the time of year you are going (unless you have MLK weekend included in there which then changes everything), I would think you are going to have no problems with an extra person. That time of year is pretty slow. We go every January and are frequently changing plans last minute and have had no problems with the exception of CG around fireworks time.

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

We were there during mid-September as free dining was going on. My DB found out he could be there a couple days that we were there. I tried to get new reservations to accomodate one more guest, but that wasn't happening.

So he went into it knowing he wasn't guaranteed to be able to eat with us. We checked in at each restaurant, and told them if possible, we would like to have 1 additional guest. Each place told us no problem, and we really didn't wait any extra, it didn't seem. This was for:

Sci Fi Dine-In lunch
Coral Reef dinner
Liberty Tree Tavern dinner


Our party went from 6 to 7.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Going from even to odd generally is the most difficult, as most restaurant tables are designed for an even number of people. However, going from two up to three or for should not be much of a problem as many restaurants minimum table size is for four people.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

In my opinion. I wouldn't sweat it. I think you will be fine. I would not change my ADR .

 

[BarbieGal457]

I've done this several times with no issues! I think you'll be fine.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Probably you'll be fine, but as another poster pointed out, it depends a little on your party size, and which place.

If you call the day of, Disney doesn't seem to like that.

Once we had a table booked at R&C and we were down two people unexpectedly. I was told it would be a problem over the phone, and again I was told it would be a problem at the podium. (as in we'd lose our table entirely, or have to wait to sit indoors)

Here's what we did: In a snap, we were able to quickly find two people who had no ADR, that were all to happy to join us for dinner. Because it was R&C, five meant a critical number ot get one of the coveted outdoor tables during Illuminations! Our view actually wasn't super (due to an overhang that partly blocked our view), but it was very memorable! Our guests were two young men who were enrolled in one of our nation's finest military academies, so our conversation was quite intersting and enjoyable!

The other funny thing was, we discovered that we had mutual friends!