What would you do? Can't get ADR for 16 yo nephew.

[ChristusG]

I've been planning our yearly Disney trip for about 6 months now. I made sure to make our dining reservations for me, my DH, and our 3 daughters (8, 5, and 10 months) right when they were available. I got the perfect times/places that I wanted.

A few months ago, our 16 year old nephew came to live with us. We've finagled so that he's able to go on this trip with us because we didn't want to leave him behind. However, now at nearly 2 months out, I'm not able to switch some of our reservations. I called Disney Dining and got two of them switched to a party of 6 instead of 5. I did have to change one of the times, but it's not a big deal.

We have reservations for Mickey's Backyard BBQ that we are really excited about. I'm not able to add one more....they said it's booked. Yes, I'm going to keep calling back, but I'm not sure what to do if we can't get him in. I'd feel really bad to leave him at the camper (we're camping at Ft Wildneress) while we attend the BBQ. And also, I can't get him into the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage either. This one may not be as much of a deal since it is more geared for smaller children, but I think he'd really enjoy the BBQ.

Ugh, I really hate the thought of cancelling the reservations, but I also hate the thought of leaving him out as well. Not sure what to do.

 

[sammielynn]

Hope it works out. I would change reservations to another place if I couldn't take him. Keep calling!

 

[smitch425]

I've been planning our yearly Disney trip for about 6 months now. I made sure to make our dining reservations for me, my DH, and our 3 daughters (8, 5, and 10 months) right when they were available. I got the perfect times/places that I wanted.

A few months ago, our 16 year old nephew came to live with us. We've finagled so that he's able to go on this trip with us because we didn't want to leave him behind. However, now at nearly 2 months out, I'm not able to switch some of our reservations. I called Disney Dining and got two of them switched to a party of 6 instead of 5. I did have to change one of the times, but it's not a big deal.

We have reservations for Mickey's Backyard BBQ that we are really excited about. I'm not able to add one more....they said it's booked. Yes, I'm going to keep calling back, but I'm not sure what to do if we can't get him in. I'd feel really bad to leave him at the camper (we're camping at Ft Wildneress) while we attend the BBQ. And also, I can't get him into the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage either. This one may not be as much of a deal since it is more geared for smaller children, but I think he'd really enjoy the BBQ.

Ugh, I really hate the thought of cancelling the reservations, but I also hate the thought of leaving him out as well. Not sure what to do.

At 16 years old and assuming there are no disabilities or other issues, he should be able to understand that it just wasn't possible to get him added to everything so late in the planning. He is old enough to find something to do at the parks while you are at your meals. I wouldn't make him stay at the camper. Is he trustworthy enough to be left to tour on his own for a bit?

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm not entirely sure about the prepaid things, but when you pick up your tickets for the BBQ say your party has expanded by one. If there's room they should let you pay for him right there. If there isn't room he will need something else to do.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I've been planning our yearly Disney trip for about 6 months now. I made sure to make our dining reservations for me, my DH, and our 3 daughters (8, 5, and 10 months) right when they were available. I got the perfect times/places that I wanted.

A few months ago, our 16 year old nephew came to live with us. We've finagled so that he's able to go on this trip with us because we didn't want to leave him behind. However, now at nearly 2 months out, I'm not able to switch some of our reservations. I called Disney Dining and got two of them switched to a party of 6 instead of 5. I did have to change one of the times, but it's not a big deal.

We have reservations for Mickey's Backyard BBQ that we are really excited about. I'm not able to add one more....they said it's booked. Yes, I'm going to keep calling back, but I'm not sure what to do if we can't get him in. I'd feel really bad to leave him at the camper (we're camping at Ft Wildneress) while we attend the BBQ. And also, I can't get him into the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage either. This one may not be as much of a deal since it is more geared for smaller children, but I think he'd really enjoy the BBQ.

Ugh, I really hate the thought of cancelling the reservations, but I also hate the thought of leaving him out as well. Not sure what to do.

PM'd you

 

[beansmom]

personally, if i was unable to procure an ADR for him to join the party, i would cancel the reservation altogether. IMO, it's better for everybody to miss an event than to single out one person to be left behind. JMTCW

hope you can get it all arranged.

 

[sjv919]

Personally, I'd cancel what I couldn't bring him to, even if it meant eating counter service, rather than leaving him to get his own dinner. Teenage feelings tend to get hurt VERY easily, even if they say otherwise, especially when it comes to being left out of something (I know that's not your intention, no worries). Having said that, I'd keep trying for a while to add him onto my party for the ressies and only cancel what I couldn't get. But whatever you do, it's wonderful you're taking him to WDW and I hope you all have a fantastic trip!

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

keep checking, every day, a few times a day. Try looking for tables for 2 for the places you already have booked and then once you get to the restaurant, tell them you have 2 ressies, there are 6 of you in total and could you all sit together. I would think as an original party of 5, you will most likely be seated at a table big enough for 6 even if he was not joining you. So there would be a place at your table. But this will only work if you have a ressie for him because of total building occupancy rules, space at tables means nothing if he exceeded the buidling occupancy.

 

[VP037388]

Honestly, when we went with my son as an infant, he didn't "count" for seating or any of the activities. No child under 2 'counts' in that regard. He was free on the plane (lap child), free park admissions, no DDP needed, etc. You can always call to confirm but at the end of the day, I would say your nephew is already included in the count.
The BBQ is counting for food, again, no charge for the baby. I think you are covered. Ticketed events are harder but keep trying! Good luck

 

[smitch425]

Honestly, when we went with my son as an infant, he didn't "count" for seating or any of the activities. No child under 2 'counts' in that regard. He was free on the plane (lap child), free park admissions, no DDP needed, etc. You can always call to confirm but at the end of the day, I would say your nephew is already included in the count.
The BBQ is counting for food, again, no charge for the baby. I think you are covered. Ticketed events are harder but keep trying! Good luck

This is not how it works, unfortunately. ALL people need to be listed because of the fire code. It doesn't matter if they are eating anything or not. They MUST be counted and included when you make the ADR.

 

[maxiesmom]

Honestly, when we went with my son as an infant, he didn't "count" for seating or any of the activities. No child under 2 'counts' in that regard. He was free on the plane (lap child), free park admissions, no DDP needed, etc. You can always call to confirm but at the end of the day, I would say your nephew is already included in the count.
The BBQ is counting for food, again, no charge for the baby. I think you are covered. Ticketed events are harder but keep trying! Good luck

That is not right at all. Everyone counts, even babies in arms. You were very lucky if they seated you without a fuss for all of your meals. As far as the fire code goes, every breathing person counts.

OP--I would do what you are already doing. Keep checking. Hopefully you will get lucky.

 

[gwmort]

1. If I were you, one of the adults would probably step aside so all the kids could go with the other adult, in my family that would be me.

2. If I were the kid, I'd wish you would just give me a ticket to Disney Quest and some cash for dinner so I could go have some teen fun.

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

1. If I were you, one of the adults would probably step aside so all the kids could go with the other adult, in my family that would be me.

2. If I were the kid, I'd wish you would just give me a ticket to Disney Quest and some cash for dinner so I could go have some teen fun.

This.

 

[DisneynBison]

Have you asked him about it? Communicate with him on what you are doing. Maybe he has no desire to participate in the cruise and it is not a big deal. I don't know your situation and every family dynamic is different but don't rule out talking to him about it. It would suck to cancel a reservation and then the one you replaced it with he didn't want to go to anyway.

 

[WSLover]

Keep your Barbecue res and keep trying to add him. Also make another res for all of you somewhere else - maybe let him pick two options for you to try to get a res. Letting him have some input would be nice since he came to live with you after all your plans were made. Also tell him what you are doing - it may not matter to him and he might prefer doing something else on his own. Dinner at Trails End and spending some time at the Arcade might be an option. It's close to the Barbecue area and he wouldn't be left behind at the camp site. He could also take a boat over to the Contemporary and spend time at that resort.

 

[jamala]

This.

My 16 year old son would much rather go to disney quest than to the BBQ or any other event. We always plan one of two evenings where he can grab the bus and go play while we take the younger 2 to other things they enjoy.

 

[kamik86]

I would describe what the bbq is and ask if he would like to go or if he would like you to suggest some other options for him. If he says yes then explain that you will try to get reservations for him and follow advice above. If he says no then no problem.

Personally the bbq seemed geared more towards little kids when I read about it. I'm not sure how much a 16 year old would like it. So an offer to get him a ticket to disney quest and money for food may be something he would like more.

 

[ChristusG]

The Disney Quest idea sounds good. We'll talk to him about doing that on our last night. He's big into video games so an afternoon at the arcade might be fun for him. But he'd be alone....not sure if that would be boring for him or not. I think that I'll have DH and I sit down and chat with him about what he'd like to do if I cannot get him into the BBQ or the Pirate cruise.

 

[Random Ninja]

IMHO I don't see how anyone can be bored at wdw. He's a 16 yo boy. He might enjoy some time alone to just hang out, find other teens, and play video games his cousins probably aren't ready for yet. There's a lot to do at DQ. He'll probably run into some other teens and spend the afternoon with them. I go solo often and don't think I've been on a solo trip yet where I haven't been adopted into a group for a few hours.

 

[MHSweb79]

You might consider having one of the adults stay back at the campsite with the 10-month old, thus opening up a seat for the BBQ. The baby will surely appreciate the down time, anyway.

I agree that normally leaving a 16 year to hang out by himself might work for some situations, in this case the boy has only just arrived into the family, and is probably not feeling all that secure. It's a bit more sensitive.