I messed up

Foreverfaithfulphotos

Foreverfaithfulphotos

New Member
Original Poster
I thought I did so well planning this suprise spring break trip. My group consists of myself, hubby, 9yr old son, his 9yr old best friend and our 1 year old daughter. Then I realized I didn't include my daughter in our head count for dining. We are 2 weeks away and can't find any dining reservations for party of 5. Has anyone had any experience when disney restaurants turned families away for having an infant in the party not in the head count? Should I cancel reservations? Tried calling dining twice, no help there. Was told to just "keep trying" to book online. Any advice?
 
Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
Not sure 100% but you may be ok, specially if you are ok with having your 1yo lap-sit if you cant get a fifth seat. When you check in online, you are asked how many adults and how many kids so you have an opportunity to add then.
 
Epcotfan21

Epcotfan21

Well-Known Member
Foreverfaithfulphotos said:
I thought I did so well planning this suprise spring break trip. My group consists of myself, hubby, 9yr old son, his 9yr old best friend and our 1 year old daughter. Then I realized I didn't include my daughter in our head count for dining. We are 2 weeks away and can't find any dining reservations for party of 5. Has anyone had any experience when disney restaurants turned families away for having an infant in the party not in the head count? Should I cancel reservations? Tried calling dining twice, no help there. Was told to just "keep trying" to book online. Any advice?
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In my experience it really just depends on the restaurant and how busy it is at the time you're checking in.

I would explain it to them just like you've done here and they will do their best to accommodate. Worst comes to worst, you might have to keep the 1 year old in your lap during the meal.

Other thing you can try is to set up an account on touring plans and use their reservation finder. It's a free service that allows you to enter the date, time and restaurant you're looking to reserve. You can have a search of two different restaurants at a time and they email you or text you when they find it. You'd then have to log into MDE as soon as possible and book that time you wanted.
 
Chi84

Chi84

Premium Member
Foreverfaithfulphotos said:
I thought I did so well planning this suprise spring break trip. My group consists of myself, hubby, 9yr old son, his 9yr old best friend and our 1 year old daughter. Then I realized I didn't include my daughter in our head count for dining. We are 2 weeks away and can't find any dining reservations for party of 5. Has anyone had any experience when disney restaurants turned families away for having an infant in the party not in the head count? Should I cancel reservations? Tried calling dining twice, no help there. Was told to just "keep trying" to book online. Any advice?
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This is a tough one. I have heard some say they have been able to add one guest during online check in. Other times it will not give that option. Which restaurants do you have reserved?
 
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Foreverfaithfulphotos

Foreverfaithfulphotos

New Member
Original Poster
Chi84 said:
This is a tough one. I have heard some say they have been able to add one guest during online check in. Other times it will not give that option. Which restaurants do you have reserved?
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Everything from Be Our Guest to Garden Grill. Lots of character dining for the kiddos. I've tried logging in, it won't even give me an option to add on a 5th person (baby) and when I call (90mins+ on hold) they just tell me to keep trying to book a new reservation online.
 
Chi84

Chi84

Premium Member
I agree with @RememberWhen. I know the rule about counting infants is expressly stated and is well-known to the people on this site, but I’ll bet a day doesn’t go by without the restaurant hosts seeing a situation like yours.

I don’t have experience with this actual situation, but generally the CMs at WDW want to keep people happy and will try to accommodate them to the extent possible. I just don’t know how possible it will be at popular restaurants during spring break.

Go early, be as pleasant as possible and expect to wait. I hope it works out for you.
 
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Vitamin Dee

Vitamin Dee

Member
I apologize for going off topic, but several posters here mention on-line check in for restaurants. Is this new? How does it work?

OP- good luck! I'm sorry that you're dealing with this stressful concern, and that you've had to waste time on the unproductive phone calls. I hope it all works out. Have a great trip!
 
Vegas Disney Fan

Vegas Disney Fan

Well-Known Member
We’ve added people to our reservations at check in several times. It’s not guaranteed but we’ve never had an issue.

As long as it doesn’t change the table size needed I don’t see why it would be an issue.
 
Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
Vitamin Dee said:
I apologize for going off topic, but several posters here mention on-line check in for restaurants. Is this new? How does it work?

OP- good luck! I'm sorry that you're dealing with this stressful concern, and that you've had to waste time on the unproductive phone calls. I hope it all works out. Have a great trip!
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On the My Disney Experience app. You can make reservations, check in online, mobile order at quick service, make park reservations.
 
Chi84

Chi84

Premium Member
Vegas Disney Fan said:
We’ve added people to our reservations at check in several times. It’s not guaranteed but we’ve never had an issue.

As long as it doesn’t change the table size needed I don’t see why it would be an issue.
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That's great to hear! Someone reported getting a message that "0" guests could be added when they checked in on the app, but I think it was at Be Our Guest or some other very popular restaurant.

My experience with Disney is that they try hard to accommodate people, and I'd hope they would do so with something as counterintuitive as adding an infant to a dining reservation. You don't buy them a ticket, get a park reservation for them, get a LL for them, but you do need to count them in dining reservations. I can understand how people might overlook this requirement even though the policy is clearly stated. People make mistakes.
 
Vitamin Dee

Vitamin Dee

Member
Hakunamatata said:
On the My Disney Experience app. You can make reservations, check in online, mobile order at quick service, make park reservations.
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Does on line restaurant check in now substitute for in person check in? I'm just not understanding how this works. Is there still a host who walks you to your table? I haven't been to WDW since February 2020, so I'm guessing this a covid change, but how is it not okay to be greeted and seated but it's fine to be waited on at the table. I don't get it.
 
DisneyDelirious

DisneyDelirious

Super structures are my specialty!
Premium Member
Vitamin Dee said:
Does on line restaurant check in now substitute for in person check in? I'm just not understanding how this works. Is there still a host who walks you to your table? I haven't been to WDW since February 2020, so I'm guessing this a covid change, but how is it not okay to be greeted and seated but it's fine to be waited on at the table. I don't get it.
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My experience in 3 trips since COVID started…You can check in online instead of with hostess at podium. MDE will send you a notice if you have notifications on and you can check you are there, confirm party size, etc. you can also scan a QR code at the podium and it will open up the app to begin the process. Regardless once checked in, when table is ready they will call for you and you will receive a notice when it’s time to be seated and they will walk you to a table the old fashioned way.
 
Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
Vitamin Dee said:
Does on line restaurant check in now substitute for in person check in? I'm just not understanding how this works. Is there still a host who walks you to your table? I haven't been to WDW since February 2020, so I'm guessing this a covid change, but how is it not okay to be greeted and seated but it's fine to be waited on at the table. I don't get it.
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If you check in online you dont have to go to host/hostess stand. You will receive a text or notification through the app then you go to the host/hostess and then you are escorted to your table.
 
Vitamin Dee

Vitamin Dee

Member
Club Cooloholic said:
The problem is you are moving from a 4 top to a 6 top. Make a request for booths...might help,!
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This is a good point. Disney restaurants can be lenient about adding a fourth person to a reservation for three because it's the same size table either way, but they won't just add a fifth chair or a highchair to a table meant for four people. In a lot of cases they simply can't because the tables are often extremely close together in Disney restaurants. It doesn't hurt to ask but I have witnessed people being told that it isn't possible, so OP definitely needs a back up plan to avoid disappointment.
 
correcaminos

correcaminos

Well-Known Member
I would not sweat it too much especially if you are willing to lap sit. Just ask when you arrive and tell them what happened. I actually had a situation where my in laws invited themselves on one day I had a birthday lunch planned for my aunt. I was told the same on the phone - keep calling. Went up to the podium and they were able to accommodate. I am a total rule follower too but think you'll probably be okay. Worst case is someone will have to leave with the baby but I don't think that will happen. Good luck!
 
Sirwalterraleigh

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
helenabear said:
I would not sweat it too much especially if you are willing to lap sit. Just ask when you arrive and tell them what happened. I actually had a situation where my in laws invited themselves on one day I had a birthday lunch planned for my aunt. I was told the same on the phone - keep calling. Went up to the podium and they were able to accommodate. I am a total rule follower too but think you'll probably be okay. Worst case is someone will have to leave with the baby but I don't think that will happen. Good luck!
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They change party mix all the time…especially if it isn’t a huge deal and you can use a high chair

You can’t book 2 and bring 7…but this isn’t that.
 

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