Reservations and babies?

[DisneyCAL]

do I need to book dining reservations and include the two guest under the age of two? Group of 10 versus booking it as a group of 8.

 

[SG131]

Yes you need to account for every body regardless of age for capacity issues

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Yes. There are fire codes, and there are tables that more easily accommodate high chairs or additional seats. Everyone entering the restaurant needs to be on the ADR.

 

[Hopefully]

Yes

 

[Betty Rohrer]

do I need to book dining reservations and include the two guest under the age of two? Group of 10 versus booking it as a group of 8.

yes you need to count the under 2's make your Ressie for 10 if you plan on them being there as they have to be counted for fire code counts not just who eats we had to count a 4 month old on our last trip even when most [places did not have a highchair that she could use. since you did not give ages be prepared for most places ti have toddler type highchairs not ones that a young infant can use. we did not have a carseat so I do not know if you would be allowed to turn over and place a seat on one. we ended up having to pass the baby around as we ate which we could do with a group of 14 which had 8 adults

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Yes you have to count them. But there will be no charge for set price menus and buffets. Also no charge for pay in advance adds like CRT and shows, even though they do need a ticket (it'll be a free ticket for them).

 

[DisneyCAL]

It worked out that each family in the party booked themselves, although we had to swap days. Storybook Dining is very difficult so plan it towards the end of your trip for booking purposes!

 

[TeresaNJ]

We just returned two weeks ago, and had a 3 month old with us. He wasn't noted on any of our table service reservations, and not one restaurant cast member had a comment about it. I would not include any child that wasn't being charged for a meal on the reservation.

 

[Disneypro1]

We just returned two weeks ago, and had a 3 month old with us. He wasn't noted on any of our table service reservations, and not one restaurant cast member had a comment about it. I would not include any child that wasn't being charged for a meal on the reservation.

that's 110% correct. I have found that like 3 and under....not really an issue. Others may disagree...

 

[kaytieeldr]

Each existing person in the party MUST be included on the reservations. Doesn't matter if they're two weeks old, or 102, or if they're entirely tube-fed, or a picky eater, or just not ordering.

Doesn't matter that somebody else didn't count their entire party, or that nobody at the restaurant blinked an eye.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

We just returned two weeks ago, and had a 3 month old with us. He wasn't noted on any of our table service reservations, and not one restaurant cast member had a comment about it. I would not include any child that wasn't being charged for a meal on the reservation.

I have seen more than one party turned away for this, so I wouldn't necessarily count on it. Some days, times, and locations are busier than others so unless a party is willing to risk being given a long wait in order to be accommodated, or be turned away then I would be sure every head is counted in the reservation.

 

[Disneypro1]

Each existing person in the party MUST be included on the reservations. Doesn't matter if they're two weeks old, or 102, or if they're entirely tube-fed, or a picky eater, or just not ordering.

Doesn't matter that somebody else didn't count their entire party, or that nobody at the restaurant blinked an eye.

There was an entire podcast..(not here) that reaffirmed that you aren't going to get turned away for failing to mention say a 2 year old..Thats just not going to happen..ever.
Just in my families example..once our kids turned 4 then they ate alot more...so we included them...when they were say 3 and under..and didn't even have a ticket for the parks...let alone meals at ADR places....there was never an issue seating. I know for a fact folks that are there right now is having the same experience. No one is going to get turned away because they didn't add a 1 year old child to a ressie. That just doesn't happen. But, YMMV nothing is ever universally the same for everyone.

 

[Disneypro1]

I have seen more than one party turned away for this, so I wouldn't necessarily count on it. Some days, times, and locations are busier than others so unless a party is willing to risk being given a long wait in order to be accommodated, or be turned away then I would be sure every head is counted in the reservation.

Interesting...I have found the opposite true..we have never seen this. In any case..i would assume most people DO include everyone. But, I just never heard or saw an issue for a small one causing an issue.
YMMV on this one.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Interesting...I have found the opposite true..we have never seen this. In any case..i would assume most people DO include everyone. But, I just never heard or saw an issue for a small one causing an issue.
YMMV on this one.

I'm sure YMMV but I have seen it, more than once, and at more than one location.

During our August trip, I watched a woman argue with a CM for about 20 minutes over the same issue. She turned to me (I was holding my 1.5 year old), pointed, and yelled "Does SHE have HER KID on her reservation?"

I've seen this question asked a few times over the last few days and I can't understand why it's so difficult to include everyone in the ADR.

 

[rdaky]

I've seen this question asked a few times over the last few days and I can't understand why it's so difficult to include everyone in the ADR.

Exactly. Just include the child. Is it really that complicated?

 

[KrazeeK120]

Yes, the kid has to be on the reservation. You’re not going to be charged for a child under 3...I don’t see why people avoid including these children on their reservations. My son was under 3 on both of our trips and they always confirmed 2 adults and 1 infant when we checked in, and we were never charged for him. No big deal at all.

 

[NYCgrrl]

During high season, it's more important to include children under the age of 3; probably less so during low and mid season.
I would err on the side of dotting all "i"s and crossing all "t"s no matter the season; so much easier.
Were I considering having a large party at a venue with infants, I'd reserve via phone, and put the onus on Disney, one department against another.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There was an entire podcast..(not here) that reaffirmed that you aren't going to get turned away for failing to mention say a 2 year old..Thats just not going to happen..ever.

There's also a recently-linked podcast claiming DU guarantees connecting rooms under certain conditions. Does not mean it's accurate.
[QUOTED="Disneypro1, post: 60260272, member: 638497"]Just in my families example..once our kids turned 4 then they ate alot more...so we included them...when they were say 3 and under..and didn't even have a ticket for the parks.[/QUOTE]
Did you mean under 3?

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

There was an entire podcast..(not here) that reaffirmed that you aren't going to get turned away for failing to mention say a 2 year old..Thats just not going to happen..ever.
Just in my families example..once our kids turned 4 then they ate alot more...so we included them...when they were say 3 and under..and didn't even have a ticket for the parks...let alone meals at ADR places....there was never an issue seating. I know for a fact folks that are there right now is having the same experience. No one is going to get turned away because they didn't add a 1 year old child to a ressie. That just doesn't happen. But, YMMV nothing is ever universally the same for everyone.

There are just as many podcasts/ blogs/ personal anecdotes to the contrary. I can make a podcast saying whatever I want and it doesn’t make it Disney’s policy.

Reservations are not based on who eats what. If my DH wants to accompany us at breakfast and not eat he still needs to be counted, just like anyone else. Also, that 2 or 3 year old likely needs a chair or high chair and in that case it’s especially important that they are on the reservation. A high chair can’t always just be plunked down wherever as aisles need clearance for emergencies and a lot of those dining rooms are tight as it is. What if I have more than one child under 3? If I show up with 4 kids under 3 that’s different than accommodating one more, but by the logic here, they should turn my table for 2 into a table that accommodates 6 now?

“No one is going to be turned away” is not true. I’ve seen it. More than once. So yes, YMMV. Yes, Disney tries to be very accommodating (even for those who try to pass it off like they didn’t know) but as with anything there’s a limit. My original advice still applies even if it’s YMMV- there is a chance you’re not eating there, or being asked to wait a long time until they can accommodate you. It’s not difficult to include your children on the ADR so there’s no reason not to, even if they don’t eat/ don’t need a chair.

 

[TeresaNJ]

I have seen more than one party turned away for this, so I wouldn't necessarily count on it. Some days, times, and locations are busier than others so unless a party is willing to risk being given a long wait in order to be accommodated, or be turned away then I would be sure every head is counted in the reservation.

That's really quite surprising that you've witnessed that more than once, or even once, as over the many many years of visiting WDW, and the very numerous trips we've taken, there have been several occasions where we've had an unexpected guest come with us to our table service reservation, and we've always been accommodated for the extra person, and not turned away. Guess we've been supremely lucky.