Booking restaurants with an 18-month-old?

[DaisyNY]

Will be traveling with a party of 6 that includes an 18-month-old...when making dinner reservations do I book for six? Or five and then request a highchair? Thanks!

 

[jpolak]

I would book for six. When you get to the restaurant they will ask if you need a high chair.

 

[Finerfam]

Yes, you need to include the 18 month old in the head count for each dining reservation, so make sure to book for 6.

 

[RoseGold]

I found this is more flexible than that, even at Cinderella. I'd leave them off, unless it helps to book the 6. Sometimes Disney reservations like even numbers.

 

[nancipants]

When I started booking reservations with my son, cast members told to include him, even when he was an infant. (When he was less than 2 months old we couldn't get a reservation for 11 people at Oga's, and we got pushback from the host even with him in a baby carrier, but they eventually relented.) Sometimes restaurants will let you add a person when you check in, but I wouldn't count on it for the popular places.

 

[DaisyNY]

Yes, you need to include the 18 month old in the head count for each dining reservation, so make sure to book for 6.

When booking Hoop-de-Doo which requires prepayment...can I indicate on booking that the six includes an 18-month-old? Thanks!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

When booking Hoop-de-Doo which requires prepayment...can I indicate on booking that the six includes an 18-month-old? Thanks!

yes at least precovid as we booked for 14 with a 4 month old and and 17 month old in the group and did not pay for either one. ps this is what is people do when they want to book an even number group and they have an odd number just make the extra one under 3 years old so no precharge to be refunded when they show up with one less

 

[HopperFan]

Every BODY must be counted no matter the age.

 

[maxiesmom]

I found this is more flexible than that, even at Cinderella. I'd leave them off, unless it helps to book the 6. Sometimes Disney reservations like even numbers.

Don't do that. Every person has to be counted, no matter how small. Partially because of fire code. Partially because Disney has a seat for everyone, and high chairs take up space.

You risk a long wait, or even being turned away, if you don't count every single person.

 

[marikujawa]

You can find Disney's written policy in the Help Center under "frequently asked questions" "restaurants." It states that every person who will be dining needs to be included on the reservation - regardless of age. So if you're looking for Disney's answer to your question, the answer is book for 6.

 

[ThinkTink1]

If they’re breathing… book them!

 

[ThinkTink1]

To add on to this as a CM at a restaurant in MK it could definitely add into your wait time if you don’t have the right number of people on your reservation especially if you’re adding up not down in the number of guest

 

[Betty Rohrer]

To add on to this as a CM at a restaurant in MK it could definitely add into your wait time if you don’t have the right number of people on your reservation especially if you’re adding up not down in the number of guest

granted precovid but I have seen an added wait of 45 minutes to reservation time. which would not be fun with a hungry 18 month old

 

[ThinkTink1]

granted precovid but I have seen an added wait of 45 minutes to reservation time. which would not be fun with a hungry 18 month old

Exactly… and trust me I see frustrated guest all the time!!

 

[Disturbia]

Definitely don’t size down at a high demand/limited seating restaurant like CRT, esp during the holidays. Some restaurants (at resorts) do offer to add a guest during mobile check in.

During spring break we added our DD (high chair) to Story Book dining (we could only find an ADR for 4) and we had to wait 45 mins for the next dining rotation to get a seat.

 

[DaisyNY]

Just an update…added eighteen-month old to all reservations. When you get to section on guests she is linked as infant so no need to prepay for her at Hoop-de-Doo, etc. Thanks for the help!