ADR's for a Large Group

[fallonkendra]

What is the best plan of attack for making ADR's for large groups? We will need a few reservations for 15-20 people, but all of our previous trips have been just my fiance and I so we're used to only requiring reservations for 2 people. I'm still about a month away from being able to book, but I'm such a planner that I need to have a plan in place haha.

Is my best bet to call? Try online? Split up our group into smaller groups?

Will each person I'm making a reservation for need to be linked as a friend/family in my Disney account? I've been asking people to do this for over a month now, and it's like pulling teeth ("But the trip is still so far away, I don't want to start planning yet!" - which is why I'm now doing the planning for everyone). The entire group will be adults.

Thanks!

 

[crabbygal902]

I feel your pain! We had 20+ people traveling together on one of our trips. Here's some tips that I learned, some the hard way:

Every person's name does NOT have to linked to the reservation, nor do they have to even be in the Disney system. The people not registered can attend a dinner than you reserve on your account, but they can also sit back and pout while you enjoy your pre-planned fast-passes and won't be able to see the group's plans on the Disney site or app.

I called for my ADRs. It was easier for me.

Go with the flow. Your people WILL be flaky, at least some of them. Expect it now so you won't stress later. Make flexible plans that accommodate the flakiness.

Don't expect everyone to walk around in a big pack all day. Make meals the time your group gets together.

Good restaurants for big groups: Biergarten, 'Ohana (this was fantastic!). The AYCE places accommodate many appetites and tastes, as a general rule. Not so good restaurants for big groups: Le Cellier. What was I thinking???

Remember this: you are not cake. You can't make everyone happy! Plan things that you enjoy and would likely appeal to others.

 

[Hockeyfan17]

I was able to get an ADR for 15 people at Ohana for dinner through the online reservation system at my 180 day booking window. I was also able to get many other meals for our group of 11 for the same trip. You may just have to be a little flexible with your times. Enjoy your planning.

 

[d-train]

I suggest calling as early as possible if you have specific restaurants in mind. I did a large ADR for SOA, 25 people, about 4 months out, called the ADR line, and they required payment (because it was SOA, not for the size) when I called. Whoa was that a bill! It was a company trip, so I used the company card, tough to explain that one!! Lol!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

What is the best plan of attack for making ADR's for large groups? We will need a few reservations for 15-20 people, but all of our previous trips have been just my fiance and I so we're used to only requiring reservations for 2 people. I'm still about a month away from being able to book, but I'm such a planner that I need to have a plan in place haha.

Is my best bet to call? Try online? Split up our group into smaller groups?

Will each person I'm making a reservation for need to be linked as a friend/family in my Disney account? I've been asking people to do this for over a month now, and it's like pulling teeth ("But the trip is still so far away, I don't want to start planning yet!" - which is why I'm now doing the planning for everyone). The entire group will be adults.

Thanks!

are any of planned ressies for prepaid meals? if so be prepared to have to pay for whole group at time of reserving

 

[purple figment]

You can call to make your reservations or ask for group dining. When making reservations include everyone who might be coming because it is always easier to reduce the number later, but trying to add someone afterwards is sometimes virtually impossible, especially at the more popular restaurants.

Your best chances of being seated altogether is with a reservation at the beginning of the restaurant's meal service or near the end when there are more empty tables the castmembers can work with.

Castmembers will do their best to seat you together or near each other, but be prepared to be seated at more than one table. You have a better chance of being seated near each other if you can make one reservation. If you split your group into smaller groups the restaurant will be expecting to seat you at multiple smaller tables throughout the restaurant. since they'll have no way of knowing you are all together.

 

[Sleepy425]

Garden Grill I had to split us into smaller groups (I think the largest they allowed was 6 or 8, can't remember). Also, for Flying Fish I had to call the restaurant directly to schedule.
The problem with splitting Garden Grill into smaller groups is that I could only have one reservation for that time on MDE. By the time I got ahold of my friend and told her she needed to do her group separately, all the 8am slots were gone. Thankfully her family isn't as gung ho about getting to the parks early, so she wasn't too upset about that one.

 

[novajeanjellybean]

We also have a group of approximately 15-20 people for our trip in Dec. I called the Dining line to find out how large groups are handled. They told me that each restaurant has a different threshold for party size (e.g. for Raglan Road, you can only reserve parties up to 9 online). For groups over that party size, you have to call Group Dining directly for that restaurant. They even provided me the phone numbers for Group Dining for the places we plan to eat.

 

[Gracie09]

I've had groups to 20. I get what I can online and then call at 7. I do find eating early- right when the restaurant opens for a meal is helpful.

 

[MagicalMurphys]

I was able to make a week's worth of ADR's for a party of 15 via the app on my 180th day right at 6 am.

The only one I couldn't manage was Via Napoli but I called at 7 am and the CM said it had to do with the restaurant itself so she made us two ADR's (one for 7 and one for 8) that are 5 mins apart and advised me to let the host know when I check in that we're actually one party and they should be able to seat us together.

 

[preemiemama]

Headed there in a couple of weeks with 21 people. I was able to do a few (buffets, typically) online- Crystal Palace and Tusker House are the ones I am certain of. I called on the others- especially Hoop De Doo and Cinderella's Castle since they require prepayment unless you have the dining plan. I could split up the parties (and the CM did for some while we were on the phone). I also had to call a couple restaurants directly (Artist Point and Rose and Crown) to alert them that while I held separate reservations, it was actually a large party. Both managers were very accommodating.

 

[Polydweller]

Disney has a group sales office for this situation. Call the dining number and ask for group sales. They will work with you to get reservations for a group your size and make the work relatively painless.

 

[KariB]

Disney has a group sales office for this situation. Call the dining number and ask for group sales. They will work with you to get reservations for a group your size and make the work relatively painless.

I called last week as our ADR window opened up yesterday for our group of 15. Cast member told me they do not offer any special assistance for large groups. I could try online or call the standard number, but no special department. I was bummed because I thought for sure they would have something. Like others have mentioned, some places for large groups you have to call directly (Sanaa is one) and BOG only seats large parties for dinner at 4pm.

I was online right at 6 and was thankfully able to score a late night dinner at Ohana, a breakfast and lunch at BOG, dinner at 1900 PF, and a brunch at chef mickeys for our large group.

 

[preemiemama]

I called last week as our ADR window opened up yesterday for our group of 15. Cast member told me they do not offer any special assistance for large groups. I could try online or call the standard number, but no special department. I was bummed because I thought for sure they would have something. Like others have mentioned, some places for large groups you have to call directly (Sanaa is one) and BOG only seats large parties for dinner at 4pm.

I was online right at 6 and was thankfully able to score a late night dinner at Ohana, a breakfast and lunch at BOG, dinner at 1900 PF, and a brunch at chef mickeys for our large group.

I have a party of 15 at BOG for dinner at 7:30 in a couple of weeks. I had to split it between a few reservations, but it is noted that we are together. (I did them online, and it was noted when I called to do the other reservations...)

 

[Polydweller]

I called last week as our ADR window opened up yesterday for our group of 15. Cast member told me they do not offer any special assistance for large groups. I could try online or call the standard number, but no special department. I was bummed because I thought for sure they would have something. Like others have mentioned, some places for large groups you have to call directly (Sanaa is one) and BOG only seats large parties for dinner at 4pm.

I was online right at 6 and was thankfully able to score a late night dinner at Ohana, a breakfast and lunch at BOG, dinner at 1900 PF, and a brunch at chef mickeys for our large group.

Yeah, they still do. The CM is just at a call centre anywhere and not all know about it. Like all call centre CMs many are poorly informed.

 

[Keels]

I had to book a large group for a couple of restaurants this year (groups between 8-15) and I found this article to be helpful - especially the chart at the end - so I could have reasonable expectations of what I would need to do, reservation-wise:

http://wdwprepschool.com/booking-large-groups-for-dining-at-disney-world/

California Grill was surprisingly the easiest, Brown Derby was the hardest.

 

[fallonkendra]

I forgot to post a huge thank you to everyone who commented on this thread! Our ADR window opened up a few weeks ago, and we were able to get everything we wanted Here is our list:

January 7th, 2018: 'Ohana (9:45pm, 18 people)

January 8th, 2018: Le Cellier (12:35/12:45, 18 people - split into 2 reservations), Garden Grill (7:05/7:15, 20 people, split into 2 reservations)

January 9th, 2018: Crystal Palace (8:15am, 20 people), Be Our Guest (1pm. 20 people - split into 2 reservations)

January 10th, 2018: Wedding Day

January 11th, 2018: Tusker House (10:45am, 12 people)

January 12th, 2018: Beaches and Cream (1:10/1:20, 16 people - split into 2 reservations)