ADRs for a Large Group

[CampInchSerendipity]

I'm hoping to get some tips for making ADRs for a group of 18. We have a month or so before we can book our reservations, but since it sounds like so many folks have been having difficulty obtaining these for normal size parties, I'm hoping to be as prepared as possible when we are able to reserve. I am looking at late lunches for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood, since we'll have about 6 kiddos under 10 who will need a mid-day break. Any tips on how to break up the group, if needed? Which restaurants may be best set up for large groups, if any? Or any other strategies or tips for groups of this size? Any help would be great. Thanks!

 

[coolbrook]

The last time I needed to do a large group like that I called to make the reservations. The problem you run into when you split the party and try to make two or three reservations for the same time at the same restaurant is that the system will tell you you already have a reservation. If you call they can override that. At the restaurant itself they may need to split up your party anyway these days because of social distancing. I know that in theater shows they are splitting up larger parties. Good luck!

 

[a-mad]

I just saw your post.... I got ADR's this morning for a group of 14 and just shared a little about my experience. I'll copy/paste my post for you here:

I got ADR's this morning for our large group of 14 for our trip in late April. I was planning on calling right at 7am (5am for me) and talking to a cast member. Well, I decided to take a shot at getting online at 6am (4am!) and seeing what I could do on my own.

One of the posters out there in the myriad of posts I had read to prepare myself made this suggestion - he and his wife went online at the same time and had split their large group into two groups. He made ADR's for one and she made them for the other - at either exact times, or within 5-10 minutes of each other. I basically did the same thing, but instead of waking my wife out of bed, I had two computers and I used my MDE account on one and her MDE account on the other (you could probably do the same thing with two phones, or a phone and a computer, etc.) Based on the families and age dynamics of our group, I had 8 in one group and 6 in the other. I would start by looking for a party of 8, and once I found the time I would start the process with the other group of 6, and so on.

I was able to get reservations at Sci-Fi, Beaches and Cream, Via Napoli, 50's Prime TIme and Homecomin this way. They weren't always for the original time I wanted, but considering the challenges of getting ADR's for a group this size, I think we did pretty good!

Thanks to the poster (whoever you are) who gave us this tip. I may have been ok waiting to call, but I'm glad I took a shot on my own first.

 

[CampInchSerendipity]

Thank you! That's kind of what I was thinking. Just separating the group and using 2-3 different accounts for our party to book online. I feel a little better knowing you were able to find some openings. I don't mind calling, but I'm afraid I'll miss some available times by sitting on hold. Always fun to play "travel agent" for a large family.

 

[Halle]

I just saw your post.... I got ADR's this morning for a group of 14 and just shared a little about my experience. I'll copy/paste my post for you here:

I got ADR's this morning for our large group of 14 for our trip in late April. I was planning on calling right at 7am (5am for me) and talking to a cast member. Well, I decided to take a shot at getting online at 6am (4am!) and seeing what I could do on my own.

One of the posters out there in the myriad of posts I had read to prepare myself made this suggestion - he and his wife went online at the same time and had split their large group into two groups. He made ADR's for one and she made them for the other - at either exact times, or within 5-10 minutes of each other. I basically did the same thing, but instead of waking my wife out of bed, I had two computers and I used my MDE account on one and her MDE account on the other (you could probably do the same thing with two phones, or a phone and a computer, etc.) Based on the families and age dynamics of our group, I had 8 in one group and 6 in the other. I would start by looking for a party of 8, and once I found the time I would start the process with the other group of 6, and so on.

I was able to get reservations at Sci-Fi, Beaches and Cream, Via Napoli, 50's Prime TIme and Homecomin this way. They weren't always for the original time I wanted, but considering the challenges of getting ADR's for a group this size, I think we did pretty good!

Thanks to the poster (whoever you are) who gave us this tip. I may have been ok waiting to call, but I'm glad I took a shot on my own first.

I really appreciate you sharing this info with us. I am booking a group of 16 next week. May I ask what times your ADR's are?

 

[a-mad]

Thank you! That's kind of what I was thinking. Just separating the group and using 2-3 different accounts for our party to book online. I feel a little better knowing you were able to find some openings. I don't mind calling, but I'm afraid I'll miss some available times by sitting on hold. Always fun to play "travel agent" for a large family.

Yeah... I thought the same thing. I was just going to wait to call, but thought I would try this out first. It wasn't too difficult, and ended up being kinda fun. Anything you don't get, you can work through with the cast member, so there's no risk to trying. Good luck!

 

[a-mad]

I really appreciate you sharing this info with us. I am booking a group of 16 next week. May I ask what times your ADR's are?

You bet!

50's Prime Time - 1:35pm/1:40pm
Via Napoli - 12:30pm (both)
Tony's Town Square - 12:40pm/12:45pm
Homecomin - 7:30pm (both)
Sci-Fi - 12:30pm/12:50pm
Beaches and Cream - 8:55pm/9pm

 

[Halle]

You bet!

50's Prime Time - 1:35pm/1:40pm
Via Napoli - 12:30pm (both)
Tony's Town Square - 12:40pm/12:45pm
Homecomin - 7:30pm (both)
Sci-Fi - 12:30pm/12:50pm
Beaches and Cream - 8:55pm/9pm

Thank you!