Booking CRT for our family and friend's family...together or separate?

[LoveBugs]

I'm booking all of the dining reservations for our trip that will be our family (5 people) and a friend's family (5 people). We're all using the DxDDP but our reservations are NOT linked.

The plan was for me to book CRT for all of us and I'm debating whether I should do two reservations for 5 or one for ten. I know seating up there is tight so should we just plan to sit separately? I know they can separate us if they want, I just wonder if we should separate from the get-go.

Also, I know I'll need to secure the reservation with my credit card, but when we get there, they can go ahead and actually pay for their meals with their own dining plan credits, correct? Anything else I may be missing?

Thanks!

ETA: Now I'm thinking what if I book separately, even a few minutes apart, and I can't get us in at the same time. Better to book us together for that reason? There's going to be a crazy hold on my CC for this many people, isn't there!

 

[squirrel]

You shouldn't have a problem booking a table for everyone together. I know I did it in 2008 when my neighbour and her family and my niece and I all ate together.

They will let each family pay with their own Dining Plan.

I'm not positive but with 10 people if you are together I think you get 3 photo pkgs. Which might be nice as you could do each family seperate and then a third with both families (or at least the kids together).

 

[TDC Nala]

If you want to sit together, book the entire party together. They will split the check for the DDP payment; when you arrive just make sure your server knows who will be on which check.

The credit card hold costs you nothing. You will not be charged unless you don't show up. That said, if anyone drops from the reservation you are going to have to call WDW-DINE and have them removed from the reservation so you don't get a no-show charge on them.

 

[LoveBugs]

Thanks guys! We ended up having to book them separate. I called and they couldn't find anything for a party of 10 so we had to do two separate bookings for parties of five. Unfortunately, my friend can't book dining until tomorrow while I did it today so there's a risk that she won't get the same time as us, but what can ya do. Everything else went smoothly, though, it's a relief to have that taken care of.