CRT reservation strategy for a group of 12

[DisneyAuntie12]

Our trip is not until the fall but I've been playing around with reservations on My Disney Experience to make sure that I know what to do when our window opens. I'm really hoping for Cinderella's Royal Table for my niece!

For CRT, I notice that if I try for a reservation for a group over 10 any time further away than the current week, I get this message:

We were unable to check for available tables at this time. A problem may have occurred while looking for availability. Please ensure if you have a valid resort reservation, it is linked to your My Disney Experience account and try again.

As soon as I drop the reservation number to 10 it goes to

Sorry!
There are no times available between ___________

So I'm assuming that I would need to make a large reservation like this over the phone. My only worry is that phone hold times have been looooong recently, and there's no way to coordinate the time you get off of hold to the time that reservations open. So I'm wondering about reservation strategies. I.e., would it be better to:

- Be online the second the window opens and try to reserve two tables of 6 (even if we only get one table of 6 I would consider it a win - if everyone doesn't eat together that day it's not a huge deal.)

- Call for a reservation and risk being on hold for 40 minutes after the window opens but with the assistance of a live person who might be able to do a large reservation (Also I think sometimes a live person can 'make it happen' a bit more easily, but then, if the restaurant is completely booked it's completely booked, nothing a Cast Member can do)

- Seriously, just forget it because it probably ain't gonna happen and try to book Akershus instead, ha ha!

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Best Aunt]

Did you look at Akershus to see if the same thing happens if you try to book more than 10?

I haven't been to CRT so I don't know if they have a table which is big enough for your group, or if they would have to push 2 tables together.

You could try going online and booking two tables of 6 while you are waiting on hold. I'm sure someone else will come on to say if that's a good idea or a bad idea.

 

[Geomom]

Do they have an opening date for Akershus? It still hasn't reopened since the 2020 closure.

Are you staying on property? If you have the 60+10 days benefit, then you might be able to get something later in your trip by calling, or splitting the group up. Different situation from you, but I had no problem getting a table for 4 for lunch at 61 days out at CRT for a Sunday in late June.

Also note that currently CRT just has Cinderella meeting you before you go up to the dining room, no other characters. Also CRT requires full payment at booking.

 

[Narcoossee11]

CRT is tiny. Book 2 or 3 tables if available

 

[MainMom]

I would split up your party into a couple of reservations. You will need a different lead person for each ADR.

 

[DisneyAuntie12]

Do they have an opening date for Akershus? It still hasn't reopened since the 2020 closure.

No, I’m going on the assumption that they will reopen this summer… although we’ve been there before so heavily leaning towards CRT either way.

Are you staying on property? If you have the 60+10 days benefit, then you might be able to get something later in your trip by calling, or splitting the group up. Different situation from you, but I had no problem getting a table for 4 for lunch at 61 days out at CRT for a Sunday in late.

Yes - I’m assuming the My Disney Experience factors in your length of stay when allowing you to make reservations but I didn’t actually count each day on the calendar, so I should double check that.

 

[Geomom]

No, I’m going on the assumption that they will reopen this summer… although we’ve been there before so heavily leaning towards CRT either way.


Yes - I’m assuming the My Disney Experience factors in your length of stay when allowing you to make reservations but I didn’t actually count each day on the calendar, so I should double check that.

Yes, when you hit the 60 day mark for your arrival day the system lets you make reservations for the length of your trip up to 10 days past arrival day. I have a split stay, so I could book the first 4 days at the 60 day mark and have to wait until the second resort is at 60 days to book the rest of my trip.

 

[Disneydreamin2426]

I was able to book my party of 12 by booking two reservations at the same time 8/4 on the website when my window opened so I would recommend splitting your group. Good luck!