Family Reunion Dining Question

[mnasf]

We've never done a large group at WDW, and we'll be making dining reservations soon. Do you have any suggestions for a party of 17? Is there anything special I need to know? Can I do this online? Thank You!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can only book for up to 14 online, so you'd have to call for a group that large.

 

[minnie mum]

As MakiraMarlena said, you need to make ADRs of this size by phone. Even if calling on your 180+10 day, you may need to be flexible with your days and times for some of the more popular places. Know your restaurants. Some places, like Teppan Edo have a maximum size of group that they can seat at one table. They may need to split you into 2 groups.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Family style and buffet may be easiest

 

[TXMemaw]

We have a large group (varies from 22-27 people) going in November. I was able to book online for Biergarten (24), Chef Mickey's (24), Crystal Palace (27) and 'Ohana (22) and at Akershus (16). The buffets seem to have the best availability for large groups. What I did was put in the number of people for the reservation, select the date, then selected dinner (instead of a particular time) and a small group of restaurants would show as available. Most restaurants would say that our group was too large for that restaurant but the above as well as the dinner shows usually showed up as bookable options. We are going the week of Thanksgiving so I was online right as the reservations opened on my 180+10 morning. I know that we will probably be seated at more than one table, but since we are one reservation, hopefully the tables will be close to each other.

 

[Kristibo42]

We are taking about 70 people next year. Not sure what they will be able to do for us.LOL

 

[MakiraMarlena]

with 70 you will definitely have to call and ask about group dining.

 

[disnut8]

We've never done a large group at WDW, and we'll be making dining reservations soon. Do you have any suggestions for a party of 17? Is there anything special I need to know? Can I do this online? Thank You!

Are all 17 going to be in one park so you can have the meal in a park? That's a huge question. If not, you might consider a venue in a resort so everyone could do their own thing for the day.

 

[Kristibo42]

I have the best travel agent that will take care of everything for me. I won't have to worry about anything.

 

[staceyrhood]

We did the luau once with 50 people it was awesome!

 

[DisCatGirl]

We are going in 2 weeks with a party of 18. Decided to splurge and stay club level - the IPO made all of our ADRs for us. Got everything we wanted (BOG lunch and dinner, Ohana, Boma for breakfast and dinner, etc. Made things very easy.

 

[kaybird]

We booked Crystal Palace with 18. They couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating.

 

[wdwiala]

We recently had a group of 12 at O'hana. It was our only meal of the week as a family. They attempted to seat us at two separate round tables. They suggested we shove the tables together. Eventually, they also added a small 2 person table in between. With the size of the round tables and awkwardness of them shoved together with the small, we might as well have been eating separately. They tried, but it was disappointing. Behind us was another large group, they had been seated at 3 large round tables shoved together.

You have a larger group, so maybe being separate will happen no matter what.

 

[mnasf]

Yes, we hope to be at the same park each day. We're staying with the DVC so don't have a benefit of help that way. You have all given such great ideas and suggestions. I really appreciate it! Your time to respond will help guide me.

 

[mnasf]

Have any of you done a fireworks cruise or anything like that? Thanks!

 

[mickeynut1]

We've never done a large group at WDW, and we'll be making dining reservations soon. Do you have any suggestions for a party of 17? Is there anything special I need to know? Can I do this online? Thank You!

As others have said, you have to call to book for that many people. I've booked for a group of 14 in the past at Boma, Chef Mickeys, and Kona.