First timer w/ meal plan - party of 7 - question on reservations

[StarNova]

We are headed to Disney this summer and we are making reservations for dining. Our group is larger - 7 of us. I've heard for certain restaurants it's better to have 2 reservations and split the party into 3 and 4 people (or 5 and 2 people) since it can take awhile to seat such a large group and Disney adds an 18% gratuity to your bill.

Some reservations (made through Disney) said they couldn't guarantee we would be seated together so why pay the extra gratuity for separate seating.

What's your experience with making dining reservations with a larger group? We do have 1 princess breakfast reserved for all 7 of us at Norway. We really want to be together for this meal. Our group is too small for the magic moments (you need 8).

What restaurants are better for a larger group? What restaurants are better divided up into smaller groups? We have the dining plan that includes 1 sit down, 1 counter, and 1 snack.

Thanks for all your help. First time at Disney with my family (went as a kid years ago) and taking the crew(2 grandparents and our family of 5) to Disney this summer.

 

[canopynut66]

We are headed to Disney this summer and we are making reservations for dining. Our group is larger - 7 of us. I've heard for certain restaurants it's better to have 2 reservations and split the party into 3 and 4 people (or 5 and 2 people) since it can take awhile to seat such a large group and Disney adds an 18% gratuity to your bill.

Some reservations (made through Disney) said they couldn't guarantee we would be seated together so why pay the extra gratuity for separate seating.

What's your experience with making dining reservations with a larger group? We do have 1 princess breakfast reserved for all 7 of us at Norway. We really want to be together for this meal. Our group is too small for the magic moments (you need 8).

What restaurants are better for a larger group? What restaurants are better divided up into smaller groups? We have the dining plan that includes 1 sit down, 1 counter, and 1 snack.

Thanks for all your help. First time at Disney with my family (went as a kid years ago) and taking the crew(2 grandparents and our family of 5) to Disney this summer.

Tusker House in AK
Crystal Palace in MK
O'Hana's at the POLY
Kona's Cafe for steaks in the Poly
Liberty Tree Tavern in MK
Prime Time Diner (be a hoot for Grandparents to see) in HS
1900 Park Fare in GF
Captains Grill
Cape May in BC
The Wave in Contemporary
Whispering Canyons i in WL is so much fun for any meal
Chef Mickeys (food not been good there for a while) but is only place Mickey at
all the above are one TS and some are with characters for breakfast but all meals good

Le Cellier in Canada is small and we have had to take two tables for 4 of us and now is 2 TS so off our list we go to Yachstman if going to spend two TS or artist point

any should be able to seat 7 at one table if not on line call them at reservation center.

suggest getting the Unoffical Guide it is big help with food/crowds etc and also allears.net can pull up menus as well

 

[purple figment]

First of all to the Disboards.

The caveat about separate tables shows up on many reservations for parties of all sizes including groups of 1 or 2. As much as possible the CMs will try to seat you at one table or adjacent tables. Most people have reported that even as a group of 7 they were seldom split up.

If being seated together is the most important criteria I would make the reservations for 7. By dividing into 2 groups you run the risk of waiting even longer if you arrive and then tell the CMs you want to be seated altogether. Or you could end up being seated at 2 tables far from each other if you don't want to wait or there are no large tables available.

 

[StarNova]

Thank you, canopynut66 and purple figment for your help. I have started making reservations and keeping my fingers crossed as I learn about Disney (and the more I learn, the less I seem to know) Allears.net has a great menu section.

 

[Montana Minnies]

We are headed to Disney this summer and we are making reservations for dining. Our group is larger - 7 of us. I've heard for certain restaurants it's better to have 2 reservations and split the party into 3 and 4 people (or 5 and 2 people) since it can take awhile to seat such a large group and Disney adds an 18% gratuity to your bill.

Some reservations (made through Disney) said they couldn't guarantee we would be seated together so why pay the extra gratuity for separate seating.

What's your experience with making dining reservations with a larger group? We do have 1 princess breakfast reserved for all 7 of us at Norway. We really want to be together for this meal. Our group is too small for the magic moments (you need 8).

What restaurants are better for a larger group? What restaurants are better divided up into smaller groups? We have the dining plan that includes 1 sit down, 1 counter, and 1 snack.

Thanks for all your help. First time at Disney with my family (went as a kid years ago) and taking the crew(2 grandparents and our family of 5) to Disney this summer.

We were there in 2004 with 8, there were 6 of us that dined at Akersus for lunch and we just walked in and were seated. How lucky is that? We did Chef Mickey's with 8 of us, the Hoop De Doo & Olivia's. There were always at least 5 of us eating at one place and we always had a table together.
Have Fun!

 

[MSLRAC]

Tusker House in AK
Crystal Palace in MK
O'Hana's at the POLY
Kona's Cafe for steaks in the Poly
Liberty Tree Tavern in MK
Prime Time Diner (be a hoot for Grandparents to see) in HS
1900 Park Fare in GF
Captains Grill
Cape May in BC
The Wave in Contemporary
Whispering Canyons i in WL is so much fun for any meal
Chef Mickeys (food not been good there for a while) but is only place Mickey at
all the above are one TS and some are with characters for breakfast but all meals good

Le Cellier in Canada is small and we have had to take two tables for 4 of us and now is 2 TS so off our list we go to Yachstman if going to spend two TS or artist point

any should be able to seat 7 at one table if not on line call them at reservation center.

suggest getting the Unoffical Guide it is big help with food/crowds etc and also allears.net can pull up menus as well

Actually, Mickey is also at Garden Grill, Ohana breakfast, Tusker House breakfast and Mickey's Backyard BBQ.

Also, LeCellier is only 2 credits at dinner...it is still just one credit at lunch.

 

[StarNova]

Thanks Montana Minnies and MSLRAC, I think I need to make a reservation for lunch at Le Cellier asap.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I would just call in advance and make reservations for 7. You might possiby be split up...tehy say it can happen...but we have never been separated. Our large groups have always been seated toghether in the past. I would think having advance reservations would be really importantt to reduce your wait times...good luck!

 

[StarNova]

Thanks, DisneyTravelers2008. I think the reservations are very important. I will only split them if we can't get 7 on the reservation. Since we are going this summer, it's getting harder to find the day/times we want. Splitting the group might be the only option for more popular places.