Frustrating experience making ADRs

[famcruisefun]

This morning ranks as my most frustrating experience with making ADRs. I got up at 6 to make online reservations for my October trip. I was fine making a reservation for the first night - exactly 180 days out - but the system couldn't link to my resort reservation - so I couldn't book any others. I waited and called at 7 and after getting past the automated part of the call finally got a person on the line at about 7:05. Great - not too much waiting - ready to go.
I understand that my party size (7 for three of the five nights) may limit the times that are available - so getting a reservation within an hour of when I was hoping for is fine with me.
The very frustrating thing is - at every restaurant I was looking to book - I was told we would be at separate tables. This is a family trip - and likely we'll be heading off in some different directions during the day - with the plan being to get together for dinner at night. We've done this trip before (about 4 years ago) and had no issues with being seated (or warned that we might be seated) separately. Is this something new?
2 of the people in the group won't be with us on our final night - so made the last reservation for only 5. Again was told we'd be seated at separate tables. The CM I was speaking with seemed surprised that i was frustrated by the separate table issue. She was also unable to tell me if it was just the particular places I'd chosen - or if everywhere would give me that warning. I would have been willing to consider other places if I knew I could get us all at the same table.
Apologies for the rant - we're DVC members who make at least one trip to Disney every year - and this was just a big surprise to me today as we've traveled with a big group before and not had an issue. If anyone has any insight, or experience with this - I'd love to hear.
Thanks!

 

[Nalshersmom]

I also booked for a party of 7 on the 180 day mark as soon as the phones opened about 11 days ago. They were able to link my reservations(it would be super frustrating if they could not). I was able to get everything I wanted except Le Cellier which took me a week to do. I was not able to get my ideal times for the 1st 2 days of my trip which included CRT and Ohana's which I slightly anticipated since I knew they would be popular and they had been available for people already. I think I remember them saying we could be put at different tables possibly, but from what I've read on this board they always say and rarely happens.

 

[Aliceacc]

We're a family of 5 and have NEVER been put at separate tables.

 

[juliemcalister]

We've traveled as a party of nine on two occasions with the DxDP, so lots of reservations, and we were never split up at meals.

 

[ktlm]

They always tell you that. They've told us that with a party of 3- with one of them being kid. I can remember saying "Fine, if someone else wants to eat with a 3 year old, they are welcome to her!" We actually went with some friends to Tony's on 2 separate ADRs- they had 4 and we had 3- and when I asked if they could put us at tables somewhere near each other the CM said "I can do better than that- I can put you all at one table". I wouldn't worry about it. It might happen- which is why they tell you that- but more than likely most places they will put you together. I think the only place I have watched them split up a party was 50s prime time- and they not only split them up- they put them as far apart in the restaurant as is about possible. That party wasn't happy.