Garden View Tea Room at GF

[Donald'sGirl]

I need some help!

I am trying to book a group reservation for the Garden View Tea Room on 12/12 for 16 people. I have a DVC reservation checking in on 12/9 and no one can help me book this! I have called Disney Dining, Group Dining, the location itself and have left 2 messages for a call back and I also spoke with my wedding planner's assistant who all could not help me because of the number of guests I want.

I am completely frustrated. Why is it so difficult to book this place if you have a large group?? I really have my heart set on it and I will be very disappointed if I don't get since the 90 day mark has passed and somehow it's already reserved. I called yesterday my first day to book at 7:30am, there is no way I should be blocked out.

Can anyone help me with what I should do next?

 

[princessmom29]

I would think it is a large party/small venue issue. I owuld try calling the location during a non busy time i.e between lunch and dinner to try to speak to someone actually there. Mabye they can work with you. It may be that they simply don't have a space to accomdate a party that large, and don't want to split you up???

 

[Drawn That Way]

Honestly, this is a "hot ticket" in the world of WDW ADR's. The area is small and I can see that booking a group that size would be a bit of a nightmare, even if you booked tables for 6, 4, and so on until you got everyone a place to be. There are not a lot of tables there that could be moved around and easily joined together to create on massive table for your group. Most tables there are set up to be a more intimate setting with lots of round tables and seating with sofas and such.

I was able to book Tea at my 90+10 mark. I think it's booked for the 10th, but I honestly don't remember since my itinerary is at home and I am at work. I wish you luck in finding some sort of suitable resolution.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

I would think it is a large party/small venue issue. I owuld try calling the location during a non busy time i.e between lunch and dinner to try to speak to someone actually there. Mabye they can work with you. It may be that they simply don't have a space to accomdate a party that large, and don't want to split you up???

If that was the case that I would understand but I haven't even spoken to someone to answer that. I am getting no repsone at all about whether I can or cannot. I think that's what is bothering me most. That is NOT the highly talked about Disney customer service.

Honestly, this is a "hot ticket" in the world of WDW ADR's. The area is small and I can see that booking a group that size would be a bit of a nightmare, even if you booked tables for 6, 4, and so on until you got everyone a place to be. There are not a lot of tables there that could be moved around and easily joined together to create on massive table for your group. Most tables there are set up to be a more intimate setting with lots of round tables and seating with sofas and such.

I was able to book Tea at my 90+10 mark. I think it's booked for the 10th, but I honestly don't remember since my itinerary is at home and I am at work. I wish you luck in finding some sort of suitable resolution.

How did you book your tea? Online or phone? Did you have a large party as well? I don't need the tables pushed together, I like that they are small tables so long as we were all near each other I would be fine.

 

[Spanky]

I could not book the tea on line. I had to call to do it. Even then the cast member kept trying to put me in one of the GF restaurants. I often find that DIS members know more about the ins & outs of WDW than the cast member I have on the phone. We are going on Tue. Oct. 20 at 3:30 - right before MNSSHP. Should be really different - high tea in a halloween costume.

 

[Sandy321]

I would try to make 2 reservations for 8 - either have the cm look it up this way - or have 2 people make the reservation. or maybe 3 tables... 2 of 6 1 table of 4...

Like PP said, I dont think they have one table that can hold 8 - - it is a very small place - I wonder if you couldnt go thru private dining and have something done in an alcove with the food from the grand tea room? *(just thinking out loud, I've never read anyone being able to do that!)

 

[iluveeyore]

I booked my friend's birthday tea two months out for the two of us with no problem. They did have tables that seated 8 nearby, and they could put all of you along the wall we were on with no problem. I called Disney Dining 407-WDW-DINE and booked it - tell them you're a party of 12 but don't require special seating arrangements. If that doesn't work, talk to a Grand Gathering specialist (one of the choices when you call) - they handle parties of 8 or more. Good luck - we loved it there!

 

[greg126]

Last time there we had ADRs for opening but there was a group of who knows how many red-hatted ladies they sat first - broke them up to different tables. That still has to be one of my longest waits for an ADR.

 

[TDC Nala]

The room is small. The maximum capacity is around 50. If they've already booked up some of the tables, they're going to have trouble fitting a group that size in. If the entire group is to be seated at contiguous tables, it's going to be even more difficult.

If you have more than 15 guests, this site says there are very specific ways to book that, but note that it might be an old site.
http://www.mouseweddings.com/weddingrestaurants.html#gardenview


You could book it for a private event, but I'd think it might be too short notice.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

Update: I finally got a call at about 3:30 today. I gave them all my information and he said we wouldn't all be at the same table, which I am completely ok with, and he said he would call me back later today. Well I am still waiting so its not a definite yet but I am hopeful.

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I know they do permit large groups--one was there when we went a few years ago. Doesn't grand gatherings help with that?

 

[Disney Princess]

Good luck - I am happy you at least got the first phone call. I know it is possible to do a large group as we had tea there before my sister's wedding. I think we had every table booked, but it was doable. We might have actually had tea earlier than the normal opening (at 11?) It has been over six years so I am forgetting the details. Hopefully they'll be able to help you out. Good luck and congrats on your wedding!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Glad they are trying to work it out. I am sure they have had large groups before. However I could easily see availability being a problem. Just as an example if there are not 16 people in the same group able to be accommodated at one time, during the same time.
I once booked a party of four and was told we would not be seated together. (But we were. The place was nearly empty.)
It may work out best to be the last seated too. They close at 6pm.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

I know they do permit large groups--one was there when we went a few years ago. Doesn't grand gatherings help with that?

I tried calling, they don't.

Good luck - I am happy you at least got the first phone call. I know it is possible to do a large group as we had tea there before my sister's wedding. I think we had every table booked, but it was doable. We might have actually had tea earlier than the normal opening (at 11?) It has been over six years so I am forgetting the details. Hopefully they'll be able to help you out. Good luck and congrats on your wedding!

I did get a second call. I will post the update in a moment. Thank you!

Glad they are trying to work it out. I am sure they have had large groups before. However I could easily see availability being a problem. Just as an example if there are not 16 people in the same group able to be accommodated at one time, during the same time.
I once booked a party of four and was told we would not be seated together. (But we were. The place was nearly empty.)
It may work out best to be the last seated too. They close at 6pm.

Everything did work out and they do accomodate larger groups.


Well everything did work out. After I received the first phone call on Friday afternoon, he did call back Saturday afternoon to tell me that my party of 16 was booked for 4 pm! So we are all set. I think the lesson learned is - I need to be patient! We aren't all seated at one table which is fine, I actually will be easier to speak to everyone if we are clustered together than at one very long table.

Thank you everyone!!!