Group Dining Reservation Tips

[BishopsMoM]

I am a frequent visitor of WDW, but have never had to plan a trip for a large group, let alone try to get dinner reservations for 11 (6 adults & 5 kids). Anybody have any good tips on how to get ADRs at our favorite restaurants with such a large group? 6 of the people in our group have never been to WDW, so I would love to be able to give them the experience of some great restaurants. Is the best tip to split the reservations into 2 groups and just pray we can get in around the same time and they seat us near each other? Thanks for all of the help. (And if there is a link to a forum that already talks about this, please link it below

 

[CarolynFH]

Based on my experience making ADRs for 9 the week leading up to Christmas, I’d just call first thing in the morning 60 days before checkin. I tried making ADRs, splitting into two groups, and got ADRs 10-20 minutes apart. Not too bad. But when I got them 90 minutes apart, I knew I had to call, and I wish I had called to start with!

We still ended up with split groups, but at least they were close enough that we showed up all together about 15 minutes before the first one, checked in with the CM (not via MDE), told them we were together and asked to sit together if possible. We were seated together everywhere but Sci Fi, which of course doesn’t have cars that big.

If you decide to try on your own, make the person managing the first group’s ADR someone other than yourself, then you can manage the second group’s ADR. If you make yourself the manager of the first group, you won’t be allowed to book another ADR overlapping that first one.

Edited to add - lots of advice and help on the Dining Reservations sub-board.

 

[Ro<3]

I went on 6am and made reservations for 6-8, I called the number right at 7am and they were able to make an additional group to make the total of 13 I needed. I think I was lucky in that I didn’t need many- but got the two I needed for beaches and cream and chef Mickey’s.

 

[kinkin201]

I made plans for a party of 11 last week. We were not able to find a single reservation for our party at 6am the day we were able to make reservations. My mom and I each used our MDE account to make separate reservations for our party (she did them for 5, and I made them for 6). There were only 2 reservations we were able to make for our parties at the exact same time. Our other 5 reservations are within 10-30mins of each other. I would encourage you to book 2 parties under different accounts. And what you can get at 6 am is a great place holder until MS opens at 7 when you can see if they are able to book any parties of 11 or combine the reservations you have that are at the same time- that way you can at least book what you want... that hour will make a big difference in availability.

 

[BishopsMoM]

Thank you all for the tips. I didn't think about not being able to overlap reservations. Looks like I am going to need someone else in the group to help me that morning. Thanks again!!