Help! Dining with 10 or 11??!!

[Rafikifan]

Hi. We have been to WDW 4 times and always are a party of 5 or 6. We make p.s.'s for the places we really want to be sure to eat, eat counter service or walk up other times. We have never had a problem with seating. However, our friends who are a family of 5 (and "Gramma" might come too making it a party of 11) want to plan a trip for next Spring and us all go together. All of a sudden it hit me what a nightmare it could be to get seated together in anything other than counter service. Has anyone done this and if so any tips would be appreciated. If we called for a p.s. at an "off" time and 90 days out do you think that they will be able to get two tables together. Another question (and not meaning to start a huge debate) but if we had 2 tables right next to each other would you think it's ok for the adults and one 5 year old to sit at one table and the "bigger" kids sit at their own as long as they are well behaved and well supervised by us (which they would be trust me! ;-) And we won't be dining at the "finer places" like Ca. Grill etc. unless we do a kids club or leave some with "Gramma" if she offers one night. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

 

[bekeating]

Yes, you can make reservations for a large group....anything less than 13 can just call the regular dining number. Greater than 13 needs to use group dining (they just changed the number to 13 when they did the 90 day PS change, I was told). Just be prepared, they don't guarantee you tables together, just that all of you can eat at the same time. And you can try making PSs at regular times and you might get them just fine....I just made CRT reservations for 15!

 

[jwfla422]

We were a party of 11 during a visit back in February at WCC at the WL. It was during President's Day weekend so it was pretty busy. We had to leave a credit card number for the PS and it was booked for 5:10 even though some of our party couldn't make it till 5:30. They did hold the table for us and we were all seated together.

O'Hana's would be a great place for you to go, very appropriate for large parties. Many of the restaurants at WDW can accomodate large parites but you may need to do a credit card hold on those PS. Not sure what the cancel is on them but I'd think it would be 24hrs so it would be worth making them prior and if you can't make them as it gets closer you can cancel.

 

[denisem]

My SIL & I took 8 of her grandchildren to WDW last March. We did make PS's for Chef Mickeys & Ohana's and were accomodated at one table - although it was on the early side (5:45 and 6:30 ressies). So I think you're correct in "off times" being more successful for large groups.

I also think the buffet and family-style restaurants are more conducive to "puttin' tables together" - i.e, Cape May, Whispering Canyon, Biergarten, Boma, etc.

How long are y'all going? It'd probably be kinda neat if each "adult" couple COULD do one romantic/adult dinner alone, while the other took the kids to the nearest Taco Bell (alas, that was THE most requested restaurant from our 8 kids! ).

Have a great trip!

Denise < --- countin' the minutes to AKL with DH in Sept.

 

[Plutes]

Last year, we went with a group of about 17. While we did most of our meals separately (too many differing tastes!), we had one big breakfast at 'Ohana that was wonderful! Not only were they able to seat us all at the same table, but we had to add 2 people at the last minute & it was no problem whatsoever! I don't remember what time it was exactly, but it was VERY busy - I'm thinking it was sometime around 9 - 9:30. Also, although we didn't join them, the rest of our group also had dinner at Mama Melrose's one night & apparently they were all able to sit together there as well. I think if you called Disney Dining & explained the situation, they would be able to suggest some restaurants to try as well! Good luck!

 

[Debby7]

We just dined at Cape May Cafe and Chef Mickey's breakfast with a group of 13. Both very family friendly places. It is easier to get tables together if you dine at the beginning of hours for whatever meal because then you don't have to worry about manuevering other guests around too. For instance, we ate at Cape May at 5:30 and our tables were already for us when we checked in at 5:15. Good luck !!