Help! Need restaurants in parks with tables for party of 9

[travelitis]

I was planning on trying to get into LTT, but the biggest table they have is for 8, and we're a party of 9. Never mind that the 9th person can sit in a high chair. I'd like to find something in the parks. The CM suggested Mama Melrose's and Hollywood and Vine. I'm also curious if Cindy's would accomodate us. Splitting up at different tables is NOT an option as we are all traveling from MN, NY, and TX to spend Thanksgiving together.

A different CM fudged and made us a PS for 1 less than our group size since the youngest would be in a high chair. That was the CM's idea not mine, so don't blast me for that one. I've since cancelled that PS, as I called back and found an opening for all 5 of us. As much as I want to escape MK on Thanksgiving given it's the EE park that day, I also am very tempted to make a PS for 8 (6 adts/2 kids) and just show up with the high chair occupant.

 

[tiffsix]

We we're there in July with a family of 12 and found several restaurants to accomodate us at one table. Alfredo's was one of the places that helped us and I think there may be 12 seats around the tables at Japan's Hibachi grill. Also, the Crystal Palace was very accomodating. Good luck with your plans.

 

[sha_lyn]

The high chair still must be place at the table. If it a table for 8 then that includes high chairs.

 

[travelitis]

Yes, the high chair must be at the table, but if the table has a corner, it can go there without taking up walking space for the servers. The high chair need not take up space at the table exactly like every other seat. That was the thought of the CM who offered it for the other PS. The tables at LTT are indeed tables with corners rather than round. Anyway, I wasn't asking for opinions about that but for restaurants that will seat 9 together. The CM today just kept saying that many would but could name only 2 because she couldn't look at Thanksgiving yet. Give me a break! You mean to tell me the seating configuration is different then?

 

[sha_lyn]

Give me a break! You mean to tell me the seating configuration is different then?

I was just trying to warn you that placing a high chair at a table for 8 won't be an option according to most of the restaurants because of the way the tables are placed. Often the tbles are so close together that the area between the edges of the tables are where the guest must go to get to their seat (many of the tables have a bench seat on one side and chairs on the other). The short edge of the tables are too close together for a highchair to be placed at the end of either table and allow for those seated on the bench to get to their seat. If you want to chance having to hold that child or be turned away, go right ahead and make those PS's for 8, but dont' be suprised when you can't place a high chair at the table.

 

[ilovefh]

Most restaurants will accomodate you, however you will be booked at two tables, but most...like Cindys....will ask you if you are first available or willing to wait......if you say willing to wait then they can get you together, but that could be up to 45 mins and the 45 mins does not start until your whole party is there. Also, at Cindys, well at least last yr, they dont take advance PS's they do them the morning of in person at the restaurant. They fill up by 9:30, 10 at the latest. for thanksgiving i mean.

 

[travelitis]

Sha_lyn, while I appreciate your concern, the worst case scenario is we get split into 2 tables or wait longer, and waiting will be fine with us. It's a gamble, but as long as we're not turned away entirely it's acceptable. If it really comes to this you can bet we're going to stop by the podium hours in advance and talk to them about this. We won't just spring it on them.

As far as space around the table, I'm in an ECV, but I can park it and walk to the table. The CM's still make sure to get me a table with plenty of room around it so I have room to navigate the ECV to the table. Again, I don't care to debate this but to find restaurants whose seating accomodates a party of 9. I don't like the idea of making the PS for 8 and showing up with 9. I'm not going to lie and say in a pinch I won't do that, though.

 

[travelitis]

Three times I've confirmed with Disney that the restaurants in the MK will open for PSs 60 days in advance which is Sept. 29. I haven't come accross any info on the web to contradict that. Is that what happened to you last year?

 

[travelitis]

I just talked to Rhonda, who was a much more helpful CM than the one yesterday. Thanksgiving PS require a $10 pp credit card guarantee, but they don't charge the card unless you fail to show.

Restaurants that have large tables are in MGM:
Brown Derby - 10
Hollywood and Vine - 16
Mama Melrose - 20
Thanksgiving menus weren't released yet.

Places we have to book 2 tables but stop by the podium early in the day are:
Cindy's, Tony's, Plaza (up to 6), LTT (8)
Of those Tony's has released a Thanksgiving menu, but CRT and Plaza haven't.

In Epcot the only traditional meal is at Garden Grill which has wide open availability as of today. Their largest table holds 8.

 

[ellyn2000]

We were seated together (party of 9) at LeCellier and Crystal Palace (tables put together) We were also seated together at Chef Mickeys if you decide to do a character meal.

 

[sha_lyn]

I don't know about the traditional meal, but I know that Boma and Biergarten would have tables large enough. Actually at Boma it is like the set up at H&V and MM. There are several tables for 4 that share a bench seat on one side. You could pull them together at the non buffetts, but at the buffetts you would need to leave room to get in and out.

 

[travelitis]

Thanks, it's good to hear more positive information than the first CM gave me. She made it sound like this was going to be a very difficult request which didn't make sense. Now that I've read these posts, I feel much more confident that they'll try to accomodate us, especially if we stop by early and talk to them.

I decided to hold something at Garden Grill knowing we'd definitely not get to put tables together just so we'd have a place to eat Thanksgiving. I'm sending a run-down of the restaurants to my family and awaiting their input.

 

[drusba]

We have done 9 at the following: LTT (there is actually an area there where they can put two tables together that easily hold 9 or 10); Cinderella Castle for Dinner (again they can put tables together and hold 9 easy); Biergarten at Germany (table holds 8 but can easily put high chair at end or near there); Teppanyaki at Japan (again table holds 8 but high chair can be squeezed in); Hollywood and Vine at MGM (putting tables together); Hoop Dee Doo (tables together) One thing we learned though is that if you try to make a ressie for more than 8 you need to through special reservations (that make them for large groups), which the CM's should know about and transfer you to, and you need to put credit card deposit. The CM you reached may have known only that he could not give out ressies for more than 8.

 

[travelitis]

I've called making and changing PS's for our group, and I've never been referred on to another department. I'll ask about that next time I call. Thanks!

 

[sha_lyn]

I'm pretty certain group reservations are for 15 or more.

 

[ahutton]

We've done parties of 9 at Japan (when we booked they said two tables but the hostess allowed us to use one - we had a high chair in the party also) and many of the resort restaurants. We have PS for December for the Princess Breakfast in EPCOT and were told again it was a reservation for 2 tables but they would put them together for us at the restaurant.

Having done several trips with large groups, we have found we don't often sit down for meals where all of us are in one place that require PS. We more often did food courts and fast food to accomodate a multitude of tases. And we also travel from all over the US to be together, but we find that smaller groups within the group usually do the dining. We now make PS for 8, and then can adjust down if necessary (we have anywhere from 5-12 of us on any given trip). Have a great time!