Try breaking the parties down into two reservations of four people and then speak to the podium about sitting nearby or joining the tables together.
It would also be helpful if at least two of your party had the capability to book reservations .
Things have changed a bit with the reservation finders- Touring Plan no longer offers the service but Mouse Dining and Open Table does. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of the resort eateries are avail on open table but you can check to be sure.
Since you are looking for a large party booking at CG for first night, do have a plan B. Maybe try for CG later in the trip too.
Have fun!
This is definitely the way to go. Our last 3 trips in March 2020, March 2022, and November 2022 have been multi family trips of 8, 9, and 7 people. DW and I are always responsible for making the ADRs whenever we go, partially because we care the most but partially because we are the ones willing to make the spreadsheets and wake up early enough to get things done. We also each have our own account so we can each make a reservation as the lead as long as we don't add the other to the reservation the other makes.
In March 2020 with 8 people we had 6 meals together requiring ADRs. 4 of them we were fortunate enough to snag in one reservation, the other 2 we divided into groups and secured reservations within 10 minutes of each other. We were then able to ask to have the reservations joined when checking in and they accommodated in both of those instances.
In March 2022 with 9 people we had 5 meals together requiring ADRs. This time none of them were as a single group and 15 minutes was the longest time separating the reservations. In all but one instance we were able to have the reservations joined and sit together. In the one instance that we were not our groups were at tables next to each other but the layout of the tables made it prohibitive to talk between groups. Of note to OP specifically, on this trip our dinner on the first night was at California Grill and it was one that required us to divide into 2 reservations of 4 and 5. The times for these reservations were both exactly the same, no gap between them.
In November 2022 with 7 people we had 6 meals together requiring ADRs. Once again, 4 of them were single reservations and the other 2 were up to 20 minutes apart, but we were able to join them at check in and all sit together.
All things considered, in our experience, you can have pretty good luck getting reservations for large groups as long as you have a plan, especially if there are two of you working on it together.
DW and I wake up about 15 minutes before ADRs start (we're in central time so this is even less fun for us), make coffee, and sit down across from each other at our computers. We open our spreadsheets and talk through the process as we go. We establish our priorities for what ADRs we want to get in what order and once we secure the hardest to get, then we each work on filling in the rest. I'll be honest, as much as we have a good system in place, we are looking forward to our next trip being just the 3 people in our individual family unit so we have an easier time with the process.
Good luck and enjoy!
