How to approach ADRs for a large group?

[Neverbeast]

I have a September trip for a party of 11. We’re hoping to do one TS most days to break from the heat and as a come back together time since we will likely split into smaller groups for attractions based on age/interests etc.

This is a rescheduled covid trip, so the last time I booked ADRs I used the website and was able to get almost everything at 180 days… now we have 60 day window, I assumed it would work the same but a thread here mentioned the app has worked much better than the website lately.

so I looked just to see, and when I use the app for 11, all I get to come up is 1-2 resort restaurants. If I set it to 6, I can see many more choices including in-park options. I’m not booking ADRs until July, so I wasn’t sure if what Im seeing is an artifact of spring crowds, or if this is what I should expect to be up against looking at fall dates too.

has anyone booked large parties lately?Do I need to use the website? Break into two smaller reservations and hope we get nearby tables? Or is this just a spring break crowd issue I don’t need to worry about?

 

[FCDub]

Not a spring break issue. You will need separate, smaller parties most likely.

 

[Doingitagain]

I posted this thread recently.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/tips-for-large-group-dining-reservations-adr.3875522/

 

[DebLovesPooh]

I was able to book tables for 8 recently, but not for everything I wanted. I think 8 is the max. Since your party is 11, I recommend you split them into 6 and 5.

 

[chaoskids]

We have 10 in June and this is a worry for us too. If you split your group you lose the 60+10 advantage since you can't hold two dining reservations for the same time.

 

[GoingSince1990]

We have 10 in June and this is a worry for us too. If you split your group you lose the 60+10 advantage since you can't hold two dining reservations for the same time.

You just need two separate MDE accounts for two different members of the party, with the hotel reservation linked to each. You can then make overlapping reservations.

 

[SkyGuy]

We have 10 in June and this is a worry for us too. If you split your group you lose the 60+10 advantage since you can't hold two dining reservations for the same time.

You can hold two dining reservations that are very close - like 5 people at 12:00 and 5 people at 12:15. Then you check in at the podium together and ask to be seated together. You just need to make sure to book the first reservation with someone on your friends and family list other than you as the lead. Then you can go back in and make the second reservation with you as the lead.

 

[Doingitagain]

We have 10 in June and this is a worry for us too. If you split your group you lose the 60+10 advantage since you can't hold two dining reservations for the same time.

Have different members of your travel party book the others. I regularly book under my husband and daughter as well as myself. TIP: don’t fill in the guest names, leave them as generic guest and that leaves the other accounts open to book within that two hour window.