Large Group Birthday Dinner Getting Impossible to Plan

[Christine]

I'm probably just out of luck.

We booked our Disney vacation within the 180 day dining reservation window. This is a somewhat last minute trip. My aunt, who has been going through chemo, is on the trip and on our arrival day is her birthday (in her 70s). Her daughter, who is also going on the trip, is fairly adamant that she wants to celebrate on the day of arrival. It's not that we can't move it, but that's the preference, plus we aren't having any better luck on any of the other days.

We will be a group of 16.

We won't be going to a park on arrival day as we won't all be there until probably check in time. I have seen availability within the park at places like Biergarten, etc. We also have two really young kids with us that won't be able to do late dinners. And due to check-in times, an early dinner is probably out, so yeah, I need to go at peak time.

We are staying onsite at the GF.

I've called Disney Dining and called individual restaurants and I'm not having any luck. I've called the restaurants directly for Narcoosee, GF Cafe, Raglan Road, The Boathouse, and there's nothing. When I spoke to the CM at GF Cafe, she did tell me that it appeared that Citricos had availability and she forwarded my call over there. Of course, you leave a message and I may be waiting up to 72 hours to hear back from them. Now, I have always enjoyed Citricos but it is a bit out of budget for my other family members and probably not really the sort of food they enjoy.

The Spirit of Aloha dinner show does seem to come up often online until I go into the booking further and then it says it's not available. That may be an option and then, of course, I read reviews and people make it sound like it's the worst food they've ever had.

So, I guess what I'm looking for is some ideas of places I'm just not thinking of that I can possibly call directly. The general Disney Dining number doesn't seem to be able to look at reservations at a macro level and tell me what might be available. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Try this number..... (407) 939-1942

Its for group reservations. Not sure if they can assist with dining only, but they do help with group packages (hotel/dining/FPs etc..) for parties of 10 or more.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Have you tried Maria & Enzo's at Disney Springs? It's fairly new, so maybe not as popular yet?

Would you consider someplace offsite? I'm not sure how much a Mears shuttle for a group that large would be, but the number from their website is: 1-866-435-5686.

 

[Christine]

Have you tried Maria & Enzo's at Disney Springs? It's fairly new, so maybe not as popular yet?

Would you consider someplace offsite? I'm not sure how much a Mears shuttle for a group that large would be, but the number from their website is: 1-866-435-5686.

I saw Maria and Enzo's and it seems to have availability, but I am somewhat with a steak/potatoes group, but I'm going to see if I can find some reviews.

We will all have cars (and two ECVs) so transport is not a problem.

We won't rule out offsite but were looking for something closer to the GF as some of our party will have just completed a 14 hour drive.

Yes, I know we've got a lot of requirements.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I saw Maria and Enzo's and it seems to have availability, but I am somewhat with a steak/potatoes group, but I'm going to see if I can find some reviews.

We went in December and liked it, but we were looking specifically for Italian, so I'm not sure what else they may have.

Yes, I know we've got a lot of requirements.

That's OK - that's why you're here using the "hive brain" of the DIS!

We will all have cars (and two ECVs) so transport is not a problem.

We won't rule out offsite but were looking for something closer to the GF as some of our party will have just completed a 14 hour drive.

That definitely matters, as I was assuming you were flying in.

Check the restaurants at the "not officially Disney" hotels - like the Swan and Dolphin. They aren't on the dining plan, so might not be booked, but I think can be reserved through the WDW-DINE number.

I also found some off-site ideas here, which lists distances from WDW. (Scroll down - it does not start with the closest.) -
https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2019...-fl-restaurants-off-disneyuniversal-property/

Another thought - are you all caravanning from the same direction? That would open up stopping for a fancy birthday lunch en route, in a completely different city, if you can't get a dinner where you want.

 

[Christine]

Check the restaurants at the "not officially Disney" hotels - like the Swan and Dolphin. They aren't on the dining plan, so might not be booked, but I think can be reserved through the WDW-DINE number.

I also found some off-site ideas here, which lists distances from WDW. (Scroll down - it does not start with the closest.) -
https://yourmileagemayvary.net/2019...-fl-restaurants-off-disneyuniversal-property/

Another thought - are you all caravanning from the same direction? That would open up stopping for a fancy birthday lunch en route, in a completely different city, if you can't get a dinner where you want.

Thanks, I'll check some offsite options. I think I've check out Swan and Dophin sites last week--booked already.

No we aren't all coming in using the same mode of transporation. About half our party is flying, half driving (I still haven't figured out what I'm doing--just waiting for a good airfare or I'll probably drive). We're all shooting for morning arrival, but I don't want to guarantee that. If I'm driving, I probably won't get into Orlando until about 2:00. Same with some other drivers. The flyers are going to go for early morning flights but if that's not workable they could be coming in during the early afternoon.

I appreciate all your suggestions here!

 

[cruisin5]

Maybe Hoop De Doo?

Try booking Raglan through OpenTable

The Wave in the Contemporary or Turf Club at Saratoga - both very underrated IMO.

 

[Christine]

Maybe Hoop De Doo?

Try booking Raglan through OpenTable.

Hoop Dee Doo only has the late show left (won't work for the 3 and 4 y/o).

I not only tried Raglan Road through Open Table, but I called them this morning and got over to their large party booking person and they don't have anything. We do love Raglan Road!

 

[cruisin5]

What date are you looking for?

 

[Christine]

What date are you looking for?

I'm looking for 11/2.

 

[cruisin5]

As I'm sure you know, the website isn't showing anything for a party that large. Paradiso will let me book for 12; Add Enzo's and Frontera to the list that will allow for 10. All three were are reasonable times.

If switching to a weekday night or a breakfast was an option it would open up many alternatives and cost less, too. Your aunt and niece can celebrate on that day; the rest of the family later in the week. Blame the change on the lack of availability (which is true), the young kids (true too) or the people who just spent 14 hours in the car (yup, true too).

Maybe you could arrange something through private dining? Order pizza to eat poolside along with a Disney cake?

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

 

[Christine]

As I'm sure you know, the website isn't showing anything for a party that large. Paradiso will let me book for 12; Add Enzo's and Frontera to the list that will allow for 10. All three were are reasonable times.

If switching to a weekday night or a breakfast was an option it would open up many alternatives and cost less, too. Your aunt and niece can celebrate on that day; the rest of the family later in the week. Blame the change on the lack of availability (which is true), the young kids (true too) or the people who just spent 14 hours in the car (yup, true too).

Maybe you could arrange something through private dining? Order pizza to eat poolside along with a Disney cake?

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

Thanks!

I guess what I'm going to have to do is hold out to closer to the date and hope for some cancellations. Maybe at that point, my cousin (aunt's daughter) will realize that we may have to be more flexible. Don't know if she'll go for the pizza. She really wants this trip to be something to wow her mother due to her health issues. I don't overly want to type out more on that, but you probably get what I'm alluding to. She just really wants her to have a special birthday on her day. For most of the medical reasons, we didn't get the green light to book until we were under out 180 day window.

Now, it doesn't help anything that some of the diners are on the picky side. They basically want straightforward food. One person HATES cheese with a passion which rules out a lot of the Italian stuff. I have another with Crohn's so something simple helps. Boma is coming up a lot for me but I think at least a third of the party would be miserable there.

 

[cruisin5]

You're in a no-win situation!

Boma isn't as exotic as it appears, and there's alway the kids' buffet.

There are many options for food delivery with UberEats and nearby catering.

 

[MooseBucks]

Only suggestion i Haven’t seen above is splitting the party 10/6 or 8/8 etc and hoping you’re seated close or if you arrive to your reservation early possibly being accommodated and sit together (never a guarantee but we’ve been fortunate and it’s always worked in the past)

 

[SamFaniam]

A previous poster mention this, but I’m also going to recommend the Turf Club, at the Saratoga Springs resort. I understand it may not be the most convenient transportation wise, but if there’s enough cars in your party it’s easy to get to. Nice atmosphere, good steaks, and fairly reasonably priced for Disney. Because it’s a little out-of-the-way, they may be able to accommodate your party more easily.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I hope that your cousin? Will rethink arrival day celebration

First, traveling is tough. Your flights may be delayed and there is a no show penalty

Second, travel is exhausting. Your aunt is already in fair to poor health. Just getting to the world may push her limits. I would never book a big party on arrival day even without your aunt’s health issues

Have you looked into hddr? That venue can easily accommodate your group

Your other option is to book a private party. GF does an amazing job and has some great venues

 

[elsbit]

What about a specialty boat rental cruise... you can book private dining for it. It would feel very special and it would be private to just your family. They do birthday celebration cruises AND you can charter it to leave from the GF! You could also schedule it for the fireworks. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/recreation/specialty-cruises/

 

[Pumbaa_]

Great idea! Instead of a full meal, do your own dessert party cruise. It would be unforgettable for your family

 

[Christine]

Thanks for all the great ideas on the cruises and private dining. Looks like I'll need to spend some time on the phone tomorrow.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Don't the boats only hold ten adults?I

The Wave has seating for ten, at 5:30 or 8:15. I would try, as suggested above, splitting the reservation into two parties.