Large group for Whispering Canyon Lunch

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Hi all! I'm kinda freaking out here about something so I'm hoping you could help!

We're having our Disney Wedding in December at 12:00 noon, and originally planned on an informal reception lunch at 'Ohana. Come to find out, 'Ohana isn't open for lunch.

So, okay. We're not requiring our guests to have theme park passes so we'd need a restaurant outside the theme parks. I'm not opposed to eating off-property either but preferably on property.

I was contemplating switching our welcome dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe to our reception lunch. What time does Whispering Canyon Cafe start serving dinner? Did anyone made ADRs here with a large group? What times were you able to be seated? We're a total of 14 people.

Thank you for reading and for any advice!

 

[TexasMinnie82]

I have never been to WDW, but our first trip is in May/June of this year. We have a total of 21 people going. Whispering Canyon is one of the places we wanted to eat at. They told us they started seating at 5:00 for dinner and gave us a resrevation for 5:15. The manager then told me after I made the reservation that with large parties they don't let you order off the menu. They just make the meal and you don't know what you are getting until you sit down at the table. We have several children going so that wasn't going to work for us. I didn't want to pay for my children and then them not like the food. So I cancelled and we won't be eating there this time.

Hopefully we can eat there next time when we hve a smaller group.

Maybe with a smaller group they may not make you do that?!?
Or if you don't all mind eating the same thing it might work.

I don't know much but about WDW, but I hopes this helps!!

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

I have never been to WDW, but our first trip is in May/June of this year. We have a total of 21 people going. Whispering Canyon is one of the places we wanted to eat at. They told us they started seating at 5:00 for dinner and gave us a resrevation for 5:15. The manager then told me after I made the reservation that with large parties they don't let you order off the menu. They just make the meal and you don't know what you are getting until you sit down at the table. We have several children going so that wasn't going to work for us. I didn't want to pay for my children and then them not like the food. So I cancelled and we won't be eating there this time.

Hopefully we can eat there next time when we hve a smaller group.

Maybe with a smaller group they may not make you do that?!?
Or if you don't all mind eating the same thing it might work.

I don't know much but about WDW, but I hopes this helps!!

Ugh, yeah. Disney World seems to be notorious for this fixed menu BS. Maybe we'll just eat off-site then for our group. I guess I just don't see why everybody can't order what they want.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

We have a total of 21 people going. Whispering Canyon is one of the places we wanted to eat at. The manager then told me after I made the reservation that with large parties they don't let you order off the menu. They just make the meal and you don't know what you are getting until you sit down at the table.

I have never heard of this happening at any WDW restaurant. I have been with groups of more than 20, and we ate at non-buffet restaurants, and there was never any problem in ordering from the regular menu.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The only potential problems with a large group is you have to have your seating right at (or near) either restaurant opening or closing time to be able to get seating close together.

 

[Bev J]

I really don't see why you would have a problem with 14 people at Whispering Canyon, especially for lunch. If your wedding is at noon then you probably looking at 130-2 or so for lunch not such a busy time at WC. Just call and make an ADR, we had a party of 12 and ordered off the menu with no problem, nor did we have a problem getting the ADR.
I wonder if Kona would be a good spot for you for a lunch. While WC's food is good, it is loud and rowdy, not what I would want for a wedding lunch.

Congrats, hope it all works out for you.

Bev

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

My sister actually had her wedding dinner at WCC, with waaay more than 20 people, and everyone ordered whatever they wanted from the menu. We didn't have any problems at all, and all of the guests said what a great time they had.

 

[sk!mom]

I have never heard of this happening at any WDW restaurant. I have been with groups of more than 20, and we ate at non-buffet restaurants, and there was never any problem in ordering from the regular menu.

I have to agree with TexasMinnie82 maybe this is new at WC. I also recently called about a large group on an upcoming trip and was told by the WC manager that all in the party would have to order the fixed price skillet. We have several children and a couple of people who don't eat pork in our group so the skillets would not work. We marked WC off our list.

We successfully reserved a few other sitdowns for our large group. WC was the only problem and the only one that had to be called directly- could not be booked through the Group Dining number.

 

[estherhead]

What????? My sister & I are going and just our families, she has 4 kids, I have 3, equals 11 people. Are we a big group? Because my dh will want to order the smoke infused prime rib. It was his favorite meal & the reason we are going back. If he has to have the skillet, he'll have a fit. A FIT!!!! What if all the rest of us get the skillet & he gets his steak?

This seriously, would make us not choose this ADR.