"Large" Parties and PS

[mcnuss]

I've been to WDW more times than I can count, but this year for the first time will be going with a "large" group - my BIL and his family will be joining us, so instead of our petite family of 3, we'll be 8. I went to make my PS for the Hoop de Doo (which, by the way, we've never done!!) and found out that WDW-DINE cannot make a reservation for 8, you have to get Special Services. I would not have thought 8 to be such a large group as to require that... In any case, I also found out that for a group of 8, you have to pay in advance, either by credit card or by mail within a certain number of days. You still have the 48 hour cancellation policy. Since we're not going for about 4 months, I hated to have to spend $250 now, so they are mailing me a contract and I can return it in a few weeks, buying me at least a little time.

Just a heads up in case I'm not the only one who did not know this.

Allison

 

[tricia]

I think this is just for the dinner shows. I booked for 10 at Chef Mickey's and 50's PT just last month and had no problem. The dinner shows are guaranteed seating I think, and with a normal PS it just guarantees your spot in line.

 

[Kathy C]

I booked for a party of ten about 2 months ago and wasn't required to pay anything. I wouldn't have been to happy about paying $450 for something that I won't go to until June 2004. They sent me a confirmation letter in the mail - I never even gave them credit card info. You have me wondering now. I'm going to go home and check my confirmation notice that I received.

 

[mcnuss]

tricia - good point, it may very well pnly be for the shows. I had not thought of that!

 

[figmentvi]

It is indeed just for the dinner shows. During DIS-Con last year, I booked a PS at Chef Mickey's for a group of 30. You should know that large groups will be sat at the earliest possible seating time and they will try their very best to put the group in the same area together. They of course, can't seat everyone at one table.

Hope this helps.

Linda

 

[Val]

WE will have a family of 10 in mid July. Had to prepay for HDDR and, believe it or not, for Spoodles Breakfast (and they only take large groups from 7 to 8 AM, according to the group reservation CM) we had to pay $10 per person with a 48 hour reservation cancellation policy. NO other restaurant PS required a deposit other than the typical Princess in Norway breakfast- and regular Disney Dining handled that one!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Group Dining had to take my reservations for the Hoop Dee Doo as well. I made my reservations in October for our upcoming August trip. The CM took my CC info but said my card wouldn't be charged until 30 days prior to the show. Well, I called to double check something a couple of weeks ago and the CM I talked to couldn't believe that my card had not been charged! She said it should have been charged immediately, which she proceeded to do. She also asked me if I had received my confirmation packet in the mail. I had not, and I still have not received it.
Group dining also had to take care of my reservations for the Ice Cream Social and Ohana's, both for a party of ten. Both I was told they add 15% gratuity automatically to the bill. For Bomas I keep getting conflicting information. One CM will say they have tables that seat ten, but none available. Others will say they don't have tables that seat ten period. I just keep calling back every day.