Large Party Reservation Help.

[MandM22]

Looking to make reservations for our family trip in December. Will be dinning as a group of 10. What are your recommendations? I have heard that you must call to make large party ADR’s. I have also heard that we should make 2 separate ADR’s for a party of 5 each and try to get times close together and then just let the hostess know when you check in…
Can you make 2 ADR’s online under one MDE account around the same time? Wasn’t sure if MDE would allow me to make 2 ADR’s . Sorry for the long question… Just trying to make all of the arrangements for the entire family. Lots of pressure … lol
Appreciate and help, tips, or advice!Thanks in advance.
Michael

 

[JCornell]

I've made online reservations for 14 on a few trips with no troubles at many different restaurants (e.g. Raglan Road, Mama Melrose, Sci-Fi, Chefs de France, Ale and Compass, Tutto Italia, 'Ohana). The only thing that happens is they tell you there's no guarantee they can seat you together and may have to split up your party. As long as you're willing to wait a few extra minutes, we never had a problem seating together. FWIW, they were July/August trips so relatively busy but not super-busy holiday times so one important question will be "when exactly, in December?" If it's early in the month no problem, later might be harder.

Others may have more experience with this but I don't know about making two ADRs. I know that you will have to make somebody else the head of one of the ADRs since you can't be on two with competing times.

 

[db8mommy]

I just did ADR's for our party of 10 for Thanksgiving week. My sis-in-law was on one computer in her MDE account and I was on a different computer in my MDE. We did parties of 4/6 on 2 separate reservations at the same time or within 5 minutes of each other. The 2 reservations can't have the same person as the lead. If you are doing both reservations, put the 1st table in SOMEONE ELSE'S name and the 2nd one in Yours, otherwise, you get blocked from making a second reservation. We chose to do that instead of wait to call in to the phone line for fear we would lose high-demand reservations. We did the 6/4 split because tables are usually set up for even #'s. Hope this helps!

 

[MandM22]

I've made online reservations for 14 on a few trips with no troubles at many different restaurants (e.g. Raglan Road, Mama Melrose, Sci-Fi, Chefs de France, Ale and Compass, Tutto Italia, 'Ohana). The only thing that happens is they tell you there's no guarantee they can seat you together and may have to split up your party. As long as you're willing to wait a few extra minutes, we never had a problem seating together. FWIW, they were July/August trips so relatively busy but not super-busy holiday times so one important question will be "when exactly, in December?" If it's early in the month no problem, later might be harder.

Others may have more experience with this but I don't know about making two ADRs. I know that you will have to make somebody else the head of one of the ADRs since you can't be on two with competing times.

We are early December so hopefully we will be ok. Thanks for the information.

 

[MandM22]

I just did ADR's for our party of 10 for Thanksgiving week. My sis-in-law was on one computer in her MDE account and I was on a different computer in my MDE. We did parties of 4/6 on 2 separate reservations at the same time or within 5 minutes of each other. The 2 reservations can't have the same person as the lead. If you are doing both reservations, put the 1st table in SOMEONE ELSE'S name and the 2nd one in Yours, otherwise, you get blocked from making a second reservation. We chose to do that instead of wait to call in to the phone line for fear we would lose high-demand reservations. We did the 6/4 split because tables are usually set up for even #'s. Hope this helps!

Sounds like a good game plan. I do have another family member with MDE experience… we can tag team the 4/6 ADR idea. Appreciate your advice.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Did this a few years back during the holiday season. We were a large party (12 people in total) staying between Poly and GF. Rented a Poly cabana and ordered a Twilight Feast from room service for a few less than in the party. The kids loved the food, jumping back and forth in the pool and the adults enjoyed drinks from the poolside bar. Saved myself the annoyance of booking a large party ADR and all were happy, if not by the food at least by the company.

Another somewhat smaller ADR (9 guests) was made at Boathouse in Disney Springs and since I’d already discovered the ease of reservations through opentable.com it was pretty simple.

Last time the man and his brother’s family got together and I’m glad they had the time together.

 

[MARCIAKAZ]

I had no problem a couple of years ago getting ADRs for 11 at most the places I wanted - late October timeframe.

 

[Dakota731]

I had no problem a couple of years ago getting ADRs for 11 at most the places I wanted - late October timeframe.

Not how it is now - 8 is most you can book online I’ve found and we have nine

 

[powerpole]

On our last trip we had a party of nine. Wife booked table for four and I would book a table for five. We never asked to be seated together but everywhere we ate they offered to put us together for an extra 20-30 minute wait (but was usually like 10 minutes). Did this at Tiffins, Jungle Skipper Canteen, Biergarten, and a couple of others.

 

[PepperjackDragon]

I bet if you just book 8 they wouldn’t mind if you said you had ten on arrival, if it came to that.