Larger families and dining

[FeistyDisneyMom]

I am already starting to get anxiety over dining and my trip is still 9 months away. I have a large family (7), and some of the time we will be eating with another large family (8). In years past, I would simply call and make reservations over the phone since we are such a large group. Now, there seems to be no way to call. I already know online reservations are typically working for parties of 4 or fewer, with few examples of success even for 5-6, and I've also learned that it seems to prevent you from booking same location multiple times for the same day/close to same time.

How exactly are we supposed to manage to eat together just the 7 of us, let alone 15? I wasn't going to try to book every meal for all of us, but at this point I can't even see a way to book a character meal for my family. It is very disheartening

 

[wfjny]

Non-Disney experience:

Last Saturday, our party size was 8 (including grand parents, children, son-in-law). We wanted to go out for dinner.

Had to call four places before I could find somewhere that would accept a party of 8. The other three said their max party size was 6.

These were all national chain restaurants.

 

[Malcon10t]

Not all Disney locations are taking larger groups, but I have done large parties recently at Storytellers, Lamplighter, and Princess Adventure Breakfast. I have done large groups at most DTD locations.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Not all Disney locations are taking larger groups, but I have done large parties recently at Storytellers, Lamplighter, and Princess Adventure Breakfast. I have done large groups at most DTD locations.

How was your experience at the Princess Adventure Breakfast? Is it different than it was before? Did you think it was worth the price?

 

[GatorChris]

I have a family of 5, and I had Zero success in finding restaurants inside the parks (outside of River Belle, which no one seems to want). Lots of people on these boards found reservations, but for smaller parties. DL is built for a family of 4. Anything more and you've got trouble.

 

[Malcon10t]

We are generally a party of between 6 and 15. We had 8 and 11 at Lamplighter on different occasions in May and July respectively. I frequently do 6 at Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe, but not since the reopening. We did 9 at the Princess Breakfast at Napa Rose. We did 7 at Carthay in August.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

We are generally a party of between 6 and 15. We had 8 and 11 at Lamplighter on different occasions in May and July respectively. I frequently do 6 at Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe, but not since the reopening. We did 9 at the Princess Breakfast at Napa Rose. We did 7 at Carthay in August.

How did you do 7 at Carthay? Walk up or online reservation or did you find a phone number you could use?

 

[SherylLC]

I was waiting for my reservation outside Ralph Brennan's on Sunday and a gal returned to her friend/relative sitting near me and saying that the restaurant wasn't taking "large parties" as walk ins. A large party was FIVE or larger. She couldn't believe what she was being told and said "let me go back and ask again, I'm sure I misunderstood." But she came back and, yup, a large party is 5 or more.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Not all Disney locations are taking larger groups, but I have done large parties recently at Storytellers, Lamplighter, and Princess Adventure Breakfast. I have done large groups at most DTD locations.

For the DTD ones, have you called directly or been able to book through the Disney app/website? Looking for Tortilla Jo’s & UVA Bar specifically.
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For anybody else looking to book large parties, I’ve seen Cafe Orleans & WCT pop up for lunch and Storyteller’s, Goofy’s & WCT for dinner, but they seem to lag a day or two behind the 60 day release.

 

[Malcon10t]

For the DTD ones, have you called directly or been able to book through the Disney app/website? Looking for Tortilla Jo’s & UVA Bar specifically.

Thru the website. I did book 12 back in June at TJ, but they did split us to 2 tables. I kinda think they regretted it <g>