Need Advice on Seating Large Party

[exnortherner]

I am a well seasoned WDW veteran who visits the parks and restaurants with DW several times a year. Each Christmas we host a vacation for the kids and grandkids. Up to now, we have been a party of 10 and although we have usually been able to sit together in the restaurants, it is sometimes difficult for them to accomodate large parties. This year we will be a party of 12 (six adults and 6 kids, ages 3 to 12) and I am looking for input on which restaurants are the best in handling large groups. Boma (our favorite) managed to put together tables to handle the 10 of us last year, but 2 extra bodies may be more than they can handle. Crystal Palace might work, but I suspect they will have to split us up. I know the Garden Grill has large booths, but can they handle 12 people.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[helenabear]

I've been to Crystal Palace with a huge party of 20 something. We were not split up (though there were small spaces between some of the square tables for us to get out from the back bench). I've also been there with 10 and had no trouble.

I've been to Chef Mickey's with 20 something and we were split up with two tables, but I think each held about 12.

Cape May we had a reservation for 10-15 people... can't recall exact number and we were all together.

I don't think I've been to any other places with such a large group... sorry.

 

[disnut8]

I've done LeCellier with twelve people and Cape May Buffet with 11 people. At LeCellier, we had three tables of four next to each other that we were offered the option of leaving them apart or pushing them together. We had them pushed together. At Cape May, we had one table of six and one table of four (the 11th was a child) and the same options. With that reservation, we left the tables apart so we could get up and down easier for the buffet.

Biergarten would be an option with eight at one table and the other four at a table next to it. Sci Fi Dine Inn wouldn't work. 50s Prime Time could handle it. You might want to check into Yacht Club Galley which doesn't get crowded but is close to MGM and Epcot and has tables that can be together for a larger group.

 

[n2mm]

We just returned after visiting and eating with a party of 11. We sat together at WCC, Prime Time, LeCellier, Trails End, the Plaza, Concourse, & Kona. Of course you realize that there is never a guarantee that they will keep you together. Hopefully you are not talking about this December!?!? If so you better get on the phone and see what's available. When I booked my group of 11 I was on the phone the first day, first hour of the 180 window and didn't have great times to choose from. Hopefully you are planning December 2008. Let us know how you do after you call.

 

[exnortherner]

Our plans are for this Christmas and you are right, we should have been watching the 180 days closer. However, after a considerable wait I finally got through to Disney dining and managed to get some reasonble ADRs. We managed a Saturday dinner at Crystal Palace and a Sunday breakfast at Hollywood and Vine. We wanted the Garden Grill for Friday night but they were booked up. We have made a tentative ADR for 9 Dragons but I have never really cared for that restaurant. I was thinking of trying the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway, but don't know much about it. The Disney web site refers to dinner as "menu choice (all you can eat)". Does that mean you choose your entree and can have as much of it as you like? It sounds like there is a salad buffet station also, but I am not sure.

Can anyone tell me what to expect dining at Norway.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

We are also a group of 11 travelling in December this year. We have 8 ADR's.
At Chef Mickeys our ADR is for the one table.
At the others we are booked on two tables but they said that they will do their best to seat us together. They are 50sPT, Boma, Hollywood & Vine, CRT, Akershus Princess Storybook Breakfast, and CP.
I really had difficulty getting ADR's even booking at exactly 180days out. Some of the time times are not ideal especially travelling with kids and I had to be really flexible with my dates to get Boma and 50'sPT. I think we tried about 5 or 6 days to get something. I have been trying every week or so to try and change some of the times (which is expensive calling from Australia) but so far no luck.

 

[bnf2]

We are a party of 12 in December...

Concourse Steakhouse (L)- all together
'Ohana (D)-all together
San Angel (L)- all together
Kona Cafe (B) all together
LTT (D)-4/4/4 split, but we expected that
Le Cellier (L)- all together
Mama Melrose's (L)- all together
Crystal Palace (B) 8/4 split
Whispering Canyon Cafe (D)

We know there's no guarantee we'll be seated together, but this is better than what I had when I booked at the 180 day mark... I just called this past Tues. and got 4 of them changed from 'splits' to 'together'.

Don't give up... keep calling I plan to do that for WCC- we'd love to be at one table there... and I'd like a little later time.

Regarding Norway, we've only eaten there for breakfast- it was served family style. My Passporter says for L & D, "...brought to your table."