Party of 11

[MaryKatesMom]

I haven't traveled as a larger group in 3 years. For some of the restaurants at that time you had to call them directly to get ADR's. We've never traveled during Free Dining but since they've extended it to December now I'm worried. Only my parents are staying at a WDW resort (we're at the Dolphin) so we don't qualify for a Grand Gathering.

Am I going to have trouble getting anything?

Will I automatically get transfered to a different line?

Has anyone done this already? I've already prepared myself for calling every morning at 7AM but am I wasting my time since online reservations started for Resort guests?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Anyone make reservations for a large party lately?

 

[katierae81]

We were originally going with a group of 11 at the end of this month, plans got changed and now we are a group of 8 going in December. I called at our 90 day mark when we were going in Sept. and got pretty much everything we wanted. We had to switch a couple days around, but got into the restaurants we wanted. With a group of this size you may have to be seated at different, but adjacent tables. Larger places, such as 'Ohana have large enough tables...Biergarten has tables for 8, so we were going to be at adjacent tables...Sci-Fi, we had two cars booked. If your parents are staying on property you can use their resort reservation number and book using the 90+10. I made our entire groups reservations for the week using our resort reservation number, they only will ask for one. Hope this helped, and good luck!!

 

[JennyT1]

I am new to the board (but not new to Disney of course!) and this is the first time we are booking for 11 as well. My 90+10 is this coming Weds and I am terrified that I am going to be left on hold forever and not get any of my ressies that I want. I also feel very responsible because the other 2 families we are going with are newbies and have left it all to me. (a good and bad thing) So has anyone done well with 10+ this time around???? Any suggestions?

 

[dsnymomof4]

We went as a party of 11 for the first week of free dining. When I first called at the 90-day mark, I was on hold for 30+ minutes, but we ended up getting everything we wanted with no problems.

 

[fwdtraveler]

I booked ADRs for the week of Thanksgiving for our group of 11. I called first thing in the morning on my 90 day mark and got all of the restaurants we wanted with no problem. I was scared that I wouldn't get all of my choices but everything worked out great!

 

[Ms.Mouse]

I haven't gone with a large party like that in a few years but they do like you to do the Gatherings...
I didn't like that so what I do is book restaurants for the number in the party and they will say they can't guarantee tables together. We always sat at tables either pulled together if they could or two or three tables near each other. We were never separated between other tables of families.

 

[jack'smom]

For all of you that booked with a larger group, did you call the regular Dining number or the number for Grand Gatherings? I was planning on just calling the WDW-DINE number.

 

[sug78]

I just did this the other day for a party of 17. I live in Alaska so @ 2am on my 90 day mark I was able to get online and start our reservations. I broke my party up in two groups of 8 & 9. There are a few that we are seated at different times like 8am and 8:05am. Then at 3am I called the grand gatherings # and finished up my reservations. I figured that we would end up eating in different restaurants most of the time because they wouldnt be able to fit us all in but I got everything I wanted at the times I wanted.
A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders!

 

[JennyT1]

I am too nervous to try booking on line and then breaking it into 2 parties! I was going to call the Grand Gath # 407-939-7526 but on the online ressie page it says for parties of 10 or more to call 407-939-5665
Which # did every one else use?
I am VERY impressed on your party of 17!!!

 

[disneygrandma]

I also just finished booking Dining for our party of 11. I had received a Grand Gathering # in late January, but our group decided not to do any of the GG events. To book Dining, I called the GG ph#, and the ph# listed online for larger parties, and a Group Dining ph# that a Dining CM gave me. The ph system asks what you're calling for, and then sent me to the regular Dining ph line each time. As I understand, the GG ph# is only for the actual GG events now. So from my experience, it didn't matter which # I called, I always ended up in the same place.

I had to call 2 restaurants direct to make our ADR's. DD can't do larger parties for some of the restaurants.

 

[AFETA]

We have a party of 21 and I just called the regular dining number and they were able to help. We actually got everything we wanted, so now we are looking forward to some good food

 

[tiggeraholic]

We are a party of 16 going the week before Christmas. I am so glad to hear having a larger group hasn't caused any problems!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I also just finished booking Dining for our party of 11. I had received a Grand Gathering # in late January, but our group decided not to do any of the GG events. To book Dining, I called the GG ph#, and the ph# listed online for larger parties, and a Group Dining ph# that a Dining CM gave me. The ph system asks what you're calling for, and then sent me to the regular Dining ph line each time. As I understand, the GG ph# is only for the actual GG events now. So from my experience, it didn't matter which # I called, I always ended up in the same place.

That was my experience this morning.

It didn't go very well at all. After a 45 minute hold, I was disconnected, cried, called back immediately, a 35 minute hold.

Only one very early time for Le Cellier so I took it, No Fantasmic packages were available at 93 and 95 days out. I had to take whatever was available for that size so we ended up with Cape May and Chef Mickey, Le Chef's wasn't available. Boma was available on a night not reccomended for AK.

I got off the phone very confused about what I actually booked and am now in the process of putting everything in my excel spreadsheet.

My Dh and BIL were making fun of me booking so early but now are rather disgusted. If you can't get what you want 90 + 10 out and are eating at odd times, it doesn't make for a magical trip.

 

[tink2]

MaryKate's mom~ I'm sorry to hear about your experience.. but it sounds exactly like mine a week or so ago when we made our reservations for Thanksgiving week. Called on my 90+10 morning for a party of 11 and ended up with the main restaurants we wanted (except Fantasmci dinner package), but very odd times~ none of the times we wanted. And like you, when I hung up, I was confused about what I had actually gotten. I ended up on the phone with disney dining most of the day~ trying for better times and rearranging/cancelling a few things. Most cms were very helpful~ which was a pleasant thing that I have not found in years past~ but like one sweet cm told me~ the 90+10 thing is great if you are one of the first to arrive for your week, but it is making it difficult for many people. We've traveled with a party of 11 a few times (before 90+10)and during Thanksgiving week and NEVER had any trouble getting exactly where and when we wanted to eat. This is the first time ever we haven't had an early seating (8-8:30) for the castle~ done this at least 4 times before with this large of a party. Could only get a 2:20 time. Yes, it is an advantage for the people staying on property~ but for some reason, it seems harder for us to get what we want. I can't imagine the poor people who aren't staying on property.. there must not be anything for them left! I am thankful we at least got the main restaurants we wanted~ castle, crystal palace, rose and crown... but the times are all weird. DH says it will be interesting eating for us all!