Pretty annoyed right now, Disney dining reservations. How do you guys do it?

[amg35]

We are going on a family trip in June, 13 of us total. Just got off the phone with my dad and he was trying to make dinner reservations (the only meal we are all meeting for each day) and Disney is saying that they can't sit all of us together at any restaurants!! We are fine with after 7:00 and the best they could do was for one restaurant to have us next to each other at separate tables. The rest they said we would have the same dining time, but wouldn't be guaranteed next to each other.

Are they really not capable of having parties our size or is Disney giving us the run-around?

We were trying to get into Citricos, California Grill, La Hacienda, Via Napoli, and a couple others.

Any advice?

My dad is a little perturbed, to say the least!

 

[GoodFairies]

They have to tell you that but in my experience it is likely they will accommodate all of you at one table, or at tables right next to each other.

 

[deegack]

They really are not set up for large parties. We went with 16 once and were separated for just about every meal. Usually right next to each other, but still separate.

Are you registered as a Magical Gathering? Sometimes they can help. I didn't count, are you 180 days out? Especially for a large group you have to call right on 180 (or 180+10 if you are on site).

 

[RunningGirl]

We are going on a family trip in June, 13 of us total. Just got off the phone with my dad and he was trying to make dinner reservations (the only meal we are all meeting for each day) and Disney is saying that they can't sit all of us together at any restaurants!! We are fine with after 7:00 and the best they could do was for one restaurant to have us next to each other at separate tables. The rest they said we would have the same dining time, but wouldn't be guaranteed next to each other.

Are they really not capable of having parties our size or is Disney giving us the run-around?

We were trying to get into Citricos, California Grill, La Hacienda, Via Napoli, and a couple others.

Any advice?

My dad is a little perturbed, to say the least!

According to allears.net you need to call the DINE number and ask to be connected group dining:

We have a large group. How do we make a Advance Reservation to keep our group together?

If you have a large group (usually more than 9, but some restaurants have their own group rules), you will need to book through Group Dining:

1) Call 407-WDW-DINE and ask for Group Sales/Dining.
2) Let the coordinator know your requests.
3) The coordinator can make the ressies and, based upon the time-date-restaurant, usually you can be accommodated at one table.
4) You will give a credit card number to guarantee your reservation.
5) There is a cancellation policy within 24 hours of the reservation time.
6) A gratuity is automatically applied.​

It's been a few years but we've been with a family group larger than that and all sat together at table service restaurants every evening.

 

[kellyg403]

Even our family is considered a "large" party! However, not once have we even been seated at adjoining tables. They always tell me at the time of the reservation that possibly it will be 2 tables.

I would imagine this could possible at some of the smaller restaurants, since space is limited. Even at Garden Grill were give a large bench seat and that is really minimal seating IMHO.


Hope that helps some. I actually believe Disney does a wonderful job of accomodating larger groups!


Kelly

 

[Dee77]

The window for dining reservations for early June opened up a month ago so with that in mind, trying now to find specific restaurants for a large group like that will be challenging. Also, most tables at the restaurants are for @ 6 or 8 people, so the likelihood is that you would be at two different tables anyway and they will try to work with having them be close to each other.

 

[NikitaZee]

Our last trip, there were 9 of us. Every dining reservation I made, they reminded me that they could not guarantee that we would be seated all together. At every restaurant we ate in, including California Grill and Citrico's, we were seated together. I think they really do try and accommodate larger parties, they just don't want make any promises.

 

[N&B'smom]

We've gone in the past and were seated together. We had a group of 9 one time and 12 the other. (California Grill)

 

[amg35]

Okay, thanks.

But why do they have to tell us that? It's just silly and frustrating. We are calling 180 days out. I guess I just figured they would be used to large family gatherings!

I'll post this on the restaurant board in case it's not supposed to be here.

 

[msmayor]

Definitely go through group dining with a large party when you all want to sit together. We did this when planning the group meals for my party of 16 when we went to celebrate my parents' anniversary.

Group Dining can tell you which restaurants WILL accommodate you at one table - not all restaurants will no matter how much you ask them to simply because of table shapes and required traffic patterns through the dining area.

Some restaurants MAY be able to accommodate you, but be aware you will need to dine either very early or very late. They will not attempt to commandeer groups of tables to put together as smaller parties leave during the height of meal service - its inefficient for them. Expect to be told you must be there when the restaurant opens or during the final seating times of the night.

 

[amg35]

Definitely go through group dining with a large party when you all want to sit together. We did this when planning the group meals for my party of 16 when we went to celebrate my parents' anniversary.

Group Dining can tell you which restaurants WILL accommodate you at one table - not all restaurants will no matter how much you ask them to simply because of table shapes and required traffic patterns through the dining area.

Some restaurants MAY be able to accommodate you, but be aware you will need to dine either very early or very late. They will not attempt to commandeer groups of tables to put together as smaller parties leave during the height of meal service - its inefficient for them. Expect to be told you must be there when the restaurant opens or during the final seating times of the night.

Okay, thanks.

Kind of takes the fun out of dinner! Oh well. Tables next to each other would be fine, but not really if we are across the restaurant from each other every night.

I guess I'm just used to home where you can sit 20 of us!

Oh, this trip is going to be hysterical, I can tell already! I'll probably write a screenplay....!

 

[LaurenLC]

Okay, thanks.

But why do they have to tell us that? It's just silly and frustrating. We are calling 180 days out. I guess I just figured they would be used to large family gatherings!

I'll post this on the restaurant board in case it's not supposed to be here.

They have to tell you, or people would flip out at the restaurant.... Better to be aware it's a possibility than to be REALLY upset if they hadn't told you and they split you up at the restaurant.

 

[amg35]

They have to tell you, or people would flip out at the restaurant.... Better to be aware it's a possibility than to be REALLY upset if they hadn't told you and they split you up at the restaurant.

I understand that, I just didn't know they really can't accommodate a large party, I thought they said that but put you together anways. Now I find that they really can't handle large groups.

 

[msmayor]

Okay, thanks.

Kind of takes the fun out of dinner! Oh well. Tables next to each other would be fine, but not really if we are across the restaurant from each other every night.

I guess I'm just used to home (Chicago) where you can sit 20 of us!

Oh, this trip is going to be hysterical, I can tell already! I'll probably write a screenplay....!

Next to each other isn't really a problem but again, you have to be prepared to accept a very early ADR or a very late ADR. Folks always seem to want to have dinner at 6pm and its just not possible for a large party that takes up 2 or more tables to expect to eat together at that time when a restaurant is trying to turn tables and accommodate as many diners as they can.

We did dinner at WCC on this trip and had two tables right next to each other, but our ADR was at 5pm when the restaurant opened. We also did Crystal Palace for breakfast, and they were able to set us up all in a row along the edge of the dining area but again, we had to accept a table at opening to do it, which meant a very early morning for everyone.

There IS availability, but you have to be willing to work within their guidelines and framework for large parties. A lot of the in-park restaurants just aren't large enough to have the space for large groups, but many of the Downtown Disney spots DO have the space. Try those too.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Are they really not capable of having parties our size or is Disney giving us the run-around?

Some of the restaurants will not be able to sit you together. There were 11 of us when we went in 2009.

We were able to sit together at Le Cellier and Mama Melrose (technically we were along a wall and had several tables together), We were together at one long table at 'Ohana. At Garden Grill then pushed tables together but had to sit in the top section and were quite crowded.

We had to sit at separate tables at Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace, although we were close to each other.

I should mention we were NEVER guaranteed to be sticking together. Coronado Springs also couldn't guarantee that our three rooms would be next to each other, but they were in the end (and two were connected).

 

[amg35]

Next to each other isn't really a problem but again, you have to be prepared to accept a very early ADR or a very late ADR. Folks always seem to want to have dinner at 6pm and its just not possible for a large party that takes up 2 or more tables to expect to eat together at that time when a restaurant is trying to turn tables and accommodate as many diners as they can.

We did dinner at WCC on this trip and had two tables right next to each other, but our ADR was at 5pm when the restaurant opened. We also did Crystal Palace for breakfast, and they were able to set us up all in a row along the edge of the dining area but again, we had to accept a table at opening to do it, which meant a very early morning for everyone.

There IS availability, but you have to be willing to work within their guidelines and framework for large parties. A lot of the in-park restaurants just aren't large enough to have the space for large groups, but many of the Downtown Disney spots DO have the space. Try those too.

Thanks for your help. My dad was trying for even after 7 or later, but that wasn't working either.

He's just not used to this, he hasn't been to Disney in so long he remembers just being able to walk in! In his mind, he's spending a lot of money on this trip and he's just a little annoyed right now. He'll get used to it.

 

[Jennasis]

As others have pointed out, they HAVE to warn you of the possibility of being seated separately, however they will try very hard to get you all together. They're covering their butts.

Make the reservations, and have a great trip.

 

[amg35]

As others have pointed out, they HAVE to warn you of the possibility of being seated separately, however they will try very hard to get you all together. They're covering their butts.

Make the reservations, and have a great trip.

Yes, thanks.

 

[Mickey527]

The all you can eat type restaraunts have always been the easiest for me to book when I try to get my large family together for a meal or two.
Try Boma at AKL and Cape May Cafe at BC.

 

[devonsmommy]

We just returned from the busiest week of the year, and we were a group of 12. We ate table service meals at and were sat together at:
Ohana
Chef Mickey's
50s PTC

At Le Cellier--we were give three different tables in a little alcove, but we were really still all together.

In Germany--we were given 2 different tables of 6 but they were right next to each other.