Priority Seating for 14?

[GoneFishing]

I was wondering if anyone has had any problems getting Priority Seatings for large groups. I'm going to be going down during Christmas of this year with a group of 14 and we wanted to make a few priority seatings before we go down. Anything out of the ordinary I should expect?

Thanks!
David

 

[Crazy Hakim]

Originally posted by GoneFishing
I was wondering if anyone has had any problems getting Priority Seatings for large groups. I'm going to be going down during Christmas of this year with a group of 14 and we wanted to make a few priority seatings before we go down. Anything out of the ordinary I should expect?Thanks!David

1. Usually 407-WDW-DINE will not be able to book such a large group, and you may be referred to call each restaurant directly.

2. Don't expect to get one table of 14. You will most likely be split on two tables and depending on the time, they may not be able to guarantee that these two tables will be anywhere near each other.

I strongly suggest you try to book very early dinners. For example if the restaurant opens at 5:30pm, try to book your tables for that time. That way it is easier to seat your tables close together because they are not dependent of any parties already occupying the tables.

Be flexible, be willing to work with the restaurant, of course all parties want to be seated together and large family groups are mot uncommon during the holiday season.

Good Luck!

 

[auntpolly]

This was 5 years ago, but we had a group of 10 and had no problems except at the Rainforest cafe (they said they don' take reservations that big). I made PS for every dinner of a 10 day stay for all of us, and we were seated at the same table half of the time, and half we were seated at 2.

I don't know if it's different now, or if 14 is different than 10, but I thought I'd just share my experience. We had more trouble with the brothers-in laws getting along than with Disney dining!

 

[zulaya]

I called about a similar quandry because with my party of 11, I assumed that we would need to use Group Dining. When I talked with the CM she told me that all the places I wanted to go I didn't have to use group dining. She said most Disney Restaurants, with a couple of exceptions, don't require group dining until you reach 13 people.

So more than likely you will have to use Group Dining and if you call the dining line they will transfer you.

 

[auntpolly]

ahhhhh....so 13's the magic #!

Looks like you'll have to uninvite a couple of people, GoneFishing! You know, if it was me, I think I'd make 2 PS for 7 each -- I'll bet the restaurants would do the best they could to seat you at the same time. Just a thought!

 

[mommystieg]

I have been making PS's this week for our group of 15 so here is the direct number to Group Dining 407-939-7707. For groups of 13 or larger they will usually only let you do a PS for the first 20 minutes or the last 20 minutes of the seating period. For example, our dinner PS at Chef Mickey's could have been anytime between 5:00 pm and 5:20.
Another poster suggested the same as auntpolly--making 2 PS's and then requesting to be seated together.

 

[cjsmith]

Also keep in mind, some of the restaurants may require you to leave a credit card number to secure your PS when you have a large group. I remember that the Yachtsman Steakhouse had us do this when we were a group over 10.