Skipper Canteen with a big group?

[xipetotec]

Has anyone been to Skipper Canteen with a very large group? For 3 nights of our stay, we will be 23 people! We have Ohana and probably Biergarten in mind. But trying to decide on somewhere new for everyone and that everyone obviously wants to try. We'd LOVE to check out Skipper Canteen, but I'm a little afraid the layout won't allow for us all to be somewhat together.

I know none of these are the typical "large group places" but we're also looking at San Angel inn, The Boathouse and possible Trattoria Al Forno on the Boardwalk.

thoughts?

P.S. yes I will be calling at 8am on the 180 day mark.

 

[NuJoy]

Skipper Canteen has the expansive main dining room that looked to me it could accommodate a large group. I guess they could also keep one of the back rooms reserved just for a large party. I could see where San Angel Inn could make a long table down the center of the restaurant. Trattoria Al Forno has booths around the restaurant that might be more restrictive, not sure. I've never been to Boathouse to make a comment on. All just my own speculation as I have no first hand knowledge with a large group. Hope you have a wonderful time and easy accommodations.

 

[steg]

The mess hall in Skipper Canteen definitely has room to allow for a 23 person table to be set up, you could also probably fill the whole library section at separate tables sans a few left over tables. It also never seems to be super crowded when we go so you should be able to get a reservation. Ask for Zita if you want someone over the top with the antics ask for Libby if you don't.

Trattoria Al Forno could do a large table in between the two sections of booths that are there that run perpendicular to the back wall full of more booths

Boathouse was doing a terrible job of seating people when we last visited, even with a reservation we waited nearly 30 minutes while they sat a bunch of walk ins with the same size as our party.

I can't even imagine how San Angel Inn could handle a table that size but I'd love to see pics!

 

[xipetotec]

I can't even imagine how San Angel Inn could handle a table that size but I'd love to see pics!

That's why I come to the DIS. the sense of humor ... I did mention it, but you're right, this is one restaurant I am familiar with and it's hopeful thinking to hope they'd get us all. I think we DID get 12 once, and it wasn't too bad, they set us up in the back left corner near the water against the wall. worked out okay. But yeah... 23 is a whole different ballgame.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Good luck with your reservations! I had a terrible timing getting ADRs for my group of 9, I can't imagine planning for 23!

 

[xipetotec]

Good luck with your reservations! I had a terrible timing getting ADRs for my group of 9, I can't imagine planning for 23!

I am fairly experienced with getting big groups, cause we usually go every two years with a sort of family gathering and I'm the planner. But except for ONE time in the past, it's never gone higher than 18 ( and that was a lot ). AND we don't usually go around January Marathon weekend. So that'll be fun. But more importantly, in past trips we were all together the whole time, so we often "settled" for places that would split us up. Now we'll only be ALL together for 3 nights. So I want to maximize trying to get everyone in one place for those three nights.

Thanks!

 

[MissMet]

I'm going with a party of 7 for ten days. I could not get us a table together no matter when I tried. Only a table of 6. So I booked a table of 3 & a table of 4 at the exact same time & will ask when I check in if we can be put together. I think they don't allow big groups there OR you have to go through the special phone line for big groups. I made a reservation for 30 successfully at WCC two years ago but had to call a special "big groups" line. Otherwise I've made reservations for groups of 10-18 online & never had an issue. Skippers is the exception.

 

[xipetotec]

Well crud. Even if I DON'T book this place for the three days ALL of us are together. Even after a large part of the group leaves, we'll still be 11 and really want to try this place.

Guess we'll see what happens!

 

[HopperFan]

Structurally SC should have no problem doing it. When we ate there a couple weeks ago half the restaurant was empty, in all three rooms. I would think it would be one of your easier locations to book and hope together.

 

[elaine amj]

I'm going with a party of 7 for ten days. I could not get us a table together no matter when I tried. Only a table of 6. So I booked a table of 3 & a table of 4 at the exact same time & will ask when I check in if we can be put together. I think they don't allow big groups there OR you have to go through the special phone line for big groups. I made a reservation for 30 successfully at WCC two years ago but had to call a special "big groups" line. Otherwise I've made reservations for groups of 10-18 online & never had an issue. Skippers is the exception.

Just found this - have you gone on your trip yet? How did you make out? I'm trying to make a reservation for 8 and also having an impossible time getting anything for a group bigger than 6 - and that was at 180+10 days! Guess I'll have to try for 4+4.

 

[MissMet]

Just found this - have you gone on your trip yet? How did you make out? I'm trying to make a reservation for 8 and also having an impossible time getting anything for a group bigger than 6 - and that was at 180+10 days! Guess I'll have to try for 4+4.

No. We don't go until mid-October. I keep checking and still can't get a reservation for our group even though they're showing plenty of availability. So we'll just stay with our two ADRs & hope they accommodate us.

 

[xipetotec]

No. We don't go until mid-October. I keep checking and still can't get a reservation for our group even though they're showing plenty of availability. So we'll just stay with our two ADRs & hope they accommodate us.

Well in the end, a smaller section of our group are going. But we're still 11. So we managed to book in two reservations ( 8 and 3 ). So yes, we were able to get a reservation for 8 at 180+10. But not for 11. I'm going to go earlier in the day and talk to the podium about making sure we're together ( I've had success with this in the past ).

 

[elaine amj]

Well in the end, a smaller section of our group are going. But we're still 11. So we managed to book in two reservations ( 8 and 3 ). So yes, we were able to get a reservation for 8 at 180+10. But not for 11. I'm going to go earlier in the day and talk to the podium about making sure we're together ( I've had success with this in the past ).

Oh that's good to know! I was at 180+10 and couldn't get a reservation for 8. Now I'm struggling to get reservations for 4+4. but I imagine they will pop up.

So crazy! I thought Skippers was a restaurant that was quite easy to get and isn't packed. But it's turning out to be on of the harder places for me to get!

 

[heidijanesmith]

We love this eatery, so glad we tried it for the 1st time this year.

I hope you can get in!

 

[ultimatefans]

Well in the end, a smaller section of our group are going. But we're still 11. So we managed to book in two reservations ( 8 and 3 ). So yes, we were able to get a reservation for 8 at 180+10. But not for 11. I'm going to go earlier in the day and talk to the podium about making sure we're together ( I've had success with this in the past ).

I'm curious what your experience was? I'm booking now for July for a party of 10, and the latest reservation available any day at 180+10 is 4:40pm. Later times are available for smaller parties, I thought about splitting us up but decided to just go with the earlier dinner. It looks like they don't open reservations up for large parties during peak dinner hours. Were you able to sit all together?

 

[elaine amj]

I ended up with a reservation for 6 people. I showed up and asked for a table for 7. We had to wait quite a while, maybe 30+ mins? But we were eventually seated and had a nice dinner. It was very good and we had fun with the shtick. DH and the waiter messed around a lot, which amused the rest of us haha.

FYI: there is an outdoor waiting area and after sitting there for some time, we discovered an indoor waiting area with AC and we gladly moved. By that point, we were just happy to be sitting down somewhere, anywhere so the lengthier wait didn't bother us

 

[MissMet]

We could not get an ADR for 7 for lunch in mid-october, but two ADRs, one for 3, the other for 4. When we checked in we explained the situation & asked if we could be seated together. The hostess looked over at what appeared to be the passing by manager to get her approval & she said "Yeah, go ahead & do it, just put them in the XXX room." We waited probably no more than 10 minutes. So yes, we were able to be put together but with how it went down it was clear not everyone gets that answer. Good luck everyone.

 

[Minniemoo15]

Just wanted to chime in and say yes to Biergarten! We went last year as a group of 20 and they were so accommodating, gave us our whole area. the dancing and music was a huge hit for everyone!

 

[xipetotec]

I'm curious what your experience was? I'm booking now for July for a party of 10, and the latest reservation available any day at 180+10 is 4:40pm. Later times are available for smaller parties, I thought about splitting us up but decided to just go with the earlier dinner. It looks like they don't open reservations up for large parties during peak dinner hours. Were you able to sit all together?

Fantastic actually. We arrived a little early because of this to talk to the podium, this past week at MK was VERY busy, so that wasn't even a factor.

Told the hostess at the podium that we were two reservations ( 8 and 2, it turns out, the 11th person did not come ), she said no problem, called it in, and within 20 minutes we had a table for 10. It was set up at the back near the kitchen, but then just pushed together 5 tables with no issues.