Suggestions for a larger party?

[AnnabelleTheTalkingTree]

My family has a trip planned for this spring, and we will be joined by some of our extended family as well. Our party is 11 people including two under 2 and a 5 year old. I've never planned for a group this big before and I'm reading that it can be hard to get reservations for a party of this size. I know that we can split the group, but that's really not ideal for us for a couple of reasons. So I'm looking for suggestions on restaurants that will seat 11 people together. We are already hoping for a Hoop Dee Doo return, but of course I'm not counting on it. Any recommendations would be really appreciated! Thanks!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We've done several trips with up to 21 of our family members in the past, but the last trip was pre-Covid. That might impact some of the availability in the spring, but hopefully not. As a family, in the past, we managed to get a single table for all of us at 'Ohana, Boma, China (Nine Dragons in Epcot), T-Rex. We had to break down into 2 tables (which was almost the equivalent of your crew!) at Chef Mickey's, Sanaa, and Rainforest. We also had 2 tables, but in the same room, for the hibachi meal at Teppan Ido (Japan at Epcot). If your family might enjoy something like that, you might be able to get your own table to yourself.

Again, I'm not certain what these places can do now, but be open to the idea you might be ok doing it. It might not hurt to brave a long wait on the phone for WDW-DINE in advance of your 60 days to see if they might offer any suggestions. You're likely to get some here, too. I know if you look at the ADR link on the Disney site, they seem to go up to 11 and beyond for the number of people you can reserve for - but I'm not clear if that's actually doing anything at this time.

I expect you might have a reason for being cautiously pessimistic about HDDR. Seems like that's going to be one of the last places to open. But you never know, so keep your fingers crossed! Hope this all works out well for you. The memories we've had from our trips are priceless - yours will be, too.

 

[princesserin1350]

We just got back from our trip with a party of 11 (9 adults, an 8 month old, and a 4 year old). We were only able to book one reservation as a complete party of 11 at Homecomin'. The rest of our reservations were booked as two separate parties, and only Topolino's breakfast was able to combine our two reservations day-of and seat us all together (booked as a party of 6 and 5). We were sat at two separate tables at Liberty Tree, Steakhouse 71, and Space 220. I had read others' experiences where they booked two separate reservations but were still able to be sat together at every meal, so it was a little disappointing that they couldn't accommodate us (but we also went at the busiest time of the year so we knew it was a possibility).

Hope you're able to find some reservations for your party! It was our first time traveling with a group so large and while it had its challenges, it was magical to be together with so many loved ones in the end.

 

[FCDub]

It’s never ideal to split your family into multiple groups, but you might will have to do it. Find a combination that works for you, then consider it a win if you’re able to all sit together.

 

[kstruchen]

Our last trip was 16 people total. I booked one reservation for 8 people with my MDE account, and used my husband's MDE to book the second party of 8. The 2 reservations were usually 15 minutes apart or so, but they were able to seat us together at the same time. If not at the same table, at adjacent tables. Worked out great!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Pixie dust ur way, safe travels and have fun Making Great Memories! Some of my favorite trips were large groups!!

 

[Specter]

Our ADR window opened this morning and we are only a group of 9, but with the exception of Raglan Road (which we reserved through Open Table), every reservation made directly through Disney had to be broken into two groups. One of them actually had to go to three, but that was mostly because we had very little flexibility with the time on that one specific evening.