Two families / large group ADR tips?

[kboo]

Hi there! We are Disney veterans going at the end of August with another family who are first timers. We are aiming generally to do most park days together but I’m not managing their MDE. The other mom understands that preferred dining reservations are hard to come by, but I’m not sure she is the gunner that I am. We will be a family of 4-5 (depends if my dad comes) and then they are a family of 4.

I’m a little concerned that if I try to book a group of 9 at some of the harder-to-get restaurants we’re going to strike out and we’ll have better luck booking separately in smaller groups while aiming for a general time window… does anybody me else have other suggestions on how to make this work?

additionally they are staying for 10 days in 1place while we are doing a 6/4 split stay. Maybe I could ask her to look first for a large group for days 7-10 since our booking window won’t open for those days until the following week?

Thanks for anysuggestions

 

[Dakota731]

Yes there seems to be issues booking nine post covid where before I had no issues. Eight is fine online but with more then that you get an error message

 

[CarolynFH]

Click HERE for the most recent thread about booking larger parties - has tips re booking separate parties around the same time, checking in to have the best chance of being seated together, etc. I will also say that if you try to book a single ADR for more than 8 people and a popup asks you to call and gives a phone number, use it! I went through that for December reservations for our party of 9 and wish I had called that number as soon as it was given to me - it's not the regular dining reservation number, and the CM got everything fixed up that I had messed up.

 

[SteveH]

I like how you're looking at it. I might try to get 1 or 2 big gatherings but trying to do every meal could be a real chore. Another option is to look into some of the restaurants at the Swan/Dolphin resorts like il Mulino or for a ice cream stop try The Fountain. Same goes for some of the non-Disney locations at Disney Springs.