unhappy concern

[SamanthaL]

At the first seating time, it would be easy for them to setup a large table for 23. 2 1/2 hours in, the empty tables are probably scattered around the restaurant, it would be difficult for them to get a group of tables together unless they hold them empty for a long period.

While I do understand that I still don't think its right to force people to eat dinner at 3;30 in the afternoon. There has to be a better way.

 

[tnmomof4]

It was hard for me to just get ADR for my party of 8. When I called Disney Dining, they did put me through to Grand Gatherings and that CM made my ADR.

 

[AlwaysEeyore]

I called this morning to make our ADR for Thanksgiving at WCC and was told Grand Gatherings don't handle groups as large as our (26 people) and I had to call the restaurnat directly. They gave me the number but I got to busy a work to call today, so I'll try tomorrow. We did get Chef Mickeys for 17 people at 5 pm on 11/20 at 2 tables.

 

[bicker]

While I do understand that I still don't think its right to force people to eat dinner at 3;30 in the afternoon. There has to be a better way.

It really is the guests' choice: They could elect to head over the PO, CSR or CBR for dinner... those restaurants almost never fill-up. Or they could make reservations earlier, and have a greater variety to pick from.

 

[BroadwayGirl]

While I do understand that I still don't think its right to force people to eat dinner at 3;30 in the afternoon. There has to be a better way.

There are over 100 table service restaurants at WDW. While group dining does require opening or near closing seating times, you are certainly not FORCED to choose a restaurant that opens at 3:30pm for dinner unless you cannot be flexible in your restaurant choice.

 

[SamanthaL]

It really is the guests' choice: They could elect to head over the PO, CSR or CBR for dinner... those restaurants almost never fill-up. Or they could make reservations earlier, and have a greater variety to pick from.

It didn't matter if they were filled or not. It was the policy of the restaurants. They could have no one dining there at all but the group reservation lady could only give me the first reservation for that meal.

And I am a flexible person. For this particular meal we wanted to eat at CP before the MVMCP. We wanted to be done eating at the time that the party started. That left us very little choice if we were eating at the MK. We took our second choice of Chef MIckey.

I worked as a waitress for 6 years and know about seating large parites. It's possible to keep them together with reservations or call ahead seating. Sorry but I truly think that I am paying as much as anyone else and if there are openings for the amount of people in my group I should be given the time I request. Remember, 5:30 at CP was open but not to me because of my party size and that is the only reason. I really don't agree that my group should have to pick a restaurant because it's not a busy one or eat at crazy times or where I DON'T want to. Part of the fun of Disney to us is the dining. I am calling way ahead (180 days) and I should get seating if there is room us for the time I want. I was turned away ( from the time we wanted at the place we wanted) just because of our group size. No other reason. That's wrong. Lucky for us not all the restaurants open for dinner at 3:30.

 

[Princess Stitch]

It didn't matter if they were filled or not. It was the policy of the restaurants. They could have no one dining there at all but the group reservation lady could only give me the first reservation for that meal.

And I am a flexible person. For this particular meal we wanted to eat at CP before the MVMCP. We wanted to be done eating at the time that the party started. That left us very little choice if we were eating at the MK. We took our second choice of Chef MIckey.

I worked as a waitress for 6 years and know about seating large parites. It's possible to keep them together with reservations or call ahead seating. Sorry but I truly think that I am paying as much as anyone else and if there are openings for the amount of people in my group I should be given the time I request. Remember, 5:30 at CP was open but not to me because of my party size and that is the only reason. I really don't agree that my group should have to pick a restaurant because it's not a busy one or eat at crazy times or where I DON'T want to. Part of the fun of Disney to us is the dining. I am calling way ahead (180 days) and I should get seating if there is room us for the time I want. I was turned away ( from the time we wanted at the place we wanted) just because of our group size. No other reason. That's wrong. Lucky for us not all the restaurants open for dinner at 3:30.

Well, it's not really as simple as that. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem if you were willing to have separate tables, but all at one table would be difficult. Lets say a family has a reservation at 4:30 or 4:45. Well CP is a character buffet. I'm sure they could easily spend more than an hour eating leisurely. If they're at a table that is supposed to go to your party, you will all have to wait until they decide that they're done eating, since you can't exactly kick people out of the restaurant. The same would go for all the other tables nearby. So now instead of being seated at 5:30 you might be seated at 6 or 6:30 by the time everyting is cleared and set up. To expect them to hold the empty tables for an hour before your reservation is a little silly.

Maybe it would be nice if at least a few restaurants had an area set up that catered to larger groups.

I'm sorry you're having trouble finding reservations, and I hope your family vacation turns out magical Maybe you'll be able to get some of the places you want at least.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I worked as a waitress for 6 years and know about seating large parites. It's possible to keep them together with reservations or call ahead seating.

Dining Reservation at Walt Disney World:
- Arrive and check in at the restaurant five to ten minutes ahead of your scheduled time.
- You will be seated at the next available table for your party size at or after your reservation time.
Reservations made for the opening time of a given restaurant enable the Cast Members to seat the entire party together. Reservations for later times during the given meal period pretty much guarantee that there will not BE a table for (in this case) nineteen diners.

A few years ago – before Grand Gatherings, and possibly even Group Dining – about 25* of us wanted to have dinner together on a Saturday evening in November. We HAD to take the first (aka opening) seating at Boma (or wherever we decided to eat). Coordinating that many people, using various transportation (including, okay, two by elevator) to arrive at a Resort restaurant by 5 PM? Not easy, but we wanted to eat together, so we managed.

*Anybody who was there and remembers the exact number, let me know – I’ll be happy to edit my post

 

[SamanthaL]

LOL! We aren't at the same table anyway. There aren't tables big enough to seat all of us and that's fine. We just want to be in the same general area, not even next to each other.
I agree that they should maybe use a certain area for large groups and if they aren't booked by a certain time frame then they go to any size party or something to that effect.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Have you tried resort restaurants? Or Dinner shows? You may be able to get one side of the balcony at HDDR almost to yourselves, and WCC has a small side room you'd fit in, I hear. Are you trying to get every meal together? Good luck herding. Getting 19 people to go along ith any place and time to eat will be a chore.

 

[HannaBelle]

Are you all staying on property?

I would really recommend the Grand Gatherings. They are designed for large groups. You will have a table or tables all together for your group and there are activities for children, plus character meet and greets. The breakfast event even comes with a special fast pass for the group to see Phillharmagic!

Here is the link to the GG page...

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...roducts?id=GrandGatheringsSpecialProductsPage

If you are not all staying on property, consider the Hoop De Do Review or the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show. (Do they still have Mickey's Backyard BBQ?) Each of these can be reserved even if all or some of your group is staying off property, but that are actually reservations...as in there is a table waiting for you and your group!

We went at a group of 12 and had a great time...we are going as a group of 14 and plan on eating 1 meal together each day. I do not think that is ridiculous to want to sit together or near each other…you will just have to be flexible. Just let everyone in the group know the cost before your group gets there!