Greetings one and all, I'm so glad to come on board within this posting thread, I do enjoy a good story that at sometime will have a happy ending.
For those that don't know me, I would happen to be MickeyTeacher's (also known as Shawna) DH that was mentioned in mommy2mrb's post from before. I consider myself a deprived child, as my parent's are one of those people that 'just don't get it' when it comes to WDW.
: Oh well, that's just the way some people are.
The beginning of the research has started. Two phone calls to WDW dining, with mixed results. The first call responded to a long wait on hold, which meant that I needed to hang up to call back later. The second call allowed me to talk to a real person, who didn't understand why I wasn't doing more research sooner. (Of course, she got her years mixed up, and didn't realize I said 2013, and thought this was for 2012)
So, as I spoke to the person on the phone, she recommended that I call each restaurant one at a time and get an understanding of their reservation maximum's, as well as what they could do to satisfy a request such as this.
(Hey, it was a Sunday night when I made this call, so I'll give them props for at least trying to answer the question.)
Which brought me to emailing DVC to ask them questions about my request. Always worked before, might work this time.
That being said, here's some information.
Dining locations have a maximum number of guests that they will serve as a group through the Walt Disney World reservation system:
* Chef Mickey's - Maximum of 24 guests
* 'Ohana's - Maximum of 30 guests.
* 1900 Park Fair - Maximum of 30 guests.
* Cape May Cafe - Maximum of 30 guests.
* Whispering Canyon Cafe - Maximum of 30 guests, parties of 18 or more are only served their Signature Skillet
* Trail's End - Maximum of 20 guests.
Now, out of those, only 'Ohana's is strict on that number. Any of the other restaurants will allow pre-arrangements to be made for parties larger than the listed number. That means that at each location, we might be able to get a back room or something like that, but the problem with that is that everyone would have to pay upfront in order to get the room, but I do plan on researching this more than I already have.
I'll continue the research for options, as I'm not done yet. The California Grill is getting a major facelift before the 2012 holiday season, and I know there is a side room there, as well.
MickeyTeacher and I will be attending
MNSSHP and Food and Wine, arriving 60 days from tonight for an adult's only weekend. (DS and DD are on their own..... with grandma and grandpa) While down there, I plan on picking the minds of WDW cast members for other ideas, and then more research for trip #2 during Thanksgiving. (This time, with DS and DD)
With everything that I've laid out of the table so far, I need some feedback as to what you've read so far, what thoughts you guys have, the winning lottery numbers, recommendations for other restaurants to check, input for those who have actually set up large groups in the past, and anything else creative you can think up.
Obviously, the winning lottery numbers would make this whole process a lot easier. Just sayin'...
