Hi, Eileen! Thanks for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
I am so excited to hEAR that you will be visiting the Walt Disney World Resort with a large group! That sounds like so much fun!
Dining reservations for Walt Disney World Resort's table-service restaurants can be made 180 days in advance, and many locations do book quickly. Therefore, it's wonderful that you are making your dining plans early, especially since you will need reservations for a large group.
A few years ago, I organized a Walt Disney World Resort vacation for my extended family. We had nine people in our travel party on that particular trip. I found that when making dining reservations for a group of that size, it was best to call and speak to a Cast Member instead of making reservations online. You can call the
Help Center Dining Reservations Line in order to have a friendly Cast Member assist you with your dining reservations.
When making dining reservations for a large party, it is sometimes easier to find availability if you are willing to split your party into two smaller groups. While there is no guarantee that your two parties will be able to be seated near each other, you can certainly ask the Cast Members when you arrive for your reservations. Due to occupancy codes, you should always include the entire number of guests in your reservation, including infants and children in highchairs.
When making your dining plans, you may want to consider a
character dining experience or a dinner show such as
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue or
Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show. These experiences are a blast with a large group!
Wishing you a magical Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
Samantha