Hi Kristen,
I'm excited to see that you're thinking through all of the details of your
December trip already! By planning early, you won't only be well-prepared, but you'll also be able to squeeze every ounce of magic and fun out of your trip by dreaming about it and anticipating it for many months!
I'm happy to let you know that you'll be able to make your
dining reservations 180 days in advance for however many Mouseketeers you'd like. They don't all need to be staying in your room or even connected to your My Disney Experience account. You'll simply select a number of Guests for your meal when you're making your reservation. If you're staying at a Disney Resort hotel, you'll have the added benefit of making up to 10 days of dining reservations at that 180-day point, which will definitely provide you with the most availability and selection. And ooh...
character meals are some of my favorite choices! Not only is the food delicious, but it's so much fun getting to meet and interact with some of your most beloved Disney friends. One tip I have is to record the entire interaction with the characters rather than just snapping posed photos. Some of my very favorite moments have been watching my kiddos with the characters during a greeting, farewell, or even just a silly or touching unplanned moment of connection.
Thanks so much for visiting us at the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Kristen, and please come back and see us again with more questions as you're planning your trip. I hope that you have a truly magical...and delicious...vacation!
Missy