Hey there, hi there, ho there, Kathleen! You'll celebrate the new year at Walt Disney World Resort before you know it. You sound like a savvy planner, so let's look at options for booking dining reservations for large parties. As I always say, "The more, the merrier!"
I chatted with a cuisine-loving Cast Member who said it's essential to include all guests, even infants, when
booking advanced dining reservations. This is mainly to ensure the location follows fire code guidelines, but it also helps plan and track seating for the meal period.
You're correct that many restaurants adhere to maximum party sizes, so that's probably why you can't book a table for nine. Never fear! I have a couple of options for you to book that fabulous character meal.
First, book two separate reservations, one for a party of five and one for four. The trick is that the system only allows a guest to hold
one reservation per meal period. My tip is to enlist the help of another guest to book that second reservation at a similar time. Remember that you can make reservations for
up to ten days if you're a guest of a Disney Resort hotel, so make sure your helper is on the reservation if you need to book during that window.
Another option is to call the dining line to help book your meal experience. They might also book the reservations separately but will schedule them as closely as possible. Call
(407) WDW-DINE with your desired dates and restaurants; they'll work hard to make some magic!
When you check in at the restaurant, you should let the host know you want to be seated together. Although the staff cannot guarantee you'll be at a single table, they will do their best to accommodate you. Don't worry; everyone can hop up for group photos with the characters, even if you're at different tables.
I've done this several times, and I'm usually given the choice of being seated at two tables immediately or waiting 10-15 minutes for a single table. Recently, I was with a party of ten with two separate reservations at
Topolino's Terrace at Disney's Riviera Resort. Although the staff tried their best, they could not put us at one table. We were seated at two round tables side by side, and it worked out fine. Their French bread service is fantastic, but the views are breathtaking!
Kathleen, I'm wishing on a star and waving my magic wand that you'll snag some reservations to dine with your favorite Disney characters. Have your phone charged and ready to snap dozens of photos, and please
stop by planDisney anytime.
Magic awaits,
Elaine