Hi there, Pamela! You're as welcome as can be here at planDisney!
Visiting
Walt Disney World Resort with a big group means big fun! It would be my pleasure to help you get your
dining reservations squared away for your large party. Booking meals for big groups is something I have quite a bit of experience with. In addition to my family vacations, I usually visit Walt Disney World Resort once a year for a reunion with some of my fellow planDisney panelists. My friends and I have found that while you might be able to select a larger number of Guests when searching for dining reservations online, you typically won't find many reservations for parties larger than 6 people. This is simply due to the fact that there are very few individual tables available that can seat more than 6 Guests.
When my planDisney pals and I need to book dining reservations for parties larger than 6, we split our group up into multiple smaller reservations and book them for similar times. So for example, if we have 12 people in our group, I might book a reservation for 6 people at 5:00. Then my friend books another 6-person reservation at the same restaurant for as close to 5:00 as she can find. Pamela, I would suggest that you work with one of the other people in your group and split your party into two separate reservations. When you check in for your dining reservations, you can mention to the Cast Member that your two groups are together. While there is no guarantee that you will be able to be seated together, in my experience, the Cast Members will do their best to seat your two smaller groups near each other.
While you certainly may get lucky and snag reservations for some of the most coveted Walt Disney World Resort restaurants, sometimes the "hidden gems" are your best bet for accommodating larger groups. I've had a lot of luck finding availability for big parties at restaurants such as
Ale & Compass,
Boma - Flavors of Africa, and
Grand Floridian Cafe. The Most Magical Place on Earth has so many amazing dining locations; you really can't go wrong with any of them!
If you have any additional questions as you get ready for your trip, please visit us again. See ya real soon!
Samantha