Hiya Nadine,
Welcome to planDisney! Thank you for your question about one of my favorite topics, Walt Disney World Resort dining; just thinking about it makes me hungry.
Planning for a large party will definitely take some extra coordination, so hopefully, I can help set you up for success. First and foremost, being ready to book your reservations as soon as your 60-day booking window opens up is critical. Spaces are limited at all dining locations, so you will have the best success if you make your reservations as soon as possible. Second, you will need to be strategic about where you choose to dine. Some dining locations are not equipped to accommodate a group of 20, so getting a reservation there would be more challenging than getting into Neverland. I find that places such as
Boma - Flavors of Africa, ‘
Ohana,
Trails End, and
Whispering Canyon typically have the best space for larger groups. Third, while technically, My Disney Experience and the
My Disney Experience mobile app allow you to make reservations for up to 20 Guests at one time, you might be better served reaching out to a Cast Member for help at 407-WDW-DINE. Cast Members can help you make reservations for your group if you come with your reservation details, such as location, dates, and times. Remember that while Cast Members will do their absolute best to help you find reservations, they cannot create any with magic alone; I highly recommend having a list of plan Bs in the event you need it. Make sure to have a list of backup times and table service locations in case there is no availability. Lastly, Cast Members may need to “split” your party to ensure you can get a reservation. Typically they will break you up into smaller groups with reservations at the same time (or within 15 minutes of each other) to ensure you all have seating. If this happens when you check in for your reservation, ask the Cast Member at the podium if you can be seated together. If the location can accommodate your group seated together, then they will seat you; if not, they will work to get you seated as close together as possible.
I hope that you can secure all of your dining reservations and you all can enjoy dinner together during your vacation! If you would like any dining recommendations or need help with anything else, please come back and see us!
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.