Hiya, Kimberley! Thanks for stopping by planDisney!
Let me be one of the first to wish you a happy early birthday. I can’t think of a better place to celebrate such a special occasion than Walt Disney World. Be sure you stop by the front desk of your hotel or guest relations at any theme park to get your complimentary birthday pin.
Now, on to one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your Walt Disney World vacation: where and what to eat!
Some dining locations are better suited for large groups than others, and making reservations will be crucial if you want to eat together (remember, you can make dining reservations 60 days ahead of your arrival date). For a group of this size, I’d recommend
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness Resort,
Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge,
‘Ohana at Polynesian Village Resort,
Biergarten at EPCOT,
Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen at the Magic Kingdom. Some restaurants, such as the Skipper Canteen, have a smaller maximum reservation size, but I’ve had good luck booking two tables for the same time (or within a few minutes of each other) and then talking to the Cast Members at the host stand an hour ahead of time to see if it's possible to be seated together, or at least nearby.
If you need any help making dining reservations, don’t hesitate to
call a friendly Cast Member at (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463. As for the
Disney Dining Plan, I always recommend that people do their research and see if it’s a good value for your group. Snacks and dining are a big part of the vacation experience for my family—as is character dining—so we definitely get our money’s worth. We love having the resort-refillable mugs as well, which gives you unlimited refills from self-service beverage islands at any Disney Resort hotel Quick-Service location. So talk to your group and perhaps the Disney Dining Plan or Disney Quick-Service Plan will be a good fit.
Kimberley, I hope this information helps you plan the most magical birthday vacation! Pop right back to planDisney if you have any other questions or need additional recommendations. Your planDisney pals are here to help!
Magical travels!
Matt