Hiya Forster - welcome to
planDisney!
Thanks for stopping by with your question for our team of panelists. We love to help Guests just like you plan your very own, very magical,
Walt Disney World Resort vacations!
I'm so excited to hEAR that your large family is going to start next year off at Walt Disney World Resort! It's such a great place to make magical family memories that will last a lifetime.
Many of my most magical Disney memories revolve around food, so I'm glad that you're thinking about making Advance Dining Reservations for your crew's visit. It can be a bit more challenging to find reservations for a larger group, but I have some tips and tricks that might help make it a bit easier!
Many
dining locations at Walt Disney World Resort accept reservations for parties of all sizes
online, via the
My Disney Experience Mobile App, or
by phone. Maximum party size varies by restaurant and is usually dependent on the physical limitations of the restaurant itself. For example, if tables are fixed and unable to be moved, reservations will be limited to smaller parties.
For larger groups, there are a few things you can do to increase your success. First, I recommend being flexible on time and location. Prime dinner times are most popular, and thus it will be more difficult to secure a reservation for a larger party. Having an earlier or later dinner might open up more options. Likewise, being open to
all dining location options opens up more potential availability. I also know that many Guests have better luck if they are able to make their reservations first thing in the morning when their 60-day booking window opens.
If you're not finding the options you want, you can always consider making two or more smaller reservations at the same location at around the same time. When I've done this, I like to visit the restaurant earlier in the afternoon and explain my situation to a Cast Member. If it's possible, they may attempt to seat your two parties nearby one another - it's the next best thing! It's not always possible to accommodate these requests, but this is another option.
Lastly, there are some great dining locations at
Disney Springs that can sometimes accommodate larger groups. For example, a few months ago I hosted a group of 12 at
The Edison by calling the restaurant directly in advance.
I hope this information is helpful, Forster -
please stop by with any additional questions!
Ryan J.