Hi Kate,
Welcome to planDisney! I admire your courage for taking the lead on planning for such a large group!
With a group that size, I suggest that you identify a few other individuals in your group who can be the lead on the dining reservations. When you search for reservations, divide your group up into smaller groups of four, five, or six. When you make the reservations, select a different lead person for each reservation and then leave the rest of the party as Guests. You could, for example, do four groups of four and one group of two or three groups of five and one group of three or three groups of six.
When your
advanced dining reservation window opens at 60-days prior to arrival, be ready to make reservations at 5:45 a.m. Prior to that day, I also suggest that you have your plans carefully outlined so that you can quickly make reservations as soon as the system allows. I also suggest that you consider the relative size of the restaurant as well. We have dined with large groups at
Whispering Canyon Cafe,
Trail's End Restaurant (this one is an adventure), and
Cape May Cafe. Consider restaurants at Disney Springs as well.
If the folks that are the leads on the dining reservations have their own My Disney Experience accounts, the dining reservations should appear in their My Disney Experience accounts. If you all share all plans in My Disney Experience, you should be able to see the plans. Keep in mind that when traveling with larger groups, you certainly do not need to have all meals together. In fact, I firmly believe that it's best for everyone if you separate on occasion. So, I suggest that you make a few dinner reservations for the group and then let folks use
Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering during the day. Groups might also want to make a few other dining reservations during the day. Just discuss the strategy prior to the day your dining reservation window opens. If you want to try a few character dining experiences, those may be the hardest reservations to make, so try to make those first when your dining reservation window opens!
Kate, I am sending a little pixie dust your way trusting that your patient planning will bring on the magic!
Magic and memories,
Donyell