Hi, there!
Welcome to planDisney, Tammy. It looks like your Disney vacation is about to begin! You must be counting down the days with excitement. I know I would be!
I just love
Character Dining Experiences. As a mom of three, I try to book at least two of these unique meals for our week-long stays at the Walt Disney World resort. What I appreciate the most about Character Dining Experiences is that my kids can fill their bellies and see their favorite Disney pals, all in one place!
To answer your question, it's certainly possible to book a Character Dining Experience for your large party of 12. I've booked several Character Dining Experiences for my extended family of 14 before! That said, with just days until your arrival, there likely won't be an abundance of availability. I have a few tips for you, though!
If you don't see availability for your party of 12 using the
online dining reservation system, try booking two reservations for the same time for smaller parties. When I booked dining reservations for my family of 14, there were a few instances when I had to book two reservations for parties of 7. At the host stand, we just let them know that we were actually one party together, and they made sure we sat together or, at the very least, near one another.
I recommend checking the online reservation system several times a day between now and your arrival. You never know when someone's canceled plans may mean new plans for your family! If you haven't found a reservation by the time you arrive, stop by a Character Dining Experience location to ask about same-day availability. The sooner you stop by in the day, the better chances you'll have of booking a reservation that day! Some Character Dining Experiences, like
Chef Mickey's and
Garden Grill Restaurant, offer
Mobile Dine Walk-Up Availability. This convenient option allows you to join walk-up lists at select dining locations using the My Disney Experience mobile app!
I hope this was helpful, Tammy. I'm wishing you and your family a magical visit to the Walt Disney World Resort!
Ashley