Hello Carrie!
Traveling with a large group to the Walt Disney World Resort certainly can come with plenty of joy, but planning is a must. Of course, everyone has a slightly different definition of what makes a group "large."
One of my favorite things about the Walt Disney World Resort website is the ability to not only make dining reservations, but to also see (with a few clicks) which venues have availability for my group on the exact date and times I desire. With this feature, you can quickly see which restaurants can accommodate your group. Simply enter your preferred date, time, and party size
here. You can begin making dining reservations 180 days from your dining date. With a large group you will want to make those reservations as soon as possible to ensure availability.
As for the Disney Dining Plan, you can find many great resources, including a list of participating restaurants
here.
Bon appetit Carrie, and don't hesitate to come back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel with any other questions you might have- we love to help!
See ya real soon,
Anne