Hey There, Hi There, Ho There, Melinda!
You're as welcome as can be here at planDisney! Thanks for dropping by with your question today. With a traveling party of 11, it sounds like you're in for some BIG fun during your upcoming visit to Walt Disney World Resort. Like you, my family often travels together as a big group, and while it may take a little extra strategizing and planning to get everything situated, the laughs and the memories make all of that work worth it!
I'm excited to hear that you're considering
Chef Mickey's during your Walt Disney World vacation. Many years ago, this is where my family celebrated my niece's first birthday (the first grandchild for our family) and since then, it's become our go-to spot for every milestone we celebrate at Walt Disney World. Not only will you have a great meal and get a chance to hang with Mickey and all of his pals, but the restaurant's casual, upbeat atmosphere and buffet-style dining make it the perfect place to gather as one big group. And here's the best part –– since Chef Mickey's is located at
Disney's Contemporary Resort, you won't need a park ticket to enjoy all the fun. In fact, my dad doesn't go into the park very often during our visits, so Chef Mickey's is the perfect way for him to enjoy seeing all of his grandchildren interact with their favorite characters without having to pay for theme park admission for just a dining reservation. Plus, big groups are definitely welcome –– we celebrated my twins' last birthday at Chef Mickey's as a party of 12 and we weren't even the biggest group in the restaurant.
While
advance dining reservations for a big group can be challenging to find sometimes, just keep checking back if you can't find what you need right away. Also, you might want to consider looking for reservations for two (or even three) smaller parties around the same time. Once you arrive at the restaurant, you can let a Cast Member know that you're traveling as one big party and request to be seated together or near one another. While this isn't guaranteed, I can tell you that I've always had great luck with this in the past. Just keep in mind that it might take a few extra minutes for tables together to clear out, so be sure to pack your patience along with your appetite!
Thanks for visiting planDisney, Melinda. I hope this helped to answer your question and I'm wishing you lots of delicious dishes during your upcoming visit to Walt Disney World Resort!
See Ya Real Soon,
Amy