How can I make plans and reservations for a group outside my reservation but connected by Family and Friends? 4 of us on 1 reservation travelling with 2 others on another reservation. Want to book everything as group of 6. Thanks!”

Hi PJ,

Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Hooray for planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort!

As long as everyone in your group is connected through your My Family & Friends list in My Disney Experience, you should be able to plan together. If you need to connect to another guest, click on the My Family & Friends list and select Add a Guest. I usually invite friends to connect by entering their name and age. Then I enter the email address associated with their My Disney Experience account. When adding or updating a guest, be sure that you have selected the option to share all plans including PhotoPass Photos. When I plan for a group, as long as we are connected, when I go to make advanced dining reservations and FastPass+ selections, I can select everyone that needs to be in our dining or FastPass+ party from my Family & Friends list. If you have trouble connecting members of your party, contact a Cast member in Website Support at 407-939-4357.

When we travel with extended family and friends, I have to remember that it takes a little longer for us to move through the parks, so just keep that in mind as you make those plans. Dinner, for example, could take up to two hours. Pay attention to the geography of your plans so that you are making FastPass+ selections in an order that is most efficient. For example, we will typically do Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain in that order. Or, we would make FastPass+ selections for Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway, and then Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Afterwards, we might do lunch at Tony's Town Square Restaurant for the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade Dining Package. 

PJ, also remember that making dining reservations for a party of six might be challenging, so be sure to get online at 180 days prior to your visit to make reservations! Even if you cannot get an optimal time, reserve the best time available and keep checking. I have often been able to modify reservations as we get closer to our trip although, with some restaurants, that may not be possible. On our last visit, I did not touch our Cinderella's Royal Table or Be Our Guest Restaurant reservations because those are so hard to get!

Sending pixie dust and patience as you plan for a larger group!

Magic and memories,
Donyell