Hi, Mary! Thanks for bringing your question to planDisney!
Is there any better place to celebrate a birthday than Walt Disney World Resort? You and your sister are sure to make some special birthday memories together, and bringing along a large group to celebrate with you will make this trip even more fun!
If you take a look at the top of the screen on the
Walt Disney World Resort website, you'll see "Build Your Vacation." You can enter your travel dates and the number of Guests in your party to check
Disney Resorts Collection hotel availability. With a group of 12, you could book three standard rooms at any resort hotel that has availability. If you prefer a larger room that can accommodate more Guests, you might want to look into booking a couple of family suites at
Disney's Art of Animation Resort. Another option would be the
Deluxe Villas found at several resort hotels. The Deluxe Villas vary in size, so you might need to book a couple of smaller villas. However, there are some Grand Villas that can accommodate up to 12 Guests. If you need some help choosing a resort, our
planDisney Resort Hotels Pocket Guides are a great resource.
When planning for a large group, making
dining reservations can pose a bit of a challenge. Dining reservations are available 60 days in advance, and I recommend booking as soon as possible. When I visit Walt Disney World Resort with a large group, I find that it's easiest to break up into smaller groups when making dining reservations. Most restaurants don't have a lot of tables that are large enough for a party of 12, so you may not find much availability. I recommend working with a couple of people in your group to book your reservations. You can try to make two reservations for parties of six or three reservations for parties of 4, and try to select similar reservation times at the same restaurant. When you check in for your dining reservations, let the Cast Members know that your parties are together. While there's no guarantee that you can be seated together, in my experience, the Cast Members will do their best to place your parties near one another.
Since you and your sister are celebrating a milestone birthday, take a look at the
Enchanting Extras Collection for some ways to make your occasion even more magical. Also, don't forget to pick up complimentary birthday buttons at the
front desk of your resort hotel or at any
Guest Relations location. All of the well-wishes you receive when wearing your birthday buttons will add some extra pixie dust to your special day!
If you have any additional questions as you're planning your trip, please visit planDisney again. We would love to help you and your sister have the best birthday ever! Have a magical day!
Samantha