Hello, Meredith!
Welcome to planDisney! Traveling with a group can be so much fun. I have taken a few trips with extended family and friends. The memories you make will last a lifetime. Be sure to plan a group photo or two in advance. You will be surprised at how quickly time flies by in the magic, and you may forget during all of the fun. I love asking a
Disney PhotoPass Cast Member to capture these moments so that everyone can be in the shot. If your group has
Memory Maker, all of your professional photos, attraction pictures (and videos), and Magic Shots are included and unlimited. This is the perfect souvenir for everyone.
It sounds like you are off to a great start with your planning. I am so glad to hear that everyone in the travel party has already secured advanced dining reservations. My recommendation would be to call the Disney Dining line directly at (407) WDW-DINE. They can notate your reservation with your request. You can also inquire about large party dining reservations if you did not want to eat separately. Meredith, I would also encourage everyone in your party to arrive at your dining locations a few minutes early. This will give you time to notify the Cast Members at the host stand of your request to be near each other. While Cast Members will do their best to honor your seating accommodations it is not a guarantee.
I also want to encourage you and everyone in your travel party to download the
My Disney Experience app before you arrive. This will make planning together simple and fast. Be sure everyone creates an account and that your whole group is linked to each other. This way if you need to make dining reservation changes on the go or modify your
Disney Park Pass Reservations you can coordinate quickly. Linking your group together will also help you use the new
Disney Genie feature in the app. Genie is your ultimate planning guide for a magical adventure. You can customize your day based on the interests and must-dos of your entire travel party. Genie will gather all of your wishes and create a customized itinerary that will save you time and make a few recommendations that are sure to please along the way. You can also upgrade to Genie+ and save time by skipping the standby lines. Genie+ comes with Lighting Lane access for more than 40 attractions. That can add up to a lot of extra time together on your favorite rides.
I hope that your upcoming adventure is memorable and magical.
See ya real soon!
Tammy