ADR for 9? or should I try and split into 2 different parties?

[TongaToast21]

In December we will be traveling in a large-ish party (9 people total)... CRT and Storybook are two of the harder to get ADR's we are gunning for....

Should we shoot for 1 table of 9? Or will we have better chances if we try and do two different reservations of 4 and 5? Two of us will be trying right at 7 AM/ 180 days out, so we'll probably try both methods. Has anyone had luck with large parties at the tougher ADR spots?

 

[Weather_Lady]

When I couldn't get a CRT reservation for a party of 6 (actually, my problem was due to a glitch in MDE that day, and not to my party size), I waited the hour until the phone lines opened and called. Although all of the tables for 6 had been snapped up in the meantime, the CM set me up with a reservation for 6 at "split tables" -- meaning a party of 4 and a party of 2, technically at 2 different tables. She said to let the CRT receptionist know when we checked in at the restaurant that we'd like to have adjacent tables that could be pushed together, if possible, or at least 2 tables close to one another. As it happened, they had a 6-top they could give us, so it was no problem. Be aware that adjacent split table requests are like connecting room requests at the hotel: they'll do their best to accommodate you and most of the time you'll get what you're hoping for, but there are no guarantees.

If you can't get an ADR for 9 online when your ADR window opens, I'd go ahead and make 2 reservations (one for 4 and one for 5, etc.) -- and then when the phone lines open, call to confirm whether there's any availability for a party of 9 at one table, and if not, see if you can have your two reservations combined into a single one for 9 at "split tables." That way they'll be linked together in the system, showing you all as one party.

 

[RememberWhen]

We were there last December (21st-28th) with a group of 8 and had no problems getting ADRs for:
Hoop Dee Doo
Crystal Palace
Boma
Cape May Cafe
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Be Our Guest lunch (twice)
Tusker House
Chef Mickey’s

If you don’t get what you want right away, keep checking and check out the touring plans reservation finder (you can make a free account). We had great luck with ADRs for Christmas morning using the Touring Plans finder.

Good luck!