Hiya, Julie! Welcome to planDisney!
It sounds like you’re planning a fun trip! I recently came back from
Walt Disney World Resort traveling with several friends as well, and we had a blast. While we spent a lot of time together, there were definitely moments when we were separated for hours at a time, if not more.
You can definitely make dining reservations for 5 Guests, and you do not need to link them to the reservations, so individual accounts are not required for that purpose. However, to fully answer your question, I strongly recommend that each Guest has their
own account created and the My Disney Experience app downloaded on their device.
The
My Disney Experience app is a wealth of information and features that make navigating the parks much easier. From the app, you can access your tickets, check attraction and restaurant wait times, mobile order food, book Lightning Lanes, view PhotoPass and attraction photos, and use the map to locate restrooms and water bottle refill stations, just to name a few. I would feel lost in the parks without the app. In my opinion, it’s a must!
Each Guest, or subset of your party, will certainly appreciate having access to the app so that they can view their plans on the go and navigate Walt Disney World Resort property independently.
That’s the beauty of traveling with other adults. You can enjoy experiences together and still split up throughout the day. I recommend riding attractions like
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind together as a group, since they produce some great photos that are fun keepsakes!
I hope this answers your question, Julie, and that you have an amazing time with your party of 5! If you have any other questions as you continue to plan your trip, come back and see us here at
planDisney!
Happy planning!
Olivier