Maybe my experience at Crystal Palace is why people flip out on how long it takes to get through tables. It will make a world of difference in patience if the CM's have told the party at seating time, "it's about 40 minutes to see all the Characters", you've eaten 3 plates of food, and you're STILL waiting on one character. You've waited 15 minutes for this Character to get to your table, now time is ticking down for your Ride FP+ and you have half an hour to traverse a massive Park (with disabled adults and a small person) or you will lose your FP+. Not to mention, you know the first bathroom you pass, everyone will need to stand in THAT line too!!!
And that family over there is creating some sort of karaoke video with Piglet!!! And then they need to take pictures of each kid, alternating with a sibling or cousin... holy moly, at this point, I'm like, "wish MemoryMaker would just GIVE them the restaurant camera footage, this is insane..." Finally Piglet did come to us, but was being reminded by the handlers about every 2 seconds, "the Parade! we gotta do the Parade!" so I was glad I wasn't taking video footage! We got hugs and a semi-group picture (orrrrrr what happens when four people glomp onto Piglet simultaneously and take the picture they get) before Piglet was almost dragged over to start the Character Parade.
If you have a large group, please please please figure out what will work the fastest logistically. Get all the Sharpies out with caps pointed the right way, get all the wet wipes ready, let the kids eat second after meeting the Characters, whatever it takes, but please remember you are not at Disney all by yourselves... for some, the anxiety of having very tight schedules messed with is a recipe for disaster and meltdown. Which is also a feature of large groups so it works very smoothly for everyone if you can get your larger group somewhat organized... don't be that family who has the baby wedged in the stroller and then only after Mickey shows up, they lift the baby up and try to get the Ears/costume on and take photos. Hold up the baby for Mickey to see... as he is walking up to your table...