Anyone do WDW *without* any PSs?

[michygoomy]

Four trips down, and I've never done a PS. Of course, all the trips were shorter than this one, and only one was during summer season.

We have a PS at Chef Mickey's for a late, late breakfast, which in the past we have always done without a PS.

Frankly, we're just not the types to spend a lot of time sitting down for table service--wasting valuable ride time!

Just wondering if anyone else spends a week at Disney without any significant sit-down dinners. I see a lot of threads here about the resteraunts, and frankly, I figure there are lots of places here at home I can go for a nice, relaxing meal.

 

[Connieh]

Hello, My family has been to the world numerous times and it was just this last year that we tried a few PS reservations. I must say it was easier without them and just going with the flow. Counter service was cheaper and more convenient when the children were younger.D

During the hot summer months it was just easier to eat when hungry as opposed to a certain time made months ahead.

We have gotten in to the SciFi Cafe and the 50's Prime time without a ps.

Connie

 

[FreshTressa]

I hear you!!! I can't imagine worrying about what I am going to eat in 2 months. Sit down meals just take away from ride time! And trying to time them....Ugg.

So, we have never done PS's, and never plan to. We usually do breakfast in our room (instant oatmeal, breakfast bars) bring pb and j and grapes and bananas in for lunch and do counter service or off site for dinner.

For us, Disney is not about the food. There is too much to do to worry about eating!!!!

And it costs so much, money you could spend on MORE DISNEY!

 

[tarabl]

For us PSs = STRESS Watching the clock to figure out what to schedule around them just isn't worth it for us. Our favorite place to eat is COSMIC RAYS at MK.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I do... I make the plans when I get there.. as we never know where we want to eat or go... depends on the mood...it works for us.

 

[mickeysaver]

Our first get away together was only for 3 days down there and we had no PS's. Nothing went horribly wrong, but we did wait 90+ minutes for RFC at DTD. This was regular season, but the crowds were really low.

Our last trip was for a week. We had only one dinner PS and the same night, we had a PS for a carriage ride at FW. This was value season and the crowds were low.

This year, we will be there again for a week. It's value season that ends in peak season. I have MVMCP tickets and a PS for dinner that night. I also have a Mickey's Backyard BBQ PS. I also plan to make a PS for the Candlelight Processional and maybe doing it for an additional night that we have something special planned for and really wanted to eat at Epcot, but didn't want to deal with the hassle of winging a PS. I think it's going to be interesting trying to make this work with our usual laid back approach to vacationing. But, I don't want to miss certain things and this will help keep us on track. I hope. Mickey

 

[Corinne]

After so many trips to WDW, we are not park commando any longer. We definitely enjoy taking time out from the parks and enjoying a meal. We do not spend hours in any restaurant, but it is a nice break. I don't usually make a lot of PS ress. but I will make a few, we wing it and make them if we feel like it when we are there.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We just returned from a week at WDW and the crowds were VERY LARGE. There were lines at dinner time everywhere.
Even the breakfast crowds were much larger that I ever experienced.
I understand not wanting to be locked in by a PS, but judging from what we saw last week I suggest you make some for dinner.

 

[gschmerl]

Only make one PS before we went last summer. We LOVE the Flying Fish and wanted to make sure we got in. Other than that we decided that day where we would eat. We do sit down dinners, but had no problem getting PS the day we wanted to eat at most places.

 

[michygoomy]

Thanks for the tip about the current crowds--that's one of my fears--but does it matter if we'd just prefer to have counter service the whole trip or is that a nightmare also?

 

[*123JOANNA123*]

I was of the opinion that PS's aren't like restaurant reservations in that it's no big deal if you don't show. With that in mind, I make the PS's on the chance that we will want a sitdown dinner or lunch on certain days. At least I will have the choice KWIM?

Having done disney a few years back with my mom and dad, I remember long long waits for lunches and not being able to get into certain places (50's diner springs to mind) for meals. I don't stress about having to be in a certain place at a certain time- if lunch doesn't fit with our plans for the day, it's no big deal. At least if we do want lunch/dinner, things are speeded up somewhat.

 

[JudithM]

We rarely make a PS before our trip. We like to be flexible - I have no idea which park we will be at on any given day or what we might be in the mood to eat on any given day .

However, ... last October we met some friends at WDW & she did make PS for the four of us. No problem since they don't go to WDW as often as we do & they had some specific places where they wanted to eat.

In May we had guests with us & talked ahead of time about where we wanted to eat. Once we arrived at WDW I did make some PS.

Also, in hot weather we frequently eat lunch at a sit down restaurant so we can relax & be cool. Plus lunch prices are usually less expensive than dinner prices.

 

[FloridaCat]

Since we live only 30 miles from WDW, we normaly go down on a one day pass. 99% of those coming through the main gate for a day will not have a PS. We have eaten at every major Charactor dining place. The fact is many of the PS are no shows. My thinking is there is going to be more and more requieing a deposit.

I am a big Tigger fan and I had an Airedale that was the DGS of Hector the Pup and I trained & showed him in Obedience shows. His name was Tigger. Last year my DD DGD thought it would be cool to eat at CP and get a picture of me and Tigger. This was around 6:00 PM My DD talked to the CM at the door and she told us to come back at 7:00 PM. Show we hung around, watched the light parade and went in and had a good meal and some laughs.

This year my DD is treating to a week at WI and last Saturday we decided to try for some PS'S. Since this is only a week from checking in I thought our chances were slim to none. My DD & I laid out where we wanted to have diiner at each of the 4 parks, I called and got every one.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We tried counter service a couple of times last week but the places were jammed. We ended up buying some snacks from a vendor in the Studios.
By far the largest crowds we have ever experienced at WDW. Last June (although it was a week earlier) was much quieter.
Good Luck!

 

[michygoomy]

Well, jammed counter service is a little disconcerting.....good thing most of plan involved breakfast in the room and going back to the room midday. Might mean lunches in the room too! Maybe snacks the rest of the day and late dinners.......

 

[JoNo]

When my fiance and I go, we usually do have a PS, but end up not using them. We'll usually end up getting there either way early & not having to use them or we'll find a diff. resteraunt & go in w/o PS's.

 

[nativetxn]

Hi <b>michygoomy</b> Welcome to the DIS. I'm very glad you decided to join us here and I hope you can visit often.

I'm going to move this to our restaurants board for you.

Katholyn

 

[michygoomy]

OK, I consider the question more a 'touring stategy' question rather than a resteraunt question, but I'll go wherever you put me!

 

[mickey7861]

We go to WDW for 3-4 weeks each year and never make a PS in advance. Some days we call in the morning if we'd like a certain place, otherwise we just walk up when we're hungry. We have been touring this way sincce 1985 . We don't have any MUST DO meals we like to just try different ones....and yes after all this time there are still different ones. Last year we tried O'hana for the first time (just walked up, party of 4). We liked it so much we went back again when our friends joined us (party of 12). We waited no more than 5-10 min. either time.

 

[n2mm]

I always do at least one PS a day. I must comment though that everyone (pretty much all) are posting when I "went last year" or my "last trip", I have to say that this summer and fall will be like no other summer and fall. This is the first time Disney has ever done the FTP discount (also the military salute) and I have heard constantly that the crowds are HUGE and the lines are too. I personnally would never recommend to anyone going during this time period to go without PS. We were there in May, before all of the really big crowds and many times during that trip, I watched people get turned away because the restraurants would NOT accept any walk ins (i.e., Hollywood&Vine, 50s Prime Time and Plaza to name a few). During Jan., Sep, and a few other slower times, going with no PS are doable, but not if anyone is going this summer or even in the fall. Unless you like long waits for meals and hamburgers and chix-strips, you better make some PS. Afterall, it doesn't cost anything and they can always be cancelled. I leave soon and have at least 1 PS most days because 11 days of fast food is not my cup of tea.