Anyone do WDW *without* any PSs?

[beccasmom]

We just did and it went fine. Perhaps because I am a DVC member, I know I can always try something on the next visit if I miss it this one. There is also not the mad rush there used to be to try all the restaurants at Epcot. We ate lunch at the Rose & Crown and walked right in (albeit at 4:00 pm!). OKW is my home resort and we usually eat one dinner and one lunch there; PS is rarely necessary.

If I'm going with a larger crowd of family members and really want to eat at a particular place, then I will make the extra effort to avoid disappointment. The Crystal Palace seems to be perenially booked, so if that's on our agenda, I will book that ahead of time. Many of our decisions are made on a "what do we feel like tonight?" basis and we proceed accordingly. Sometimes that bombs, but sometimes we find a great place we wouldn't otherwise have considered.

 

[donnsuz]

Just back from WDW and we had some PS in advance, cancelled some I'd made, and made some that day. We never waited at all to be seated but walked right in, but that could be because of where we ate: Marrakesh, Akershus, GF Tea, Rose & Crown and Biergarten. The only crowd we fought was at Pecos Bills and, of course, you can't do PS there anyway. In the future, I kind of agree with the posts that say to just wing it and eat when you're hungry because the time restrictions did kinda get in the way of park touring. Unless your heart is set on a particular restaurant at a busy time you may be able to do without PS.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Our first (and only family trip) trip last Christmas -we didn't even know what a PS was! LOL
We were able to eat anywhere we wanted- granted, that might not be where others consider the "prime" places to eat though. We did the storybook breakfast without a PS, Garden Grill, and the rest weren't character meals.

I also don't think it would work well if we tried to plan a PS for every day or something like that- but this trip I do plan on trying to get a PS for atleast CRT and possibly GF also.... oh and the Garden Grill ice cream social too (did that on my solo trip and I know the kids will like it!) Oh and breakfastosaurus also but only because I also enjoyed that on my solo trip and know the kids will- plus the kids never saw Donald at all on our family trip... and breakfastosaurus is the only place I saw Donald on my solo trip also. But that's probably going to be it- for an 11 day trip. It's really hard to plan more than that with 3 children. If I was alone or just adults- I'd be planning PSs a lot more. Just never can tell when my kids will be tired, not hungry, etc.

 

[gm]

We just came back from 14 days (2 weeks in June) and did not make any ps in advance. When we got to the hotel, I just called dining reservations and made ps's for the same day and next day. I did this every couple of days and got every reservation I wanted including same day except 1900 Park Fair Princess Dinner. They only had a 9:50 PS which was too late for me but everyday I tried 1900 Park Fair and it was always full(I am sure if we walked up we would have got in but we did not want to go all the way there and be dissapointed).

I made Crystal Palace the same day we went and my ps was for opening time and boy am I glad I had a ps because the lines were humongous for walk ins.

Of course I tried Cindys Breakfast, but no such luck but got every other ps I wanted. I did a restaurant review here on the restaurants we ate in.

 

[LovesHauntedMansion]

I've never made a PS for any of my trips. We usually eat fast food. I don't go to Disney to eat. I can eat food that tastes way better and is cheaper near home. If we are near a sitdown restaurant close to meal time, we'll check in to see if they have an opening soon. If not we'll find somewhere else to eat. Believe me, we've never had to miss a meal. One bit of advice is to eat at times when not everybody is trying to eat.

Often when I read trip reports, it seems like people are running from one end of WDW to the other trying to get to a restaurant at a certain time. Somewhere in the trip reports you will usually see something like this: "My DH, DS, or DD wanted to do ____, but we had to start getting ready or catch a bus for our 7:00 meal at ________". Or, "We were tired, but we had to get up at 6:00 in order to eat breakfast at ______". I get tired just reading about all this going back and forth for 3 meals a day.

 

[michygoomy]

Often when I read trip reports, it seems like people are running from one end of WDW to the other trying to get to a restaurant at a certain time. Somewhere in the trip reports you will usually see something like this: "My DH, DS, or DD wanted to do ____, but we had to start getting ready or catch a bus for our 7:00 meal at ________". Or, "We were tired, but we had to get up at 6:00 in order to eat breakfast at ______". I get tired just reading about all this going back and forth for 3 meals a day.

That is exactly the kind of thing that prompted this question from me. I just don't see us doing that with my family's 'touring style'. If I have to eat two hamburgers a day to avoid that situation, so be it. I even have a 'weight cushion' built in in anticipated of the expected gain!

And as for getting a rest and cooling off, that's why we're building in big breaks back at the hotel in the middle of the day.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I'll try to come back and share how this non-PS strategy worked for my family.......

 

[Cindy B]

This will be our fourth trip. THe first one, no PS. 2nd & 3rd only one PS, and it was breakfast (Chef Mickey's)


We are going next month and we were kicking around the idea of a PS... but the majority of my family couldn't really care about food. MY DD only eats mac & cheese. DS said the character breakfasts were too distracting... "I was trying to eat MOM!"


So this trip, we will be armed with Q& C vouchers, and going with the flow. I won't put too much stock in the counter services being jammed.. there are many choices in most parks (STUDIOS being the exception) and if it is crowded, we do other things.

 

[lucysdad]

Well, I am just betwixt and between. I'm going back to WDW on the Fairytale Package with just my daughter and we were hoping for a more low key trip than the one we just took with the family in June that include two PS reservations every day. So we haven't made any reservations. Maybe we should, but I hated the way our day was dictated by the PS times. Nah, we're just going to wing it and see what comes.

 

[Scottwdw]

You know there's nothing wrong with not making a PS.

It's interesting how people use or not use the Priority Seating system. Some like to plan months in advance while others just wing it. Priority Seatings are very flexible and do something very similiar to a FastPass; cuts down your wait time to eat.

So, how do I use the PS system, you ask (I know but someone is bound to ask)? Well, let me say, ALL OF THE ABOVE and ALL OF THE BELOW ways we've all explained here.

My family will plan what day we will be at each park during our WDW trip. Once that is established, we determine is there is any restaurants we want to eat at. We enjoy WDW restaurant theming and food very much and look forward to it as much as the attractions. From there we make our PS list. I for one don't need to eat more than one sit down meal a day. But, we might do two if it's an early breakfast and a late dinner.

Now, once at WDW, we may change our schedule based on new information, shows or special events. In that case, WDW Dining is just a phone call away from our room or park pay phone (*88, I believe) to either cancel, change or add a PS.

Even if you call an hour in advance, it will probably save you a longer wait.

Here's some tips:

If you are eating dinner anywhere in World Showcase on a Friday or Saturday, you should make a PS no matter what time of year. WDW has a special dinner pass for Florida residents for Epcot restaurants.

All character meals need a PS, IMO. I read all the time about Chef Mickey's, LTT, 'Ohana, 1900 Park Fare, etc. having long waits or people being turned away without a PS.

If WDW Dining doesn't require a credit card hold or deposit, and you decide at the last minute you don't want it. Just don't show up. Priority Seating is defined as the next available table for your party size once you check in. If you don't check in, the table will go to the next checked in guest or walk up.

And, lastly, if it's a restaurant you have your heart set on, make a PS. Why be disappointed?

Oh, and for the latest PS info, visit my site (couldn't resist!! )

Happy Planning!

 

[FloridaCat]

We just return and we only made one PS for CP at MK. Arrived thirty minutes early and was seated right away so we did not even need that. Lady behind me told the CM she did not have a PS and was seated at the next table.

 

[nicolep91]

Originally posted by Cindy B
DS said the character breakfasts were too distracting... "I was trying to eat MOM!"

That's hilarious!!! I can see my son saying the same thing - he's all about the food!

Regarding PS's, I only plan on making a couple. One for the Rainforest Cafe at DTD the day we get in, since we're going to DTD and not to a park that day and I've heard the waits there can be horrendous. I'll probably make one for lunch in the castle the day we're planning on being at MK since I know that can have a big crowd too. Other than that, we'll probably wing it too. My DH doesn't like our vacations to be "too structured".

 

[>>^..^<<]

If done properly PS's are a blessing...

You shouldn't build your trip around where you want to eat but you can compliment your plans by adding some favourite meals.

I plan my basic itinerary first (ie) Monday MK, Tuesday MGM... etc etc..

Then I look at it - well you have to eat anyway? why subject yourself to lines and indecisivness... have a plan - pick a time where you know you are going to be.

If you dont show up for a PS ~ it's not the end of the world ~ you don't get fined or anything

Sometimes when we snack too much ~ we are not hungry for our ps - it's no big deal ~ just don't go.

But I agree - you shouldn't make too many PS's at opposite ends of the parks/resorts stressing to get from one to the other.

To those who never make PS's ~ can you honestly say there has never been a time when the park had been packed and you were hungry and wished you had one? ~ it makes life so much easier.

>>^..^<<

 

[Santa]

The only PS I have ever done is for HDD. The rest of the time we just walk up. No matter if it is sit down or counter service.

 

[Pryncess'mom]

We do a little of both. We usually plan a couple nice dinners with PS and do the rest counter service. But after last year, when we go home nobody ate French fries for several months!!!

 

[eeyore0062]

Yes, we have lucked into some good restaurants without PS, but just know, that the possibility of getting the more popular ones without a long wait is fairly slim. Some of the ones we have gone to without long time prior PS were Mama Melrose for lunch, Garden Grille for lunch, Kona Cafe for lunch, or very early dinner, Concourse Steak House for dinner, Big River Grille and Brewing Works for lunch, Tempura Kiku for late lunch and Planet Hollywood for early lunch.

 

[gina2000]

We do make PS arrangements before we leave....usually for dinner every day. There are alot of restaurants we don't feel we could get into w/o them (California Grill, FF to name 2). We usually eat breakfast and dinner one day, lunch the next. This way we're not stuffing ourselves for most of the trip.

I can't do counter service the whole trip. I'm too tempted to eat burgers and fries the whole time.

 

[>>^..^<<]

eeyore0062 has some good advice ~ you will definatlye have less of a wait if you eat at odd hours... like lunch at 11:00am or 2:00pm... dinner at 3:00pm or 8:00pm-9:00pm.

FYI - Big River Grille and Brew works does not take PS's - it is walk in only ~ perhaps it used to take them, but not at the moment - (I tried and then switched to Spoodles)

>>^..^<<

 

[crazelion]

When I went for this past Fourth of July I did not make a one PS seating because I knew I did not like all that strange food. so this what I did:

Planet Hollywood at a off time like 12:00 a.m. in the mourning and got seat right away.

Houses Of Blues at again 12:00 am.m in the mounring with no wait.

Trails End Buffet at early at 4:00p.m. with no wait at all.

MC Donalds at Downtown Disney at 11:00 p.m. with no wait at all.

I had snacks into between.

The reason I did this I never when hungry is stike that way I don't waste time with PS seating. I just grab what's available.

 

[hellow]

PS's have their place. We visited during Christmas, and our large group of 10 ppl were able to eat at all the places we wanted to without any problem--because we had our PS. I remember on Christmas Eve at LaCellier we had a PS early in the evening and the CM told everyone who walked up that unless they had a PS, there was no way they would get in at all that night.

The size of your group makes a big difference, too, in whether you should have them. We are a family of 5, and have had to wait quite a long time for restaurants (even on off times) if we don't have a PS. On the other hand, when it was just me and my husband, we laughed about "the power of two" where we never had to wait at all for any restaurants.

Everything in moderation is our plan. We will make a few PS's for some special meals (one or two for the whole week) and wing it the rest of the time.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about all this!

 

[nanalisa]

The only time I make a PS before I leave for WDW is CRT - and twice is enough for that. We just never know which park we are going to much less what restaurant. If there is a place we really want to go to I will make a PS the night before or the morning of. I think the trick is to avoid your typical eating times - and since we can't ever seem to get going in the morning (we are such bad WDWers) eating at odd times never seems to be a problem.

LOL my kids and now granddaughter are the same as an earlier poster regarding character meals. They never ate a thing - they were much too distracted. I have priceless pictures and memories but we have really cut back on them. Wow, that sounded mean of me. Maybe a couple wouldn't hurt. She can eat when she gets home