Dining ?? reservations or no and recommendations please

[cavesrus]

When i booked the trip the CM said i didnt need to make reservations like u do at disney is this correct if i do make them when can i start making the reservations arrive at resort march 9th

Any places you like or didnt like would be helpful first time to US we are staying from the 9-13. huge harry potter fans. etc

TY in advance
Aaron

 

[Sakurachaek]

Eat at the Leaky Cauldron!! (No reservations)

 

[BrotherCraig]

Universal has their restaurants listed, including resorts and citywalk, and it has the links to make reservations. No, it is not like Disney. It is not a bloodbath battle for a reservation. OpenTable is another place for reservations at many of the restaurants there. There are also many good places right off site. With that said, the Harry Potter inside park restaurants - Leaky Cauldron and Three Broomsticks, no reservations for those two. Walk-in. I had zero issues during Thanksgiving week. Had a whole section at Three Broomsticks to myself. Mythos - reservations is highly recommended. Orlando Informer has a page dedicated to the restaurants there with reservation links and info. It was a HUGE help for us. https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/dining-reservations/

 

[Lynne G]

Unless it’s a busy time or you want a specific time to eat, you can usually make reservations a few days or day of, or even walk up. In more busy times, I’d make sure to make a reservation before you arrive. Unlike Disney, it’s not usually 60 days out that’s available and no charge if you cancel or no show. But be nice and cancel when knowing not wanting to go.

Around Christmas time, we were glad to make reservations weeks ahead. Going in slower time days, I just make a reservation a few days out or day of, even though may not have to. Most likely don’t need to do that, but sometimes I like to know I’ll be able to eat there when I want, or can change the day and/or time on the fly after making a reservation.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Eat at the Leaky Cauldron!! (No reservations)

Leaky Cauldron does require pay ahead for breakfast. If you are staying on-site head to the vacation planning desk.

I don’t know if it’s changed since I went in September but this was the issue.


If you want a very typical time for dinner, then yes reserve for the restaurants on city walk. Other than that, off you eat at an off time like 8 you can very easily get into BigFire and other places

 

[Kestryl]

We’ve been to Universal three times in the past year. Depending on where you want to eat, yes, make reservations. It used to be you could pretty much walk up and get a table, but dining has been hectic and people were absolutely turned away while we waited for our reserved tables, so don’t trust that.

That said, you should be able to make reservations much closer to your actual trip. It’s not as ridiculous as Disney.

Some recommendations:

Islands of Adventure. For table service, we’ve done both Mythos and Confisco Grill. Both recommended by us. Mythos is overhyped in our opinion, but I can’t deny that it’s very good. For quick service… look, I love Harry Potter. The Three Broomsticks is… ok. Every time we’ve eaten there (even pre-covid) has been chaotic, in a negative way. I’m sure they’re better now, but back last March we waited something like 30 minutes to sit, then another hour to get our food, despite having mobile order. It may be better now. Get more recent opinions. On the flip side, Thunder Falls Terrace in Jurassic Park was fantastic and easy, and has some of the same food as The Three Broomsticks.

In Universal Studios, we’ve done table service at Lombard’s, which was pretty good and very relaxing. We’ve had less issues with the Leaky Cauldron compared to Three Broomsticks, but it can still be chaotic.

CityWalk has a TON of options. We’ve never done Toothsome, but if that’s something you’re interested in, definitely make a reservation- we’ve seen lines extended down the walkway pretty much every time we’ve been by. The Bob Marley place doesn’t get as much credit as it should, so I’m going to recommend that.

And don’t discount resort options. Where are you staying? We’re Cabana Bay regulars, and honestly the food court is pretty dang good. We always get food from there or The Hideaway (pool bar and grille) a few times each trip and we’ve never been disappointed.

 

[Kestryl]

OH. I just remembered. I really like the ice cream from Florian Fortescue in Diagon Alley, but the line is absolute molasses. I do not understand why they cannot figure out how to move that line. I shouldn’t have to wait 30 minutes with only 10 people in front of me. It’s worth it at least once, just know that you have to budget some time for it.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

OH. I just remembered. I really like the ice cream from Florian Fortescue in Diagon Alley, but the line is absolute molasses. I do not understand why they cannot figure out how to move that line. I shouldn’t have to wait 30 minutes with only 10 people in front of me. It’s worth it at least once, just know that you have to budget some time for it.

I’m September when I went they kind of reconfigured it due to Covid and it moves a lot faster now

 

[Kestryl]

I’m September when I went they kind of reconfigured it due to Covid and it moves a lot faster now

That’s reassuring. When we went in July it was awful. Which yeah, it’s July, but we had the same issue in March.

 

[CynBeth]

We were just there for a few days the week before Thanksgiving and made no reservations. We ate at Today Cafe, Richter’s Burgers, and Mel’s plus a table service meal at Finnegan’s.

 

[Dawn Peterson]

I would make a reservation for dinner if you are interested inToothsome or Big Fire. Those places feel harder to get less than a week out. Also be careful of dinner on Friday or Saturday if the location is in city walk. I have run into being unable to get anything before 8:30 at several city walk locations for dinner on the weekend. Rest of the time you are probably fine.

 

[Etch]

How does the priority seating work when you're staying at one of the premier hotels? Is there always seats available or can you be turned away? Is the priority seating available at all Universal restaurants?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Priority seating is iffy at best since Covid. Do not plan on it being any noticible benefit.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I would definitely make reservations for places you know to want to eat. Even before Covid, priority seating did not get us much benefit because we’re a party of 5. It seems like it works best for parties of 4 or less. It cut off 10 minutes on a 40 minute wait for us at Toothsome’s and Margaritaville told us they couldn’t cut any time off during busy times.

 

[bchbetha]

Make a lunch reservation so you can have a meal with no wait. It's a nice way to break up the day.

 

[cschaaf]

How does the priority seating work when you're staying at one of the premier hotels? Is there always seats available or can you be turned away? Is the priority seating available at all Universal restaurants?

Priority seating is iffy at best since Covid. Do not plan on it being any noticible benefit.

We used priority seating a few times on past trips, but starting with our 2018 trip, it's been iffy. We didn't even bother asking on our covid trips.

In 2018, we tried when there was a 20 minute wait at Mythos and were told they only do it if the wait is over an hour and it would reduce the wait to ~30 minutes. Prior trips, we had 20 minute / 40 minute waits drop to 5 minutes.

We tried at Toothsome one night when it was a 90 minute wait. They said it would take 5 minutes off of the wait. We walked to Vivo and that had a 50 minute wait - priority seating dropped it to 40 minutes.

We asked one time on our next trip and got a similar answer, so we don't bother anymore. If the wait is too long, we just go to NBC Grill or, our favorite, Red Oven where the waits are usually short.

 

[mamapenguin]

Leaky Cauldron does require pay ahead for breakfast. If you are staying on-site head to the vacation planning desk.

I don’t know if it’s changed since I went in September but this was the issue.


If you want a very typical time for dinner, then yes reserve for the restaurants on city walk. Other than that, off you eat at an off time like 8 you can very easily get into BigFire and other places

Assuming you have done the leaky cauldron breakfast, how long was the wait? I know about the prepay part, but the line always looks long when we walk by. I’d rather have a reservation, but if the wait isn’t terrible we might give it a try. Next trip is Spring Break, late March.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Assuming you have done the leaky cauldron breakfast, how long was the wait? I know about the prepay part, but the line always looks long when we walk by. I’d rather have a reservation, but if the wait isn’t terrible we might give it a try. Next trip is Spring Break, late March.

In line to ordering maybe just under 10 minutes. Then once you order it’s business as usual where a TM seats you and then it was about 5 minutes after that for food.

 

[cescott]

I wasn't aware of the pay in advance for Leaky Cauldron. Where/how does that get done and can allergy orders (gluten free) be paid for in advance as well? We're staying at RPR starting Sat and hoping to find a way into Leaky Cauldron for breakfast on Sun.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I wasn't aware of the pay in advance for Leaky Cauldron. Where/how does that get done and can allergy orders (gluten free) be paid for in advance as well? We're staying at RPR starting Sat and hoping to find a way into Leaky Cauldron for breakfast on Sun.

Go to the vacation planning desk at RPR they will help you out and pre pay it and give you what looks like a park ticket for each person. The good news is you order your food once you get there so allergy and gluten free accommodations are done once you are there. I’m sure the planning desk will be able to help with that as well.