Dining reservations?

[Vacation_Commander]

My family and I will be at UO the week of March 21st. It is our Spring Break, but I don't know when other Spring Breaks are, so I don't really know how crowded the parks/restaurants are going to be.
I am getting the dining plan, so we will be eating at some table service establishments. Do you think I should make reservations now or do you think we will even need them that time of year?
Thanks in advance for all of the help!

 

[yellowfish78]

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/dining-experiences/reservations
It will be crowded. They don't do dining like Disney does, but reservations would be good to have. I'm not sure how far out they book - I was able to get some for the first week of March. The link above shows which places will/can take reservations. Hope that helps!

 

[cfoxga]

My family and I will be at UO the week of March 21st. It is our Spring Break, but I don't know when other Spring Breaks are, so I don't really know how crowded the parks/restaurants are going to be.
I am getting the dining plan, so we will be eating at some table service establishments. Do you think I should make reservations now or do you think we will even need them that time of year?
Thanks in advance for all of the help!

If you know which restaurants you want and when you want to go there, it doesn't hurt to make a reservation now. In general, we don't make reservations for UO as we are flexible when/where we eat. We just got back from a trip and couldn't get our first choice for Valentine's Day, but were able to walk in at Finneagans...

 

[limace]

Just as an FYI, the full service dining plan will not be a good financial deal odds are-just wanted you to go in with eyes open.

 

[hmcater]

We are going in June and I've already made dining reservations, so you should for sure be able to make them for your trip now.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

I would check that the places you are wanting to get reservations are currently accepting the dining plan as well.

 

[shawthorne44]

Yesterday I did an analysis on when the full service dining plan was worthwhile. That plan is like the regular QS plan, but with an added FS Meal. I subtracted the two, so the pre-tax cost of the meal has to be $39. Assuming you buy the most expensive beverage ($5) and that the dessert, which is "Chef-Selected" will probably be a Brookie with an estimated value of ($4). So, your entrée has to cost at least $30. If you have Preferred or Premier passes, it would have to be more because you can't buy the plan with the discount, but paying directly you get a discount of 10% or 15%. From looking at menus, Bigfire seems to be only place to make it worthwhile. The rules are "Entree can be anything not lobster." I asked if shakes were desserts and I was told the restaurants decide. So for calculations, I assume that means No. Bigfire has a 24 oz T-bone that is very expensive, and several others in the high-30's.

The QS Plan has been good to us though. Getting two snacks on each plan makes it worthwhile.

 

[Vacation_Commander]

Thank you everyone for the great info so far!

 

[PantherPete]

I would make reservations. About a month out should be fine. It will prevent you from having to wait too long for a table.