Do I REALLY need a PS? Please critique my plans!

[Pig Pen]

This is our tentative meal plan for our off-season trip in September. I hate to put anything in stone as we are certain to change our minds at the last minute. So, do you think I REALLY need a PS for any of these (besides Fantasmic)?

We are very light breakfast eaters and plan to have fruit, yogurt, etc., in our room in the a.m. We are not interested in character breakfasts and we really like buffets. DH is allergic to seafood.

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Thurs, Sept 19 - Arrive Orlando late afternoon after 2 days of driving, stay offsite, WATCH SURVIVOR PREMIERE, go to bed

Fri, Sept 20 - a.m. check into CSR, mid morning snack @ Pepper Mkt, catch parade at AK, EARLIEST POSSIBLE DINNER AT BOMA.

Sat, Sept 21 - Morning @ MGM, midday break at CSR, late lunch/early dinner at Trail's End - MK - catch Fantasy in the Sky!

Sun, Sept 22 - sleep late, check into Dolphin, EPCOT - LATE lunch @ Biergarten, stay for Illuminations - late p.m. snack at Boardwalk or hotel.

Mon, Sept 23 - morning @ MK, ret to Dolphin for pool time & snack @ Tubbi's. Evening @ MGM - Fantasmic dinner pkg (have not selected restaurant yet)

Tue, Sept 24 - Morning at EPCOT, lite lunch @ Beaches & Cream, return to Dolphin for afternoon break, late dinner at Ohanas, watch EWP from Poly beach

Wed, Sept 25 - Morning @ MK, return to Dolphin, EPCOT - late lunch @ Akerhaus, Illuminations

Thurs, Sept 26 - Morning @ MGM, Evening at EPCOT, Illuminations
(any suggestions for this day?)

Fri, Sept 27 - Morning @ MK, midday break - lunch on Boardwalk or hotel, evening at MGM - catch Fantasmic again.

 

[Deniseibase]

I don't know about the others, but from what I understand 'Ohanas gets pretty full up, even in the off-season - you might want to make a PS for there just in case!

Denise

 

[drusba]

Though I am not going to comment on your schedule as you are highly likely to vary from it once you are there, be aware of the following:

1. Make any Fantasmic dinner ressie as soon as you get there (you cannot make one before you arrive). Times for that tend to fill by three days in advance except for 4 to 4:45 times.

2. For any prime time dinner times -- 5 and after -- you should attempt to make ressies but you really don't need to make them until day before or morning of to get almost anything you want that time of year (except for character meals which require more lead time); sometimes you can get in as a walk-in but safest is to have a ressie.

3. At most places, if you are going to go between rush lunch hours (about 11:30 to 1:30) and 5, you can usually get in very easy without a ressie.

 

[sha_lyn]

For Boma and 'Ohana's call now. You might be lucky and get in at 30ish days out.

For the others try calling guest services form you room that AM or make the PS's when you arrive at the park. You can do this at Guest services at each park, and they can do it for any of the WDW resturants, not just the ones in that park. In fact I book Fantasmic from MK.

On Sunday do an early dinner at Biergarten instead. The bigger dinner show doesn't start until 5 or so.

Personally you have way too much park hopping for my taste. If this is your first trip, you might want to stay in one park for most fo the day.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I don't think I've ever seen 'Ohana full. I wouldn't worry about it unless it was a holiday...

Sounds like a good plan!

 

[disney queen]

just a reminder....the first part of your trip will be during the epcot pin event, which is sold out. more people than usual during that week-end. you might want to consider PS for that week-end for sure; we have our PS made for that week-end. having said that, we always have PS when we go in december and it is the slow part of the month. i would rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them or can't get them. how about le cellier or marrakesh for the evening of illuminations? we enjoy both! or even teppanyki in japan. you will definitely need PS at canada and japan. have a great trip!

 

[marn913]

I would definitely get PS for Ohana - it can be crowded and also, you will probably get a table next to the window with a better view of the fireworks!

 

[Dana_Buckley]

For your dinner before Illuminations you could just stroll about, snacking your way through WS. There are several threads about what is very good. I liked bratwurst at Germany & lamb sandwich at Morocco. Others recommend fish n chips at England.
Have a great vacation!

 

[Rpsemont]

Just an item to note - when were were there in Mar, they were only offering us 3:45PM dinner times for Brown Derby for Fantasmic package. I really wanted to see the parade so I just made a 4:30 PS. When we got to the table I explained to our waiter the situation and we ended up with the Fantamic "passes"

 

[Pig Pen]

This will be our first trip where we will try to take the midday rest break. Due to the short hours at MK, we plan to start most mornings there and end up at MGM or EPCOT in the evenings. We usually do not park hop at all!

This is why I want to make as few PS as possible in case we decide to change our touring strategy.

We've been to WDW many times so we have a good idea of the layout and what to expect for crowds, but we have not stayed on-site often and rarely ate there (except for fast food).

I will seriously consider making a PS for O'hana and Boma.