first timer - do we need reservations everywhere?

[MomG]

This will be our first time to WDW - we're taking our 2 4 year olds and the 4 grandparents.

Should I be making dinner reservations for every night we are there?? I really don't know what park we'll be at on what day - is it better to make reservations now or would we be able to just find a restaurant based on what park we are in?? Everyone in our group is pretty easy to please.

We're going Sept 17-23.

Thanks!

 

[Snow Shoe]

Our family has always made PS's for night dining. I've heard of people of just showing up and getting in within a reasonalbe time. But I've also witnessed many a person without a PS, being turned away, or told it would be a 60-90 minute wait. I just like knowing/having that PS for a specific time. Now if this is for a character meal, morning or night, I definitely would.

 

[prncess674]

A table for 8 may be hard to come by at prime eating times. You can call WDW Dining in the morning to make evening ressies. Keep the number for WDW Dine in your cell phone and call ahead before heading to restaurant if nothing else.

 

[wld]

We're more spontaneous and find we don't like alot of PM's way ahead of time. If we want to eat at a specific place we may make the pm in the morning when we decide where we are going. We have been successful doing it this way.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I think that's what I'd do--make "same day" PS based on what particular park I was in. But with 8 people, I don't think I'd just show up.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

My advise would be to try to figure out where you will be on a few nights, or places you really want to dine at and make some PS's. www.wdwig.com is a great resourse for menu's and restaurant information.
We are travelling with a party of 8 in early October, and had somewhat of a difficult time getting tables of 8 and PS's at some restaurants within a reasonable hour of when the kids should eat. Example Chef's Mickey's was glad to seat us at 9:15 pm - which was way too late for the kids.
I would do a combination of making some PS's ahead of time (especially first night and maybe a special last night) and then try the morning of for lunches or dinners at the parks you are at. You can always cancel them the day of if you decide you are not going to dine there that day.

 

[Grumpy92]

The general rule of thumb is that you will need PSs for holidays and the very popular restaurants like Cal Grill or character meals. Otherwise you will be fine. As suggested earlier with a large group dont think about a short wait if you go at 7pm. It is better to think earlier times like 5-6pm. What you might want to do is that morning or the night before discuss your plans and make a quick call to wdwdine from your room. You can get a dining guide from the Front desk when you arrive and that may help you. You also might want to look at the menu site or this board. If there is a restaurant that really interest you go ahead and make a PS and leave the rest of your time flexible.

 

[CindyAnn]

Several years ago we travelled in the wonderfully uncrowded days of mid-January with a party of 10, which included 3 young children. Our experience was that even though the parks were uncrowded, it was very hard to get a table for 10 at a reasonable dining hour (for children) if we tried to make a same day PS. We often had to take our 3rd or 4th choice restaurant, and even then weren't able to eat until 8:00 p.m. or so, when we would have preferred around 6:00 with the kids. During the same trip we didn't have difficulties with our immediate (at that time 3 people) family. I think it would be worthwhile to nail down at least a few of your "must dos" in advance.

 

[TammyC]

My thoughts..

1. You may not want to do many "sit-down" dinners with two 4-year olds.

2. You can make a PS and cancel (or even not show up) with no penalty unless a deposit was required (ex. CRT).

3. If you show up without a PS and find a long wait for a large table, consider splitting up into 2 groups.

4. We find that it helps to have a general plan of what park we will visit each day, but not a minute-by-minute, ride in exact order type of plan. It can be hard for 8 "minds to meet" each morning with no plans.

5. Try to eat at less busy times, and consider doing a large lunch - which is often the same meal but less $, then pizza or something for dinner.

Have fun!