Hard-To-Get PSs

[Artuero]

I'm planning out my family's trip for early February and the 90 day window is just starting to roll. I got a reservation for CRT thanks to the advice on this and the dining board, so thanks a bunch.

Besides CRT and Illuminations cruises, are there other meals/tours/events that "sell out" so quickly? I am particularly interested in the Family Magic Tour at MK, and the Grand Floridian Pirate Cruise and Alice in Wonderland Tea Party. But I actually think it would be useful if people knew generally what they need to schedule in advance and what can wait until later to plan.

Art

 

[cleo]

Chef Mickey's tends to book up for the 'prime' times at both breakfast and dinner. The Princess Storybook Breakfast is now booking up fairly quickly, as do California Grill and Ohana (restaurants with a view of the fireworks, during the time the fireworks are showing).

50's Prime Time and Sci Fi can be slightly difficult during peak dining hours. Boma, though I've never had trouble booking it, is also VERY popular as an out-of-parks option.

Bumping you over to Restaurants for more opinions!

 

[pjlla]

There is a great Priority Seating Calculator here at Disneyinfo.com. If you plug in exactly what meals you are looking for, it will tell you exactly what day to call to get it (whether you need 90 days out, 60 days out, or whatever). Most all of the sit-down restaurants, characters meals and the like take PS. And if you are going to be there during Feb vacation time, you will probably NEED those PS or will be out of luck. Congrats on getting your CRT already though! Anything that you are thinking of doing, book now... you can always cancel later if things change (be sure to do so 48 hrs in advance for the credit card secured ones however). It is better to have too many PS than to be disappointed with none at all....

 

[Tink&Belle's Mom]

I do know that the Wonderland Tea Party and the Pirate Cruise both fill up pretty fast. I did not try calling right at 90 days for these, and when I called around 70-75 days, I could not get my daughters in to either one on the days I wanted. It is a much smaller group allowed for each, for one thing, and is becoming quite popular (or maybe always has been?)

 

[CindyAnn]

I just wanted to second the vote for booking the tea party and pirate cruise as soon as you're able to. While they may not be quite as popular as CRT, they still tend to sell out well in advance. Sorry - haven't tried the family magic tour, so can't help you there.

 

[crisi]

We booked our pirate cruise 90 days out from the final day of our vacation - making all our PSs at once. So about 87 days out from the day of the cruise.

Since I had booked it, I was watching the pirate cruise threads on the board and saw LOTS of disappointed parents and kids trying for a PS for this a month or two out. If you think you are going to do it, make the ressie as soon as possible - no need to wait and you can always cancel. If you aren't sure, don't promise it to your little pirates. It does sell out every trip.

The pirate cruise was a lot of fun for the kids, but did take up an entire morning (and we didn't get to a park until 12:30) and was a little pricey. For the bother, it wasn't the highlight of their trip, but since we've been before and will go again - and my son has been in a pirate stage for two years that is just starting to fade, it was definately worth the time for us. It was also a great way for Mom and Dad to spend some Mom and Dad time - we had brunch over at the Kona Cafe - shopped at the Grand Floridian and Poly shops.

I don't understand why they don't offer this seven days a week - perhaps even twice a day seven days a week (a morning and afternoon run). I talked to one of the CMs and she said there are only three or four cast members doing the children's programs and its a staffing issue - but all of them (Grand Adventures in Cooking, the Tea Party, and the Pirate Cruise) book every single time. You'd think they could double or triple the staff, run all the programs more often, and have fewer disappointed guests. Not to mention 24 kids on the Pirate Cruise is 24 less kids and their parents in line for Peter Pans Flight.

 

[Artuero]

Thanks for moving the topic, cleo. I couldn't figure out whether it was best in restaurants (meal PSs), resorts (Kids' adventures PSs) or theme parks (tour and specialty cruise PSs)

I'm booking things that we definitely want to do as they become available, and then at the end of the week will probably do an itinerary and book other PSs that are not driving our schedule.

I am having great luck thus far, booked another reservation at CRT on the day I prefer with a better time, and surprisingly, after I got off the phone for CRT, I was able to book an illuminations cruise. It could be that I am going during a slow week (first week in February).

My daughter really wants to go on the pirate cruise, that's the only must-do thing I haven't reserved yet.

Thanks for all the info everyone. I agree, crisi, that it would be nice for them to run the Kids' Adventures with more frequency. I'd much rather send the kids there on the weekend rather than take up "less-crowded time" at the parks.

Lately, I have been thinking that the planning is half the fun.

Art

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

The Family Magic Tour is wonderful - we did it early Oct 03. If you have your schedule planned, I would book the FMT as soon as you know what days you want to go to MK.
IMHO you don't want to miss this, it's great value for money and your kids will have a great time (you will too...)
If you have any questions about FMT - just PM me (since this is the Restaurant Board )