Have you ever shown up really early for a PS

[pirateofthecarolinas]

and were seated before your actual PS time?

I couldn't get the approximate times I wanted for some of my PSs so I was wondering if we showed up early (30 min.) if we may get seated faster since it isn't an actual reservation.

Lori

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Yes and No......We showed up 45 minutes early at the Garden Grill and were seated immediately in June 2001. On another trip (Jan. 2004) we arrived 20 minutes early at the Rose and Crown and were seated 5 minutes later than our original PS time.

 

[Kaycee]

It all depends...if it's a really popular restaurant or if you are there during a busy time, you probably won't get seated any earlier by showing up before your PS time. If it's a slower time though, you could get seated earlier. I wouldn't make my plans around getting seated earlier, but if you're in the vicinity of the restaurant anyway and want to check in to see what the wait is, it wouldn't hurt anything.

 

[Pooh667]

It is actually a good idea many times to show up about 15 or 20 min ahead of your PS time. In the past we usually get seated sooner that way. The only time we did this was our last trip, one month ago. We had 5:20pm PS for CP and had missed lunch due to traveling so as we were passing CP on our way into the MK at 4pm (when they just started dinner), I went up and asked if we could get seated early and the CM said ok and gave me a buzzer. We got seated about 20 min later which was about one hour before our scheduled time.
I

 

[diathoney]

If you ask, the hostess will tell you if they are busy and seating by PS time or whether they can get you in right away.

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by pirateofthecarolinas
and were seated before your actual PS time?
Lori

Many, many times....but I agree that it depends on how busy the restaurant is at that time. If all tables are full...you'll obviously end up waiting.

My son and his fiancee showed up early at SciFi and were told that they would not be seated before the PS time at the earliest. In many, many years of WDW dining, this was the first time that happened. They cancelled and move on.

I think that it helps WDW to seat guests who have arrived early with a PS as soon as possible. Leaves later spots open for those who are running late or even for walkins.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We had the same experience. We almost always show up early for our PS and almost always have been seated when we arrive.
But on occasion the place is busy, so we wind up waiting--.

 

[KatieKate16]

No idea, but I try to arrive early. We did get to the Sci-Fi nearly 2 hours late and they seated us right away! Long story...just remember where you parked your car if you're park hopping!!

 

[ILUVDXL]

Almost every time we've shown up early we've been seated in minutes. The only time I can remeber we weren't was on a particularly busy night at Le Celier.

 

[momxx5]

We arrived almost 1 hr early for Sci-Fi. We watched the parade and everyone was hungry so we though we would try. Our PS was for 4:55.

They were extremely busy and told us to come back 5 min before PS. We were seated on time for our PS, but not early.

At Chef Mickeys and L'Afredos, and PSB breakfast we were seated ahead of our PS time, but about 15 minutes.

 

[mom_rules]

depends on the time of the PS-for example HBD doesn't serve dinner before 4:00pm (I think?) so if you showed up early (like we did) you would just end up waiting.

 

[shellybaxter]

I think right after the parade in MGM is a bad time to show it early. We tried that at Primetime 50s and were told there was no way we would be seated before our original PS. We've never tried to get in early anywhere else.

I wonder about MGM though. Do you all think they have enough food options? Everyone always seems to have trouble getting PS for the times they want and that is the park it seems hardest to "walk up" in. Is it just that the Primetime and SciFi are so popular, or are there not enough other choices?

Shelly