How far ahead do I need to make dining reservations?

[Nancyvv]

Only 20 more days and we will be at Disneyland! I'm so excited that I can't stop thinking about it!
I have most things done- tickets bought, room reserved, flights book, airport transportation booked.

I am wondering if I need to make dining reservations and tour restervations now or can I wait until we get to the resort?
We are staying at Paradise Pier Concierge and I think I read that they are nice about helping with dining and tour reservations. But I am wondering if it is safe to wait until we get there or do I need to book further in advance. We want to eat at Carnation Cafe one day and Cafe Orleans on another day. It is hard to decide which days I want to book at this point so I would rather wait until we are there to make the reservations. Can they be made the same day that we plan to go? Also how far should I book tours? We want to do a Hollywood tour and go to Knotts Berry Farm using All Anaheim tours. Can I safely wait until we get to the resort to book these or do you think they will be filled by then?

 

[villain luvr]

I would book now if you have your heart set on certain times. I know when I went I forogt to make reservations at Carnation Cafe. When we walked by I made a reservation and we had to wait for a later time.

 

[skiingfast]

Since you are within the 60days(2month) period where reservations are allowed you should make them.

If you know where you want to eat make them now rather than showing up and needing to wait an hour.

 

[GrandBob]

I agree, make reservations for the more popular places (Blue Bayou, Napa Rose, Carnation Cafe, possibly Cafe Orleans), or if you really need a specific time. For most of the rest, you should be fine until you get there.

-Bob

 

[jimreuter]

The larger your party the earlier you should make reservations. Tables at Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe, and Cafe Orleans are mostly for 4 or fewer - the exception is the Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue, where all the tables seat 6 or 8. Also, the prime dinner hour at Blue Bayou (i.e. 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm) gets booked early, particularly on weekends.

Right now is off peak season, so for lunch (or breakfast at Carnation Cafe) you can probably get a reservation (or just walk in without one) Mon - Thurs for anything except large parties (i.e., larger than 6). Dinner it's a good idea to reserve at least a day or two in advance Mon - Thurs, a week in advance Fri-Sun.

 

[disfan07]

We have never personally made reservations except for Goofys Kitchen.

On our last trip in in June, we decided to go to DL about 2 weeks before we went. We were able to either get walk ups or same day reservtaions at both Carnation Cafe and Cafe Orleans.

But, there were only 3 of us and we weren't particular about a time. We just asked for what they had available but they always seemed to have enough left.

So in our experience, we've never felt that we HAD to make a reservation for these but of course it's up to you. If you are more specific about the times, etc that you want it of course wouldnt hurt to do it now.

 

[ConnieB]

Only 20 more days and we will be at Disneyland! I'm so excited that I can't stop thinking about it!
I have most things done- tickets bought, room reserved, flights book, airport transportation booked.

I am wondering if I need to make dining reservations and tour restervations now or can I wait until we get to the resort?
We are staying at Paradise Pier Concierge and I think I read that they are nice about helping with dining and tour reservations. But I am wondering if it is safe to wait until we get there or do I need to book further in advance. We want to eat at Carnation Cafe one day and Cafe Orleans on another day. It is hard to decide which days I want to book at this point so I would rather wait until we are there to make the reservations. Can they be made the same day that we plan to go? Also how far should I book tours? We want to do a Hollywood tour and go to Knotts Berry Farm using All Anaheim tours. Can I safely wait until we get to the resort to book these or do you think they will be filled by then?

If I'm reading your dates correctly you're going to be there for President's Day weekend? That is typically a rather crowded time, and therefore reservations may be more difficult to make last minute. In which case you might want to call and set up reservations just so you have them. When you get there, you can always try to fine tune them, but you may not want to risk being unable to get anything because it's a busy period.

Now...if I'm reading that wrong and it's not that all-busy weekend that you're arriving....then I wouldn't worry as much. In the less busy times, it's almost always possible to stop by both Carnation Cafe and Cafe Orleans and get reservations for later in the day. I would recommend getting your reservations early in the day, just so you have the pick of times. Sometimes you can also stop by either and make reservations for the next available table, but that can be hit and miss...sometimes it's a few minutes, and sometimes it can take an hour to be seated. We always just stop by early and make them for later to save having to wait in line for food, when we could be riding rides!

Can't really help you with the tours as we've not done those, but again, if it's a busy time like a holiday weekend I'd definitely make them now unless you're willing to risk not getting them. Are they refundable or changeable? That would make it even easier to just go ahead and do it now and fine tune when you need to.