How many days out can you make dining reservations

[lpandorf]

After 5 trips to WDW my family has had enough (not me - I'm happy to go again this summer ). So we are going to the beach first part of the week and finishing up with a couples days at PBH and US/IOA. I'm used to the Disney 180 out to make ressies. What should I plan for at US? Restaurants? And are there any character meals we should definitely sign up for?

 

[ky07]

After 5 trips to WDW my family has had enough (not me - I'm happy to go again this summer ). So we are going to the beach first part of the week and finishing up with a couples days at PBH and US/IOA. I'm used to the Disney 180 out to make ressies. What should I plan for at US? Restaurants? And are there any character meals we should definitely sign up for?

I usually make ressies in feb for june or july as far as retaurants you can do them that way too or wait till you get there and as far as character meals go I only know one that is a breakfast .

 

[jtdl]

After 5 trips to WDW my family has had enough (not me - I'm happy to go again this summer ). So we are going to the beach first part of the week and finishing up with a couples days at PBH and US/IOA. I'm used to the Disney 180 out to make ressies. What should I plan for at US? Restaurants? And are there any character meals we should definitely sign up for?

These are the character meals that are offered, I've never been so I can't answer whether they are must do or not. I received the information from the conceirge at Royal Pacific.

As far as the character dining goes, here at the hotel we have Shaggy
and Scooby Doo on Mondays in our Island's Dining Room between the hours of
6:45PM-9:15PM. On Tuesdays we have Schrek and Fiona during those same
time. On Saturdays we have Woody Wood Pecker and Curios George, also
during those times. On Wednesdays The Kitchen restaurant at the Hard Rock
Hotel has Woody Wood Pecker or Scooby Doo and Trattoria Del Porto at The
Portofino Bay Hotel has Woody Wood Pecker and Scooby Doo on Fridays. At
Confisco's inside Islands of Adventure, there is a character breakfast
buffet from Thursday--Sunday ( you will need reservations for that if you
decide to go, and the hours are from 9:00 AM-10:30 AM). The characters are
Spiderman, Thing 1 & 2 and Cat in the Hat.

 

[Kimberle]

With your FOTL access for rides, most resturants are also included. If you want a really popular one, I'd make a reservation. If you just want to eat, you'll find lots of options. Aside from Emerles, we never had to wait for a table at any RPR resturants.

What is ssssoooooo nice, is to grab a table by the pool, and have a burger or salad. The food is so good, much better than WDW. It's all cooked to order. A couple of days, we spend most of the day at the pool (RPR & HR). When we were hungry, we just ordered lunch, is our suits!!

Now I love WDW, but they could sure learn a lesson or two from US food!

 

[kirbsam]

if you are astaying onsite, just show your room key and you will be put in front of the line for the next table.

 

[jtdl]

if you are astaying onsite, just show your room key and you will be put in front of the line for the next table.

I knew about FOTL for the rides and attractions but it's good to know it applied to restaurants as well. That's great - now is that only in the parks or does that apply at City Walk as well?

 

[lpandorf]

Thanks everyone! I'm starting to look forward to trying something new!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Keep in mind there's a little disclaimer in the fine print on using your room key for priority seating. It doesn't work on weekends, holidays or special events. I found out a special event at NBA City is "lots of basketball games on."

That being said, dining at USO/IOA/CW is a breeze compared to the feeding trough at WDW. You definitely do not need to deal with that 180-day garbage. Places like Emeril's, Tchoup Chop and maybe even the Palm, you could book a month or two in advance. I've made ressies for both Emeril's and Tchoup Chop as little as a couple weeks out. Places in the parks and CW, we usually just stop by the dining kiosk (one's in CW; one's in US; one's in IOA) and make a ressie for that day or the next day.

You'll love the dining at the Universal area of Orlando. It is so relaxed and enjoyable -- and an amazing value, too, whether you're eating CS for lunch in the parks or Emeril's for dinner ... or anywhere in between

Bon Appetite!

 

[ky07]

Keep in mind there's a little disclaimer in the fine print on using your room key for priority seating. It doesn't work on weekends, holidays or special events. I found out a special event at NBA City is "lots of basketball games on."

That being said, dining at USO/IOA/CW is a breeze compared to the feeding trough at WDW. You definitely do not need to deal with that 180-day garbage. Places like Emeril's, Tchoup Chop and maybe even the Palm, you could book a month or two in advance. I've made ressies for both Emeril's and Tchoup Chop as little as a couple weeks out. Places in the parks and CW, we usually just stop by the dining kiosk (one's in CW; one's in US; one's in IOA) and make a ressie for that day or the next day.

You'll love the dining at the Universal area of Orlando. It is so relaxed and enjoyable -- and an amazing value, too, whether you're eating CS for lunch in the parks or Emeril's for dinner ... or anywhere in between

Bon Appetite!

Completely agree with you we were there in june and got into places like nascar and even m"ville and I think the longest we waited was 20 minuets

 

[Forevryoung]

I had the same question- staying at WDW though so no FOTL pass

The boyfriend "demanded" that we go to Margaritaville for dinner during our trip (Jan 2-7). We are going to go on Jan 4th. We don't mind waiting 20 min for a table.

Should I call now to make a reservation, just wait till we get down there, or just show up when we are hungry??


Thanks!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

Ok for those of us staying offsite how far out can we make dinning reservations for both the parks and Citywalk

Thanks!

 

[ky07]

I had the same question- staying at WDW though so no FOTL pass

The boyfriend "demanded" that we go to Margaritaville for dinner during our trip (Jan 2-7). We are going to go on Jan 4th. We don't mind waiting 20 min for a table.

Should I call now to make a reservation, just wait till we get down there, or just show up when we are hungry??


Thanks!!!

I would think thats won't be a peak day due to school may be in but then agian I don't live in florida but just to be on the safe side I would make a reservation for that day as soon as i got down there.

 

[ky07]

Ok for those of us staying offsite how far out can we make dinning reservations for both the parks and Citywalk

Thanks!

it all depends on when your going .
if it during peak season then I would make them about 4 to 6 weeks before you go and if not during peak then I would make them when you get down there.

 

[phamton]

Ok for those of us staying offsite how far out can we make dinning reservations for both the parks and Citywalk

Thanks!

Many of the restaurants will not take reservations more than 30 days out. A few like, Emeril's will. There is no set limit on how early you can make them, nothing like the 180 day limit at Disney. Some will take them months early but many don't take reservations more than a month early.

I know this answer seems vague because unlike Disney there is no rule. It is up to the individual restaurants. Some do not take any reservations at all for after 5:00 PM dining and it is walk-up only.

 

[Laurabearz]

Many of the restaurants will not take reservations more than 30 days out. A few like, Emeril's will. There is no set limit on how early you can make them, nothing like the 180 day limit at Disney. Some will take them months early but many don't take reservations more than a month early.

I know this answer seems vague because unlike Disney there is no rule. It is up to the individual restaurants. Some do not take any reservations at all for after 5:00 PM dining and it is walk-up only.

Gotcha! I can deal with vauge

 

[gopherit]

Now I love WDW, but they could sure learn a lesson or two from US food!

Amen to that! We were so stunned how EASY it was to dine at US/IOA, especially after wading through a "free dining" period nightmare over at Disney wherein you HAD to have those ressies in by 180 days - and they were begging folks to "trade" a TS in exchange for 2 CS and a fanny pack!! So imagine my shock and awe to walk up to the concierge @ HRH and meekly ask what might be availabe that week - and find the answer was EVERYTHING. LOL at teh comment about "lots of basketball games", though - we were told there was an "event" at NBA one inght, but all other nights were ok, so it wasn't a problem, but we learned later that it was just a lot of games , too... Funny.

One thing I love about the US/IOA places is the wealth of themed dining places that are NOT buffet (NBA, Margaritaville, NASCAR, Mythos, HRC, etc.) When you have 11 and 12 year old boys in tow, buffet "adult" pricing bites the wallet way too hard. They don't (yet!) eat enough to make adult fare worthwhile, but their tastes are increasingly beyond that of chicken nuggets and hot dogs, so being able to take them to a place and let them choose if they want a kid's meal or an adult offering, or even a la carte - so much better for them, lots less wasted food, better on the budget too... And lest I forget - the discounts with AAA and our AP are wonderful, too!!