How many meals would you reserve ahead of time?

[fljelad]

We will be at WDW from 5/26-5/29 when we embark on a Disney cruise. Once we're onboard I know that all meals are included. For the land portion, what would be your recommendation for reserving ahead of time. This is our first trip and we don't want to miss anything but we also have to eat.

I am thinking of reserving dinner for our first night there and then doing a character breakfast on the 29th (my son's birthday) at the very least. Would you reserve all breakfasts? All dinners? (I'm thinking that we'll be snacking through the day...)

Any advise would be very welcome!

 

[Stiff]

last year, we had PSs for almost every day and somedays we had more than one

we felt like we couldnt stray from our schedule even if we wanted to

this year we are making one for a character breakfast and then one other night (which will be a nice dinner for the wife and I and a reservation for the child in a kids club)....that way we can just play it by ear and make PSs as we decide what we are doing

it all just depends on your preference...rigid schedule or not (though you can dump most PSs without much problem)

 

[CamColt]

First off, welcome to the dis, fljelad! We are glad you found us.

To answer your question, in general we usually book 1 PS per day. Seeing as you have such a short time there and its your first trip, Im sure you want to get in as much park time as possible. I wouldnt waste a lot of time doing nice meals, since you will be going on the cruise and having plenty of nice meals there. Im sort of in the same boat, going to DL for the first time before a cruise this summer. As of now I only plan to do 1 sitdown meal a day and the rest will just be snacks around the parks if we are hungry.

As for what meals to book, I think it would be good to mix it up a bit, maybe a couple breakfasts and a couple dinners. A character breakfast on your last day is a great idea, but remember to save your appetite for the embarkation buffet. I know when we go to the all you can eat breakfasts, we are usually full for the day.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I made a PS for one meal each day for our fall trip, except 2 days, we had two meals. For this year's trip, it will be just DH and I, I will also make 1 PS per day.

 

[benedicttw]

We normally book one PS per day and change it around to have breakfeast, lunch and dinner on different days. One the days with breakfeast or lunch we skip the next meal or maybe just have a snack. If you have only been to the world a few times maybe skip the PS and do counter meals to save time. The DW would not be able to handle counter service that much so we always be sure to have one sit down meal per day.

 

[Micca]

Book at least one per day. No need to spend time at WDW waiting to be seated for a meal.

 

[Keokagal]

I book 2 ps's per day. Different parks. I cancel the one I am not going to use. You never know if your plans will change. Be prepared.

 

[MinnieM3]

We do usually try to cancel if we know in advance we're not going to go there, but there is no penalty if you just don't show up, is there? (unless it's a special event and you've given your credit card to hold it).

We usually try to make one per day.

 

[skuttle]

We usually book one PS a day. Definitely book anywhere you know for sure you want to eat. It doesn't hurt to book more than you really use. It's very easy to call and cancel or walk up to the restaurant and cancel...and if you can't do any of those, nothing bad happens if you just don't show up (with the exception of a few places that require a CC when you book the PS). We never feel compelled to follow our PS's, but we usually do, otherwise we'd waste too much time trying to figure out where to eat!

 

[eeyore0062]

We do a PS for at least one meal everyday. That way we won't have to wait too long for at least one meal a day. We usually make it our main meal, whether it be a character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe, or dinner at the Yachtsman. (yes, they are some of our favorites!) Then we just graze the rest of the day.

Have a great time!

 

[BAST]

I will book a PS for any popular restaurant about 75 days in advance (90 for PSB, CRT or CM). I pretty much know which parks we will be going to by that time and I can get the times that I want for dinner/ lunch when I do that.

Since we do not travel at extremely busy times, I never have a problem walking up to most restaurants and getting a seat. We do tend to eat our meals early so this may affect our ability to get a seat quickly.

The restaurants I recommend getting a PS for are - Le Cellier, BOMA, Ohanas, 1900 PF, CG, CP, Cape May and FF (although I cannot recommend eating at Cape May or 1900 PF).

Also, you must do a 90 day PS for PSB, CRT.

 

[lisa0477]

I am going March 27-April3

About these Ps's hwo early do you call to make them. Days, months?

 

[Keokagal]

Lisa, 90 days. I'm calling right now for my first day.

 

[jeancbpugh]

We make a PS for every night. Breakfast and lunch we wing.

 

[dmslush]

We are planning on making per day. Right now, we are looking at two character breakfasts, and 4 sit down dinners.

 

[DisneyKeith]

Rule of thumb for us is 1 a day. We get so full!

 

[lisa0477]

Oh, 90 days huh. Is it hard to get a ps if you do it when you arrive.

Thanks

 

[momof2sons]

Oh, 90 days huh. Is it hard to get a ps if you do it when you arrive.


Not really. But if you want to eat at a certain time yes.

I called ahead in 2003 for FDP at H&V, Cindy's RT, and Le Cellar. We had 6 to 10 people in our party and these was everyones must do's. Mid July.

I then did the rest at the parks guess services or front desk. I told them where we wanted to eat (for lunch or dinner) they gave me 2 or 3 different times. Remember to do this when you first enter the park. We had no trouble at all. Some PS need to be made at least 24 hours in advance. (don't remember which ones I think it was the character meals) But not for sure we didn't do any character meals this trip.

 

[old lost boy]

We used to book at least one and sometimes two a day. We found that we made our time at the park conform to out PS. We also found sometimes we weren't hungry when our PS said we were. We have found if you don't eat lunch between 12-1 and supper from 5:30-7:00 you can walk in to most park restaurants as long as it isn't extremely crowded. The only time we make a PS is at a resort restaurant like California Grill or Boma.