How much do you plan?

[hcarr]

We are going in May for 6 nights and days...staying at the BC. I made a PS for the 1900 Park Faire dinner the night we arrive as well as the Princess Storybook bfast and Rose and Crown to try to see Illuminations. I'm still trying to figure out which days at which park, etc. Do I need to make PS for most of my meals or can they be gotten while we are there for some places? Also, when making the Rose & Crown they said they could not ask for patio table - any tricks to getting one?
Thanks!

 

[figmentvi]

I'm not sure how the crowds are in May, but I would go ahead and make PS's at other restaurants that you think you may want to try. If your itinerary changes and you need to switch or cancel PS's you can always do that through WDW Dining on your resort room phone.

It's always best to make the PS's that are an absolute MUST DO, as early as possible and kind of play the rest by ear.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

I don't try to plan too much but do make sure to have PSs for places I'm counting on. I also agree that a lot of it depends on the time of year you go. We went in Oct. 99 and waited about 45 minutes to have lunch at Akershus in Epcot and had no chance of breakfast at CP another day. There were others but you get the idea. Fast foward to Dec. 2003 and we had Cindy's breakfast and 5 out of 7 dinners planned (MVMCP & CP included) but winged all of our lunches and other breakfasts - NO PROBLEM!! There weren't any crowds anywhere so we ate where we wanted pretty much when we wanted. If you're going at a busy time and really want to eat somewhere - make a PS or eat at an off time. Also if you know when you get there that say you're going to AK on Tuesday and want to try for a lunch PS - just give them a call from the hotel phone that day or day before. Never hurts to try!

 

[snowmouse]

I have a hard time not being planned, it seems so inefficient to me to spend time waiting so I make PS for the whole trip, and call and make changes as I go. Even in slow times you can spend an hour waiting for a table instead of seeing two or three attractions. There's no real danger of being overprepared on the otherhand. I'm often called a type A planner, though.

As for the question of outdoor seating at R&C. I have not done this, but have read that you should stop by maybe 45 minutes before your PS and ask them for an outside seat. They'll give you an idea then of when they could have the patio table ready and you can come back. Good luck.

 

[Alice28]

I also have a hard time not planning. I have all of our PS's except for Bistro de Paris (can only make 30 days out) done. We are going with a larger group (7 total) and I with 2 small kids in the group, I want to spend as little time waiting to eat as possible. However, with most restaurants, I think you are able to get in if you make same day reservations. I planned for about 1 PS per day, although we do have a couple of days with no concrete plans. I just like to be as organized as possible beforehand, so I stress less while we're there.

 

[MinnieGi]

I usually make one ps per day for a restaurant we really want to try. The other meal we usually do counter service for what is close by or we also eat meals off-site too. Breakfast we usually do in the room unless we have a character breakfast.

 

[Ti2gerrr]

We always make PS for all the meals that we really want to do. Usually we make at least one PS each day.
May is somewhat buzy but we usually make our PS about 30-45 days before our trip.
One thing to keep in mind, if your trip includes Mother's Day, I would make a PS for that day. Everyone wants to take there moms and wifes for nice meals that day.

 

[mom_rules]

I'm exactly like snowmouse-we usually take a plan
(was Deluxe now Gold) and all meals are included.
In order to make the most of it I have PS for our May
trip for all meals and if I decide to change them I can
do so with a phone call that day. Way better than not
getting in or having to wait a long time.

 

[Badger Brent]

I to try to ps for at least 1 place each day. I like to plan my park days in advance but can always be flexible in case of weather, someone getting sick, etc. Like others said, go ahead make the ps reservations and then adjust from there. I know a lot of people do this for hotel reservations also.