Is it too late for PS??

[pjstevens]

We are going to be at Disney from 8/14 - 8/20 and I have NOT made any ps yet and we have the dining plan with our package. This is our first time staying on site (it will be the third time taking our family, but in 13 years). As you can see, we don't get there often as this is a great expense. It will be myself, DH, DD (17) and DS (14) so we are four adults on the menu's. I am so excited and have been trying to read so much, but I thinkg I've gotten myself so confused, having to figure out where we will be which day so we can figure out where we eat our sit down meals at those days. I've been reading the boards for a few months, but I just am so lost. I can't believe the 90 day mark came and went and I didn't make any reservations. I was a bit busy since my oldest DS graduated from college this past week. Any suggestions, I would really appreciate.

 

[luvthatduck]

Since some guide books I have read suggest getting PS's the morning you will be dining, I'm saying no.

Of course if you want CRT or MBYBBQ or Hoopdee Doo, you're too late.

 

[Aimeedyan]

You have time for just about everything, don't stress out! There are VERY few things that need to be booked 90 days out - namely, just the big princess breakfasts. HOWEVER, now that the dining plan is so popular, lots of people are booking more table service then normal and places are filling up and turning away walkups all together - we went in a slow time 2 weeks ago and they were not accepting walkups at many places. I think it's due to the influx of people making advance plans for table service since it's paid for with their plan.

Start by checking out the typical park hours for that time of year and see which days you'll probably hit what park. Decide whether or not you'll want to park hop. Go through the menus at www.allearsnet.com and see which places appeal to your family. Then just start making AR's. There is no charge for 99% of the AR's so you won't lose anything even if you decide to just not show up (though it's nice to call and cancel). Make arrangements now for anything you REALLY want to do and work your schedule around that.

=)

 

[JudicialTyranny]

We just got back two weeks ago - before that, our last trip to WDW was 10 years go. I also had trouble trying to plan things out.

This approach worked out pretty well for us. I made PS's for each day for dinner a few months in advance, but I made them pretty late in the day, usually between 6 PM and 7 PM. That would give us practically all day in a park, plus time to travel, if necessary, to the restaurant.

Once we got to WDW and our park plans firmed up, we made a few changes through guest services, usually the day before the PS we wanted to change.

But I think it is important to make a PS for each day, especially if there are certain restaurants you want to visit, because there is a chance you won't get into one of them on short notice and you will need to be flexible.

For example, one day I needed to cancel a PS for the next day at a restaurant in Epcot because it didn't fit into our plans. I tried to get a PS at a few other places to replace it (like O'Hanna's) and ended up settling for Mama Melrose's - which was acceptable, but not at the top of our list.

But for all the other PS's I made in advance, we were able to work things out to get to them even though at the time I made them, I had no idea what we would be doing that day.

 

[swincha]

i'm going in 2 weeks got all the ressies i wanted except mickeys bbq. i called last week. mickeys bbq is only twice a week. we have ressies for crystal palace, chef mickeys, hoop de doo, cape may clam bake, sci fi. these are the ones that i wanted. looking for a nice restaurant(seafood) just for hubby and i still.

 

[swincha]

Since some guide books I have read suggest getting PS's the morning you will be dining, I'm saying no.

Of course if you want CRT or MBYBBQ or Hoopdee Doo, you're too late.

not necessarily for hoop de doo. i got my ressies for 2 weeks and called 2 weeks ago. there were plenty of ressies for all except mickeys bbq

 

[golfgal]

We are leaving next week and we got a PS for CRT for dinner, not breakfast, just last week. I don't think you are too late, you just might not get the exact time you want. I would call soon, though.

 

[Christine]

I am going 14 June and just made a few of my PSs last week. I had no problems getting the times I wanted. I still have a few more to make and I'm not worried about it. Of course, I am NOT trying for the castle or anything like that.

 

[jjarman]

We were there during Spring Break. I made some PS as soon as the window opened because, mainly, I wanted the earliest breakfast PS for CP so we could be in MK before it opened. I got the time I wanted with no problem. Later on, we changed plans for some meals and had no problems getting PS that morning for a dinner that night. I would definitely make PS though because we saw lots of people turned away for sit down dinners with no PS.

 

[pjstevens]

Start by checking out the typical park hours for that time of year and see which days you'll probably hit what park. Decide whether or not you'll want to park hop. Go through the menus at www.allearsnet.com and see which places appeal to your family. Then just start making AR's. There is no charge for 99% of the AR's so you won't lose anything even if you decide to just not show up (though it's nice to call and cancel). Make arrangements now for anything you REALLY want to do and work your schedule around that.

=)

Thanks so much for all the information. I am quickly reading as many reviews as I can and getting my lists in order.

 

[maxaroni]

We are going to be at Disney from 8/14 - 8/20 and I have NOT made any ps yet and we have the dining plan with our package. This is our first time staying on site (it will be the third time taking our family, but in 13 years). As you can see, we don't get there often as this is a great expense. It will be myself, DH, DD (17) and DS (14) so we are four adults on the menu's. I am so excited and have been trying to read so much, but I thinkg I've gotten myself so confused, having to figure out where we will be which day so we can figure out where we eat our sit down meals at those days. I've been reading the boards for a few months, but I just am so lost. I can't believe the 90 day mark came and went and I didn't make any reservations. I was a bit busy since my oldest DS graduated from college this past week. Any suggestions, I would really appreciate.

I agree with the others...I think you will be fine. We are also going in August and am finding this to be overwhelming, too. In the past, we have just called and made ressies the morning of wanting them. Due to the MYW Dining, I don't want to wait to do that. Therefore, trying to figure out the MYW Dining and plan our days. I figured that we'd have the PS's for what we want and if we have to fine tune it we will. You'll be fine....I'm not worried for us because we aren't looking for the "big ticket" places.

Good luck and happy planning...

 

[pjstevens]

I agree with the others...I think you will be fine. We are also going in August and am finding this to be overwhelming, too. In the past, we have just called and made ressies the morning of wanting them. Due to the MYW Dining, I don't want to wait to do that. Therefore, trying to figure out the MYW Dining and plan our days. I figured that we'd have the PS's for what we want and if we have to fine tune it we will. You'll be fine....I'm not worried for us because we aren't looking for the "big ticket" places.

Good luck and happy planning...

I am glad to hear that this is overwhelming to someone else also. I wish you well and figure with us having older kids we won't be looking for all the special meals.

 

[disneychrista]

The good news is that you can make all your PS in one phone call

Just call and if something you want is unavailable then go to plan B or just wing it that day.

 

[melissa5583]

Last year, we went in the middle of spring break and we had no PS. When we got to the resort, we called about a PS to Coral Reef for the next day with no problem. We also got a PS for dinner to CRT (3 days away). Without the PS, we would have not gotten seats at restaurants though. We were turned away from 50's PT diner and also Alfredo's. So, this year I am definately making PS's for restaurants that I am really intent on eating at!!!

 

[christinou]

I just made all of my PS for August today, I got every restaurant at exactly the time that I wanted, the only one that I did not get are our MGM ones, as the latest they were booking was 5:30, and we never eat that early, so call ahead, you should not have any problems...