No PS's...

[ninaeve]

Since we don't like to plan out our days and rush through the park just to make an assigned time, we chose not to make any PS's. We have not even decided which days we want to go where or stay at the resort. Also with very young children, our schedule can get really out of whack anyway.

Sooo, I read that the typical wait time with a PS to get the first availabale table for party size was 5-20 min. What would the typical wait time for a
non PS table be? I am guessing 15-60 minutes?? My children are fine in town here with 30-40 minute waits, so I am thinking we should be okay as long as we don't go at peak times, right?

We are thinking b'kst at resort, table meals for lunch, and counter service for dinner at park. What would be the best times to hit the non peak lunch crowd? 10:30-12 or 3-5 maybe.

Anyone else go down with no PS's and how did it go?

Thanks.

 

[The4OfUs]

We actually never make PS's before we go - we decide in the morning, and call that day, and to be honest, I've never NOT gotten one. We don't do the "popular" character meals/shows like HDDR or CRT, tho, and I'm sure that would make a difference - however, my in-laws took all 4 grandkids to Crystal Palace last time, calling in the morning for a lunchtime PS.

Perhaps it's just knowing we have our DVC villa with a full kitchen to fall back on, but I've never stressed about PS's myself. *shrug*

 

[lovethattink]

Most table service restaurants open at 11:30 for lunch. Most table service dinners start at 5:30. We often have eaten without PS and just got there are opening. Unfortunately, lots of others do this too. We did this at Biergarten a couple months ago. We got there at 11am only to find about 10 people already waiting. By 11:20 when a CM came out the line of people was huge. About half had PS for 11:30. You can always make a PS from your motel in the morning before you leave for the park.

 

[Ames]

We've never made a PS either. We eat at old times...late lunches/dinners etc. I think the longest we've waited for a table was a half hour.

 

[Gymbomom]

JMO,
At least call the day of to make PS in the morning or night before. That really is valuable time sitting around for a table!
If there is anything you REALLY wanted to do with your children, book it in advance.

 

[henrylovespooh]

I agree with the previous poster. Although I do plan my dinner PS's before I go because there are must-do places for us (character meals for our toddlers and Kona Cafe and Boma for DH and I -- and we like to eat between 5 and 6 p.m.), we also wing it at times. The best luck we have had is to call Disney Dining from the room (or check with Guest Services at the park or hotel) after we decide which park we're going to and see what's available. We have never had trouble with lunch, but have had problems with dinner.

Last week we planned to do counter service at MGM for lunch but thought we'd try Sci-Fi at MGM once we were walking past it. We walked up at 11:15 and got a table for lunch immediately. The park was not crowded that day, so I don't know how it would be on a more crowded day.

Since lots of people walk up to a place for lunch, if you want to guarantee a spot, I would try to make a PS that morning just to be safe. Then you won't have waste time waiting for a table when you can be enjoying the park.

 

[YCFAN]

It really depends on the time of year you are traveling. During very popular times (like 4th of July) I've seen people turned away with the statement "if you don't have a PS there is nothing available." My husband was really glad I do all the planning during that time. He heard that at several places during our stay and he was really glad we had a PS.

 

[crisi]

We had really bad luck several years ago in mid Feburary. We were turned away from every sit down restaurant in MGM for lunch at 2:00pm with either "not unless you have a PS" or "two hour wait." We couldn't eat at Teppenyaki - arriving at the podium before 4:00 for dinner. Had a two hour wait at WCC (we ate at Roaring Forks) for dinner. Ended up eating a lot of chicken fingers I'd rather not have eaten.

It was a similar trip to yours, young children, was concerned about an out of whack schedule. What we discovered is that when the kids were hungry, they needed to eat now and couldn't wait the 40 minutes for a table. The nights that went best we had booked dinner around 6:00pm (we had booked one dinner before leaving, and made another while we were there) and made sure they got snacks - that allowed us to plan their blood sugar levels without ruining their dinner. The other thing we discovered is that I get really cranky on a diet of chicken fingers. Now we book one sit down waitress served meal per day (well, we've done a few buffets, and I almost always regret it).

BTW, I suspect that the MYW dining plan will change the PS balance. People who have had no problems before may discover restaurants are more booked than they've been in the past.

 

[jenr812]

BTW, I suspect that the MYW dining plan will change the PS balance. People who have had no problems before may discover restaurants are more booked than they've been in the past.

This is a very valid point. With the dining plan, I think that more people will be eating sit-down meals than before, due to how economic the plan makes it.