# of PS that you make?

[CindyAnn]

We end up with a PS a day or a little more. We generally like to have one for dinner and for a few character breakfasts, too. I spend LOTS and LOTS time trying to whittle down my list of old favourite and things I want to try so that we don't end up with 5 a day, though.

I'll never forget reading someone's trip report a few years ago, and they had 3 PSes every day. There were so many long stops in restaurants that they only managed to see 3 or 4 attractions in an entire day. I love to eat, but that truly scared me! We've usually finished our first 3 or 4 attractions by 9:00 a.m.

 

[Tinkbell]

I make one sit down restaurant PS per day before the vacation. I usually end up making some more while on vacation.

 

[soccer mom]

We go when parks close early so we make late day dinner PS, usually at Epcot. And usually one nice breakfast somewhere. Don't like being locked into the middle of the day PS...tends to cramp our impromptu park touring. Everything else is fast food and food court.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

On making PS's BEFORE the trip... I wish we could make more but it's just too hard to know exactly what time we'll get up and about every day (for breakfast PS) and hard to know when we'll all be hungry or when the youngest will need a nap/etc.

So we're just going to do a PS for CRT (which I just got for Nov 22nd but not sure we'll be able to keep it because we're using Disney transportation and I'm not sure we can use that to be there an hour before the park opens and it's not an early magic hour day for MK. ) and for Donald's Breakfastosaurus (both because the kids didn't see Cinderella nor Donald the entire first trip we took). And one dinner at 1900 Park Fare.

I think that's about it. We'll make other PS's as we go... and just hope for the best on getting some of them. That's the best we can do because I don't want to plan PS's every day at certain times and then have to work our schedules around that- I mean I would if I could... but with the kids, that's difficult. We also want to relax more like a VACATION this time... instead of going commando style. Which means eat when we're hungry, relax at resort when we feel like it, this time going back midday for the youngest to take a nap, etc.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Oh wait... I almost forgot- garden grill ice cream social also!

Cripes.... all this on me so sudden because I thought we were waiting until 60 days out... now it's 90 days out and I have to do all this RIGHT NOW instead of a month from now. *stress alert* LOL

 

[KdawnLily's Mom]

We normally make 2 PS's per week, so this year it is 4 (for now) and then we add to the list while we are at WDW. I usually visit in September and October when the crowds are not as large and you can normally be seated without a PS.

 

[honeywolf7]

I always do one for lunch and one for dinner for every day that I'm there.

 

[disneysteve]

I make NONE prior to our arrival. There is no way we can decide in advance where we will want to eat on any given day. Once we are there, we will make PS's either the morning of, or the day before if we want to eat somewhere particular. We have never had a problem getting anywhere using that method. You just have to be flexible on meal time. For example, if you insist on eating lunch at noon, then getting an advance PS might be necessary. If you are willing to eat at 11, or 1:30 however, it isn't so important.

Also, we only go offseason which makes a big difference.

Steve

 

[DisneyCP2002]

I only make PS for only the resturants that I really know that walk up's will have a long wait. My list usually includes CRT, Garden Grill(sad to say that I couldn't get it for CP package , Fantasmic Package, Prime Time 50's(last day of trip), Princess Breakfast, CP dinner package, and Donald's. The rest I make either when i decide where I want to eat before hand or once I get there.

 

[KathleenFL]

We'll be there Thanksgiving week, with 2 grandchildren, so I've made 1 PS a day so far.......We're staying at Ft. Wilderness cabins, so we'll have 1-2 meals/day there......

I lucked out, & was able to make the 120-day PSs before Aug.4th, when they changed everything to 90 days...... I had some long phone calls, with CMs reading Thanksgiving menus to me......I really wish they would put these on Disneyworld.com .....It would be so much easier for everyone....

That reminds me--I have to get to bed......I need to get up at 6:55 am tomorrow to get Crystal Palace!!!!! (lol)

 

[Planogirl]

I made just 3 PS during our last trip which is about the same amount I make for each trip. I made them for restaurants that we really wanted to eat at just in case. We had PS for dinners at Boma and at Cape May and for breakfast at the Crystal Palace. We managed to have lunch without PS at the Sci Fi but it was just the two of us and we got there just when they opened.

 

[kashkdz]

Normally we're in Disney for 8 days, and on average we book 5 PS. This doesn't include a few walkins for lunch and dinner, since reservations don't seem to be necessary when we go. Our kids likes the character breakfasts (it's an additional incentive to get them out of bed), and we often schedule 2-3 dinners during our stay. Lunches seem to be more of the as-needed variety, and we often either skip lunches (because of a full breakfast or light snacks during the day). This year we have PS for Chef Mickeys, Princess Storybook and CRT (yes!) for breakfast; and Coral Reef and LTT for dinner. Although, for some strange reason I get a kick out of the SciFi Drive-in and we'll probably do lunch there, although the menu is a bit pricey and the food ok; it must be the atmosphere.

 

[lwestwise]

Usually we are at Disney for 9 days and only book for special dining, like BYBQ, HDR, and if we have a large crowd we will book Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickeys, etc, but this time we are only going to be there for 5 days for thanksgiving and have the following:
Thurs Thanksgiving Dinner at Cape May
Friday CP dinner package at Chef De France
Sat. Breakfast at Kona Cafe
Sat. Tea at GF.

Nothing for Wednesday or Sunday, we will play it by ear.

 

[disneysteve]

I really wonder how many people make a bunch of PSs in advance, and end up not using them due to various factors. I have a feeling that many reservations go unused, but make it harder for others to book as a result.

Steve

 

[Disneyolic]

disneysteve

I can answer your question as for my family. I have 2 different PSs for breakfast on a certain day in November. One is for Whispering Canyon Cafe and the other is for Cape May Cafe. We are staying at the Yacht Club and are planning on doing Typhoon Lagoon that day. If the weather seems like it may not cooperate, then we're going to WCC. Otherwise, we'll stay put and go to the closer to make sure we get to TL at opening time. Sorry if we're making it harder for others but it is easier for us to make sure we have definite PSs for whatever the weather delivers us.

On our last trip, we ended up not going to one of our PSs at LTT because my brother decided at the last minute that he didn't want to pay for the all-you-can eat.

I am sure there are a lot of instances where people don't use their PSs because things come up. It is a shame for others although I am a firm believer of making PS well in advance to get the time you want.

 

[kashkdz]

I agree. I'm sure there are a fair number of PS that are never cancelled, and the party just doesn't show up. I guess one way to aviod this from happening is to require a credit card when making the reservations (ie., CRT, etc), and charge a cancellation fee within 24 hours. Unfortunately, this may reduce the number of no-shows, but what about extreme cases when incidents occur outside of your control (you're sick), and you can't make your PS. Either, way I do think they should charge a nominal fee (5 bucks/person) if you don't show up, and don't cancel within 24 hrs. As it's been mentioned before, if you can't get your PS time, it never hurts if you just show up at the restaurant at the time you wanted to see if there are cancellations. Just my $.02

 

[lwestwise]

I make PS for things that I want to make sure to get and if we decide against it, I cancel. I have even been told by the CM that I should go ahead and make a PS for the largest # of people that might be included, just to be sure of getting one and then I can modify the number to a lower number or even cancel if we decide against it. I agree, that is what PS is for. To make sure you get what you want, or as close to it.
Linda

 

[Alice28]

For our last trip, we were there 10 days, and I think we had 8 PS's. We didn't keep 2 of them- 1 was Hoop Dee Doo, which I cancelled 48 hours in advance, and there other was 50's Prime Time.

For my upcoming trip (6 nights), we have 6 PS's, but I am already considering cancelling two of them..one for a Chef Mickey's breakfast and the other for Whispering Canyon...I might swap Whispering Canyon for Boma, but it's one of those things I won't be sure of til the day of...Our other PS's are for Cal. Grill, CRT (lunch), Cape May Cafe, & 50's PTC (we're gonna do it for real this time!!). I don't generally eat a big breakfast, so I don't a PS for those, and I can only deal with one sit down meal per day---otherwise it's just too much food & too structured for me. I think a lot of Disney's counter service is very good (salads, sandwiches and Peco's Bills burgers...mmmmm....) and I look forward to those meals as well.

 

[Forever a Princess]

Thanks for all your replies.

Looks like we all like to plan.

I'm like CK1-obsessive about the planning and I love every minute of it. DH thinks I'm crazy too. A couple of trips ago I was listing our PS prior to our depature. He jockingly told me that I planned too much. I offered to cancel all of the PS and we could wing it (jockingly said of course).

DH said Noooooooooo! He's not said anything since and now participates in the planning. Meaning he mentions to me which restaurants that he has to eat at.

If we can not make it to a PS ressie (like when one time I had a bad migraine) we call to cancel out of courtesy. I figure our change of plans will be an opportunity for someone else.

Happy planning to all of your for your PS.

Renee