Priority Seating??

[DoleWhip81]

My wife and I are going to Disneyland and I was thinking about getting priority seating for a dinner at the Blue Bayou. I know that you have to call two months to the day for the priority seating, but what exactly is it? Is it just a reservation for the day that you choose. Anyone who has experienced this PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

 

[Danauk]

Priority seating is just a kind of reservation. It means you check in at the time you book for and are given the next available table. If you do not have a PS you will either have a longer wait ir run the risk (if you are visiting at a busier time) that you will be turned away as all the tables are guaranteed to be used by guests.

 

[pittypat]

Here's how it worked for us in early June: we called about 30 days in advance to get our reservation at BB. If you want a water side table for sure, it is better to book for lunch (I've heard). That's what we did, booked for 11:30. We checked in at the restaurant at 11:00 and hung around until they seated us. We were the second table seated and had a very nice table.

 

[HydroGuy]

We have done BB twice - most recently last week. You can call 60 days in advance for PS, but it is not mandatory to call that early. When we went two years ago I called 5 weeks in advance.

It was recommended to me to get a PS at 11:30 right when they open, which minimizes waiting. Remember that PS does not guarantee immediate seating, it just gets you seated a bit faster.

We had 5 in our party last week, and wanted water side seating (highly recommended - you can see the POTC boats from there). For parties of more than four there is limited waterside seating (two tables I believe) and although I requested that it did not guarantee I would get it.

We showed up at 11AM but they did not start check-in until 11:15. At 11:15 I checked in and reminded them of my waterside request. I saw the CM write down "11:16" by our name, so they were tracking who made requests and when.

We were seated at about 11:35 and got a waterside table.

 

[biolabetty]

I usually call about 1 week before I go, and I've never had a problem getting in. I always go for the 11:30 time and have been told that everyone at that time is pretty much guaranteed to have a waterside table. If you check in late though, you may not get a waterside table. I wouldn't check in any later than 15 minutes before. I've called as late as the day I want to go and have been fortunate that someone cancelled. 60 days out is really not necessary, but if you really want to be safe I would do it.

 

[SunDevilDaddy]

We went to BB last week as well. We went on Thursday for dinner. We made our PS reservation about 3 weeks ago. Our PS reservation was for 6:30 (party of 6) and they requested we check in at 6:15. We checked in at 6:15 and I asked them if we could have a waterside table. They stated that it was possible but would require an additional hour wait. We declined and were seated by 6:30 at a waterside table...

I guess we lucked out. But, I found that it is better to ask than to assume. At least if you ask for something the CM's know that it is important to you and will generally make an effort to accommodate you.

I would also book for a weekday as well. It just seems to lessen the crowds as well

 

[joeysmommy]

We had PS ressies at BB last September for 12:00 on a weekday, we were seated within 5 minutes. Every table was full.

We had a group of 12 in our party so I booked PS for every restaurant we ate at. Some of the DTD restaurants I had to call seperately as Disney Dining doesn't book PS for them. With a big group of 12 I'm glad I booked 60 days ahead. My SIL didn't know I had booked everything and when she tried to book ressies the week before we left she could only get dinner ressies for 8pm or later. Same with breakfast, not the ideal times for 3 and 5 yr olds.

The CM with Disney Dining mentioned that it was a good idea to book in advance with large parties.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I always use ADRs at WDW (which are PS at Dland) but until recently I hadn't used PS at DL. How dumb of me! Anyway, a few weeks ago, my DD, DM, and myself went to DL for the day and since I had had a really good salad at Wine Country Trattoria a week, or so, before, I decided I should make a PS this time, and skip the wait. I made the PS from inside DCA using the pay phone (has a direct button to do DD) and was able to get a PS for 12:10. After we checked in we only had to wait about 5 min. I did the same thing on July 3rd, when we ate there again. This time I made the PS from my cel phone while in line for GR. I was able to get PS for 1 p.m. I wanted it a little earlier but they are only able to make them an hour from when you call, no sooner. Anyway, we arrived about 10 mins. before our time and were seated in about 5 minutes. Both times I used PS other diners were being quoted 20-30 mins. So, even if you don't make PS before you go, at least make them on the same day. It'll still save you time over walking up.

Happy Dining!

 

[Winston1204]

posted in the wrong spot...sorry