Priority Seating

[OnePrincess]

What restaurants do you recommend making priority seating arrangements for besides the character meals?

We always had good luck at WDW with just walking up and putting our name on the list. But was wondering if we should do that for DL or not.

TIA!
~Ann

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Cafe Orleans for definite. They tend to close their walk-ups if they get busy. It's not that big of a restaurant and the food is really good - similar items as Blue Bayou - you can get the Monte Cristo there with better service and friendlier staff.

Also, if you want to eat at Napoli in DTD (wood fired Italian), that restuarant gets booked up quite a bit - a safe basic food choice.

 

[avalon451]

Blue Bayou is probably the most likely to get booked up. If you want to do waterside, I read a good tip here: the first lunch seating is at 11:30 a.m., so make a PS for then, and show up at 11:15 and ask for waterside seating. I hear you will just about always get it.

Depending on when you go, you often CAN just walk up and get in fairly quickly. But in case it's busy, it's pretty nice to be able to have just a short wait with a PS rather than a potentially long one. It's always cool to make PS's ahead of time; you can just cancel if you don't feel like going at the time.

 

[amyamya]

I *just* made my ps ressies and was surprised that Ariel's Grotto was booked up the for Thursday of the week we are going. Character stuff goes fast. I also made ressies for BB, Jazz Kitchen and Goofy's which I got the times and dates I wanted. I really want to do the Chef's counter at the NR but heard it's best to call the NR directly for that...

I was on hold with both Disney Dining and GCH FOREVER...they seemed really busy!

 

[NWPrincess]

I've made PS to Blue Bayou, Ralph Brennan's, Cafe Orleans, Wine Country and Carnation.

Yeah--I've gone a little crazy with the PS--but it's addicting!

 

[NicksMommy]

I made reservations for minnies breakfast 3 of our mornings, 1 lunch 1 dinner at BB, 1 breakfast at PPH Lilo and stitch. 1 breakfast at CC, 2 dinners at Goofys kitchen...

What are good places for dinner with a 3 yr old??

 

[CrazyDuck]

Blue Bayou, Rain Forest Cafe and all the Character Meals

 

[Queenbillabong]

I made reservations for minnies breakfast 3 of our mornings, 1 lunch 1 dinner at BB, 1 breakfast at PPH Lilo and stitch. 1 breakfast at CC, 2 dinners at Goofys kitchen...

What are good places for dinner with a 3 yr old??

I would change two of the breakfast at Minnie's with one at Goofy's and one at Storyteller's, just to try the different ones. We like doing character breakfasts too and Minnie's is great - it just might be nice to see the others (unless you're doing it because it's in the park and no walk???)

 

[jlparedes]

I just made one for Minnie's one morning. I tried to make one for ESPNzone, but it was for Sunday afternoon and they said they just take walk ups. Also, you can get one for Rainforest Cafe? I better call back!

 

[NicksMommy]

I would change two of the breakfast at Minnie's with one at Goofy's and one at Storyteller's, just to try the different ones. We like doing character breakfasts too and Minnie's is great - it just might be nice to see the others (unless you're doing it because it's in the park and no walk???)

Yeah I just thought it would be quicker and less walking... I think I might add a Goofy's or Storytellers the day we leave for breakfast... Thanks!

 

[NicksMommy]

Blue Bayou, Rain Forest Cafe and all the Character Meals

Yes! Rain forest cafe!!!!!!!!! That's the one that I have been forgetting!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

You won't regret Storytellers and it is the only one where you also have the option of ordering off the menu - you don't have to take the buffet at any meal. The room is so calming and the characters there are so great with the kids. The characters are always good, but you will see how noticeable the extra quality of their interaction is. We were just there Sunday and our girls had an amazing amount of extra attention.

If you want a break from the character breakfasts, I've heard the Steakhouse 55 has an amazing breakfast that is a good value - not very expensive!

Any dinner is good for a 3 year old - it has to be - it's Disneyland. That being said, add Naples to the list for it's pizza and pasta.

Don't forget that there is decent dinner counter service, too, if the kids are too restless for a long sit down, like the chicken at the Plaza. It's definitely a quieter and more relaxed counter service environment - and right next to the "little potties" at Baby Care! My 3 yr old has to go at least 3 times in a sit down restaurant!!!

 

[silence]

I just wanted to add, that we have actually made PS the day before, or even the day of. We programmed the disney dining number into our cell phones

Depending on when your trip is, you can go on the "fly" and add/change the reservations as needed if they have openings. We tend to visit more during off season, so we don't usually have any problems getting the times we want.

For my DD bday we made a PS for Minnie's the afternoon before and got the birthday bucket and everything. We have made Cafe Orleans PS just an hour before, while walking around Tomorrowland.

Anyways, just thought I'd throw that in.

 

[OnePrincess]

Thanks everyone! We're going to figure out where we want to eat and go ahead and make resrvations.....at least for Cafe Orleans. I really want to eat there.

When I made our reservation for Minnie's Breakfast, I got the day and time I wanted. The girl more unless said anything I wanted that week was open for that breakfast.

 

[OnePrincess]

I just wanted to add, that we have actually made PS the day before, or even the day of. We programmed the disney dining number into our cell phones

Depending on when your trip is, you can go on the "fly" and add/change the reservations as needed if they have openings. We tend to visit more during off season, so we don't usually have any problems getting the times we want.

For my DD bday we made a PS for Minnie's the afternoon before and got the birthday bucket and everything. We have made Cafe Orleans PS just an hour before, while walking around Tomorrowland.

Anyways, just thought I'd throw that in.

This is a great idea! My dh will think I'm nuts but I think I'll do that too.

 

[amyamya]

You can't make ressies for Rainforest thru Disney Dining...just thought I would throw that out there. You can for several other places in DTD.

I memorized the number for DDining: 714-781-DINE!!!!

Another random thought, we always do our character breakfast on the day we are leaving and not in the parks. I personally cannot spend time at breakfast when I know the parks are out there waiting for me!!!! If you do it the day you leave you get to stretch the magic out and have a nice leisurely brekkies...