PS necessary during slow season?

[lulugirl]

We always take our Disney trips during the off season, and have never made PS reservations. We usually tour the parks w/ out any real schedule or "plan", then just pick a restaurant when we get hungry.
This Jan. will be our first trip w/ DD (3yrs), so we did get PS for the princess character breakfast.
I was curious as to what everyone else does, do you plan out in advance where you want to eat? Obviously during the busy season this is necessary, but how about during the slow time? We will be there 1/6-1/13, so of course we are hoping the parks will be empty as they have been in past years during this time.
Any thoughts are appreciated!
-Elisabeth
Also I would love to know what everyones favorite restaurant is, our last trip to Disney was in 1997, so we look forward trying new places, as well as old favorites!

 

[Eilonwy]

I think it really depends on what you want to do. We went last year around the same time and called the night before and got a seating for the CB at Crystal Palace for 11 (no luck at Cindy's, of course). We made a PS for Mama Melrose's first thing in the morning (for dinner? for 7). We got into Rose & Crown for 13 (can't remember how long of a wait there was) without a PS and Rainforest/AK for Breakfast. I think most everything else we did was counter-service since we could never make up our minds. But tourism was REALLY down last January post-9/11. I'm interested to see how it is this year.

I would say if there's something you really want to do, make the PS now. With the exception of some of the CB's, you can always cancel them later. (I know you're charged the deposit for the Princess Breakfast unless you cancel more than 24 houts in advance.) My brother says the seatings at MGM always fill up fast, so that's why we make them ahead of time.

Sometimes having a plan is a good thing and sometimes it's a bad thing. A few years ago we made too many PS's and felt like we had to stick to too much of a schedule. Last year we didn't make any until we were there, but we also wasted a lot of time trying to figure out where we wanted to eat.

We're going around the same time this year, and I've made 6 PS's: Cindy's for Lunch, Sci-Fi for late Lunch (Grammy wants my 20 month old to eat there since he's obsessed with cars), Boma for Breakfast, Rainforest/AK as the park closes, Princess Breakfast at Norway, and Whispering Canyon for Breakfast (we had to wait a LONG time last year here without a PS).

 

[crisi]

I always bother with reservations at restaurants anywhere (including PSs at Disney) when I'd be disappointed if I arrived and couldn't get a table in a reasonable time - regardless of how unpopular or slow the restaurant is.

Which means at Disney, we make some PSs for the spots we want to try, but don't book every meal.

 

[Eeyore2U]

We have ever had a hard getting a PS the same day or the day before in Feb. Our rule of thumb is if we want to go somewhere specific we make a PS.

 

[Prince Eric1]

We definately wanted to do both Cinderellas and The Princess Breakfasts for the girls, and my wife wanted to eat at the LTT and Primetime Cafe. I hate to be put on a strict schedule while on vacation, but I figure that I hate more getting there and not being able to eat where we wanted. If in doubt, make the ps and make sure you get what you want. You could always cancel them later if you change your mind.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I make PS'. Sometimes I end up changing them slightly. (Never been a no show.)
In January, there have only been two restaurants that PS' were needed, if guests didn't want a 1.5 hour wait: Le Cellier and Chefs de France.
Even with a trip last month (Columbus Day weekend) Le Cellier was flat out turning guests away if they had no PS'.
I make PS'. But I have never had a problem in January for those I called ahead and changed the time for earlier or later arrival.

 

[melindaandrob]

Last Jan. we made PS for every restaurant we wanted to try, including CRT. When we arrived at the park there was a CM at the gates asking if anyone wanted to have breakfast at Cinderella's castle. I wouldn't take a chance and wait to get a PS for something special like this but it is an option. The best meals/experiences we had were last minute decisions. When we arrived at MK one day we went to the window at Crystal Palace and made a ps for later in the day. It was our favourite place! If you are staying on site I think dialing 55 will also get you the WDW Dine number. This year we are arriving with a list of restaurants we want to try and planning as we go, I don't think this plan of attack would work in Peak season but Jan., we will take our chances. Our best days/meals were the unplanned days!

 

[BethC1952]

In 26 visits to WDW, we've never made any PS's (we've had actual reservations for the Hoop De Doo and the Luau, but nothing more than that.

I can't decide what I want for dinner tonight. I can't imagine planning meals for a vacation more than two months away! But we also don't plan an itinerary (and never did, even on our first trip). We enjoy the spontaneity of going where we want to when the mood strikes. We've never missed anything we wanted to see or do (or eat!). We've traveled in both off-season times (the week after Thanksgiving) to Christmas, New Year's and 4th of July.

If you're really going to be disappointed that you can't eat at a particular restaurant, by all means make some PS's. For me, there are so many wonderful choices, and I'm not a fussy eater and will try (and probably like) almost anything, that I'd rather try my luck with whatever place I'm near when I'm hungry!

Beth

 

[Dana_Buckley]

We were at WDW this June with our 2 1/2 yr old. He never took a nap in the room or in the stroller until we headed out for dinner. We had a nice time touring World Showcase while he slept and we got counter service one night at MK while he slept. But, when we went to Ohana and Kona Cafe for dinner, he didn't have enough time to fall asleep, and dinner wasn't exactly pleasant. (he kept staniding up in his chair and jumping, etc) Just be forewarned, it may be difficult to handle dinner at a sit-down if DD doesn't get a nap of some kind.

I agree, if there is someplace special you want to go to, it doesn't hurt to make the PS. You can always change it later. Or show up early & hope to be seated.

Have a wonderful vacation! We will be there the same time Jan 11-14th!

 

[Muffy]

I always make PS's before we leave and feel it is a good investment of time. I have also changed my mind and canceled plenty of them while at WDW and made new ones while there.