Question on dining and priority seating reservations

[gkrykewy]

As of yesterday, we've entered the 60 day window from the beginning of our trip. It seems as if most of the on-site dining options don't require reservations, but I think we'd like to make reservations for Goofy's kitchen (breakfast) and Blue Bayou (dinner) just to be safe.

What's the best way to make reservations at DL? We're staying at the grand californian on DVC points. Should I call DL Vacation Planning, or DVC member services? Can I book all my reservations 60 days out from the beginning of our trip, or do I need to call individually 60 days ahead of each reservation day?

Thanks (clueless since we're WDW regulars; first time in DL).

 

[barefootmomma]

Here is the number for Disney Dining, this is who you'll want to call for PS/reservations.

(714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463

 

[ScooterL]

Disneyland dining doesn't fill up way in advance the way it does at WDW. I would wait until you are 60 days out from the last day of your trip, and then call and make ALL your priority seatings at one time. Be aware that they will not give you any kind of a confirmation number - WDW visitors are usually somewhat taken aback by that.

 

[gkrykewy]

Thanks for the info - for some reason I understood that there was some benefit to going through DL Vacation Planning rather than dining services. Is this not true?

 

[Lissame]

I don't think there's any advantage other than the fact that you wouldn't necessarily have to wait on hold yourself. But I've never waited extremely long, even when making WOC dining reservations when they first opened up.

 

[Tikestoublie]

I booked everything through Disney Dining with no issues and being able to speak with the person entering it in the system can be a life saver - literally. I have allergies plus other stuff so I spoke with them a lot. I also programmed them into my phone which allowed me to call the day of and make changes as needed. Did this a few times to get later seating times and never had an issue.

I do recommend a reservation for Blue Bayou. Goofy's might be easier so would stress a bit less but having a reservation does help. On one of day I did a spur of the moment decison to try the Mickey breakfast and we just walked up. We had a table within 5 minutes, and honestly we had a better interaction with characters and staff over there than we did at Goofy's.

 

[Sherry E]

Goofy's is great - huge buffet and characters too! (It's supposed to be the character meal that is most similar to Chef Mickey's in WDW.)

Reservations are actually required at Blue Bayou. In fact, for a long time it was the only place in DLR that required a reservation with Disneyland Dining. Even though some folks have reported in the last year or two that they have been able to walk-up and get a table at BB, I wouldn't count on that.

Goofy's can be hit or miss with getting seated right away. We have eaten there plenty of times in the past where we had no PS (the reservations used to be called Priority Seating), and we got seated practially right away. We have also had times where we had a PS/reservation and got seated right away. And then other times with or without a PS where we had to wait a bit before being seated. So even though a reservation is not required at Goofy's or any of the character meals, I would make one just to be on the safe side. There are times where it's very busy.

Vacation Planning really isn't that beneficial in making the reservations for you other than the fact that it saves you the trouble of having to either call the Dining number several times to make several different resevations (lots of folks do them in multiple calls), or having to sit there on a 15-minute phone call trying to get them all done. Also, VP can make suggestions to you and do things to simplify your trip. They can also order cakes and things for you if you would like to have a birthday cake sent to the restaurant of your choice.

I think that for international DLR visitors, Vacation Planning would be great. The guest could just make one call or send on e-mail to VP with their list of preferred reservations, and then VP handles the rest so the guest doesn't have to rack up a bunch of charges in calls or call at odd hours of the night/morning to make reservations.

I suppose VP also would work well for people who work round the clock and are super busy and just don't have the time to sit there on the phone or call back repeatedly. You contact VP once via e-mail with your list of restaurants and times and the rest is done for you.

 

[gkrykewy]

Well, since we're not super picky on times and nothing seems as hard-to-get as say Le Cellier at WDW, I just fired off an email to Vacation Planning this AM with all of our requests:

1x breakfast at storyteller's
1x dinner at Blue Bayou
1x breakfast at Goofy's
1x dinner at Napa Rose

Thanks for the suggestions, all - we'll see what happens. It's a nice little luxury if they really will take care of all this for me!

 

[gkrykewy]

Nice! They already replied with all of our requested reservations except for Goofy's, and said they'll hold my info to book that at the 60-day mark. They even booked Napa Rose outside of 60 days.

 

[jimreuter]

For Blue Bayou, by all means make a reservation ahead of time - at least a week ahead if you want to eat during the prime dinner hours, or if your party is larger than 6 persons.

Otherwise, you are likely to hear "I'm sorry, we are not taking walk-ins at this time, only seating our reservations......".

 

[blackjackdelta]

We use VP and they will send an itinerary with what you have scheduled.

Jack