I've had the opportunity to listen in to a number of the formerly known as "Priority seating" now "advanced reservation" calls that go into the Disney Reservation Centre this week and wanted to give everyone a "heads up" that it is a REALLY GOOD IDEA to try and get a good portion of your bookings done before you leave the UK.
This looks like being a REALLY BUSY season for WDW with the celebrations for the 50th anniversary. The hotel occupancy %ages are high and the number of Florida locals who are planning to "day guest" to the parks is much higher than previous years. I've lost count of the number of frustrated callers looking for "special meals" for special occassions (birthdays/anniversaries etc) and not being able to get the ones they were looking for (even if they were flexible enough to ask for 4 or 5 different choices). Dinner shows, character meals, cirque or if you want to go to a particular restaurant on a particular day should be booked as far ahead as you can manage. If you have flexibility (you'll change cuisine or venue easily) within your plans you can probably leave things until 2,3 or 4 weeks ahead of arrival. If you leave things to the last week (or heavens forbid) the day of the actual seating you really are looking for the dining gods to smile on you.
I know that this aspect is a bit of a pain , as it means that you really have to start at least pencilling in what parks you're doing on what days, particularly if you're a "non-planner" but it seems this summer is going to be particularly busy and I know from person experience there is little that has the ability to put a damper on a "magical experience"day quite as effectively as yomping round half a dozen restaurants when the possee are tired,hot,sweaty,hungry and grouchy to be told each time, "sorry we're all full for the rest of the evening" , previously you could usually get in somewhere outside of "holiday seasons" but I would suggest it's worth treating this summer season as you would Easter or Xmas as far as dining reservations are concerned. It's a lot easier to cancel a reservation that you have, than it is to get a reservation when there is no room at the inn.
Will all planners please take one step forward, bow, and tell all the non planners how it's best done LOL.
This looks like being a REALLY BUSY season for WDW with the celebrations for the 50th anniversary. The hotel occupancy %ages are high and the number of Florida locals who are planning to "day guest" to the parks is much higher than previous years. I've lost count of the number of frustrated callers looking for "special meals" for special occassions (birthdays/anniversaries etc) and not being able to get the ones they were looking for (even if they were flexible enough to ask for 4 or 5 different choices). Dinner shows, character meals, cirque or if you want to go to a particular restaurant on a particular day should be booked as far ahead as you can manage. If you have flexibility (you'll change cuisine or venue easily) within your plans you can probably leave things until 2,3 or 4 weeks ahead of arrival. If you leave things to the last week (or heavens forbid) the day of the actual seating you really are looking for the dining gods to smile on you.
I know that this aspect is a bit of a pain , as it means that you really have to start at least pencilling in what parks you're doing on what days, particularly if you're a "non-planner" but it seems this summer is going to be particularly busy and I know from person experience there is little that has the ability to put a damper on a "magical experience"day quite as effectively as yomping round half a dozen restaurants when the possee are tired,hot,sweaty,hungry and grouchy to be told each time, "sorry we're all full for the rest of the evening" , previously you could usually get in somewhere outside of "holiday seasons" but I would suggest it's worth treating this summer season as you would Easter or Xmas as far as dining reservations are concerned. It's a lot easier to cancel a reservation that you have, than it is to get a reservation when there is no room at the inn.
Will all planners please take one step forward, bow, and tell all the non planners how it's best done LOL.
