Should we really make PS's?

[PedsTherapist]

Just my DH and myself are going in Oct and after reading this board I am wondering if we should make PS's. My reluctance is that I don't want a commando we-have-to-be-at-a-certain-place-by-a-certain-time type of vacation. I was planning on calling from our room for PS's (for dinner) on the morning of the day we want to dine. Is that wrong? Will everything be full with no options? I wouldn't even know where to start if I do need to start planning PS's. Help!!!!!

 

[Anewman]

I was planning on calling from our room for PS's (for dinner) on the morning of the day we want to dine. Is that wrong? Will everything be full with no options?

Well for my Aug 8-15th trip, I called Yesterday to move some meals around.

SCI Fi and Le Cellier were full on the days I wanted for Dinner, So I switched a few things around and found some decent times.

So if It is full 25 days away, I can only imagine how full it will be each morning During the PEAK free dining period. I am sure you will find somthing, but it may not be exactly what you want.

 

[dandee00]

I've never been to WDW, but I can imagine the Free Dining time of year will be busy!!! Actually, it'll be hectic. I don't think I'd want to chance waiting to call in the morning. That being said, I agree with the OP...not having to rush to be somewhere at a certain is more relaxing.
Does anyone have any idea how busy it is in January, which is another value season?

 

[polarboi]

We're going in September, and when I called a few weeks ago for reservations, I was surprised at how many of our first choices were already booked on the nights we wanted them!

I've been to WDW before, but I've always just eaten whatever was close by and cheap, which usually meant counter service for almost every meal. My experience is that this way allows maximum flexibility, but it also tends to leave you with a fast-food-filled vacation. Bleah!

This time, we're doing the dining plan, so I want to take advantage of the opportunity to eat in nice restaurants! So here's what I did: I went to several WDW websites and read the restaurant reviews. Based on the reviews and our own personal tastes, I chose at least one table service restaurant that we want to try in each park. (I'm not counting AK, because there are no table service restaurants there.) I chose more than one if there was more than one option that sounded very appealing.

Then I made a very, very tentative schedule of one way we might spend our time. I guessed at how many days we'd want to spend in each park and which days we might want to be here. (Understand, none of this is in stone; it's just a rough estimate.) Based on that, I assigned each of the food options to a different night.

I called and made my reservations, changing things around as necessary to fit what was available. Then I threw away the park schedule I'd made, keeping only my restaurant reservations. This way, we're free to do whatever we want to do based on crowds and random whims, and the only thing we have to keep in mind is where our daily table reservation is. If we decide we're having too much fun elsewhere, we can just skip it. Otherwise, we have a guaranteed spot. It's win-win.

I hope this helps!

-p.b.

 

[Uncleromulus]

It's tough doing PS well in advance when you aren't sure what the rest of your days will be like at WDW. But as others have already noted, some spots are already gone. My suggestion is that if you have your heart set on any special restaurant, make the PS now. You can always cancel later. If , however, you don't particularly mind where or when you eat, then at least try to make PS the same day. What with all the free dining plans, etc etc, I really wouldn't count on just walking in to any table service restaurant.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We saw many people turned away from restaurants last month. The new dining plan must be causing the increase in people eating at the restaurants. As others have already said, if you really want some restaurants you really need to make reservations. Don't plan on walking up unless you want to eat as soon as they open. Someone posted that they did this and it worked. I also read where people would walk up early in the day and try to get a seating for later but were either told no or it was WAY later.
If you don't want to be disappointed (and hungry) make some reservations.

 

[jkovick]

We are going the first week of October and I called last week for reservations and only got one of our first choice timeslots. I would definately consider making a few if there are any "must dos" for you.

 

[BluOrchid2]

Plan 1/2, leave 1/2 for chance if you like a little spontaneaity omgosh how DO you spell that word? LOL but be prepared to eat counter service on the days you don't have PS's planned just in case you can't get in.

 

[lillygator]

personally I would make at least one PS dinner or lunch per day if I wanted to make sure we wanted TS for meals...if you don't mind counter service or traveling off property then I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Make one mid-day at the park or resort you think you will be in. That way you will be assured of at least one good, sit-down table service meal. I just talked to a man who went to WDW with his step-grandkids last month. He told me they couldn't get in anywhere to eat other than inside Ft. Wilderness, where they were staying!!! Got turned away everywhere. Yes, it is a more crowded time in June than in Oct. but I would feel better having one meal a day taken care of.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

It's tough doing PS well in advance when you aren't sure what the rest of your days will be like at WDW. But as others have already noted, some spots are already gone. My suggestion is that if you have your heart set on any special restaurant, make the PS now. You can always cancel later. If , however, you don't particularly mind where or when you eat, then at least try to make PS the same day. What with all the free dining plans, etc etc, I really wouldn't count on just walking in to any table service restaurant.

About a month before our late Oct/early Nov trip last year, I was unable to book some of the restaurants I really wanted: Ca Grill, Le Cellier, Chefs, etc. If there is a place you'd like to try, make an ADR. You can always chance it. During our May trip, we had to call dining reservations a couple of times to book restaurants in a different park and cancel ADR's that we had already. It is not a problem. I look at it this way: having an ADR guarantees that we have some place to eat. It may not end up being the most convenient location given the inevitable changes in plans, but it's something in case everything else convenient is booked. If you adopt the same strategy, PLEASE cancel ADR's that you don't plan on using as soon as you make the decision. This courtesy helps out those who are waiting for tables.

 

[Cplofdisneynutz]

While making our PS yesterday for the 1st portion of the trip, the CM told me how important they are now, especially with the MYW dining plan. Couple that with the fact that now off-site guest can make PS as well, and much more informed guests (thanks to the internet). She said they book-up quite frequently even 90 days out. Amazing!! like others have said here If you have your heart set on something then make the PS and cancel if plans change. Hope you have a pleasant trip.

 

[PedsTherapist]

Plan 1/2, leave 1/2 for chance if you like a little spontaneaity omgosh how DO you spell that word? LOL but be prepared to eat counter service on the days you don't have PS's planned just in case you can't get in.

BluOrchid2-Hey neighbor, I grew up in L.S. and my mom still lives there. I have now moved to O.P. When are you going to WDW?

Thank you to all of you who have replied to my post. You all made some really good points. I had totally forgotten about the free dining promotion since we are not going to get to take advantage of it. I got myself in gear and made all of my dinner PS's for the first week of Oct. AND I got my first choice for each one! I even got LTT for MNSSHP! I think we will just do counter service for lunch, especially with the F&W fest. Thanks again to all of you for the extra push I obviously needed.

 

[BluOrchid2]

Glad I checked back on this thread to see your "hi" to me, pedstherapist! We are going Sept 22-28, so we'll just miss you. But be sure to PM me if you have any specific questions I could answer while I'm there, or after I return/before you go. Nice to hear from you!

 

[DisneyHumbug]

Does anyone know what the dates of the free dining are? We're going 8/4-11 and just made one PS for LeCellier. We're going to "wing" the rest.

 

[cobbler]

Does anyone know what the dates of the free dining are? We're going 8/4-11 and just made one PS for LeCellier. We're going to "wing" the rest.

It starts at the end of August and continues through into October. If you check in by October 4th you got the free dining through your stay so it will impact past October 4th.

 

[Acklander]

For the places that are really important to us we make an ADR, other than that we just wing it; so we end up going with about half our dining planned. We're easy though and don't mind eating at odd hours or putting in our name and heading back to the restaurant a few hours later. I guess we pick up the slack from those who make multiple reservations

 

[gravel72]

Just my DH and myself are going in Oct and after reading this board I am wondering if we should make PS's. My reluctance is that I don't want a commando we-have-to-be-at-a-certain-place-by-a-certain-time type of vacation. I was planning on calling from our room for PS's (for dinner) on the morning of the day we want to dine. Is that wrong? Will everything be full with no options? I wouldn't even know where to start if I do need to start planning PS's. Help!!!!!

My theory is ... "why not".

I just made my Advance Reservations last night, for a mid-September trip. I got every time, date, and place I asked for. All the CM needed was my name and telephone number, not CC# needed.

Now, right now our plan is to make all those, but who's to say we can't change our mind when we get there. But atleast we have a backup plan, in case everything is booked.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I made all my PS's 90 days out, and called every day for 10 days. Usually around 9:00 AM, to make sure I got everything I wanted. The only thing I didn't get was CRT the first time I tried, (I did get it eventually though,) and certain times like Le Cellier I wanted at 8:00, but they had 7:50, (I don't care about a ten minute difference,) and Akershus I wanted at 1:00, they had 1:25. I'd call ahead, especially for the harder ones, even more so if you want certain times. I'm going in October to.