Stupid Questions About Priority Seating

[WannabeAriel]

OK... I understand that I have to wait until 60 days out to make reservations.

SO... if my trip starts on July 26th and I call on the 60 day out mark from the 26th... can I make reservations for the rest of the trip even though they would technically be 61 days, 62 days, 63 days, 64 days out?

Or will I have to call back every day?

And what number do I call?

I am staying off site at HoJo if that makes a difference! THANKS!

 

[nunzia]

no..it has to be 60 days..or rather 2 months..so if you arrive on July 26 you call on May 26 (it may or may not be 60 days..so just use the 2 months thing) then you would have to call the next day and so on.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

The number is 1-714-781-3463.

 

[Teki]

you would have to call every day so if your staying a week just wait an extra week so you can do it all at once, that's what I do anyway also its the Disney Dinning number available on the website.

 

[avalon451]

Yeah, wait till it's 60 days from the LAST day of your trip, then call and make them all at once. I understand it's more important at WDW to get those hard-to-find PS's, but at DL you'll be able to get pretty much whatever you need. We made PS's for Blue Bayou only about 3 weeks in advance, and were able to get the time we wanted. Although I wouldn't count on that always being the case at 3 weeks out, you should be fine if you wait till 60 days from the last day of your trip.

 

[toni1227]

I just made Goofy PS 2 weeks before our planned dinner date 3/18 and Carnation cafe last night for 3/17 with no problems. I am sure summer is a lot busier though but still I doubt they sell out of PS 60 days out. I would do what Avalon says and do it all at once 60 days from the last day of your trip.

 

[fairycat]

Seriously it is totally different at DLR the WDW!! I have gotten same day PS's during summer for Ariel and BB. We have even walked up to places. You will not have to fight the same way so just wait till the last day hits 60 days out and don't worry!

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Again like PP's said...WDW is different and if you want to eat at CRT then you had better make an adr! But when I went to DLR in dec they were taking walkups for lunch at BB and CO! It is easier to wait until it's 2 months from your last day so you can do it in one phone call. Enjoy your trip!

 

[alvernon90]

Again like PP's said...WDW is different and if you want to eat at CRT then you had better make an adr! But when I went to DLR in dec they were taking walkups for lunch at BB and CO! It is easier to wait until it's 2 months from your last day so you can do it in one phone call. Enjoy your trip!

It seems backwards to me. People are always complaining that Disneyland is always crowded these days, that there is no slow season like at WDW, and yet it's easy to get into the restaurants almost any time except summer. I guess the locals who visit DLR know something about the food...

 

[fairycat]

It seems backwards to me. People are always complaining that Disneyland is always crowded these days, that there is no slow season like at WDW, and yet it's easy to get into the restaurants almost any time except summer. I guess the locals who visit DLR know something about the food...

Actually its the fact that locals don't feel the need to eat at, at least one TS a day like people tend to do at WDW. The other big differences are easy access to outside food and more people who chose to "Wing It" when it comes to dining. It makes dining much more low key at DLR.

 

[WannabeAriel]

OK... thanks! Maybe I'll go for a compromise. I'll call at the 60 day mark for Blue Bayou only - since that is my #1 - MUST DO and I'd like to do it on our arrival day. Then I'll wait until 60 days out from the last day of our trip for the rest of them.

That way I can get by with only two calls.

It does sound much more laid back than WDW. Do you think it is because so many people stay off-site at DL and don't buy the dining plan? I think the introduction of the dining plan made the demand for reservations at WDW restaurants MUCH higher!!!

 

[swimrsal]

I've been calling every morning to make mine at 60 days out. I am a planner and I really don't mind calling and listening to the Disney hold music every morning. Gets me in that Disney fun mood!!! Plus we have a party of 7 so I figure it's a little harder kwim?

 

[WannabeAriel]

The number is 1-714-781-3463.

OK... I've got the number. THANKS!

Now... for another stupid question: What hours?
7:00 AM??? 8:00 AM???

And I assume they would be located in California and therefore on Pacific time correct?

 

[nunzia]

It seems backwards to me. People are always complaining that Disneyland is always crowded these days, that there is no slow season like at WDW, and yet it's easy to get into the restaurants almost any time except summer. I guess the locals who visit DLR know something about the food...

Well, there's not really a WDW type of dining plan at DLR. That said, if I have a big group like I did last may, I called right at 60.
Course I'm an anal uptight planner so I'll probably call for any size group if I really want to eat somewhere..
Going to WDW has me totally freaked.

 

[bumbershoot]

Do you think it is because so many people stay off-site at DL and don't buy the dining plan?

Well, there's not really a WDW type of dining plan at DLR.

Exactly. The dining plan is NOTHING like it is at WDW, it's pretty much just pre-paying for your meals, and it's not a terrific value like the WDW plan can be for many people. It's just vouchers for cash value, with some character dining vouchers depending on how many days you have the plan for.

Many visitors are local and don't do the table service places, hopping is included with all but the most basic one-day ticket (and a special, limited so cal ticket I believe) so you're not stuck in one park with most tickets...

 

[CanuckDuck]

OK... thanks! Maybe I'll go for a compromise. I'll call at the 60 day mark for Blue Bayou only - since that is my #1 - MUST DO and I'd like to do it on our arrival day. Then I'll wait until 60 days out from the last day of our trip for the rest of them.

That way I can get by with only two calls.

When you are calling that first time for BB - go ahead and ask about the other days. My DW was able to make more than one on her first call at the 2 month mark. She was pleasantly suprised to be able to make most of our rezzies with the first call. Some of the reservations open up a week at a time, some by the day. Can't hurt to ask - all they can say is that they're not ready yet, and you catch them on the next call.

 

[WannabeAriel]

When you are calling that first time for BB - go ahead and ask about the other days. My DW was able to make more than one on her first call at the 2 month mark. She was pleasantly suprised to be able to make most of our rezzies with the first call. Some of the reservations open up a week at a time, some by the day. Can't hurt to ask - all they can say is that they're not ready yet, and you catch them on the next call.

OK cool. I'll ask.

Anyone know the hours I can call? (Setting up my calendar reminder and I want it to o off at the right time!!!)

 

[dollarmite]

We'll be visiting DL and DW from Australia in November. We're celebrating 2 birthdays during the trip (one at each park), so I want to ensure we get reservations for character meals on those days at least.

I don't want to be on hold for ages and racking up an enormous phone bill calling all the way from 'down under' (assuming I can even get the timing right). I'm probably booking most of the trip myself online, although I may use Dreams Unlimited for the DW portion, and I understand they can make the dining reservations. Other than that, can reservations be made online or something?

 

[ukstitch]

Just to add to what a few people have said - when I visited in October (over the gay days weekend), I booked and planned my trip at such short notice that I didn't have time to find out about priority seating, let alone plan where to eat and make them!

Well - I still had some wonderful meals in Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe and Rainforest Cafe (all eaten at lunch time). I think the longest wait was Blue Bayou at 1/2 hour or so.

It's worth noting, however, that I was lucky... Not long after I was seated in the little waiting area, I noticed the CM's had started to turn people away who were walking up.

 

[LV Disney Fan(atic)]

Anyone know the hours I can call? (Setting up my calendar reminder and I want it to o off at the right time!!!)

You can call from 7 am to 9 pm (Pacific time), 7 days a week.