Typical wait times recently for those with a PS?

[Selket]

We are traveling in August - 4 of us - 2 young kids - our 2 yr old has diabetes. I had made my dinner PS's at 5:30 hoping to beat the crowds to dinner and not have to wait long to be seated. However I know from last summer that we had a hard time taking a long enough break in the afternoon (with naps, swimming and showers!) and getting to an early dinner reservation!

If I moved my PS's to 6:00-6:20 would you think the wait times would be long? This is the time we generally eat at home so I think eating between 6:30 and 7:00 is fine but wouldn't work if we arrive for a 6:30 PS and have to wait an hour. Would work best if my diabetic son could be eating by 7:00 at the latest. We are a bit committed to these reservations because he is not only diabetic but has a life threatening peanut allergy (and other allergies) and I have to make arrangements with the chefs beforehand for his meals. It would not work for us to cancel dinner and eat elsewhere if we are running late for the 5:30 PS!

Any advice?

 

[DebUK]

Hi
We made 2 PS for our recent trip (1 - 15th July). We had PS at Brown Derby for the 4 July at 6.30 - the wait was about 30 mins. Our PS for California Grill was for 8.20 on July 11th (Sunday I think) and we were seated almost immediately.

When we arrived (early as advised) at the Brown Derby there was a large queue and they were stating a 35 min wait for PS but longer for walk-ins (60 - 90 mins). In fact we arrived a good 20 mins before our PS and I think this would be something I would recommend to you if possible.

HTH, and have fun.

Debbie

 

[CamColt]

We just got back from from WDW. The longest we waited for a PS was probably about 15 minutes past our PS. That was for Ohana which opens at 5:00 and had quite a long line of people waiting when we arrived at 4:55. But other than that we were pretty much seated right away for everything.

 

[heffalump9]

From past experience I have found wait times with a PS are less if your dinner reservations are early (5:30pm vs 6:30pm/7PM), my DH and I prefer early meal times because the service is better, the restuarants are less crowded plus when it is hot we want some A/C by early evening. During Spring break when the crowds were at their peak wait times for our early dinners were less than 15 mins. when we at at 5:30pm. (early reservations worked well at Cape May Cafe, Boma, 50's Prime time and Rose and Crown). My DH has severe peanut allergies and these places were very helpful with meal choices especially the Boma.

 

[ElizabethB]

We have sometimes waited a surprisingly long time even when we've had a priority seating time. At Whispering Canyon Cafe, we gave up after waiting at least 3/4 hour and ate at Artist Point because we were going to be late for our fireworks cruise. I wasn't sorry about changing to Artist Point as it's better food, but I was very sorry to have waited so long in the first place as we nearly had to swallow our steaks and salmon whole!

Having said that, I can't imagine you would be made to wait that long if they know your son is diabetic. I would think they would move you ahead of others if they know the situation.

I for one would never object to a party being seated before me with a diabetic child or other situation requiring eating at a specific time. I have a friend with a diabetic child so perhaps I am particularly sensitive to your situation and the difficulties it entails, but it seems to me that a word when you check in that your child must eat by a particular time due to diabetes should be all it would take to get you the next table (at least I would hope that's the case).

 

[jel0511]

We just returned and the longest we waited for a PS was at Brown Derby and it was 30 minutes. All of our PS's were for 6:30, so the latest we were seated was at 7PM. If you check out my dinign reviews, you'll see where we ate.

 

[Micca]

We haven't been this summer, but in May, if we weren't seated immediately it was only a 5-10 minute wait. I think our wait at LeCellier was the longest at about 25 minutes.

 

[Selket]

I appreciate the info from everyone! We have to move our trip to September (my MIL almost died last week after her knee replacement surgery from a heart problem and she is still in the hospital - we want to be here when she gets out). I think I will go with the slightly later PS times (like 6:00-6:30) because it is just about impossible for us to take an afternoon break and nap/swim/shower and get back to the parks for an early dinner.

I'm hoping Sept. will be less crowded and perhaps less waiting in general.