What are the chances we'll get a PS...

[Figment&Piglet]

I called twice already to get a dinner PS for either Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Faire for Friday, 5/9, and both were only available for 8:00 p.m. or later!!!! (And people on the boards have been saying crowds are down, and that the parks will be empty in May, etc. Apparently, people are still going -- and planning to eat, LOL!)

It'll be our daughter's 1st birthday, so we definitely wanted one or the other character meal, and at a relatively early hour (she'll be in bed by 8:00, I hope!) What are the chances I'll get a cancellation before then for anywhere between 5:00 and 6:30? Should I keep calling?

Thanks for any insight you can provide...

 

[Liv2CdWorld]

Always keep trying!

 

[jeank74]

I would say keep trying. You never know.

However, just a word of advice. Since it will be your daughter's 1st birthday, make sure your daughter is not "scared" of these characters. When I was in WDW back in October, I saw more than one toddler crying when Mickey Mouse approached them at the character breakfast buffet.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Actually, from what I've been reading on the boards, it seems like there are quite a few people who have May trips I agree with everyone else, keep trying. There are cancelations all the time ...

 

[Ithastobe]

Keep trying!! Last year I got ressies day before we left.

My theory, people put credit card on file, but have like 24 hours before the breakfast to cancel before they are charged a deposit.
Kids get pooped, sick, tired, and plans change - so there is a good chance people may cancel at the last minute.

I too have heard people getting cancels, and if you keep reading the board here, people sometimes post if they are going to cancel so maybe you can snag one of those.

Keep trying! You never know.. good luck.

 

[ilovefh]

My theory, people put credit card on file, but have like 24 hours before the breakfast to cancel before they are charged a deposit.

I believe, and I could be wrong, that CRT is the only place to take a deposit for a meal. (Minus dinner shows and such

 

[Ithastobe]

ilovefh, I think you are right! I was thinking of the CRT ressies.
Oh well.... I still would keep trying. Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[cinmell]

Keep trying, it's worked for me in the past!

 

[m.pots]

correct me if I'm wrong but... I don't think you have to have a PS to eat at a restaurant like Chef Mickey's. They highly recommend it but if you go early enough I'm sure they could fit you in. They don't fill up the entire place with PS's. You could have the standard wait like when you go to a restaurant. Just a thought....

I'd still keep trying though just so you could confirm a time with a limited wait.

Good luck!
Steph

 

[Trish5768]

I don't know if your date is flexible or not but I called and got 1900 Park Fare for 5/10 at 5:30 for 4 people no problem. Good luck!

 

[ilovefh]

correct me if I'm wrong but... I don't think you have to have a PS to eat at a restaurant like Chef Mickey's. They highly recommend it but if you go early enough I'm sure they could fit you in. They don't fill up the entire place with PS's. You could have the standard wait like when you go to a restaurant. Just a thought....

Well technically, if they can fill up on PS's then they will. They don't keep anything open on purpose. If all PS's before 8 are already full I would recommend to the OP to keep calling, even up until the morning of their dd's birthday. And have some sort of backup plan just in case. Maybe garden grill at Epcot, or LTT at MK.

But, no they don't save anything for walkups if they can book them ahead of time.

 

[mom_rules]

Keep trying but if nothing opens up and you are willing to take a chance-just show up-you may get lucky.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I agree to keep trying but don't limit yourself too much. What about breakfast at one of these two places or a meal at one of the other character meals. I think Crystal palace with the pooh gang is precious for a 1st birthday.Other good choices are Garden Grill or the Liberty Tree Tavern, both have the "fab 5" charaters too. Our all time favorite CM is breakfastsarus at AK. Good luck and Happy Birthday.


Jordan's mom

 

[crisi]

Just showing up might work, but I wouldn't do it with a one year old on the one year olds birthday. One year olds tend to need to be fed when they need to be fed - and you already have a "birthday party" in mind that doesn't include chicken fingers from the Contempory snack bar.

Get a PS somewhere. If your image is a character meal, choose one for lunchtime or breakfast or dinner somewhere else and keep trying for Chef Mickey's for dinner - but make a dinner PS as well for a non-character meal (maybe the Concourse steakhouse - its right there in the Contemporary and if CM does have a walk in, you can just cancel).

 

[Figment&Piglet]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone! Sounds like it wouldn't be fruitless to just keep trying every so often. I just didn't want to keep dialing week after week if it was completely hopeless!

Interesting discussion about just walking up vs. PS -- given that there are no PSs available, I wonder if people who just walk up are all turned away? Or maybe a lot of folks don't wind up showing up for PSs, since it's not like you have to give a credit card no. like CRT.

I do have a PS for Crystal Palace at MK, just in case, so at least it's a character dinner and it's at a good hour (5:25, I believe). But I've never been to CP before, so I'm a little nervous about visiting there for the first time on such a special day (LOL, my daughter won't remember a thing, good or bad, so I guess it's more for her parents! ) My husband and I ate so many times a Chef Mickey's together and had a fabulous time, that we just kind of feel "sentimental," if that's the right word, about bringing our only child (so far!) there on her 1st b-day.

Anyone have reassuring words about CP, just in case?

 

[ilovefh]

Interesting discussion about just walking up vs. PS -- given that there are no PSs available, I wonder if people who just walk up are all turned away? Or maybe a lot of folks don't wind up showing up for PSs, since it's not like you have to give a credit card no. like CRT.

Well it depends on a few things, if people don't show up they'll take walkups, if things are moving faster than normal, they'll take walkups, depending on the weather, they'll take walkups (less if it is raining since people tend to sit longer), and if they feel like it they'll take walkups. You can definitely try, in fact any other time I would recommend it. But since you are celebrating your dd's 1st birthday I wouldnt want you to show up and have them turn you away.

I worked at CRT and I can tell you there were many many times we turned people away (and not just for breakfast, but for lunch and dinner as well). We always told people when they asked about walking up (they'd ask before our dinner time when we told them we were booked) and we'd tell them they can come back and try, but we couldnt guarantee that we will be able to get them in.

And CP, I love CP! Pretty decent buffet and the characters are usually pretty fun!