Part 2 of our 3 must use systems blog entry will focus on Priority Seating. I am really excited to share more about this system with you guys because it involves a topic that I love, love, love. FOOD!!!
An entree at S.S.Columbia in Tokyo Disneysea
Special thanks to Nagi for the picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cafetricot/4714671064/
So, what is Priority Seating? I would describe Priority Seating as Disney’s Fastpass‘s fat and happy uncle. It’s like a Fastpass for restaurants. It is the most amazing system Disney has ever come up with!!! IT IS GENIUS!!! It is……………….. a restaurant reservation. I can hear the birds chirping in my head now. All jokes aside, Priority Seating will definitely help your party have minimal wait times at some of the restaurants in the parks. It’s also a little different than your typical restaurant reservation. Here’s a step by step of how it works.
1) You head to the restaurant of choice with this facility and tell the restaurant staff at the entrance that you want to make a Priority Seating reservation for later on in the day. You choose the time that you want to return for lunch or dinner. This is one difference it has from Disney’s Fastpass. You actually get to pick a time.
2) The nice man or lady handling your Priority Seating will give you a ticket to acknowledge your request.
3) Return to the restaurant at your chosen time with your Priority Seating ticket and you will have little to no wait before you get seated. I’ve used this system loads of times and have never once waited for more than 15 minutes for a table.
Blue Bayou. One of the many restaurants that provides Priority Seating in TDR.
Special thanks to sfgamchick for the picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfgamchick/314483138/
It’s a very simple and effective system. Here are a few tips you can keep in mind regarding Priority Seating.
1) Make your Priority Seating reservation early on in the day. They run out really fast. I’ve tried making one at 11am for dinner once at Eastside Cafe and there were no more slots available. These run out faster than Disney’s Fastpasses.
2) Be on time when you return for your reservation. The staff has the right to give your table away if you are not present.
3) I am going to let you guys in on a piece of information that is really close to my heart. There is this one restaurant that is my favorite in the entire resort. Whenever I head to TDS with my loved ones, I will make a Priority Seating reservation for dinner at this restaurant. The atmosphere and the food is amazing there. I would recommend that you head to make a Priority Seating reservation at Ristorante Di Canaletto for dinner once you enter the park. Pick a time that doesn’t clash with Fantasmic. Ask for an outdoor seat by the canal. It is beautiful. I am sure that you won’t regret it.
IMHO, the best restaurant in both parks, Ristorante Di Canaletto
Special thanks to dai-kon for the picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dkdk/4721583208/
Below is a list of restaurants that provide the Priority Seating facility
TDL
1) Eastside Cafe
2) Restaurant Hokusai
3) Blue Bayou Restaurant
TDS
1) Ristorante Di Canaletto
2) Magellan’s
3) S.S. Columbia Dining Room
4) Restaurant Sakura
5) Sailing Day Buffet
Konnichiwa Mickey 
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You’re also competing against people staying at one of the three Disney hotels, who have the ability to use Priority Seating reservations up to a month in advance.
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Thank you so much for explaining all this to us! Last year we were there, and I couldn’t figure out Priority Seating! I kept trying to make a reservation for Blue Bayou and the language barrier kept getting in the way. Finally we figured it out! This is so helpful. One question – we are staying at the MiraCosta – can they make Priority Seating reservations for us in advance, or do we have to do that ourselves on the day we are in the park?
You can make priority seating if you are staying at the Disney hotels and by yourselves on the day of entry. You can do it on the internet. From the reservations page, go to the “My Bookings” tab where you view your existing hotel reservations. There is an option to add dining reservations from there. For in-park dining, you can make a reservation 30days before your check-in date. That was how I did it the last time we stayed in Miracosta. I hope this helps!!!