How busy are places to eat in January? - The DIS Discussion Forums

xenole · 11-21-2009, 03:45 AM

Toying around with the possibility of an ADR for breakfast at Chef Mickey for example.
Personally, I would rather not be tied down to any schedule and turn up at some random point and hope for the best. So how crowded do the various Disney food places get during January should I wish to try this?

christinec68 · 11-21-2009, 03:58 AM

If there's a place you really want to go, you should make an ADR. You can always cancel them if you change your mind. Walk ups are not too common anymore, especially for an extremely popular place like Chef Mickeys. You might luck out with other places since January is a slower time for Disney. You'll need to be flexiable about times & places and be prepared to get CS. I also want to mention that Crystal Palace in the MK is going to be closed for refurb in January which is putting a lot of stress on the other TS places in the MK.

Mickey'sApprentice · 11-21-2009, 04:53 AM

I agree that ADRs are very important.

However, Disney has great counter service options.

Consider making 1 or 2 ADRS, for the trip and then learn about the great variety of counter service options. That way you'll have the best of both worlds.

xenole · 11-21-2009, 10:45 AM

Did try a test booking for Chef Mickey on the 7th Jan 2010 at 7:30am and it came up with a 8am slot and a 8:15 slot for 1900 Fayre. Looks like it's not full but no idea if either of these places would be packed out at that time of morning.
May book these 2 as ADRs a few days apart but it is dependent on how busy they would be. Would rather go when it's a little quieter if possible rather than having loads of screaming kids everywhere!

Pakey · 11-21-2009, 12:22 PM

We go every January and "wing" most TS places. We've even done dinner at Le Cellier without a reservation. However, if I wanted to eat at Chef Mickey's or CRT or Ca Grill during fireworks, I would not expect to be able to without an ADR.

lizzyb · 11-21-2009, 08:25 PM

I had a hard time getting Le Cellier and chef mickeys for the end of January

FredQc · 11-21-2009, 10:54 PM

I went to WDW last January. I recommend to make ADR for restaurants you really want to eat at. It may already be difficult to book at some popular places (Le Cellier, the Castle, California Grill, etc.) on some crowded nights (weekends). However, I ate at some restaurants without ADR and there were a lot of room. So if you are flexible and ready to eat at least popular places, it should not be a problem to sit somewhere.

brobrosmom · 11-24-2009, 01:02 PM

I agree with everyone else: make an ADR if there is a "must" do place. We went this past January and got a same day reservation at the HDDR and ate dinner at LTT with no reservations and no wait. Just walked right in and we were seated.

Phil'sFrontier · 11-24-2009, 01:05 PM

We couldn't get LeCellier at all for our trip!

GovieMom · 11-24-2009, 01:34 PM

For our trip in January I couldn't get Le Cellier on the night I wanted, nor Coral Reef for the time I wanted.

11-21-2009, 03:45 AM	#1
xenole Mouseketeer Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Grimsby :( Posts: 85	How busy are places to eat in January? Toying around with the possibility of an ADR for breakfast at Chef Mickey for example. Personally, I would rather not be tied down to any schedule and turn up at some random point and hope for the best. So how crowded do the various Disney food places get during January should I wish to try this?

11-21-2009, 04:53 AM	#3
Mickey'sApprentice DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Montgomery, Alabama Posts: 2,438	I agree that ADRs are very important. However, Disney has great counter service options. Consider making 1 or 2 ADRS, for the trip and then learn about the great variety of counter service options. That way you'll have the best of both worlds. __________________ Apr 1992 Off Property (Honeymoon): Dec 1994, Feb 2002 CR: Jan 2005 WL/POR: Nov 2006, Jan 2009, HHI: Apr 2007: First Trip "Home" to BWV: Jan 2008: BWV, Mar 2009: POR/BWV: Jan. 2010 POR/AKV (Jambo), July 2010: BCV 40th B-day Trip Report Our "Disney" home

11-21-2009, 12:22 PM	#5
Pakey I belong to my Chinese crested I'm willing to try cash, chocolate, even the lap sitting Lobster Phobia Sufferer The frog is gone but the pain of my stupidity lives on Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central California Posts: 8,111	We go every January and "wing" most TS places. We've even done dinner at Le Cellier without a reservation. However, if I wanted to eat at Chef Mickey's or CRT or Ca Grill during fireworks, I would not expect to be able to without an ADR. __________________ First time to Disneyland-1966; First time to WDW-1976; First time to Disneyland Paris-2008; First Disney Cruise-2009

11-21-2009, 08:25 PM	#6
lizzyb DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 563	I had a hard time getting Le Cellier and chef mickeys for the end of January __________________ LizJason DS-Brayden 6 DS-Bryce 3 DS-Brody 9mths Oct. 23-28, 2007 Pop Century July 12-19, 2008 Pop Century Jan. 23-30, 2009 Pop Century Jan.23-31,2010 POR

11-24-2009, 01:02 PM	#8
brobrosmom Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 127	I agree with everyone else: make an ADR if there is a "must" do place. We went this past January and got a same day reservation at the HDDR and ate dinner at LTT with no reservations and no wait. Just walked right in and we were seated. __________________ DH 36 , ME 30 , DSD 11 , DS 4 , DS 2 As a Child: Too many day trips to count! As an Adult: Day Trip - 1st Disney visit for the boys: April 2007; All Star Music: January 2009; Fort Wilderness Campsite: January 2010

11-21-2009, 03:58 AM	#2
christinec68 Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 160	If there's a place you really want to go, you should make an ADR. You can always cancel them if you change your mind. Walk ups are not too common anymore, especially for an extremely popular place like Chef Mickeys. You might luck out with other places since January is a slower time for Disney. You'll need to be flexiable about times & places and be prepared to get CS. I also want to mention that Crystal Palace in the MK is going to be closed for refurb in January which is putting a lot of stress on the other TS places in the MK.

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11-21-2009, 10:45 AM	#4
xenole Mouseketeer Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Grimsby :( Posts: 85	Did try a test booking for Chef Mickey on the 7th Jan 2010 at 7:30am and it came up with a 8am slot and a 8:15 slot for 1900 Fayre. Looks like it's not full but no idea if either of these places would be packed out at that time of morning. May book these 2 as ADRs a few days apart but it is dependent on how busy they would be. Would rather go when it's a little quieter if possible rather than having loads of screaming kids everywhere!

11-21-2009, 10:54 PM	#7
FredQc Fred Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 21	I went to WDW last January. I recommend to make ADR for restaurants you really want to eat at. It may already be difficult to book at some popular places (Le Cellier, the Castle, California Grill, etc.) on some crowded nights (weekends). However, I ate at some restaurants without ADR and there were a lot of room. So if you are flexible and ready to eat at least popular places, it should not be a problem to sit somewhere.

11-24-2009, 01:05 PM	#9
Phil'sFrontier Mouseketeer Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Yukon Posts: 369	We couldn't get LeCellier at all for our trip! __________________

11-24-2009, 01:34 PM	#10
GovieMom DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,174	For our trip in January I couldn't get Le Cellier on the night I wanted, nor Coral Reef for the time I wanted.

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