ADR during Free Dining Weeks

spetersen

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 23, 2004
I don't post much but wanted to share this....

My husband & I have gone to Disney the first week of September for the last 9 years. The last couple years have fallen during the free dining promotion. With the exception of LeCellier, Chef Mickey's (for Breakfast) and CRT we've been able to walk in anywhere w/o an ADR. This didn't change during Free Dining.

I don't say this to discourage you from making ADR, because for a few places I really want to go to, I will make them. I've made 4 ADR for our upcoming trip, but I'm not worried that I won't get in to other places because it's not been a problem....even during free dining.

Food for thought....
 
however, we were there last year the week before Labor Day and saw poor CMs being verbally abused almost every night due to no availability. Our last night at Alfredo's, security had to escort a, and I use the term very loosely, gentleman from the premises because of the scene he was making. I always make ADRs for every night. If we decide that's not what we want to do that night, we can try to change it and have done so with success several times. But, when all else fails, we have a reservation somewhere!
 
Yeah, that may be....we are always there Labor Day - the following Monday. The parks are not busy at all during that time.
 
We were there for free dining last year for the last week in September and every place we went for dinner turned people with out ADR's away, they were full.

The parks were not crowded, 15 min wait for all major rides but the restaurants in the parks were full and the popular resort restaurants were full.
We saw people turned away at dinner time at -
The Plaza
50's Prime Time
Ohana
Kona
Le Cellar
Rose & Crown
Concoarse Steak House

I called yesterday for a few last minute ADR's for our Sept trip and the only dinner ones availble were after 8pm or at 4pm, it was slim pickings.

You may have walk in luck with Lunch time...
 


I would make them anyhow and then while there if we change our plans check with disney dining first to see if there is any seating available elsewhere before cancelling. We have also seen many people turned away, my dh is glad when we have ressies as long as he does'nt have to be the one making them. :rotfl2: Linda
 
We were there from Jun 1 to Jun 9. The parks were not that busy and we saw people turned away right and left. I wouldn't plan on walking up, especially during free dining period.
 
The popularity of the DDP keeps increasing and people are getting more savvy about needing ADR's, both on the DDp and those without it.

If thre are places on your most do list, i wouldn't take the chance, i would (and have!) made my ADR's.

For my sept trip, I have adr's (for 9!) booked daily for lunch. There will be some nights my hubby and I will want a TS dinner on our own. I will try for last minute ADR's and see what we can find. I know I won't be trying the most popular places, but I will try for Garden Grill, maybe Brown Derby or other places not in the first request list.

Will be interesting to see how it is this year during free DDP
 


I will say that when it was just DH and myself we were able to get into almost any restaurant anytime, any day. Once we added another person (DS) when he came along, we were really surprised into reality at how that luxury went away in a heartbeat. It does seem to us that they are really able to accommodate parties of 2 much more easily than families of more than 2. I don't know if that was your situation, you just mentioned your husband and you. Just thought I would throw that out, as we were really surprised at what a difference a party of 3 versus a party of 2 was. For example, we rarely made ressies when it was just the 2 of us.
 
Last year, the second week of Sept, all the WS places were refusing waldins except Biergarten, and there they had an hour plus wait. People were yelling at cm's that they had to get in now. Then they'd get mad when folks like us with ADR's would walk up and be seated in minutes. This year will only be worse. Unless you got yours(we got ours).
 
I would say that it will be very hard doing a walk-in. When I booked my ADR's in April for my August trip, the DC said I called at the right time because everything was booking quickly due to the free dining. I actually booked my dining before booking my trip. Last time I went in August of 2005, they were turning people away. Can't imagine how its going to be this year.


Harlemgirl
 
I didn't mean just walking up to a TS place w/o an ADR, but making some when I get down there. We love all the eating at Disney, but we also like our schedule to stay somewhat flexible.

It is just the 2 of us, but when making ADR in the past, I've actually found it's harder to get tables of 2. Places like CRT have only a couple 2-tops in the whole restaurant and they won't seat 2 people at a table for 4. Sometimes I've actually made an ADR for 4 people when I couldn't get a table for 2 and 2 people "mysteriously" don't show up... :-) One way to get around the system.
 
Sometimes I've actually made an ADR for 4 people when I couldn't get a table for 2 and 2 people "mysteriously" don't show up... :-) One way to get around the system.



Oh boy, get your fire suit on for that comment :). Folks tend to not care for folks that do that ;)
:rolleyes1
 
What about trying 1900 Park Faire at the GF for breakfast of lunch ?
How about WCC or Artist Point at WL ?
Boma's at AKL ?
Cape May Buffet for breakfast or dinner at BC ?
Try Guillivers at the Swan.

Lots of places to eat - that are not the 'popular' ones.
Check out resorts and lists of restarants
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm
 

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