1st time to WDW - walk in meals?

[jz6982]

It'll be my first time to WDW Dec 8 to the 12th. Do I need to make ADR's for all our meals or will we have luck just walking in?

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

There's always a chance of getting lucky.....but just as much chance that you won't. Personally, I don't risk it. I also think that there are already free dining pins around for that time, so dining reservations get even more hard to get.

 

[Luvmepluto]

I have heard of people walking up and being lucky. Not me personally. We decided one year to make reservations.....we turned away at every restaurant. I would definitely make ressies and not chance it.

 

[sleepydog25]

It'll be my first time to WDW Dec 8 to the 12th. Do I need to make ADR's for all our meals or will we have luck just walking in?

Hmm, depends on what sort of meals you're planning on having. If you're mainly planning to eat at counter service places with the occasional sit-down meal at a table service restaurant, you should be okay. . .as long as those sit-down meals aren't for the most popular places during the busiest times and if you're willing to wait to be seated. However, if there are some places you know you want to try, then I strongly advise that you make ADRs. I've done both, and been fairly successful with checking in early and waiting for an open table. However, when I visit, there are certain restaurants I know are calling my name, and so to ensure that I have a table where I want at the general time that I want, I make ADRs. Hope this helps. . .and good luck!

 

[christinec68]

If you are using the regular or deluxe dining plan, it's best to make ADRs so you don't lose TS credits. If there is no concern about TS credits, you can take a chance on the day of - I would check with Guest Services or call Disney Dining to see what's available. You can waste a lot of time going from place to place to get a table. You may need to be flexible with the place and time but you never know. There are also a handful of places that do not take ADRs which you can use as a fall back.

 

[Figment632]

It'll be my first time to WDW Dec 8 to the 12th. Do I need to make ADR's for all our meals or will we have luck just walking in?

Yes never ever ever go with out ADR's if you want to eat in a TS.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Yes, make ADR's for everything in advance. With the popular dining plans, many restaurants easily book 6 months in advance.

 

[beroh2253]

If you don't want to make ADR's I would start making a list of easiest restaurants to get into doing walk-in. Last year last week in October I saw pretty many people getting into Chefs de France, but none into Le Cellier.

 

[crewmatt]

I would def make ADRs. Made the trip so much nicer not having to wait more than 5-10 minutes for a table. However it does enforce some kind of oh we have to leave to get to our ADR.

 

[Hopefully]

I always make ADR's for our TS evening meal. We like to sit down and relax in the evening. If that is important to you I suggest making ADR's for anywhere you know you would like to eat.
We are going on a last minute (4 1/2 months in advance) trip in October. I usually plan many more months in advance than that. I have found that there are restaurants that I can not get ADR's for at all, or can only get them for off hours. I can't imagine waiting to be there to try.
Have a Great Trip

 

[Golf4food]

Even if you think you might not need one you very well might. For instance, it could start raining and that tends to push people indoors and to restaurants, which fills up the place even if there had been openings. You never know what might happen. Be safe; make the ADRs. You can always cancel or change them when you get to the park that morning (ask at guest services what is available and if you like the idea of a different place better book it and cancel your existing one, etc.).

 

[VAN]

Agree with others ... if you are on the dining plan then it is a must to make ADRs so you don't risk losing the credits. If you just plan to pay OOP and don't mind eating at CS restaurants, then you could live "dangerously" and just wing it.

Going without ADR's though, just may add some unnecessary stress to your vacation.

 

[photobob]

I have been lucky at walk-ins but I now make reservations just to ensure we have a place to eat! One of the reasons I had luck in the past was we usually eat TS for lunch not supper and arrive a few minutes before opening.

 

[2kids2luv]

You should try and make at least a few TS reservations, especially if you are traveling with children. With the ADR you'll get to eat at a few special restaurants at a preferred time instead of missing out on park time waiting and wondering where to go.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I always make ADR's for Table Service (TS) if I'm doing any. Some trips we just eat Counter Service (CS) so in that case we don't need any.

I have no luck so I'm sure I'd be turned away without them.

 

[B-Ride]

If you are on the Dining Plan you MUST make ADRs. You have paid for TS restaurants and without ADRs you risk not getting them.

If you are not on the Dining Plan and don't mind eating CS meals for dinner then go ahead and "wing it". However, you should probably make a few reservations if you would like to try some TS restaurants.

 

[ksbean]

I don't like to take chances so I'll be making ADRs for our upcoming Nov 30 - Dec 11th trip for where we want to eat. If you'd like to eat at more popular places or you'd like to eat at normal dining meal times I'd suggest making some ADRs.

 

[jz6982]

Thanks everyone!

The biggest reason I'm hesistant to make too many ADR's is because I don't want to plan my day around meals. I don't want to have to stop what I'm doing to get to a reservation and I don't want to eat just because it's in my schedule.

BUT, I suppose it's better to have an option of where/when to eat than to be left with whatever we can get.

I guess I can always make the ADR's and reevaluate after our first day and cancel if it suits us better.

 

[Mich123]

I agree, make the ADRs and cancel them when you're there if they are too restrictive. I've also moved ADRs once I'm at WDW if we change plans for the day (i.e., we go to Epcot instead of MK). For my family, later reservations worked well (between 7 and 8 p.m.) and didn't cause us to feel too rushed or overscheduled.

 

[melly]

it'll be my first time to wdw dec 8 to the 12th. Do i need to make adr's for all our meals or will we have luck just walking in?

adr's