1st time to WDW - walk in meals?

[skiingfast]

I understand that some people get lucky walking up. In my experience I've seen a lot of people looking pretty tired of waiting when I've walk up to the host for my ADR.

 

[skier_pete]

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.

This is exactly right. Basically, if you want to eat TS, make the ADRs. Think if this is a scenario that you want on your vacation: Your family is whining about how hungry they are as you trek from restaurant to restaurant. You finally find a place with a Table, but it's not really a type of food you like, but you take it because your just happy to eat. Personally, that doesn't sound like much fun to me.

Now, the negative to making ADRs is that you DO have to know what park you are going to be in which days...but that it part of the fun of planning a WDW trip...plotting your vacation out. If you don't like planning or having dining reservations (you are a "wing it" type)...then I would recommend you skip using the DDP (or only sign up for the Quick Service version) and mostly stick with counter service meals...making 1 or 2 TS reservations for the length of your stay.

 

[tinka-belle]

FWIW, hubby doesn't like to be tied to ADRs either, BUT I point out to him that:

1.) We get to eat with usually a minimal wait, and can relax in a nice air conditioned setting. Walk ups usually required a wait if they can get you in at all, or a location with a slot open might not be anywhere near where we are so we have to trek over. Done that a few times when our plans changed but don't want to do it all week.

2.) If we rely on CS sometimes lots of times we don't eat when we're hungry, but instead when we know it will be less crowded. Sorta defeats the purpose.

3.) We have to watch the time for fastpasses, parades, shows, and fireworks in our park of choice for the day (we don't park hop much) so what's the problem with adding another time (our ADR) to the that list? We cancel or change it when our plans change, which happens only a day or two out of our entire vacation based on previous trips.

These arguements usually make him see the light. We've done both the ADR and CS versions of the DDP, so he has those experiences to compare. They both have their pros and cons, just go with what suits you best.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I don't know what I'm having for dinner tonight, yet 6 months from now I know exactly what I will be eating.

It drives me bonkers but at least I know I'll have a place to sit down and eat without worrying about going from rest to rest getting turned away or standing at guest relations while the CM looks for openings. That takes time away from your trip too. So you might as well bite the bullet and make the ADRs. Like it or not that is the way it is.

Sure I've had some luck getting last minute ressies, but that is the exception and not the rule.

 

[stitchandbelle]

Last Thursday we were at Magic Kingdom around dinner time and there was no TS availability. They would just tell us "sorry, no." So next time we will definately make a reservation.

 

[Silverfox97]

We have been told by CMs that if you don't have ADRs, to show up when that specific TS restaurant opens, and you will be more likely to be seated and quickly. Well, this worked for us (party of 7) at Boma - we showed up at 5pm and were seated almost immediately. However, at Ohana (party of 4), we waited over 2 hrs. The only reason why we said we would wait, is because we thought there would be no way the wait would be the 2-2.5 hrs they quoted us. Boy, were we wrong! Never again will we not have ADRs!

 

[cymbaldiva]

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?

How many in your party? How flexible are you? Your post is actually a little too vague for a one sentence answer...

IMHO the large hitch in the ADR system is that people are so afraid that they won't get to eat that they make a "reservation" anywhere, and then the day of, as many posters have stated, they change their plans. Clogs up the whole system... ehh, what can you do? Point being, while there should be room for walkups what with all those no shows, often there is not... Plan A - Try it if your party is small and flexible, if not... off to plan B...

Plan B - the resorts have a lot of nice restaurants, usually quite easy to book the day of; also alot of the counter service places will do nicely. What are your preferences anyway? If you do have certain expectations, kids, or a large party then you're probably stuck with...

Plan C - figure out where you want to be and what you want to eat 6 months from now - and hurry.