A crazy idea

[JerseyDisneyGirl]

I love to plan my Disney trip, and love these message boards. Last year I changed my reservations a bunch of times and second guessed myself. People say good things and bad things about every place. In the end one of my favorite meals was Hollywood and Vine, which tends to not get great reviews, and I hated Ohana. I wanted every thing for our vacation to be perfect I got frustrated when it wasn't perfect. We'll be going in the end of Sept 2011, hopefully for free dining. We'll be there for DD's b'day, I know I want to do CRT dinner that day. Other than that what would you think about not making dining reservations at all. Just call dining reservations in the am and see what they have for the day and go for it! No plans, just let the cards fall where they may....It sounds like fun, is it too risky. I don't want to be stuck with no place to eat, I also don't want to do the same restaurant every night..I may end up at a place I wouldn't have picked, but love .Has any one ever tried this?

 

[HunnyJar]

I love to plan my Disney trip, and love these message boards. Last year I changed my reservations a bunch of times and second guessed myself. People say good things and bad things about every place. In the end one of my favorite meals was Hollywood and Vine, which tends to not get great reviews, and I hated Ohana. I wanted every thing for our vacation to be perfect I got frustrated when it wasn't perfect. We'll be going in the end of Sept 2011, hopefully for free dining. We'll be there for DD's b'day, I know I want to do CRT dinner that day. Other than that what would you think about not making dining reservations at all. Just call dining reservations in the am and see what they have for the day and go for it! No plans, just let the cards fall where they may....It sounds like fun, is it too risky. I don't want to be stuck with no place to eat, I also don't want to do the same restaurant every night..I may end up at a place I wouldn't have picked, but love .Has any one ever tried this?

Honestly, I wouldn't risk it. If they do end up offering "free dining" again, the odds of getting into certain restaurants are even slimmer. Personally, I couldn't do it but if you and your family are okay with that sort of chance, you could definitely do it but you would need to be okay with the possibility of being turned away. I'm a big planner though.. I mean heck.. We're not even going until October/November of 2011 and pretty much all our restaurants are picked. Maybe if it were just my husband and myself, I might be more okay with just going with the flow but with kids in tow I want to make sure we are eating at decent times for each meal.

 

[Nadjalu]

Glad to hear you had a good experience with H&V.

You can't always go by people's reviews here. I learned that too.

Now onto your question. No I wouldn't risk it. I like my food to much. LOL

You would have to have hoppers, just in case the only thing open was a park TS and it was not the park you spent the day at.
We always have hoppers, but I like to know where I will eat at night.

 

[CJ]

Here's what I did for our upcoming trip...... I looked at the menus and based my decisions on those, not what people say!

We're trying 5 new places this trip and I'm eager to make my own decisions on the ones I like!

But I could never not have adrs...... our very first trip everything was so booked up that DH & I ended up having our World Showcase fancy dinner at the Liberty Inn for goodness sakes!!

 

[inkedupmomma]

I have gone in September during free dining 2 x now. I have canceled ressies while on vacay as to just relax one night or if I wasn't in the mood anymore for that place. When I did cancel I was always able to get another place to eat and usually at a desirable time. Idk if it is because others like me change their minds last minute, or whatever, but there is def a chance of you snatching something!

My only dilemma would be not wanting to travel to lets say AKl if i'm at Epcot..or whatever. I'm all about what is closest lol I like your idea though, and think it would be fun to try!

 

[JerseyDisneyGirl]

CJ-Where are you trying?

 

[DISNEY1975]

I may try that someday, but never during free dining. I read someones post this morning trying to book a room for late August and Disney is completely sold out at all resorts. He/she only wanted to go for 2 or 3 nights and NOTHING was available on site.

I have been to Disney plenty of times, read the threads and for the most part, they were spot on. I too wasnt a huge fan of Ohana and did like H&V and San Angel Inn (but we love mexican anywhere!)

This trip will probably be my last for a while (2 kids in college ), so I decided to try places Ive never been...this includes Beirgarten, Rose and Crown, The Plaza, Nine Dragons and a bunch of other places. I know they wont be the Cali Grill and Le Cellier that Im used to, but I really want to try something new. Unfortunately, I made the ADRs at 180 and from 179 on, Ive been second guessing and holding my fingers back from cancelling everything and going back to my favorites....

STAY STRONG! If you want to go with no ADRS..go for it!!! Or read through menus and decide what you like and dont listen to others food options, which are very personal! A million people could tell me to try the most outstanding seafood dish in the world and I will never like it because I dont like seafood!

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

I think that's a great idea!! Will you get Le Cellier or CRT? Probably not. But seriously, there will be SOMETHING I'm sure & youalready stated you aren't going to be too picky. Last September DURING free dining, we cancelled Le cellier and booked LIberty Tree Tavern because we wanted to be in MK that day and not Epcot. We did this that morning at 8am.. We had a choice between Liberty Tree, Crystal Palace and I think it was The Plaza. We really wanted Liberty Tree, se we took it. It was at 2:00, but that was ok with us. As long as your flexible and at least make a ressie before you leave for the day, I`m sure you won`t have a problem! Good Luck!

 

[CJ]

CJ-Where are you trying?

Thanks for asking! It's our 31st wedding anniversary trip and DH & I are so looking forward to trying a true "variety" of places:

Brand new this trip for us is Yak & Yeti, Jiko, House of Blues, Tutta Italia, Tusker House character breakfast, Nine Dragons, and Kona Cafe (so it's 7 new!)

And we're returning to a few we haven't been to in years: Sci-Fi Diner, Coral Reef, and San Angel Inn. The only ones we've been to recently that are repeats are Les Chefs de France (I want to see Remy!) and Brown Derby (got to get me that Cobb Salad!).

But the ones we ALWAYS did (Le Cellier, Prime Time, Planet Hollywood, Raglan Road, and Liberty Tree Tavern) we're not doing this time. Kind of exciting to change things up a bit!

 

[badblackpug]

You know I read the reviews, but truthfully a bad review won't stop me from trying a place. For instance, some of out least favorite meals are Boma, Jiko, Coral Reef, restaurants that get great reviews. Some of the ones we have enjoyed are 50s PTC, San Angel, and Maya Grill which don't, generally, get good reviews. I do as a PP said. I read the menus and decide based on that. If we don't enjoy it, then we mark it in the "won't schedule it again" category. We like to try different things so we add new restaurants every trip.

 

[Ksquared]

I remember the days when you could just go down to Disney and call reservations the morning you want a dinner ressie or the night before a breakfast ressie and get a good restaurant at a good time. Ah, those were the days.

If I were you, I think I would pick my top two restaurants and make those reservations then you could just "go with the flow" on the others. At least you would know that you got to eat at two of your favs. and then hopefully be surprised at what other restaurants you get to explore.

I have reservations booked for December (during Christmas week) and I keep second guessing whether I have the right ones at the right times, etc. Frankly, it's hard to know what you will be in the mood for at 180 days in advance so I'm going with my instinct on what will work for us at a very crowded time at Disney.

I'm trying a few different restaurants this trip which is very exciting for me, but also have a reservation at two that we know we love.

 

[JerseyDisneyGirl]

K2 where are you eating?

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I have gone more times without ADRs than with and I will not do it again. I don't recommend it. If you have the dining plan, definitely make ADRs. If you do not, make a *couple* at your favorite spots.
That's my opinion

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wise people have told me: "never count on anything for free"

Actually...it was every adult i have ever met with an IQ over 80

I would honestly just plan to go and eat where it was within my budget and/or i was comfortable paying out of pocket for.

Also...realize that prices will increase for the food between now and then...because it often does and has gone up alot in the "dining plan" WDW world that i am trapped in.

CRT is just a hoax of a meal...if you HAVE to have it....i understand. but the food is not good and they rip you off bigtime with the picture package junk. just my opinion

 

[o2bnoz]

I love the ideas here, but I would have to be a bit on the safe side, IF you are going to do the Dining Plan.

I think it would be a MUST to have those ADRs if you want to take full advantage of the DP. That being said, I might "change it up" a bit if you want to try some restaurants that aren't necessarily the standard "great" places.

If I had the guts, I would put all of the restaurant names in a bucket (except for those that you really don't want to do at all) and then draw names for each day you'll be there and make the reservations! Just do it! I think it would be a lot of fun. Obviously, you have to be adventurous as far as places. And if you have a set plan as to which park you'll be in each day, you would have to coordinate it somewhat with that.

I would love it if someone went to all of the "off the charts" places and then posted their trip report! That would be really great!

I happen to love a lot of the places that others don't. I think something happens to me in Disney... part of the magic... where I just enjoy everything a bit more than I would somewhere else. So if you give me a french fry, chances are that I'm going to think it's better than others outside of the parks. I guess I'm just lucky that way!

 

[ZoZo]

I wouldn't try to "wing it," since you might end up having to eat at really weird times or go to restaurants you would never choose yourself. I think it's always better to plan ahead, so that you have some guaranteed ADRs, then if you decide to try to make changes, see what's available.

Here's my philosophy about dining at WDW: Those of us who go on the DIS tend to be pretty detailed planners. We can get obsessive sometimes, planning every detail, and tend to over-think things. Remember, it's just food! It won't ruin your trip if you end up having a mediocre meal or two. I say, pick some restaurants that sound interesting to you, make some ADRs, and go with the flow! No trip is perfect, but even if a few things do go wrong, you'll still have a great time!

 

[rachel09985]

Its so easy to make dining reservations now- I wouldn't wait until the morning because you will end up on the phone for like 10 minutes or more- that is valuable park time! Haha. I would reserve reservations online before but don't get up at like 5 am to call them first thing in the morning if you aren't worried about where you eat. And try to try a couple of new places. Thats what we are doing this trip and I am super excited. We made all of our reservations online this time, it is super easy

 

[JerseyDisneyGirl]

Love the idea of putting the restaurants in a hat! I'll put in all the names of places we would like to eat at and let fate decide. This is perfect, thanks so much!!!

 

[JerseyJanice]

During a Free Dining promotion time, I think you have to have ADRs.

I base my ADRs on where I expect to be based on park schedules, but I think the idea of choosing your restaurants based on menus (rather than reviews) is a very good one.

I also think it also helps to have reasonable expectations. Don't build a place up in your mind too much, especially based on what you read here. Dining experiences are very subjective.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Its so easy to make dining reservations now- I wouldn't wait until the morning because you will end up on the phone for like 10 minutes or more- that is valuable park time! Haha. I would reserve reservations online before but don't get up at like 5 am to call them first thing in the morning if you aren't worried about where you eat. And try to try a couple of new places. Thats what we are doing this trip and I am super excited. We made all of our reservations online this time, it is super easy

I agree completely with this. Since the online dining and the 180 day reservations (180+10 if you are staying on site) came out, it has become so much easier to make ADRs without having to get up in the middle of the night to do so. For our upcoming September trip, I made my ADRs at the 180 day mark but not until that night because I had to work that day. I was able to get Le Cellier lunch, CRT dinner, Tusker House character breakfast (before park opens), CP breakfast (before park opens), Cali Grill, and Akershus before park opens. Your trip is over a year from now, therefore I would definitely look at the menus of the different restaurants and make some ADRs before you go, and when you get there, and if you don't feel like eating at that restaurant, you can always cancel, then go call dining and see what is available, but at least you will have some ADRs. I just worry about Free Dining and how the restaurants are so packed because of it. For us, we have to have our favorites each time, but then again we also like to try new ones as well. Good luck with whatever you decide