A Disney trip and NO ADR's

[kmk1180]

So we're coming to Disney for 6-7 days in less than a month with 10 non expire tickets.
And know we will be coming back again in Sept of 2011 for a 9 days trip.
That trip we know we'll have to pay for tickets, flight, food and expenses...Room is covered but it will still be an expensive trip) and need to save up for it.
But now we found out my wife's parents are going to rent a house in Orlando in January.
I'm trying to convince my wife to go again then since we'll have 3 or 4 days left on our tickets. (and saving them for sept 11' won't save much since we'll still have to buy tickets either way).
And if her parents cover the room,
Flight asking for xmas gift so that might be covered as well.
Leaving just food, expenses and time away from work (since it would be 2 trips in 1 year)
I say we should go since room, 3 days tickets, hopefully flight is paid.
But in an effort to make it as cheap as possible (knowing we have to save for Sept 11')...my question is....would you plan a trip to Disney with NO ADR's?
Figuring eating off site or quick serve is cheaper than sit down.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I never make ADR's before arriving to WDW, although our reasons are a bit different. We honestly don't know where we like to eat 180 days before we arrive, plus we are the type of people who likes to change our minds at the last minute of where we want to eat. Besides that since we stay Club Level we like to take full advantage of the hot food offerings at 5:00 PM and because we will always have a car with us we can eat offsite or go to Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney.

 

[Belleandtinker]

I would make ADR. We went 2 years ago with only half our dinners planned out and regretted it. I would plan for a few ADR at some modest priced sit down places. Pick places that might be special for your family without breaking the bank.

If you have to cancel then you cancel, but make a few just in case.

 

[chartle]

So we're coming to Disney for 6-7 days in less than a month with 10 non expire tickets.
And know we will be coming back again in Sept of 2011 for a 9 days trip.
That trip we know we'll have to pay for tickets, flight, food and expenses....
I'm trying to convince my wife to go again then since we'll have 3 or 4 days left on our tickets. (and saving them for sept 11' won't save much since we'll still have to buy tickets either way).

I know that this is a question about ADR's but purchasing NE tickets for the first trip and having to buy extra tickets to finish a second trip will probably cost you more than if you purchased two separate sets of base tickets.

Of course when you have two trips within the same year for that length you may be better getting APs with all the perks attached. As others have written you have to do the math NE is not always the best deal.

As for your original question last trip we did all CS, partly for the cost and partly for the time, and when we went to TL we took a lunch in a cooler. We also ate off site at Olive garden with Gift cards form Christmas.

We did do Boma but we used some American Express Gift cards that were also a gift.

 

[kmk1180]

I know that this is a question about ADR's but purchasing NE tickets for the first trip and having to buy extra tickets to finish a second trip will probably cost you more than if you purchased two separate sets of base tickets.

Of course when you have two trips within the same year for that length you may be better getting APs with all the perks attached. As others have written you have to do the math NE is not always the best deal.

As for your original question last trip we did all CS, partly for the cost and partly for the time, and when we went to TL we took a lunch in a cooler. We also ate off site at Olive garden with Gift cards form Christmas.

We did do Boma but we used some American Express Gift cards that were also a gift.

As for tickets its more like for non park hopper tickets for 10 days vs. 7 days is only $35 more for the whole family. So if we save our extra 3 days for sept 11, we're only saving $35. Where as using the 3 days on another trip gives us just that, another trip. even if it's only 3 days.

But AP is an option to look at. (just checked AP would be $800 more so that's no really an option)

It's really a question can we do a trip real cheap or just save even that extra a couple hundred for the sept 11 trip.

 

[B-Ride]

Sure you can do a trip without ADRs since you aren't planning to eat at TS restaurants. Our first two trips were done with CS and offsite dining only. It is definitely cheaper. You definitely need a car, though, to do the offsite part.

 

[chartle]

As for tickets its more like for non park hopper tickets for 10 days vs. 7 days is only $35 more for the whole family. So if we save our extra 3 days for sept 11, we're only saving $35. Where as using the 3 days on another trip gives us just that, another trip. even if it's only 3 days.

But AP is an option to look at. (just checked AP would be $800 more so that's no really an option)

It's really a question can we do a trip real cheap or just save even that extra a couple hundred for the sept 11 trip.

As long as the left over days completely cover your second trip you will save a little bit of money.

And again yes if you don't eat TS at WDW you will save money. I see some people's trip plans and they have tons of TS meals planned for the week. I wonder how they fit in any attractions.

For our family eating is not part of the vacation we eat because we are hungry, not to have an experience. On our last trip I took bottles of water and didn't buy a single drink.

Its your trip do what you want.

 

[DeniseinNS]

I wouldn't worry about it, while we were there during March Break we decided to cancel to of our dinner reservations because our plans for those days changed and when we called the reservation # they said there was no availability. We decide to stop in to the places and check just in case and we were able to get into both with less then 20 minute waits.