ADR...Are they required

[Gbcks]

OK...I am a first timer to WDW, we will be going in June. After reading so many posts that state most people making ADR, I am shaking in my shoes that I have made the biggest mistake of all and not made them myself for my family. Is it ABSOLUTLEY necessary to make ADR, or are there still times available for families that have no idea about ADR...Thanks much!

 

[Allison]

I can tell you when we were there in early December which is a slower time in June that many people were turned away from the more popular restaurants. Even at 'Ohana on a Sunday night walk-ups were being told the wait would be 90 minutes at 5:30 pm.

They do not set aside tables for walk ups.

The dining plan has made table service meals much harder to get than they used to be.

I know someone posted a picture of a notice posted at MK one day that there were no reservations available for the day.

Where do you want to eat? Are you willing to eat at the less popular restaurants? Are you okay with eating outside of the traditional meal time?

I think you need to make some reservations now if you want table-service meals.

 

[Piglet843]

I read where since they have all these new packages that include dining - so many places are absolutely booked. And that they have signs posted - "ADRs only."
So depending on where you wanna go and when - I'd definately make ADRs!!
I did - about 60 days out from my trip and the times available were already very limited. I have ADRs from 6:30 - 8:50 because of lack of options - 60 days out!!!!

Call Now!!
1-407-939-3463

 

[Gbcks]

Thanks for all the responses! I guess I would like to make reservations, but wouldn't even know where to begin. As you asked in your response, do I want to eat at the more popular restaurants...I guess my question is What are the more popular? I really don't even know that...HELP... Thanks!

 

[Allison]

First, you will need to have an idea of which parks you will be in on which days so you can know which restaurants to choose from.

This site has a restaurant section http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm . Another great source is www.allearsnet.com. Click on dining at the top of the page. That site lists the restaurants by location and has the menus available. Start there so you can narrow down your choices.

 

[disneyfor3]

I can try and help. Do you have daughters or sons? What are their ages? Are you interested in a character meal? What are their favorite characters?

There are some very nice restaurants in Epcot: our favorites are LeCellier in Canada (steaks and such), Rose and Crown in England (fish and other english dishes), and Biergarten (you'll be seated with other people which we enjoyed and our son who is 5 loved the show).

Our favorite character meal is Chef Mickey's which serves both breakfast and dinner but there are many to choose from.

O'Hana's at the Polynesian is fun for kids (coconut races, etc.) and serves meats on skewers and Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge (pony races and fun CM's).

You might want to check out www.allearsnet.com and go to the dining section and look at the different menus. There is also a list of characters and where they dine.

If you want to do sit down dining, you should definitely make some priority seatings now.

I'll be happy to answer any questions.

 

[Gbcks]

Thanks again for all the information. We have a son, he is 7, he really likes most everyone. He is into Buzz Lightyear, Pwer Rangers (MGM) Etc. He also Loves, Mickey Goofy etc...
Let me add this question. We are staying at the Hilton WDW. The rests. in Downtown Disney or at the Hilton, do they require ADR as well. Again...Thank you!

 

[kcashner]

As to "do you need" ADRs, they are a safety net. In September, we had a night with no ADRs, no dining plan. I called Disney Dining and was told that the 3 restaurants I named were full. DD really wanted Chef Mickey's, so we went over and were seated in less than 5 minutes! However, we timed it right because as we were leaving, there was a long line waiting to check in.

This morning, I called and changed one of our ADRs for May--got exactly what I wanted.

So...yes, you can wing it without ADRs, but you are taking a huge chance of long lines and not eating where you want. Some of the DTD restaurants take ADRs, some are "walk up." Again, ADRs are a good idea.

I plan on what parks we are going to on which days, then pick a restaurant in or near that park. We do CD lunches, TS dinners...you may have other preferences.

All Ears has the restaurants arranged by location (which park or resort they are in). Dis world site does this also, and you can also look them up by type (character dining, etc)

At MK, our favorite is Liberty Tree Tavern (characters, served family style.)

At MGM, your son might enjoy the Sci-Fi Diner--you sit in cars to eat and watch movies (yes, there are tables built into the cars). There is a new Character restaurant supposed to open in MGM this summer with a Toy Story theme. Target date was posted as June 1, but since this is after our trip, I really haven't kept track of whether or not this is accurate.

Epcot--Garden Grill (characters). Any huge number of international restaurants.

At the resorts--Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary (a short monorail ride from MK), 1900 Park Fare in the GF (great food...same deal on the monorail.)
At Beach Club--Beaches and Cream has great hamburgers and ice cream desserts. Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge--lots of fun.

That should give you somewhere to start.....any place at WDW is "kid friendly", but some are more kid oriented than others.

 

[Gbcks]

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! to Everyone!!!

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

ADRs are a necessity. In the past (before the Dining Plan) we never made ADR's. We never really needed too. I'm so glad I made them this time. Even in January when we went, you just about had to have an ADR.

 

[nzdisneyfan]

I too am new at this and was getting highly stressed that I hadn't made my ADR's with two months to go, but I booked last week for May and got them all, much to my relief.
The way I see it, is that if I know roughly which park I am going to be at on a certain day then I booked a restaurant that I liked the look of from the menu's and the comments that people have written. This site was truely a blessing for me in that respect.
At least I know now that we have somewhere for dinner each night and will not be relying on CS all the time (there are only so many hamburgers I can eat!!). And if for some reason our plans change I can always cancel my ADR and a walk-up will get lucky!
We went to DL two years ago without ADR's (didn't even know they existed) and were so disapointed that we didn't get to eat anywhere that we wanted to.
Good luck and have a great trip