Adr Do we need them

[ninaeve]

I don't understand the aversion to making ADRs ahead of time. Yes, I don't like to plan out 6 months in advance. I usually call about 2 months in advance, BUT we are very flexible with places and times. The one time that I went and winged it bc we did not know what we wanted to do(first adult only trip), we did not get any table service but one day.

You don't have to put money down except for some of the specialty shows and character meals, so what harm would there be in making the ressies yourself(don't tell them if it is that big a deal). They will be thanking you come trip time. You can always cancel them when you get down there if you decide you don't want to go there.

Really though, who goes to the number one(is it still?) travel place in the US for families and doesn't make some ADRs????

 

[stawes]

Sadly he is the trip Booker and I'm the planer

 

[stawes]

We might reserve planet Hollywood and the Rose and the crown
Can anyone give me some paragraph to persuade him.

 

[spring70too]

We might be going in late August do we need them until we get out to wdw.

Yes, Yes and Yes. I was there last August. Yes

 

[stawes]

As it our first trip he things we wont know where each restaurant is
But when we went out once in Disneyland Paris and waited 45 minutes he got angry.

 

[stawes]

Just copied all the repies in word will print soon.

 

[Aliceacc]

Can I offer an alternative?

Make the ADRs for every night but your first.

I'm guessing that one night of scrambling will make that one "doubter" happy for the rest. If not, you can cancel them all.

 

[Aliceacc]

From www.mousesavers.com: "Advance Dining Reservations
It used to be that you could skip making reservations at most Disney table-service restaurants, particularly in the off-season. If you didn't have a reservation, you could usually just walk up and put your name on the list. You might have to wait, but you would get seated eventually. Those days are gone!

With the popularity of Disney's Dining Plan and the general upswing in attendance at Walt Disney World, the table-service locations are constantly busy and many of them do not have same-day walk-up availability. It has become very important to make advance dining reservations if you want to be assured of eating at a full-service location. Click here for more details."

 

[snomofinn]

I would not even think of going to Disney without SOME ADRs. My DSIL went last year with her family for the first time. I gave her all the information about making ADRs and she was certain they didnt need it. I told her she would be sorry if she didnt get some reservations. Well she went and was so upset that she couldnt get in to any of the restaurants they wanted to eat at. I warned her. It does not cost anything to make the reservations. We are leaving in 19 days to go and I made all my ADRs about 6 weeks ago, and I was unable to get certain times at some of the restaurants, so I would advise to make them ASAP.

 

[Lynne M]

As it our first trip he things we wont know where each restaurant is
But when we went out once in Disneyland Paris and waited 45 minutes he got angry.

If he got angry when he had to wait 45 minutes, he's going to be even angrier when he can't get in AT ALL. Many restaurants, especially in the theme parks, do not accept walk ups if they are fully booked. They won't even let you wait for a table, they'll just turn you away. I've had this experience myself, before I knew that ADRs were necessary. Wandering from restaurant to restaurant, finally ending up with a counter service cheeseburger. He finds THAT preferable to making a few reservations that you can cancel, without penalty, at any time?

"Not knowing where things are" isn't an argument against making ADRs, either. If you make your ADRs in the theme park you're visiting that day, there are guidemaps all over the place that will make it easy to find your restaurant. Or simply ask any CM, they'll help you find the place. It's not like Disney hides the restaurants.

Even if you make ADRs in resort restaurants, they're easy to find. Each resort has a main building, where the front desk, the gift shops, and restaurants are located. You find the resort, you find the restaurant. If you tell us where your ADRs are, we'll gladly give you easy directions to get to the resorts.

Oh, well. If he still won't budge, at least you can be sure that after he sees what a royal pain it is to get into TS restaurants without them, he'll be willing to make ADRs for your next trip.

 

[stawes]

We looking at the menus on allearsnet in the next few months.
But I'm a fussy eater and that what else he is using against me.

 

[RMulieri]

I am also a fussy eater and so is my 4 yr old...and we always book adrs and find something to eat on the menu...Disney keeps absolutley NO tables back for walk-ins.Occasionally they will have a no show or a cancellation.But it is a total crap-shoot whether or not you may be lucky enough to get a table.If waiting 45 mins ticked him off,he will be LIVID, with a dining time of 10p or no dining at all.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Yes, Yes and Yes. I was there last August. Yes

So was I and I had NO trouble. Walked into Rose and Crown, Liberty Tree, Kona Cafe, etc. I called and tried to get Boma but couldn't, but other than that we ate dinners between 5:00 and 7:00 and were good to go.

I think that it is good to have a few ADRs, but it has not been my experience that you'll starve or be sent to counter service hades if you don't plan months and months ahead of time. We were there last year in January, May, June, August, and December and ate well with minimal planning.

OP...you'll find that generally you'll do better walking into the less popular restaurants. DtD is always a good choice too...we never wait at Raglan Road and have had good luck at Portobello Yacht Club. At Epcot Rose and Crown has always been easy for us (don't know why) and Restaurant Marrakesh is a good option. At AK my husband loves Flame Tree BBQ so we haven't worried about table service, but we are giving Yak and Yeti a try this time. I made an ADR for that a few days back and we are going in May. MGM...you should be able to get into Brown Derby if you check in early, and Mama Melrose is a good bet as well. MK is iffier, but Crystal Palace and lunch at Liberty Tree are worth trying as last minute...you'll actually have better luck if you head to a resort at lunch time.

Read the menus, have some options, make a few ADRs and don't panic. Have fun.

 

[mb1976]

First of all I feel your pain. My brother-in-law will return from Iraq in late April and he and his family are going to the world in May and we cannot convice him that he needs to buy the dining plan let alone make adr's. He says that he has been on a schedule for over a year now and wants off of one. What! Going to the world with no schedule?

There is no way I would go without ADR's. We went last September during free dining and the table service was extremely crowded. In fact we had reservations at Coral Reef at 5:30 and was not seated until nearly 7 they were so busy and so far behind. With that said I understand that you are not going during free dining. However one thing you could do to convince him is to go to the touring plans website, pay the 7.95 for a subscription then look at the crowd calendar. That may give you an idea of how busy the parks will be when you are there and translate that to how busy the table service could be.

We are going again in April for 9 days and we will have adr's for everyday. If you don't want to be tied to a specific park because of lunch ressies then make either breakfast or late diner ressies and that will give you time to move from one area of the "world" to another.

Either way, good luck, have a great time!

About the touring plans website. I can't get this site to show the address so it's touring plans dotcom. touring plans is all one word.

 

[KorieDWnut]

Sadly even with showing them this topic there still don't think there necessary.

My mother didn't either. We went last August and she kept complaining that she didn't want to be structured by eating. But she was very thankful I made a few ADRs because it is HOT in August and while many CS places are airconditioned, it is nicer to cool off and slow down at a nice TS place. We went in, gave our name and were sat within 15 mins while everyone else who walked up was either turned away or had to wait almost 2 hours.

You COULD get lucky and be able to walk up to some places, I am sure you can now and then but why take chances?

 

[stawes]

However one thing you could do to convince him is to go to the touring plans website, pay the 7.95 for a subscription then look at the crowd calendar. That may give you an idea of how busy the parks will be when you are there and translate that to how busy the table service could be.

We are going again in April for 9 days and we will have adr's for everyday. If you don't want to be tied to a specific park because of lunch ressies then make either breakfast or late diner ressies and that will give you time to move from one area of the "world" to another.

Either way, good luck, have a great time!

About the touring plans website. I can't get this site to show the address so it's touring plans dotcom. touring plans is all one word.

One more problem he dont think using a credit card on the internet is safe.

 

[mb1976]

One more problem he dont think using a credit card on the internet is safe.

Boy you have a fight on your hands. I must admit it astounds me how many people are afraid of that and simply don't realize how much of their information is transmitted over phone lines everyday. A lot of places now simply scan your check and hand it back to you. It's the same thing. Even places you mail off your payments to do that. Oh well, I guess some folks want to learn the hard way. No matter what happens I hope you guys have a great trip!

 

[schoen]

just make few without him, and when you get there present them as options. most places can be canceled easily.

 

[stawes]

I might just do that.

 

[stawes]

Still wont be Persuaded.