ADR needed really? Anyone NOT do this?

[Mail2artist]

So I'm getting all our reservations made "ahead of time" and thought it would be interesting to see what's available for tonight and tomorrow night, as if we were already there and wanting something last minute. I figured everything would be booked up, or VERY limited availability for TS.

Anyway, I was SHOCKED to see how many openings there were and all at decent times. A lot of great places too. Granted some of the more requested/signature places weren't, but there's part of me that's wondering why I'm going through all this "planning every meal" stress when we can do a more go with the flow vacation if this is the case normally. I want to make sure we can take advantage of our TS credits verses having to trade them out for QS due to no ADR's planned.

Has anyone on the Dining Plan ever done this? There are some dinners that are a must, which I've booked those, but it's starting to bug that that I have to plan what park we go to on that day based off of our ADR's.

 

[Cafeen]

There will ALWAYS be *something* available. It's a matter of timing and location. So, sure, you can go ahead and skip ADRs for some days and then check when you get there, just be prepared to be flexible (both time and location) and you'll be fine. Being able to not rely on Disney transportation helps a bit here as well, though not required.

Now, I haven't done it myself, as doing the puzzle to figure everything out is part of the fun for me, and with DxDDP timing and location are both very important to get right, or you'll be overloaded.

 

[JCH]

I usually just pick when I get there with the exception of special occasions and events. If you have your heart set on Le Cellier and Chef Mickeys, make your reservations. But there are really good places like Marrakesh and Sanaa that are amazing and rarely full because some people are not exactly adventurous in terms of food.

 

[mom2ee]

we have done exactly that. we have made reservations for the "must haves" and i have just checked with the disney dining app around noontime to see what is available for dinner (same night). we have had some great meals that way..places WE might not have gone.

 

[Mail2artist]

we have done exactly that. we have made reservations for the "must haves" and i have just checked with the disney dining app around noontime to see what is available for dinner (same night). we have had some great meals that way..places WE might not have gone.

Thanks everyone!!! I think this is the way to go. I'm sure where ever we eat will be amazing! If not, I'll just have a Mickey Bar to make up for it right?
That's also the benefit of a first trip... I have NO CLUE what I'm missing out on!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Looks like in your signature that you have small kids. You might consider making an ADR for a character meal for your arrival or departure day. We often go to MK first off, so in that case, Crystal Palace would be a great spot for a kick-off breakfast your first full day in the parks. Or if you are arriving in the afternoon and not doing a park that day, maybe Chef Mickey's for dinner. Or the 'Ohana breakfast on your departure day if you're not leaving too early. Seeing the characters is both a nice way to start and to end your vacation.

Hope your first visit is all you want it to be!

 

[hotcarib]

I didn't note when you are traveling, but some places absolutely require an ADR. CRT and Le Cellier come immediately to mind followed by character meals, Hoop di Doo and the luau.
If you don't have any real favs the concierge will gladly tell you what's available each day and make reservations for you

 

[swift]

we have done exactly that. we have made reservations for the "must haves" and i have just checked with the disney dining app around noontime to see what is available for dinner (same night). we have had some great meals that way..places WE might not have gone.

Do you mind me asking which app you use? I have just bought an ipad and I have only seen apps with menus not one that gives you restaurant availability. Thanks.

 

[Evi]

It really depends on how busy it is when you go. I've been on a trip without adrs and I couldnt' get a sit down meal in the parks outside easy as pie but nothing inside.

 

[4littleones]

I have been checking this since July and it remains consistent each month through September. Pretty much every time I check for meals on the current day, the day after or maybe 2 days after there are openings for large parties at Character meals. I have consistently found even CRT ressies on the next day or that night.

It has me thinking that I can rearrange things once we are down there if need be and not to stress if my ressie's aren't "just right" currently.

 

[sweetandsour]

Or if you are arriving in the afternoon and not doing a park that day, maybe Chef Mickey's for dinner.

This is exactly what we are doing - and I just booked 2 days ago for our Sept 29 arrival

 

[Coconuts]

The reason a lot of ADR's might be available right now is that this is a very low attendance time. Most kids have just gone back to school and most families wait until the end of September to start heading to WDW in the fall. It looks like you're going around Thanksgiving/POP Warner, and that will be a busy time for dining. You might not have as easy a time getting an ADR as you're seeing right now.

 

[SalandJeff]

We will be at WDW 11/4 - 11/11 and I have been checking daily. I have not been able to find much availability for most of the TS restaurants at the parks. I tried calling also and they checked every night for me at a number of places and nothing available.

September is a slow time, and I also think that people make multiple ressies or their plans change, so they may cancel at the last minute.

 

[Gmouse]

Same problem here. We'll be there right before you and I am just now making our dining ressies. Not having any luck getting CRT on the 7th (my baby girl wll be turing 2 We have had our studio booked since Jan and I said right when the 180 day mark hit that I was going to make ressies....well...kids, family, daily life happens and I never got around to it. Now...I can't get what I want. We do have Kona, Tutto Italia for some of our days, at times we like. But I am trying for LeCellier--AGAIN--AFTER I had one booked the confirmation never was sent to me and now it's LOST.
I think the problem is that alot of people are making a whole bunch of ressies, only to cancel later.
If nothing else we'll just walk up at "off" times and see if we can get into LeCellier. We don't mind eating early lunch or afternoon dinner. We have done this before and had no ressies. We walked right into LeCellier and were seated immediately.
IF we can't get CRT we'll head over to 1900 PF. Cinderella is there and it's not as expensive...although from what I hear CRT is AMAZING......sad I can't get it for my daughters' birthday

 

[gigi1313]

I didn't note when you are traveling, but some places absolutely require an ADR. CRT and Le Cellier come immediately to mind followed by character meals, Hoop di Doo and the luau.
If you don't have any real favs the concierge will gladly tell you what's available each day and make reservations for you

I will tell you that we have had great luck making day of ADRs... We have gotten a walkin to CRT, and day of for CP, HDDR and GG... These were at various times of the year, including during free dining!

 

[gigi1313]

IF we can't get CRT we'll head over to 1900 PF. Cinderella is there and it's not as expensive...although from what I hear CRT is AMAZING......sad I can't get it for my daughters' birthday

Funny, I am able to get CRT for our dates but cannot get dinner at 1900 no matter how many times I check (and I check daily, and have played with time, party size, etc)... So unless you have an ADR don't count on 1900 as a walk in! I still have my fingers crossed for day before or day of availability, and hope you find something special for your little ones birthday!

 

[Gmouse]

Funny, I am able to get CRT for our dates but cannot get dinner at 1900 no matter how many times I check (and I check daily, and have played with time, party size, etc)... So unless you have an ADR don't count on 1900 as a walk in! I still have my fingers crossed for day before or day of availability, and hope you find something special for your little ones birthday!

This is crazy nerve wrecking! I am SICK over CRT...I was planning on ordering her a little bday cake there I did make a ressie for 1900 it's a 5:something ressie. Later that I wanted since it's the last night of our trip. I want to get done eating and back to MK for a little bit. I don't know what we'll do...beggers can't be choosy I guess
I'm gonna call too and see if that makes a difference.

 

[VeganCupcake]

Do you mind me asking which app you use? I have just bought an ipad and I have only seen apps with menus not one that gives you restaurant availability. Thanks.

There is a mobile website I use on my android phone

http://m.disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/m/

I am not really tech savvy, but when I first got the phone I went to the regular Disney site to make ADRs and it brought me there, its so convinient!
I will check obssesively while waiting outside of DS's Pre-k classroom for him to get out(gasping at the things I see are actually open, I must look like a nut!). I find that it is much less frustrating than the regular site, I don't have to keep re-entering info I can just press the back button. I don't know if the Ipad has the same option though.

 

[SmallWorld71]

As mentioned, you may be able to find what you want, you may not. You certainly will not go hungry if you are not picky about where or when you eat. If it matters to you, make the ADR.

Places I have personally witnessed people turned away from:
Character meals: CRT, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Tusker House

Non-character meals: Sci-Fi, 'Ohana, Coral Reef, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Teppan Edo

 

[ktlm]

When people say "something" will be available, it doesn't necessarily mean where you are. I have been in MK several days when there were no TS ADRs available anywhere. You call, and they tell you, we don't have anything in MK, but you can eat at these 4 places at Epcot (which as a first timer you may not realize might take you an hour to get to from whereever you are at MK). It also might mean if you walk into a place and they tell you they do have an ADR available that day, it might be for 9:00 p.m., and since you have littles, that likely won't work for you. I have been at places at Epcot at lunch time after time waiting on our table and watched people come up to the podium to only be told there is nothing available at all for that entire day. You might get lucky, but if you wing it, you have to be ready for the chance that you might not. I have taken DD at age 2, 3, and 4, and we aren't willing to take the chance. What we do is book one TS ADR for each day for the place we think we will be, and where we will want to eat. That is our back up. If we decide that is not the park we want to be in, or the time we want to eat, I call Disney dining or go to guest services if we are in that park, and see what else is available and switch them out if we find something else we want. More often than not, we wind up keeping the ones I made from home, since DD has her favorites in each park and that is what I book and we also have been to WDW so many times that we have a pretty good idea when we will want to eat, but now and then we make a change. I feel safer knowing I have a back up plan and with the exception of CRT and Akershus, there is no penalty for late cancellation.