ADR please help?!?

[beebles]

Ok, I am planning on doing the dining plan for me, husband, and two children ages 7 and 4. Here is the question, I have reservations for dinner each night. BUT, are we still going to be waiting, anyway?! The only reason why I am doing the plan is it is a good value IF you use the TS for character meals, dinners etc. BUT, i don't want to feel like half of our vacation was spent waiting to eat or be served? What is the point of the ADR's then? BTW, all our adr's are pretty early, like 5 ish. HELP!

 

[Olallamom]

I think that you are wise to have ADR's for at least one meal a day. You aren't required to be there, you can always skip or cancel them once you get there.
Certain places will be hard to get into unless you have an ADR, such as Crystal Palace, LeCellier, CRT. What time of the year are you going, because that will play a roll in it also.
We never waited long to be seated and we there during peak season (June).

 

[LAWalz23]

As a general rule the earlier your ADRs are the better chance you have to get seated on time. The character buffets take as long as you want so if you only want to be in and out that is fine. However character meals for us take the place of waiting in lines to get autographs and pictures so it actually pretty much works out even as far as time goes because you have to eat anyway. The only other advice I can give is that you should get to your ADRs a few minutes early (5-10) and make sure you leave enough travel time if you are going from your resort or a park to dinner. We have always found that it takes us longer in travel time than we think it will. And this might just be my sister's kids (boy-girls twins, now almost 8, going to WDW since they were 3) but they enjoy sit down meals, with or without the characters. Have fun!