ADR question

[MichiganMouse1967]

Is it really necessary to make ADRs for all table service meals? There are a few places we definitely want to eat dinner at so I'll make ADRs for those, but we basically prefer to dine wherever we want, whenever we want. I know that it's recommended to make ADRs at most places, but we don't want to feel tied down to being at a specific restaurant for a certain time. Could we still enjoy dining at these locations without ADRs?

 

[Pakey]

I think this is going to depend on where you want to eat and when you are going. From what I've read on these boards lately, people are having problems getting ADR's a month or so out, let alone on the actual day they are there. I've been there when I've seen the notices outside of the restaurants stating that they had no walkup availability for the entire day so I'm not willing to risk it. I book my dinners at 180 days and we prefer to do CS during the day for lunch (except at MGM) so that we are not tied down during park time.

If you have your heart set on certain places, I would make reservations. If you are okay with the fact that you might have to eat counter service on the days you didn't make reservations, you should be fine. You may get TS as a walkup and you may not but you could always do CS.

 

[raven69david]

I think this is going to depend on where you want to eat and when you are going.

Bingo!

If you go during Value season where there are no special offers (i.e. free dining, upgrades for park tickets, etc), then you may get away without having ADR's to eat at the more popular restaurants. Going during Value season where something's happening (i.e. MNSSHP, MVMCP, P&PP) may seriously impact your ADR's so you have a 50/50 chance of getting a table (without waiting for an hour or more) at a more popular restaurant. Going during any holiday or while the kids are out of school will necesitate ADR's to ensure you have a table for your favorite restaurant; without ADR's and your chances really go downhill. It's not impossible; others have done it with great success, but those stories are the exception and not the norm. It's all about the 3 P's: Planning, Planning, Planning

 

[bradk]

it is necessary to make an ADR for any place you wish to be guaranteed to dine at.

it's pretty much that simple. no ADR? no guarantee.

most ADRs don't penalize for no-shows anyway, so it won't hurt to have a plan in place.

 

[frdeb1999]

It would be wonderful not to have to preplan meals. But it is a fact of life if you are really wanting specific resturants. And even more so if your not willing to wait extended amounts of time with virtually no guarentee still of being seated. I would book just in case and then if you change your mind your not out anything in most cases.

 

[Hopefully]

It is our experience that there are no really quiet times anymore. Some more quiet than others, but none really quiet. It is also our experience in early October that there is minimal, if any, walk up availability at TS restaurants. Especially in Epcot WS we have seen walk ups consistently turned away every day.
If you have your heart set on eating somewhere at a specific time, Make an ADR. If you are on the Dining Plan and have pre-paid for TS meals, Make an ADR.
If you are willing to eat CS only days on end, Wing It. If you are willing to eat at off hours (late lunch or early dinner), Wing It. If you are able to eat at obscure locations out of the main stream (Boatwrights at POR or Olivia's at OKW for example), Wing It.
Just my thoughts.
HTH

 

[byoung]

I also think if you want to eat when you want make those adr's. If no adr's depending on when you are going, you may not get in any resturant.

 

[Maraena]

I once asked a dentist, as a child, which teeth I should be sure to floss and he replied, "Only those teeth that you want to keep."

I think that advice might be useful here. You don't have to make ADRs for any restaurant at all but you should make ADRs for any restaurant where you'd like to have a guarantee that you'll get to eat.