ADR Rookie in need of some help.

[Disney Padawan]

My trip starts on April 14th and I hope I can get at least a few ADR's before we leave but I've never made an ADR before, so here's my question.

I read from this site that you have to pay in advanced for most ADR's? Something about most reservations having to be paid in full 45 days prior to arrival?

Please forgive my ignorance, but could someone please explain what they mean by this?

Is this for all Disney restaurants?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[dandave]

Hi! You don't pay in advance for ADRs. At some of the difficult to get restaurants (like California Grill) you may be asked to leave a CC# to hold a ressie, but not to pay in advance. You may even have to purchase tickets to dinner shows in advance (like Hoop De Doo), but an ADR is a reservation. And you need to do that soon, if you want to eat anywhere other than CS places.

I suggest you do some research and start making those ADRs.

Read here: http://allearsnet.com/din/reserv.htm

And here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/reservations.htm

And here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/pscalc/dispscalc.html

And here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/pscalc/dispsreport.html

Then call WDW asap.

 

[dandave]

I just figured out why you had the misunderstanding, when I was reading through one of those Dis links I supplied. Honestly, I couldn't figure out how anyone got so confused, but now it makes perfect sense! I would have been confused, too.


Here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/reservations.htm

It says: " 7. Be persistent. If you are faced with your chosen location being booked, call back at a later time. Plans change and people cancel. Also…keep in mind that most Disney reservations need to be paid in full 45 days prior to arrival. Many reservations are canceled at the last minute. Try calling 45 days prior to your chosen date."

I can see where that could be misinterpreted! They are trying to say that vacation packages, which are the majority of WDW reservations, must be cancelled at 45 days out in order to get the $200 deposit on the reservation back. Therefore, if they cancel their vacation, their ADRs are likely to be cancelled. That would make ADRs "magically" open up 45 days prior to the desired dining date, because people cancelled their trips.


I hope that clears things up a bit! And I hope you have a super trip!

 

[Disney Padawan]

I just figured out why you had the misunderstanding, when I was reading through one of those Dis links I supplied. Honestly, I couldn't figure out how anyone got so confused, but now it makes perfect sense! I would have been confused, too.


Here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/reservations.htm

It says: " 7. Be persistent. If you are faced with your chosen location being booked, call back at a later time. Plans change and people cancel. Also…keep in mind that most Disney reservations need to be paid in full 45 days prior to arrival. Many reservations are canceled at the last minute. Try calling 45 days prior to your chosen date."

I can see where that could be misinterpreted! They are trying to say that vacation packages, which are the majority of WDW reservations, must be cancelled at 45 days out in order to get the $200 deposit on the reservation back. Therefore, if they cancel their vacation, their ADRs are likely to be cancelled. That would make ADRs "magically" open up 45 days prior to the desired dining date, because people cancelled their trips.


I hope that clears things up a bit! And I hope you have a super trip!

Hi! Yes, this is the exact quote I read that made me totally confused. I thought for some reason or another Disney had a set price for all their meals now and payment was due in advanced.

Anyway, Thank you kindly for all the links and all of your help. I just need to do a little more research so I can get those ADRs ASAP. I have another thread in the restaurant section, asking my fellow DISers what their top 3 and 5 places to eat are. So I can get a better idea of what is good and what is great.

Well, thanks again for taking the time.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Relax. While it would be good to call soon - and a few places are booked already - you'll still have plenty of great choices available. About the only two you probably won't get are Le Celier and CRT. - and maybe the dinner shows, I don't know about those two.


Asking folks about there top three choices is probably kind of useless, IMO. Lots of folks on the DIS have totally bashed places I love - and vice versa - some folks think free Bud is a great reason to dine at Hoop de Doo. I kind of feel like it's a reason to avoid it.

There really aren't any BAD places at WDW (except maybe Tony's...) but you may hit one on an off night. It's impossible for us to choose places for you though since some folks love fried food,others hate it. Some folks love sushi - other find the idea offensive - and so on....It all depends on your tastes.

I suggest using the dining finder here or on the WDW web site.

Do try one character meal...they can be a hoot!

 

[Disney Padawan]

Relax. While it would be good to call soon - and a few places are booked already - you'll still have plenty of great choices available. About the only two you probably won't get are Le Celier and CRT. - and maybe the dinner shows, I don't know about those two.


Asking folks about there top three choices is probably kind of useless, IMO. Lots of folks on the DIS have totally bashed places I love - and vice versa - some folks think free Bud is a great reason to dine at Hoop de Doo. I kind of feel like it's a reason to avoid it.

There really aren't any BAD places at WDW (except maybe Tony's...) but you may hit one on an off night. It's impossible for us to choose places for you though since some folks love fried food,others hate it. Some folks love sushi - other find the idea offensive - and so on....It all depends on your tastes.

I suggest using the dining finder here or on the WDW web site.

Do try one character meal...they can be a hoot!

I think I have a pretty good idea of where I want to go. My gf and I can eat just about anything so I'm not too worried. I just like to see what restaurants keep repeating themselves over and over, specially the resort ones. That's why I'm interested in our DIS'ers opinions. Thanks for the great tips, I think I will try a character meal or two.