ADR vs Walk Up Question

[Kristina685]

Question for all you Disney experts...Our 180 day is coming up this Friday so I have been looking over all the restaurants and menus and trying to come up with places to eat dinner. The BF really doesn't want to make ADR's anywhere so we're not on a strict schedule. I agree with him but am worried we won't be able to eat anywhere! We're going 1/29/14-2/2/14...what are the chances that we could forego ADR's and walk up to restaurants we're interested in and get seated?? Could we just wait until the morning of and make ADR's (if they're open)?? Thanks for all your help!

 

[FiggieFan]

You could try it since it is not as busy time of year, but I would not chance it. I would, at the minimum, make reservations, the day before at the concierge desk at your hotel if staying on-site. If there is any place you really want to eat, I would not chance that either and would make them as early as possible. You will also have better luck going on off hours, but I have seen times during non-busy seasons that they were still not accepting walk ups due to the amount of ADRs.

 

[AmyB2006]

You could. Chances are there will be places available, but they may not be at a restaurant you really want to eat at.

If you know you want to eat somewhere, I highly recommend ADRs.

Also, you could walk up to more popular places and the wait might be up to an hour. Or they could turn you away alltogether. I know in February, the last time I was there, they were turning people away at BOG.

ETA.. Don't forget, just because you make the ADR, doesn't mean you have to go there. You can always cancel the day before. And, to be honest, I've walked into a restaurant the day of earlier in the morning and cancelled, and it hasn't been a problem. Although, the policy is to cancel the day before.

 

[Pakey]

I do it every vacation including peak times. There are certain places you won't get but contrary to posts here, it's not nearly as hard as everyone suggests.

You can go to guest services in the park or to a restaurant podium and check availability.

I like to eat a late dinner (8pm or later) and I've been able to get in as a walk up at almost every restaurant I've wanted. Same with a 2pm lunch. Some character meals are easier than others.

There are also several lounges at resorts that offer full restaurant menus.

 

[AmyB2006]

I do it every vacation including peak times. There are certain places you won't get but contrary to posts here, it's not nearly as hard as everyone suggests.

You can go to guest services in the park or to a restaurant podium and check availability.

I like to eat a late dinner (8pm or later) and I've been able to get in as a walk up at almost every restaurant I've wanted. Same with a 2pm lunch. Some character meals are easier than others.

There are also several lounges at resorts that offer full restaurant menus.

It may not be necessarily this easy either. If you're talking about eating dinner at 8pm, then you may not have a problem.

 

[ShannonMB]

How about a nice mix? A couple of your top picks reserved ahead of time can't hurt - then you can play it by ear for the rest of the trip.

We were there the week before Easter Week, so a fairly crowded spring break week. We had one evening with nothing planned, and when I went to the concierge desk at the resort, he was able to look up several choices for me and it was kinda fun going someplace unexpected on the spur of the moment! I asked about Kona and Boma, both of which were available but not till after 8pm. We ended up at Grand Floridian Cafe at 6:15pm. It was wonderful!

 

[Bree]

just thought I'd mention...

If you have smart phone you can check for restaurant availability in the morning using the My Disney Experience App or your web browser.

 

[donnawine]

It really depends on where you want to eat dinner.
Be Our Guest seems to always need dinner reservations as does Le Cellier (I've never been able to walk in to that - even on my moms 60th birthday - and I only go on weekdays!). I've gotten lucky with a late lunch walk-in to the Coral Reef (was told there was no availability for dinner).
I would probably second the recommendation for ADR's if its a place you specifically want to eat at. Otherwise you may be 'stuck' with quick service.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you are at all fussy on when and where you eat, you really need to make ADRs. If you don't mind being told you can eat at only restaurants x, y, z and are flexible with when you eat (lunch at 2:30?) you can go without making any ADRs.

 

[robinb]

You're not going during a particularly busy time. so you shouldn't have too hard of a time of finding somewhere to eat. That being said, if you are remotely interested in Be Our Guest, I would go ahead and make 1-2 ADRs and then pick the one that fits best in your schedule. Also, if you are on the Disney Dining Plan I think that will want to rethink not having a schedule. It would be very frustrating not to be able to use all your dining credits properly.

 

[disnut8]

If you are at all fussy on when and where you eat, you really need to make ADRs. If you don't mind being told you can eat at only restaurants x, y, z and are flexible with when you eat (lunch at 2:30?) you can go without making any ADRs.

Also, unless you are on the dining plan and have to have those table service meals, you aren't going to starve. There are plenty of good counter service places all over Disney World. A lot more than just burgers and fries.

If you aren't going to make reservations, check into the counter service menus for alternatives, just in case. My mother-in-law didn't want to make reservations and but she didn't want counter service either. We compromised.

 

[Belleandtinker]

Make ADRs. You would rather have options especially to your favorite places. We are going in October, planned less than 180 day in advance (yes, that is spur of the moment for us), and couldn't get 100% of what we wanted. Couldn't get 3 of our must dos - at the end we will live, but still it took me forever to fill in the blanks.

 

[juliebug1997]

Also, if there's a free dining offer, that will take away a lot of ADRs. The parks won't be busy, but the restaurants will be.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Question for all you Disney experts...Our 180 day is coming up this Friday so I have been looking over all the restaurants and menus and trying to come up with places to eat dinner. The BF really doesn't want to make ADR's anywhere so we're not on a strict schedule. I agree with him but am worried we won't be able to eat anywhere! We're going 1/29/14-2/2/14...what are the chances that we could forego ADR's and walk up to restaurants we're interested in and get seated?? Could we just wait until the morning of and make ADR's (if they're open)?? Thanks for all your help!

We go that time period every year! Even though its quiet you need to make ADR's.
Remember you don't need to be staying at a resort to book a reservation at the restaurant.
Some tour groups can book a whole restaurant for a few hours as well.

Yes, you can call the morning of / or the evening before to find anything available. There are always last minute cancellations.
Your choice may not be vast but there are places you will be able to find.

 

[winterwhite]

We have always been able to change reservations.

However, 2 of our favorite places book up fast, so this time around, I made ADRs for lunch at one and fireworks-time dinner at another (it has a view). That way, we really only have one scheduled day.

 

[Kristina685]

Thanks for all your replies! We're not going to BOG although I wouldn't mind planning another trip to make up for not going this time around I think we're going to compromise and make a few ADR's and if we change our minds that morning, see what's available, and change the ADR (if we can) via the Disney Experience app.