ADR worry or not

[HockeyDadof2Boys]

We are leaving for our first onsite visit to the world (CBR) in about a month 6/14. While we do enjoy food it's not going to be a focus of our vacation. Is it really necessary to make ADRs in order to eat at the World? We don't want to be stuck eating at the food court of the resort, but we also don't like being on a schedule to get somewhere. Any thoughts?

 

[monica31671]

I can't tell you the number of people I've seen turned away from table service because they didn't have ADRs.
You don't really have to plan months in advance, but I would recommend at least calling WDW-Dine a few hours ahead when you kind of figure out where you are going to be come dinner time.
Only risk it if you are truly going to be happy with counter service every time.

 

[CanadianGuy]

When I go down.. once I get there.. I usually know where we're headed the next day.. so the night before.. I will call and say "Looking for lunch at Le Cellier tomorrow, what's available.. ?" And I usually can get something by being flexible on the time.

Heck.. on my last trip we got a 7:30pm reservation at Spoodles just 3 hours before on a Friday in MARCH.

Another trick we used, was that we swam against the flow: that is to say we reserved nice lunches and did quick dinners. That seemed to help us avoid a lot of the crowds at TS restaurants at dinner.

That worked great for us. I understand some people want to make them six months out... but I'm pretty easy going so I just go with 12-24 hours before.. and that's what I'm going to keep doing.

I can't tell you where I will want to have lunch/dinner a month from now.. let alone six.

Knox

 

[Allison]

I think it depends on how flexible you are as to when and where you eat. We were there during President's weekend in February. There were no walk-ups being taken at any of the restaurants in Epcot on the Saturday night we were having dinner. Same thing for the Magic Kingdom on another night we were there.

 

[simonkodousek]

I would make ADR's. If you decide not to go to that restaurant, you can always cancel.

~Simon

 

[byoung]

Agree you should make the ADR's.

 

[HockeyDadof2Boys]

OK, based on your replies I decided to make some ADRs, what do you guys think for dinners? We have two nights that we will still wing it and probably just do counter service for lunches. Alfredos, The Plaza, Brown Derby, Fultons, and Rainforest Cafe, wanted LeCellier and Liberty Tree in place of Alfredo's and The Plaza but oh well they looked pretty good to me.


Edited to add: we change the Brown Derby reservation to the Prime Time after I checked out the menus at Allearsnet.com, menu looked good for DW and I but the kids will prefer the Primetime plus it looked like fun.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Short and sweet here.....you'll absoultely need ADR's for WS in Epcot. If not, plan on counter service. There may be a cancellation which may get you in but I wouldn't count on it. Also, being this late, your not going to have alot of options left as most places will be full. Check out the menus at www.allearsnet.com and call WDW Dining. They will help you find something available. At this point, you'll need to be open minded and flexible. At least make a couple an ADR for WS - Epcot. WDW has great counterservice also! So you'll be fine!

 

[HockeyDadof2Boys]

Well I am soooo glad I made my ADRs. We did Alfredo's the first evening, food was great, and people were waiting over and hour to sit outside. If you didn't have ADRs you weren't getting inside. The second night we did the Plaza Restaurant, again the food was great and if you didn't have ADRs you didn't get a table. While we were waiting two different ladies ripped into the hostess because they couldn't get a table. Third night we ate at Prime Time Cafe.....all I can say is WOW it was a great atmosphere and the food was incredible. My DS15 and I both had the fried chicken which came with turnip greens the Florida heat and humidity must have altered his brain as he actually tried the greens and loved them. I of course have been telling him for years how good greens are. The fourth night we went to Fultons and it was OK. Wife and DS15 split the stuffed lobster and it was good though not at the price. I had grilled snapper which was incredible! The fifth night we went to the Rainforest Cafe it was good as usual, we have one at home so it wasn't anything special. We did counter service our last night. Thanks to all for the advice!!! Trip report coming soon.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Thanks for posting! I feel bad for the folks at the podium. I bet they get lots of abuse heaped on them these days.

Looking forward to your trip report

 

[LISAMWDW]

Glad it worked out for you! Good thing you had the Dis, you could have been one of the persons turned away! Whew!

 

[n2mm]

Thanks for posting back and hope others take your advice that yes ADRs can be your friend. There is nothing better than the feeling of having an ADR when you walk to the podium as sad faces of folks are leaving. We have witnessed it too many times and would never go without ADRs, even if we cancel them the day of. Sounds like you had a good trip! Did you feel like having your ADRs tied you down? This seems to be the most common comment that folks who don't like to make them use and since you felt that way at the beginning, how did this change your mind to future trips and ADRs? (I think I've done too many Disney surveys!!)

 

[HockeyDadof2Boys]

It's funny, prior to leaving I was telling my wife that DIS boards said this or DIS boards said that and I would get the "as long as you have it under control" response from her. When we walked up for all our ADRs and got right in when people were getting turned away we were both VERY grateful for the DIS boards. We didn't make lunch ADRs so having diner reservations didn't really give us the feeling of being tied down. I think if we had made both lunch and diner ADRs I MIGHT have felt differently but we still felt pretty much free to do whatever we wanted.

 

[Tootles]

It's funny, prior to leaving I was telling my wife that DIS boards said this or DIS boards said that and I would get the "as long as you have it under control" response from her. When we walked up for all our ADRs and got right in when people were getting turned away we were both VERY grateful for the DIS boards.

I laughed at this-this is our first trip as a family. We went on our honeymoon and planned nothing, missed everything! My husband thinks I'm INSANE for reading and believing everything on these boards. We'll just see what he thinks when we're eating in the castle, or having dinner at LeCellier while people are getting turned away! The man would starve at WDW without me and my ADR's...sheesh!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I say always make em, cant hurt

Then again you may luck out and get a walk up somewhere

 

[n2mm]

I laughed at this-this is our first trip as a family. We went on our honeymoon and planned nothing, missed everything! My husband thinks I'm INSANE for reading and believing everything on these boards. We'll just see what he thinks when we're eating in the castle, or having dinner at LeCellier while people are getting turned away! The man would starve at WDW without me and my ADR's...sheesh!

You will really enjoy the moment he turns to you and says, wow, thanks for making the reservations. In 2005 I took my adult kids and they thought I was nuts. I kept telling them where we were eating and what I had done and they thought I was crazy (maybe a little), but after the first day they started seeing folks not get into restraurants and seeing how easy it was for us to checkin and get seated and by day 2 I was getting "thanks mom" from all sides....BTW, that was in Sept. 2005 during the first free dining promotion. THey all swear by ADRs now and before trips they now ask, where are we eating and have you made all of the ADRs.

 

[winterman]

Hey, HockeyDadof2Boys - glad it worked out for you. Did you make the ADRs just 10 days out or was it more like a month?

 

[solferino]

I'm so glad to see this post- your original question and follow ups- ending with being glad you made the ADR's. It's like being stickyworthy. You know big flashing neon lights and blinkies for anyone questioning if making the ADRs are necessary.

 

[Panlow]

You will really enjoy the moment he turns to you and says, wow, thanks for making the reservations. In 2005 I took my adult kids and they thought I was nuts. I kept telling them where we were eating and what I had done and they thought I was crazy (maybe a little), but after the first day they started seeing folks not get into restraurants and seeing how easy it was for us to checkin and get seated and by day 2 I was getting "thanks mom" from all sides...

We just returned June 15th, and my family felt the same way. There is a certain satisfaction at having a plan come together
We had an ADR each night for dinner and watched a lot of people be turned away hungry. Everyone following this thread should plan on making them. With the incredible food everywhere, why wouldn't you