ADRs at Universal??? Necessary??

[TxDisFans]

I'm a total Universal newbie - we're die-hard WDW fans but are making last-minute trip to see Harry Potter next week, staying at Portofino Bay.

At WDW, I always make my ADRs for lunch and dinner ages in advance. Do I need to book reservations for dinner at the Universal resorts? What's the best way to do this? what about sit-down lunches in the parks? Does that even exist or is it all counter service? Help! I'm a big planner, so throwing together a trip at the last minute is tough for me!

Any dining tips greatly appreciated, including specific restaurant recs! TIA!

 

[Disney-PartyOf5]

Hi

No answers for you I am afraid but I am very interested in your question. We will be in WDW later this year and are heading to Universal for the first time with our children. We too have lots of ADR's planned for WDW but had not thought about Universal.... hoping you get some useful responses that we can also make use of..... hope ya don't mind!!!

 

[nytimez]

Pre-Harry Potter, I never made reservations. And there were times when I had restaurants almost entirely to myself, especially at the hotel (there were nights when I could have run naked through Jake's at RPR without getting any attention -- and probably right through the restaurant next door, too).

This is my first trip since WWoHP opened, and I haven't made any yet... but I'm wondering myself if I should.

 

[RMulieri]

The sitdowns in the parks are at US- Lombards Landing and Finnegans and IOA has Mythos and Confiscos Grille
Mythos is one of the most popular places, and I think you can only make ressies the day of.As for the other places and resorts, I think most places , I am not sure.Some places are 30 days out I think..Its definitely NOT like Disney from what I am gathering, they don't take ressies 6 months in advance and I think other than Emerils on Citywalk none of those places take them.

 

[famofour]

I made ressies for Mythos and Bob Marley's (in City Walk) for our upcoming trip through www.opentable.com and I have made ressies directly through Mythos in past years. From what I remember - the reservations give you priority seating, maybe not an exact "time" for seating. With Harry Potter bringing in so many people - it might not be a bad idea to make reservations. We are going to "wing" it for our other sit down meals though!

 

[Metro West]

I'm a total Universal newbie - we're die-hard WDW fans but are making last-minute trip to see Harry Potter next week, staying at Portofino Bay.

At WDW, I always make my ADRs for lunch and dinner ages in advance. Do I need to book reservations for dinner at the Universal resorts? What's the best way to do this? what about sit-down lunches in the parks? Does that even exist or is it all counter service? Help! I'm a big planner, so throwing together a trip at the last minute is tough for me!

Any dining tips greatly appreciated, including specific restaurant recs! TIA!

You don't usually have to have reservations at Universal unless you're going to be visiting during a very busy week. Universal is an ADR-free zone.

You can get the Concierge at the resort to make reservations if you would feel more comfortable. If you want table service for lunch, you have a limited selection in the parks with Mythos at IOA and Finnegan's at the Studios being the best of the table service places. I would just do counter service for lunch and then go to CityWalk or the hotel for a nice dinner.

 

[MrTriVan]

We just made reservations for the character breakfast at Confisco's for our trip in August, so for that at least, you can make reservations 6 months out.

 

[ldmilton]

Universal is pretty much plan-free for me. Nothing like the crazy 6-month out ADR's and touring strategies needed for Disney....one of the many reasons I have moved over to the dark side

I would think you will be fine making reservations the day of. I agree with Metro - Mythos at IOA and Finnegan's at the Studios are good choices for table service if you plan to lunch in the parks.

 

[Tinbadge69]

Does anyone know what characters are at Confisco Grill in Universal. This is there only character meal.

 

[IdesOmarch]

No generally not, can't imagine requiring any reservations for any spot at universal this time of year. I would guess most places will be walk in. I never make any when we go during peak times, and generally don't have to wait much then either.

And I agree with others that Mythos is THE place to go, not to be missed, but I have never made a reservation there, even during peak times. Longest wait I had was like in July, for about 15 minutes.

 

[Metro West]

Does anyone know what characters are at Confisco Grill in Universal. This is there only character meal.

The characters are: Spiderman, Thing 1 & 2 and Cat in the Hat. That's the only character meal but they also appear at the resort restaurants on certain nights. The characters vary by resort and day.

 

[Orsino]

I made ressies for Mythos and Bob Marley's (in City Walk) for our upcoming trip through www.opentable.com

Thank you so much! I use opentable all the time and it never occurred to me to try it out for IOA. I just made a reservation for next week and it was so easy.

Thanks again.