adr's for january?

[amyminzey]

How important is it to make ADR's during the weeks of Jan 8-19? I know the crowds are low at this time, so I'm hoping we won't have to worry too much about it. (We are not doing ddp's if that matters any.) Thanks for any tips or info!!!

 

[kkevcamsmom]

We are going Jan 26th to Feb 3 and have only one ADR for Crysal Palace, as of now. We may make a few more. I was wondering the same thing.... I know the crowds are less and we have no problems eating at non traditional times, but should we have ADR's for all TS places or can we risk not making them for all meals???

Lori

 

[mrg013]

I would make them anyway, just to be safe. You never know, the restaurants you want could magically get booked for the times you want! I've had it happen before at places that I didn't think would even need an ADR. It's better to be safe than sorry. I would just make the ADRs, and then you can always cancel or change them before your trip. To me, it's way too stressful to hope that the restaurants are going to be available when I get there. I prefer having the peace of mind that there will be a table for me at the restaurants I want.

 

[jo28501]

We're there Jan 15-29. DBF first trip so I don't want to take any risks. Also I've never (yep, that does say never!) eaten at a WDW TS restaurant. Actaully never done CS either - crazy after 4 trips there!! We booked CRT, CM, Boma, O'Hana's and Donalds breakfast. Not on DDP so we'll be eating off site too.

I called 180 days out and had no problems getting any of my ADR's - even CRT I had a choice of 3 reservation times.

 

[emh1129]

We're there Jan.2-12 and we've made all of our ADRs already. Better safe than sorry, I guess.

 

[kimkreis]

We're there Jan 20 -27th and I made allof mine. We are on the dining plan, but I would have made a few anyway just to make things perfect.

Kim

 

[DCDisney]

If you have a group larger than 4, want to eat on the early side, or want to eat at popular places I'd reserve early. We always go in Jan and have no problem when it's just the 4 of us but any table bigger than 4 is always harder to get. If you are willing to eat wherever and whenever you'll find somewhere in Jan but it may well be a resort location rather than a park or if it's in the park it may be a late time.

Yvonne

 

[princess@heart]

We are going Jan 19-25 to the World. I have already made my ADRs. I know alot of people must be making theirs, too. A few places I wanted to eat, I asked for a (let's say...) 8:00pm ressie. I was then offered 7:50, as if 8:00pm was full.

I am not sure how many ADRs they take per time schedule... but it atleast means that other people are making their ressies now.

I'd rather be safe than sorry. The restaraunts might not get completely booked in January, but who wants to wait 30 minutes to get seated?

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

Last Jan. I made a few ADR's for the times and places I absolutely wanted. On the other days we were able to walk into several places for lunch.(Epcot & MGM) We were not on the DDP so we didnt have credits that we HAD to use. On the nights we had reservations for dinner I did notice that the restaurants were very busy with long lines. I would definitely make ADR's for any evening TS.

 

[jbird327]

I am going Jan 20-27th and have made my ADRs. A few were not available at the requested time (Le Cellier, Rose and Crown, comes to mind). I have a party of 5 and asked mostly for 6:30 for dinners and 12:00 for lunch. When I was there in Jan 2005, I had made ADRs but had no trouble making new ones or changing times once I was down there. I would make them for the places you are really interested in going, then just wing it for the others.

 

[CindyAnn]

I think it all depends on:

- TIMING (January 8 - 19 is good; NYE is not)
- PARTY SIZE (2 is good; 9 is not)
- FLEXIBILITY (some people are happy eating at 4:30 or 9:30; others aren't)
- IMPATIENCE (some people don't mind waiting for 90 minutes; others do)
- IMPORTANCE (if you really, really want to try a restaurant, make an ADR)
- POPULARITY (some character meals or popular restaurants are always busy)

So, two people headed to WDW January 8th - 19th who are very flexible with respect to when and where they eat, and how long they wait, won't have any problems.

If that's not you, a few ADR's are probably a good idea!

Cheers,

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

Very important to have ressies in Jan. We went the end of Jan in 2005 and could not get into the castle. Why not? Turns out that it was going to be closed for refurbishing for three weeks in January and people who were smarter than me rearranged their trips just to get that meal.

So, downtime for Disney could mean closed restaurants. I would definitely call.

 

[disneyfansx5]

I made all of mine for Jan. 28-Feb. 2 at the 180 day window and had no problems. However, on one of the days I called the CM misunderstood my date and tried to schedule it for 2 days earlier and there was only one time for my party of 5 and the time was at 8:30 p.m. I thought Jan. was supposed to be a slow time, but the CR is booked and a friend of mine had trouble getting a room at AK. Sounds like it may be busier than usual. If it were me, I would make my ressies. They can always be changed and/or canceled. Just a suggestion.

 

[S.Poppins]

We are going Jan. 13 - Jan. 19 and I booked all our ADRs. I wanted to be sure to get places like Le Cellier and Chefs de France.

 

[jlovesee]

I have gone in the last week of January for the past five years... ADR's are not that big of a deal for this time. Every year I make 1 ADR for our anniversary (California Grill, Artists Point, V &A's etc), and do the rest as I feel like it.

I have NEVER had a problem getting into Liberty Tree Tavern, L'Originale in Italy, Fantasmic Packages, etc. If you are flexible, you are fine.

Now on the other hand if it is something you absolutly cannot live without then book it in advance.

Jennifer

 

[dgaston]

January 7 - 14 here. Booked LeCellier, Prime Time 50's, Donald's Breakfastosaurus, and Hoop De Doo for the 5 nights we're on the Dining Plan. I just like to have it lined up ahead of time.

 

[heatherlynn444]

like other have said, better safe....i am going the 7th-14th and made all mine. i had to be flexible on a couple of my times b/c i couldn't get a couple of the slots I wanted...so it depends on the places you want to eat and the times as others have said. good luck!