ADR's in early May-Totally necessary??

[bdklein]

I am counting on those veterans from early May 2005 trips to help me out.
My family (me, wife, and 3 and year old girls) are staying at the Poly from May 6-13th. I have made some ADR's, including a couple (CRT breakfast and Princess breakfast) that are prepayment. I would like to have some flexibility on our trip, but do want to eat at some of the more popular places, such as Ohana, Kona, Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare. If I don't have ADR's, do you think we will be able to eat at these restaurants? Can I call that day, depending on our schedule? Will we just be able to show up? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[cara loves the poly]

I would make one for Chef Mickey's. You could probably get into 'Ohana w/ a long wait if you don't make an ADR.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Ever since they introduced the dining plan I think you need ADR's any time of year.

 

[shellybaxter]

I went in early Dec, which is a pretty slow time (not as slow as it used to be, but still not holiday/summer busy) and Ohana, 1900, and Kona were all turning walk ups away. We were able to call and change some ADRs a couple of around a couple of days before and we walked up to Mama Melrose(lunch) and Grand Floridian Cafe (Breakfast), so we had some flexibility, but at the resturants you mention - unhappy people being turned away.

 

[mlg32]

We went 2nd in week in May last year and I made just few certain ADRS however the only time we could ever get into OHana was 9 in the evening so we skipped that. Kona we didn't have any problem I think I just made an ADR in the am the day of also just called in am for breakfast and had no problem, however one night we did get stuck eating Captain Cook's --Yuck!!---This year we are going the same time again and I am making ADRS for 1 TS a day that way I have one because I don't want to be stuck waiting or turned away. I do remember that Crystal Palace was turning away everyone but ADRS the night we ate there. We also did Chef Mickey's but I had an ADR for that one and and ADR for 1900 Park Fare too. Just to be safe schedule one, its awful to wait with little ones. Good luck we are arriving on the 13th, 4mths to go!

 

[bdklein]

I did make ADR's for Ohana breakfast and dinner, Kona, Chef Mickey's, and 1900 Park Fare, but I really feel like these meals may interfere with the trip. None of these require prepayment, but I don't want to be in the middle of having fun somewhere and say "ok, all, it's time to leave, because we have to eat dinner". Also, I hate to say to my kids, "there's no fireworks tonight, or electric pageant, etc. because we have to get up early tomorrow and eat breakfast. I guess I will review the restaurants and times, schedule our park visits, and figure out what works best. We are on the dining plan, so I do need some table service meals. Thanks for any and all input.

 

[DisneyDiva2006]

I would recommend making ADRs we are going in June 2006 on the DP and we already couldn't get all the times that we wanted....usually around the time but still why chance it. If you know you will be in a theme park on a certain day and want to eat somewhere there make a reservation.....I know it seems like a hasssle to stop what you are doing to go eat but you will have to at some point.

 

[bdklein]

I did schedule only 1 ADR per day, either breakfast or dinner. No way I am going to plan lunch. We'll work park schedule around ADR's, and if I cancel them and eat somewhere else (that has the food that one fussy daughter will eat) we'll do it.

 

[brivers222]

We are going 2nd week in May this year... Made ADR for AM Ohana and 1900 and then PM Tony's. The CM taking my ADR's said truthfully the character B'fasts and the Dinner at Tony's was the only one out of my 9 that really would necessitate an early ADR booking... She said I could call back the week we get down there or even day of to get an ADR. We had Ohana, 1900, Whispering Canyon, Le Cellier, Tony's, Chef De France, Sci-Fi, 50's Prime Time, Concourse Steakhouse...

Went 1st week in the 2004 and didn't make a single ADR except for the Spirit of Aloha dinner show... We had no problem eating at the resturants we wanted too... Sci-fi, 50's Prime Time, RFC, Wolfgang Puck, Chef De France and so on.

 

[Angela Kay]

Ever since they introduced the dining plan I think you need ADR's any time of year.

I totally agree. If you have your heart set on eating at a certain place, then I would definitely make an ADR.

 

[maccalovah]

I would definitely make some ADRs, just to be safe. If it turns out that it isn't too crowded and you can do some walk-ups, just go ahead and do that- ADRs aren't set in stone, and you can always change or cancel them. But I'd make some, just in case it ends up being insanely crowded!

Sarah

 

[Scottish-Helen]

We are going first week in May and I have made ADR's for Ohana, Le Cellier, California Grill, Crystal Palace, Brown Derby and Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian. These are the meals I thought would be harder to get once there so have planned these in to my days.

 

[Fire14]

I just did my ADRS for may 3-10th and there was a few i had to be flexible on times on mostly brfst. i'd say

 

[thelionqueen]

IMO you need ADR's year round. I understand about not wanting to interrupt daily activities to eat, but if you don't plan, there is a good chance you won't get in. In Oct. (suppose to be semi-off peak) people were being turned away left & right. This was also during the free dining promo, but I say make and cancel em later if you need to. just my .02

 

[DiszyDean]

I agree with the concensus of making plans and if those plans change, cancel your reservations..but at least you will have something in place should you decide to go through with them. I have never gone in May but went n August and for the most part, if you did not have an ADR, you were not getting in...And there were a lot of upset people. I think Disney tries to do a good job of reminding people to make reservations but a lot do not listen. I think your best chance of "walking in" to a resteraunt and getting a seat might be early in the afternoon or later on at night when other things are going on.

 

[bdklein]

I have no ADR's at any of the parks for dinner, only hotels. I figured we would go back to hotel in the PM, have dinner at a hotel, and then decide on a nighttime activity. Now you made think I might as well havesome ADR's in the park for dinner. I have DD6 and DD3. What restaurants would you suggest I make reservations at in the parks for Dinner that would appeal to the kids (and me and wife)? We are not "meat and potatoes" people, more seafood, pasta, Mexican, etc. Thanks in advance.

 

[n2mm]

I just finished making my ADRs for my April 23-May 5th trip and was very surprised how difficult it was to get the times and even the days we wanted. I had to try 3 different days to get a decent time at LeCellier for a party of 6 (4 adults, 1 child, 1 infant). All that was left was 4:00 and after 8:30 on 2 of the days I tried and on the third day I took the 7:20PM, which was still pretty late with a baby. While there in early December I also watched at the Poly while the CMs turned away folks at Kona's and O'hana's . With the dining plan, the restruarants are filled. We got into Kona's because we had an ADR. Good luck.