ADR's in September REALLY necessary??

[KarenAylwood]

We're going in September (free dining) for 6 days, 7 nights so we have 7 TS's to use up. I know that Hoop Dee Doo and stuff like that tends to book up ahead of time, but is it REALLY necessary to get all of my ADR's in advance?? Just last March my mom and I got a dinner reservation at CRT for 7:30pm two nights before!

We're not huge planners but I want to be able to use all of our credits. Also, for things like the Fantasmic DP, we're risking the weather being bad or something. Or scheduling Boma for an AK day, then have it be rainy (AK is the worst in the rain IMO).

Do you always make ADRs for all of your TS restaurants?? We've never been big planners or TSer's.

 

[BTown]

Well, here are a few things to consider - you're going during free dining, which means, there will be a WHOLE LOT of people there, the same time as you, with free dining. That means the good TS resturants will fill up much faster than usual. I just came back from a trip in Jan, with the dining plan. We didnt make any ADR's until we got there, and when we did, we generally would make them the morning on the day we wanted to eat somewhere. For the most part, that planed worked fine, only with Le Cellier, we had to settle for a different night, as they were very full, and Mama Melrose's was booked up the duration of our trip. And a couple of times we had to eat at strange hours, as that was all we could get. Also, something else to consider, most TS resturants will allow you to go up and wait for a table. However, sometimes this wait could be an hour or more... and that's an hour more spent riding It's a Small World, or Mission Space, rather than standing in line for a table. Typically, with any ADR, there is little to no wait.

Moral of the story is, your better off making ADR's, ESPECIALLY if there is some place that you KNOW you HAVE to eat at.

Look at it like this - you're probably thinking that it's a mistake to make ADR's now, as you will not know what you will be doing on any given day. However, if you try and make them at the spur of the moment, chances are you wont get a choice time, which means the events of your entire day will be dictated by your dinner plans. It best to just find a couple of resturants you really want to eat at, make ADR's now, and then plan accordingly. Its so much easier in the long run.

 

[Fionasmommy]

With free dining going on??? Heck yeah!!

Just book what sounds good to you, so you'll know you have something lined up. If your plans change when you get there, you can always call and try to book something else - but if nothing is available you won't be left with nowhere to eat.

 

[Booknut]

We went last September (17th to 30th) during free dining. We were off-site but wanted to eat a few meals at Disney. We couldn't get a seat at Epcot in any restaurant on any night we tried.

Book your restaurants now...they are filling up too, you'll probably find restaurants like Le Cellier already booked up!

Good luck and enjoy picking your restaurants!

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Book your ADR's now. We were at WDW last fall and all of the TS restaurants were booked. Thankfully, we had ADRs.

 

[alite]

We were there last Sept. and had ADR for all but two days. We were able to get into Beirgarten(loved it) and San Angel Inn for those. We made the reservations early in the afternoon with help from a cast member at CBR. That being said, most of the popular restaurants that we had ADR's for, we still had to wait 20 to 30 minutes to get a table. Anyone walking up were told that there was a very long wait or no availibity. Be safe and plan ahead

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I'd say a definite yes for your favorites. It's better to be safe than sorry...especially during free dining.

 

[Dorisk3]

We were there in September 2005 for free dining and even though the parks were not crowded, all the restaurants were! When we entered the MK there would be a sign saying that all the TS places were booked for the whole day- no walk ups available.
It is difficult to know where you are going to be on any given day to eat. If you are having your main TS meal at dinner its not as bad if you have the park hoppers. My suggestion would be to look at www.touringplans.com and look at their best days list for the days you are going. Based on that recommendation- for example Tues. being a good day to go to MK- make your TS reservation there or close to there. Once you have a rough idea of where you might go call for those ADR's asap. You will not be sorry I promise you ! I know being spontaenious (sorry can't spell that one!) on vacation can be fun- and do it for the CS places- but for TS it can be a disaster. Think of how lame it would be walking from one place to another looking for somewhere to eat- particularly since you have it paid for on the dining plan. Check out www.allearsnet.com under dining to see menus etc. It is actually really fun to plan out what and where you will eat!
Good luck and have a great time!

 

[n2mm]

We were there during the free dining in September, and every time we went to eat dinner, they were not taking any walkups....my family would start each meal thanking me for making ADRs....especially LeCellier (2 times) and CRT/dinner (2 times--it was only 1Ts last year). When I booked my trip during the free dining offer, I immediately called and made my ADRs. One of our favorites is Kona Cafe so we always include them.

 

[Tinkbell]

You should definitely make some ADRs because Free Dining= Way more people at the restaurants.

 

[JillL.]

we went last fall and heard the same thing at all the resturants we went to...NO WALK UPs! a DF went at around the same time she brought me a gift back because i advised her to BOOK those ADRS! with out them they would have not been able to use the TS CREDITS

 

[KarenAylwood]

Thanks so much for all the replies... I had a feeling these were going to be the answers. When I told my mom that we had to start making ADR's her reply was "what?? Really?! Well last March we just walked up to Cinderella's Royal Table. Are you sure?"

So then that got me thinking- well, I don't know- do we really need to? And also about how we tend to be more "go with the flow" people than planners... but you all make really good points.

Last night after I posted I started looking at the menus on allears... and yeah, this is going to be fun - I even have a spreadsheet started

Thanks for your replies- I'll read them to my mom if she has anymore doubts.

 

[ctnurse]

We booked are adrs already for sept and free dining. The 2 big reasons are I wanted to be able to get TS ressies. And the most important ds who is 2&1/2 needs to eat at a certain time around 6pm or none of us are happy.

 

[lexmelinda]

Tried to book Le Cellier for a party of 5 for dinner week of sept. 24-29 and it was booked every night til 8:50! Make those ADRs today if possible. You can always try to change them later.

 

[cdntourguide]

Over the years I have noticed a vast change in peoples eating habits. More people are doing TS service: whether it is because of free dining package or not I cannot say. But I have found that it is much better to have a ADR and change it, then to have no ADR and try to get one.
ON my last trlip to WDW April '05, I could not get an TS bookings as a walk in. First time that this every happened to me. Now I have all my ADR's booked for the upcoming Sept 06 trip.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I made my ADR's for September the first day that the Free Dining was announced. While I got pretty good times (close to what I wanted) at Chefs de France and 50's Prime Time, I couldn't had to eat about an hour away from the time I wanted at Coral Reef and California Grill. So I'd say to make them, especially at the more popular resturaunts and at character meals.

 

[disfamily3]

WE JUST MADE ALL OF OUR RESSIES FOR OUR TRIP 9/16-9/23.....GOT EVERYTHING THAT WE WANTED!!!! I JUST DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE IN HEARING "SORRY, NO WALK UPS". YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME .....SO MAKE THE ONES YOU REALLY WANT AND DON'T TAKE CHANCES! NO GAMBLERS HERE!