ADR's my foot!

[stinkerbelle]

Not needed! Even with the free dining plan most people had! (Well - it wasn't necessary for us to make them 30/60/90/whatever days in advance!)

DH and I (NOT on the dining plan) were able to walk into table services places or make ADR's THAT DAY for table service.

Marrakesh - walked in for an 8pm dinner

50's Prime Time - made the ADR about 3 hours prior (11:50 for lunch) EXCELLENT meal/service! Thank you Aunt Cindy!

Jiko - we thought our friend (a CM) made an ADR for 7:50 (always go for the 'odd' time!) for Monday night...evidently he messed up...and put the ADR in for a different night...but we still were able to walk in at 8pm and have a fantastic meal. (Thank you Shellie!)

So for those that are going this week or next (prior to F&W fest) and like to "fly by the seat of their pants" like us and not make tons of ADR's...have faith!

 

[scanne]

Usually for a party of 2 it isn't a problem to walk up and get seated. But for larger parties, it ISN'T so easy.

 

[rgf207]

I agree, some places you can get lucky and walk in but a lot of places you cannot. It's is almost impossible to walk into any character meal and be seated without an ADR. Also, places such as LeCellier are fully booked for weeks. It depends on what place you like and where it is located. You will probably have better luck at resort restaurants than Theme Park ones.

But on a side note. Congrats on your experience and I'm glad you enjoyed it all. We loved 50's prime time and we are hoping to try Jiko soon

 

[shafke]

ADR's are all dependent on when you are going and where you want to eat. If you want a character meal at Chef Mickey or Crystal Palace you will more than likely need an ADR.

On our trip last April we were not able to get anything for CM or CP 6 weeks out. We decided last minute to eat dinner in Germany and were able to get a PS 3 or 4 hours out. Ithink that if there is a place that you definitely want to eat at you should make an ADR. I would not count on being able to do a walk up and be seated right away or even within an hour.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Was just sharing my experience...was not saying it was the end all be all

 

[Leota]

I'm glad you had such Good Luck.

I think your experience was unique, however. That was not what we saw happening in either April or August & certainly not the experience I just had booking character meals at peak times for a larger family group & that was 79 days in advance. I wouldn't want any newbies looking to book say Chef Mickey's to think they'll be able to walk up & be seated or have much luck making a last minute AR.


Seating 2 people at off times at less popular restaurants might not be a problem, but for families eating at more popular places at popular times are going to need those ARs.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Wow, that was some great magic! I'm glad it worked out for you, especially with the free dining going on.

Restaurant Marrakesh has always been fairly easy to do as a walk-up; I've never seen it truly crowded, even during festivals (F&W or Flower & Garden). 50's PTC, though, is another story. Getting a table there as a walk-up can be tough at times.

We're going in Nov. and already have all our ADRs in. Just kinda retentive that way.

 

[crisi]

Great Luck! Particularly at 50s Prime Time. I've found "signature" restaurants to be easier to get into (well, some of them, I wouldn't try walking into California Grill at fireworks time). We seldom find them packed (although the smaller ones, like Flying Fish, can get packed).

We've had good luck generally with Marrakesh in the past. I'd suspect its less "empty" than it used to be, but I still think it would be one of the better bets for a walk up. We often have ended up there twice, once with a PS (make sure we get in) and later in the trip as a walk up.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Some people drive down the road at 120MPH and don't get into an accident...but that's not a chance I'm willing to take.

aw:
N.E.D.

 

[Whatatay]

Not needed! Even with the free dining plan most people had! (Well - it wasn't necessary for us to make them 30/60/90/whatever days in advance!)

DH and I (NOT on the dining plan) were able to walk into table services places or make ADR's THAT DAY for table service.

So for those that are going this week or next (prior to F&W fest) and like to "fly by the seat of their pants" like us and not make tons of ADR's...have faith!

Nice to go during the slow part of the year. Try doing this at a more busy time and you wouldn't be saying this. What, no Cinderella's Royal Table? Try going there especially for breakfast without a ADR. Last time I went to WDW five years ago at the slowest time of the year I had an ADR (called priority seating at the time) for lunch and saw one couple after the next turned away because they didn't.

 

[stschaefer]

Two places that were turning away last week were CRT and Chef Mickeys - CRT said they were booked till 9 PM. On the otherhand I saw walk up for San Angel, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Concourse Steakhouse.

 

[dixiedizfan]

Our family of four usually visits WDW during peak season (spring break), and we've always eaten where we wanted with no ADR. For instance, at the Crystal Palace we'd give our name and they'd give us a time to come back, usually never more than a half-hour later. And at Epcot, as soon as World Showcase opens we'll go to the restaurant we want to eat at for lunch or dinner and get a reservation. We were also able to walk right into Marrakesh, Germany and Canada, for dinner.

 

[perdidobay]

Just try getting into anything in Epcot In October without an ADR. ....not gonna happen.

 

[erikthewise]

If you just returned recently, it's no surprise you were able to get seated as a walk-up. Even with the free dining promotion, September is the slowest time of the year. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I prefer to have reservations whether I need them or not. But people who say you ALWAYS need to do it are surely exaggerating. It depends....

 

[eclectics]

I'm very glad I made my ADR's for this trip. We were there 9/4 to 14 and restaurants were all crowded, even Marrakesh had a 60 minute walk up wait the night we were there. I'm sure, however, free dining was the culprit. If we go next September and they don't have the free dining, I will probably wing it also. It's less confining and more fun to choose the same day were you want to eat that night. LeCellier and CRT would probably be the only exceptions and we don't do the character meals anyway so that's not a problem.

 

[heathriel]

Well, for my trip in a month, I just randomly decided this afternoon to call up for a Character breakfast, just because I've never been to one.

All booked except Chef Mickey's, where there was a 7AM and a 10:20AM.

I took the 10:20, just because.

 

[pugdog]

It's is almost impossible to walk into any character meal and be seated without an ADR. Also, places such as LeCellier are fully booked for weeks. It depends on what place you like and where it is located.

When ever we have walked up to any character meal or leCellier we have always gotten in. Yes we do go in december all the time but the crowds are growing at that time. Do I expect to get in if I go in August, NEVER. Crowds do play a big part on if you need ADR's.

 

[Nini]

or extended families, you could do ok. On the other hand, I have been when it was dh and I (before we were married) and we had some difficulty. We are travelling with extended family and have needed to make not one but THREE ADR's just to accomodate us (ie: 4:30, 4:35, 4:40)each time. We total at 16 (9 adults & 7 children). It would be IMPOSSIBLE to go anywhere without a ressie!!!