ADRs Necessary for Early December?

[va32h]

When we last went to WDW in December, in 2003, we didn't make any ADRs and it was no problem. We were able to walk into nearly anyplace we wanted to eat, except for Whispering Canyon Cafe. But even then, we were able to book a priority seating for the following night.

But in planning our next trip, I see that folks are making their dining plans six months in advance! Yikes! We are still deciding if we will do Disneyland or WDW in December, I haven't even gotten to the dining plan stage.

Is it really that crowded nowadays? Anyone else go to WDW with no dining plans and still manage to eat before midnight?

 

[shellybaxter]

We went to WDW the first two weeks in December of last year (2005). We had ADRs for all of our meals. Some of the restaurants we went to we would not have gotten into that night without ressies. They included Kona, Brown Derby, 1900 Park Faire and Chef de France. We also heard several walk ups at other restuarants being told they would have an hour to an hour and a half wait.

That being said, we did make some same day and day before changes to our plans. We got a Mama Melrose lunch ADR the day before and were able to change our Raglin Road ADR to a later time the same morning.

I think ADRs are definately more important now than in the past, but I don't think every single one of them has to be made 180 days in advance.

 

[Katy Belle]

We will be there Dec. 11-17 and I just made my ADRs last night. I was able to get everything, most withing 10 min. of my requested time. Le Cellier was already sold out from 6-7, so I took 5:50. I think with the Dining Plan people must eat a TS meal each day, so they are booking them. It would be a drag to be starving and go to a restaurant and find you have an hour wait. I'd book the places you know to be most popular as soon as you've made your decision about your trip.
Katy

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We will be there from December 3-13 and I have already made all our ADR'S. We used to really wing it for ADR"S at certain times of the year, but we don't anymore because we've gotten burned a couple of time and not been able to get in to places we were really looking forward too. Now, I think with the Dining Plan being so popular, I think it's even more important to make all your ADR's as soon as you can. It certainly saves on disappointment for us.

Michele

 

[pugdog]

we go every December and never make any till we are down there. We usally call in the am or go to GS at the resort and make some. We are real flexible about days and times but have always been able to go where we want to.

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

It's your decision , but I would make them early -at least you know you'll have a ressie for somewheres you really enjoy or want to try!

 

[mhelsley]

I think right now with the dinning plan in place you do need to make ADR if you want to do TS. Also this gets even more important to do at Epcot with the added demand of the CP packages. Take out all the above(except CP)and it being early Dec '04 and at 5'oclock i couldn't get in to Le Cellier and the only TB that was available was Japan and Morraco with out ADR. I say book them as they can always be cancelled.

 

[GretchGraham]

We were there last December during the first week and I cannot tell you how many families we saw being turned away from the podiums. We had ressies for all of our dinners, but I spoke with several families who decided to "wing it" and ended up trying multiple places just to get seated. It was particularly bad at EPCOT because of the Candlelight Processional. If you don't want to eat CS or have to try 3 or more restaurants to get seated, please make some ADRs.

 

[AlaskaMOM]

I think it all depends on a couple of things. First how flexible you are with what place and /or time. Second is the size of your party. Two people fit much more easily than 4,5,6 or more would. So if you have must do restaurants and / or a larger party you should at least make 1/2 of your ADR's (and maybe "wing" the rest)

 

[Mermaid02]

We were there last year in the first week of December. We had ADR's for all of our sit down meals and we saw MANY families being turned away and they were usually really mad, and crabbing about "we have to eat counter service for our whole vacation????"

Make at least a FEW ADR's- those places you really want to eat at!

 

[eeyoreiscool]

It seems lately that if you want to eat at a particular place at a given time, then you need to have ADR's. We have been seeing more people turned away because they didn't have any. They weren't too happy about it either.

 

[shellybaxter]

Second is the size of your party. Two people fit much more easily than 4,5,6 or more would.

Being a party of two most of the time at WDW I'm not sure that's true. It appears to me that their are a lot more tables for four at WDW then for two, and the restaurants appear to be holding those four tops for parties of three and four. I rarely get seated at a four top. I've also read several times on this site that people are able to get an ADR for three when ADRs for two aren't available. Couples shoudn't expect that they will be able to walk up because they have a small party.

 

[shruley]

I would for sure make ADRs for early Dec. We were just there in 2005 and made ADRs for everywhere and while we waited for our seats we saw MANY unhappy people with no where to eat! I remember the night we were waiting for our table at Le Cellier (a pretty long wait!) and the number of people *angry* that they were not taking any walk-ups for the entire night. One greeter helped a lady make a phone call to Disney Dining to see what was available and she was not happy to hear her only 2 choices in the World Showcase was Mexico and Morroco (I believe?) I also believe there were no walkups at 'Ohanas and Chef Mickey's the nights we were there. The line waiting for Alredos was insane! When they found out we had an ADR we bypassed this line that stretched through the plaza and actually seated before our ADR time. I was shocked places were so booked so I wouldn't want to chance it, especially if you have your heart set on somewhere... It seems early Dec. just keeps getting busier and my husband would rather go after Xmas next time around!