ADR's necessary if not picky?

[pickle_murphy]

hi everyone!

So, I know there are a million and one threads discussing the necessity of ADRs for table service restaraunts, but unfortunately I was unable to find the answer to my question.

I'm going to disney in a few weeks on the dining plan, and have made no ADRs. If we are not picky as to when we eat (ie... don't mind lunch at 3:30 or dinner at 9), or where we eat, are we ok to just wait until we get there to make plans? Or will we end up not being able to use our table service credits?

thanks, I appreciate your help!

 

[bicker]

As far as I've heard, there is always someplace available somewhere. However, you may find yourself, for example, in the Magic Kingdom, having to take a bus to one of the moderate resorts, not even the resort you're staying at, for dinner. It could take 45 minutes to get there, and then well over an hour to get back to your resort after dinner, by bus, so if you don't have dining reservations be prepared for that.

I think you're better off not doing that to yourself -- you probably won't like not having dining reservations worse than having them.

 

[Tam1067]

I would certainly make ADRs.

I personally saw people turned away from more than one TS place, and if you've got the DDP, you're paying for those meals.

 

[bicker]

The biggest problems are typically encountered at MK, where even in the middle of the off-season by 5PM there often isn't any TS available for the rest of the evening. You basically must leave the park to have a TS meal. It's pretty frustrating if you didn't plan ahead.

 

[Lewisc]

The biggest problems are typically encountered at MK, where even in the middle of the off-season by 5PM there often isn't any TS available for the rest of the evening. You basically must leave the park to have a TS meal. It's pretty frustrating if you didn't plan ahead.

That can be a plus. Most of us think the food in the MK area resorts is better then the food in the MK restaurants.

The rumor is WCC still holds back some tables for walk ups. Get there when it opens. Chef Mickey's might be difficult but Concourse Steakhouse isn't generally that hard.

 

[formernyer]

I think if you check the TS restaurants in the parks as soon as they open, you'll probably find SOMEPLACE in each park that has an open slot at some point during the day. MK will be the hardest park to find a slot, but I'm guessing you could probably find a slot at Tony's (and certainly at The Plaza Restaurant, but I've heard that it's more like a sit-down CS).

MGM and Epcot have enough choices of TS restaurants that you should be able to find a slot someplace.

I'd recommend making ADRs right now and taking whatever is available...certainly better to book a few weeks in advance rather than a few hours.

FWIW, my kids and I planned a last minute 4-day/3night trip in March 2006...I called for my ADRs two weeks before we arrived in Disney and I was able to get ADRs at a few of the more popular restaurants (e.g., 11:30am lunch at Coral Reef, 7:15pm dinner at Crystal Palace, 11:00am lunch at Sci-Fi)