ADRs? What?

[PigletFairy]

How far in advanced do people make reservations? We are going in september and are still figuring out where to stay! I am new to staying in a WDW resort and extremely new to the DDP. Please help me I want to make our late honeymoon as special as possible!

 

[MomofCKJ]

You can make them 180 days in advance. With the free dining in September I would recommend making them as soon as you know where you want to eat. The restaurants will be busy at that time and you want to make sure you have a place at the restauarants you have selected.

Allyson

 

[kaylie&laurensmom]

WOW - there is so much information to share!! Welcome to the DIS! You will find out so much here.

I'm not sure what your budget is; but for resort choices I would recommend:

Value - POP Century (newest, dedicated bus service (doesn't share with other resorts), great theming for the decades)

Moderate - Coronado Springs (newest, best pool of the mods, great long slide, Pepper Market great value for your dining credits, varied theming - Ranchos, Casitas, & Cabanas, dedicated bus service; check on the CSR frequently asked questions thread on the resort forum and you will see a lot of posts from Buzz2001 - he has a link to his wonderful website)

Deluxe - Polynesian (monorail, Hawaiian theme, great restaurants)

OK - now for your dining question. The free dining plan is going on in September (please book soon before your resort choice is booked up for this offer!!!) and resort guests can book 180 days before their check-in date. There will be a LOT of people doing this, so YES, make your reservations NOW ASAP QUICK!!!! The most popular restaurants will be booking up fast. I just tried to change a reservation for 4 people to 6 people for the Liberty Tree Tavern on 9/29 and they were already completely booked!

Some of our favorite restaurants are - 'OHana, 50's Prime Time, Le Cellier, Kona Cafe, & San Angel. You probably will want to try at least one signature dining experience since you're on your Honeymoon! The most recommended for this (that I've read) are California Grill, Yachtsman's Steakhouse, & Artist Point.

I'm not sure what other questions or information you need, but please check out Deb's site (wealth of info) - www.allearsnet.com and feel free to PM me if you want! I also HIGHLY recommend Tour Guide Mike - well worth your $18.95 if just for the least crowded parks charts. His site is wonderful and is FULL of great info.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[mking624]

My DH & I are going September 10-14, and we just called for our ADRs this morning and got everything we wanted for the times we wanted. We were able to start calling last month, but we weren't expecting to go until I heard about the free dining a couple of weeks ago. I would recommend calling for your ADRs soon.

And welcome to DIS!

 

[WDWorBUST]

I would definitely get on them soon - last year the parks were busier than usual (so it seemed to me for that time frame) but where I really noticed it was the sit down restaurants. But you aren't too late by any means now. I have added a couple since our "window" to make them first opened and haven't had any problems at all.

 

[DeterminedOne]

We're going in September. I made all the ADR's a month ago.

 

[PigletFairy]

WOW you guys are great! we had made up our mind about the CSR and i asked my parents about it too and it turns out dad went to a conferance there ( and didnt take me!!! ) and he said it was great! my travel agent hasnt called me and only got the free dining tip YESTERDAY! so what we usually do is have a heavy meal at 2-3 pm and snack the rest of the day (we are strange i know ) so may be it wont be tooo crowded at the time ***wishful thinking*** any suggestions on mgm dining? it will be my first time there! thanks a lot!

 

[WDWorBUST]

You'll get a lot of mixed reviews on it but we like the Sci-Fi for eating at MGM. The food isn't anything to write home about - all I've ever had was the burgers and they're okay - but the experience is so fun. It's so cheesy and you can just be goofy and have a good time. It's something DH enjoyed when it was just the two of us and that we have enjoyed now with our DD. If you want more upscale I've heard the Hollywood Brown Derby is REALLY good (the food there is too fancy for this simple girl's tastes) and Mama Melroses is nice - I have ate there and although I wasn't impressed it wasn't bad.

 

[mking624]

If you want more upscale I've heard the Hollywood Brown Derby is REALLY good (the food there is too fancy for this simple girl's tastes)

I've eaten at Brown Derby at there's some pretty simplistic stuff...i.e. salads, steak & potatoes (which my DH & I had), etc. A fancier name doesn't necessarily mean it's gourmet food...just my tip of the day.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

If you want to see and participate in some nuttiness try the 50's Prime Time at the Disney Studios. Everyone there is your cousin and "Mom" makes all the meals. Actually the food is very good with large portions. The wait staff pick on the guests for having their elbows on the table and things like that. If you are REALLY bad they make you stand up and sing a song.
If you just want to watch and not participate don't worry. We are in this category and the wait staff seems to be able to pick out the people who do and don't want to participate. My DS (15) teases them by holding his elbows just a little bit above the table to get a rise out of them. It's a lot of fun.

 

[mainewmn]

We are going in September 15-20 and I made my ADR’s last night, I get every one I wanted but I had to move my time by 10 minutes at LeCellier and 20 at Boma. I was fine with that, but I'm glad I booked them now. This past January I didn't book them till early December and got everyone I wanted but I would not do that this September as the free DDP is very popular.

 

[awesomepinktink]

Do I need hotel reservations before I can make my ADR's? Going in Dec. Have the plane tickets just nothing else yet .

 

[bicker]

You need Disney resort hotel reservations only to take advantage of 180+10, which allows you to make reservations a small number of days earlier than normal (180 days prior to your check-in date). Everyone can make ADRs 180 days prior to the date of the meal.