ADRs without DDPs

[bumbershoot]

I don't use the dining plan.

We do eat, and we like eating foods we like. So we generally have one TS per day; can't imagine doing *just* counter service, even though I quite like some counter service. I like to know that we've got something, so I make ADRs. It gives structure to our day and it's the starting point of planning. We like looking forward to that meal (being vegetarian there is generally just ONE meal on any menu, so that's what we look forward to).

 

[mkla2015]

We usually plan for about 1 TS every other day.... but, we usually stay at a DVC resort with a kitchen so we don't HAVE to eat out every single night.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

This is our first trip with the DP and we are having a TS per day. On previous trips, we've only done 1-3 TS meals over a week-long stay.

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

We aren't using the dining plan and have booked 1-2 per day.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We haven't used the dining plan in a long time. We just go back from an 8-day trip, and we made 3 ADRs. We don't like being tied down to them, and we don't mind counter service food. Two of the three days we had an ADR, we were wishing we didn't when it was time to stop doing what we were doing and go eat.

When our kids were little, we were definitely an ADR per day (sometimes 2 ADRs a day) people.

 

[CynBeth]

We have people in our party with food allergies so we pretty much do all TS. We do not do the dining plan but rather get gift cards 3-4 months before the trip using my Disney Visa so if we estimate correctly the food is all paid for and we earn reward points.

 

[sturner324]

We were there last week, no dining plan and we had 5 ADRs over 8 days. One was BOG lunch, so essentially we only had a TS for half our days.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

For us, it depends. We never do the dining plan though since I'm not really a dessert person and at some places I'll just get an appetizer and not an entree. We have a lot of must-do restaurants for us, but then we also want to try something new, so we end up doing more Table Service than we'd like to. We always do T-Rex on arrival day, Sci-Fi dinner at Hollywood Studios, a TS at Epcot, and then Crystal Palace breakfast. So when we usually only have 6 or 7 park days, we have to decide between more park time or deciding a new restaurant. But, we'll always at least have four. My dad really likes having a table service every day, but I am less of a fan.

 

[AJA]

We never use the dining plan and usually book ADR's every other day.

The way we tour now we like the freedom of quick service for about half of our park days. We do have our car onsite so could easily run out for a sit down dinner if we wanted and nothing on property was available last minute.

 

[Nancyg56]

I generally use the DDP and I book TS at least once a day. Even without the DDP I book TS because dining is part of vacation for my family. If you choose to puchase teh DDP I think making ADR's is more important because you want to be sure you use teh plan you bought. Without a DDP, if you want to wing it and make ADR's as you go, there is no pressure. You want to eat and there ae no TS open that ae convenient fo you? No proble, you go to a CS. If you are using the DDP, well, that is another kettle of unused fish. There can be less ue to comp=Moises just to value your plan.

 

[AFwifelife]

The DDP isn't a deal for us so we always pay OOP. This trip I don't have a TS for each day because we prefer to snack and grab food as we find something appetizing. There are a few days that a TS makes sense like on the 4th of July or if there is a restaurant we like to eat at. Mostly though, I'm not a huge fan of TS in the parks and tend to graze.

 

[addiln]

We book one ADR for everday we are on vacation. It tends to be dinner but some days it may be a late lunch depending on what we are planning for the day, We will also book a breakfast fro at least once day on our trip which is normally a nonpark day. Other then that we will just hit a qs for a snack or something quick if we are hungry during the day. I do know some people will book 2 meals a day and then cancel one closer to their trip once the finalize their plans.

 

[AquaDame]

I've only had the dining plan once (for free) otherwise its always OOP.

We were in the habit of doing 2 a day for early park access, but with the cost of the breakfast buffets going up so much that is at an end for us! The only breakfast must do now is Kona for the macadamia pancakes. We do still tend to do sit down dinners though (we all need the break!).