ADR's

[jaylensmom]

I'm in the beginning phase of my research for Disney World...I'm planning to get sometime in 2013 and will have a zillions questions I'm sure but the first one is... What's the advantage of the dining plan? Are ADR's different from the dining plan?

 

[partypa]

We enjoy having the Dining Plan. The advantages are that your meals are all paid in advance, you dont need to look at or worry about the budget while looking at the Menus and you can save money, depending of course on your Restaurant choices
You can make ADRs ( advance dining reservations ) whether you have the Dining Plan or not. Depending on the time of year you are going, making ADRs is highly recomended, especially if you have your heart set on any character meals or meals at some of the more Popular Restaurants
Happy Planning

 

[carrie1626]

When I plan ( I like a plan, some quests fly by the seat of their pants) I first start out looking at park hours.
Next I decide what fireworks and parades I have to see.
From there I will determine what ADRs I want to make ( if any).

My last two trips I've had the Free Dining Plan so I made one ADR for everyday.
I did a character breakfast, park TS (alot of lunchtime adr's) and a downtown eatery and a resort dinner buffet working around the park hours, parades and fireworks-perfect

If not for that, I'm sure I'd do more counter service.

If you're bring along children and want to do a Character meal, an ADR is a must.
You wouldn't want to chance it

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I'm in the beginning phase of my research for Disney World...I'm planning to get sometime in 2013 and will have a zillions questions I'm sure but the first one is... What's the advantage of the dining plan? Are ADR's different from the dining plan?

There are 3 Disney Dining Plans:

Quick Service - 2 Counter Service/Fast Food meals, 1 snack per person, per night

Basic/Plus Dining - 1 Table Service/Sit-Down/Character Meal, 1 Counter Service meal and 1 Snack per person, per night

Deluxe Dining - 3 Table Service Meals and 2 Snacks per person, per night

I find that the Quick Service Plan doesn't really save enough money to worry with and the Deluxe Dining, unless you are doing mainly dinner shows and signature (2 credit) meals, is too much money and wastes too much park time. We like the Basic/Plus dining - if you are going to do at least 1 sit-down/table service/character meal per day then it is a money saver. Of course, since the introduced the Free Dining promos a number of years ago, we tend to rotate all of our yearly visits around free dining dates. Here's a link to all the Free Dining Info, Guidelines and Historic Dates:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2771101

ADRs are Advance Dining Reservations. You can make your ADRS 180 days from your check-in date - and this is highly recommended if you want to eat at any sit-down/table service/character meals. Depending on what season you are going in, some of the character meals and popular restaurants can book up at or near the 180 day mark.