Am I dreaming?

[I <3 WDW]

I have been reading about the ADR crazieness lately. I am going 9/11-9/18 on the free dining and am only planning on making a few ADRs for harder to get places (ie: Ohana's, HDDR, and try for a Fantasmic). When we went in Sept 04, we had no issues getting in to eat at places.

We do not want anything special and plan on hitting whatever we are near to eat. Am I dreaming that we will be able to do that?

 

[vicki_c]

During free dining, you may not be able to find walkups at any of the table service restaurants. You might get lucky with "off" times or at out of the way, less popular places. It's not like 2004 any more.

If you want to do TS dining, call and make the ADRs. You can always cancel them if you change your mind. If you don't care so much about using up your credits (if you see them as "free"), then take your chances - you can always eat counter service if you can't get TS (I assume you can use TS credits for CS - I've never done the plans).

 

[ExtinctDino]

I have been reading about the ADR crazieness lately. I am going 9/11-9/18 on the free dining and am only planning on making a few ADRs for harder to get places (ie: Ohana's, HDDR, and try for a Fantasmic). When we went in Sept 04, we had no issues getting in to eat at places.

We do not want anything special and plan on hitting whatever we are near to eat. Am I dreaming that we will be able to do that?

To quote Mickey, "some imagination, huh?"

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

You'll be fine. We called in the evening of our 90 day window and got everything we wanted for August. Ohanna, Park Fare, CM. We had to switch the days and some are off times but that is fine. We just work our touring around the times.

Seems to me the people that call at 7:00am exactly are the ones on hold for 2 hours. I know I was one of these people when calling in March for our June trip.

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

If you are on the dining plan....during free dining...you really should make some ADR's.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have been reading about the ADR crazieness lately. I am going 9/11-9/18 on the free dining and am only planning on making a few ADRs for harder to get places (ie: Ohana's, HDDR, and try for a Fantasmic). When we went in Sept 04, we had no issues getting in to eat at places.

We do not want anything special and plan on hitting whatever we are near to eat. Am I dreaming that we will be able to do that?

Did they even HAVE the free dining deal in 04?????

Seriously, if you want to eat Table Service, have an ADR. Otherwise, be prepared to find out if you can convert your TS credits to CS credits. Many people have posted here that the MK and Epcot both had signs up last year during FD saying they had NO openings in the park that day for TS........

 

[KatMark]

We've gone September 1 - 10 the last three years during free dining and EVERY restaurant except Boatwright's and Rose & Crown were turning away walk-ups. I'd make adr's...you can always cancel.

 

[disneynuts777]

If you want a TS during FD you had better make an ADR. The TS places were so packed last year during the end of August that Disney was offering if you traded a TS meal for a CS meal they would give you a voucher for 2 free snacks.
Walk-ups were all being turned away.

 

[ExtinctDino]

Did they even HAVE the free dining deal in 04?????

No. Aug/Sept 2004 was when they had all the hurricanes: Charley, Frances, etc.

Free dining started the next year, Aug/Sept 2005, probably to entice people to come in Aug/Sept despite the hurricane fears.

 

[I <3 WDW]

Wow, thanks for the advice. I will make ADRs some later dinners so we don't miss out.

I know it wont be like 04, but we hate to make set plans. We are more of do what we feel like, when we feel like it family.

 

[MelanieC]

My advise - Make ADR's unless you want to risk not getting to eat. Luck COULD be on your side, or it could be a nightmare. Who wants to waste your TS credits. Make some ADR's and if you can change last minute - good. If not, you have a place to eat. Not worth it in my eyes.

 

[vascubaguy]

I have been reading about the ADR crazieness lately. I am going 9/11-9/18 on the free dining and am only planning on making a few ADRs for harder to get places (ie: Ohana's, HDDR, and try for a Fantasmic). When we went in Sept 04, we had no issues getting in to eat at places.

We do not want anything special and plan on hitting whatever we are near to eat. Am I dreaming that we will be able to do that?

Dining has grown MUCH more complex from 2004. I remember going back then and being able to walk-up whereever, but we were fine waiting 30 minutes for a table.

However, if you don't have an ADR, you might need to plan for a 1+ hour wait (if you don't get turned away). OR, you'll have to wander around to different places to see where you might get a table, which would likely involve getting on a bus and going to a resort to go to places like Olivia's, Boatwrights, etc. If you are in a park, chances of getting a table at a TS in the park would be slim. I did not call at my 90 day mark, it was more like 60 days and almost all ADRs were gone for the restaurants at DHS. I called back this week (we leave next weekend) and now there is nothing unless you eat late at night and split your part (we are a party of 3!).

IMO it's much easier to just make an ADR to have definite plan. I have also found that it is nice to have an ADR at a resort restaurant rather than in the park because you can go directly from a park to the resort and then after dinner go back to the park (or a different park or DTD).

good luck!

 

[mom2rtk]

No. Aug/Sept 2004 was when they had all the hurricanes: Charley, Frances, etc.

Free dining started the next year, Aug/Sept 2005, probably to entice people to come in Aug/Sept despite the hurricane fears.

I completely forgot! We went down in December that year and saw all the horizontal palm trees!

Well, it worked. We'll be there the last week of September into October.....

 

[aliceinwdr]

We were there on Free Dining last year (yes Hurricane season - only it hit my house not Disney) in September.

There were NO walk-ups at any restaurants we tried - my mom had wanted to eat in some places different and we had arrived a day earlier than planned.

We were able to get last minute ADRs at two coffee shops (beaches and Cream and Kona Cafe) for my mom party of two when she didnt eat with us - and we got a last minute at Wolfgang Pucks when we had leftover TS credits.

There was NOTHING in the parks.

Going back during Free Dining this year - and we will book everything again at 90 days.