Am I the Only One...?

[Cbarr]

Am I the only person alive that doesn't make ADR's?? In all of our WDW trips we have never once done this. We just eat wherever we happen to be when us or the kids are hungry.

I just started looking into character meals because my DD will be celebrating her 7th birthday during our next trip this Sept. Then I came across this forum and can't help but think I've really been missing out.

So, my questions are:
~what are your reasons for making ADR's? Am I really missing out on something here?
~what would be the best place to take DD for her b-day (provided I can get us in)? I'm thinking a princess lunch in Epcot.

TIA

 

[asmit4]

Do you find TS places that will allow you in without an ADR? I thought it was practically impossible to get a spot at a restaurant without one.

We are going during free dining and the TS places will NOT be accepting walkups. In fact, they are so full that they've made 2 new TS places and opened up Chef Mickey's for lunch to deal with the overflow.

Are you going THIS september? If so, I hate to say this but you are most definately not going to get a seat at a TS place. I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I think you should be prepared I would get on the phone now and hope and pray you can find somewhere to eat. Maybe some people have cancelled.

 

[secretpantssam]

I personally haven't made too many. I used to just go to mostly counter service places. Last February when I went with my parents and sister, I made one reservation at Liberty Tree and then we just walked in to table service restaurants and were seated pretty quickly. I liked having more nice meals.

This September, I'm going during free dining, so I did make a few reservations because I figured the restaurants would be really crowded. But I like to decide what I want to eat that day. Who knows what I'll be in the mood for in a month!

 

[abouley]

We live in CA so go to disneyland a lot and we never make ADR's there except for character meals so the whole ADR thing for us at WDW is quite new. On our first trip we had 4 ADR's. The rest of the time we stressed and searched for places to eat. It was really no fun with 4 hungry kids (2 families) to be in search of food at lunchtime or dinnertime and have huge CS lines and no chance of getting into sit down meals. So, this trip, we have planned at least one TS meal every day. Mostly for lunches since I'm not sure about nap/breaks with our 2 young children but also a few dinners. We'll eat a quick breakfast in our room most days and then plan a large/early lunch. Dinner will be more winging it as I didn't want to feel rushed to be back in the park for a 5 or 6 dinner reservation if naps were running late. I think a lot depends on what you want to eat. I just can't see doing CS for the 10 days we'll be in the parks. I don't really like the idea of being stuck with our days being planned around where we eat but I figure that if we change plans, I'll cancel resos. There are only a few I'd be dead set on making and a few I double booked in case we didn't make it one day, we could go a different day.

As for your daughter....It seems like the princess breakfast at Epcot or in the castle at MK (if you can get lucky and get a reso at Cinderella's Royal Table) would be good options. Otherwise, I don't have a lot of experience with this so not a lot of help!

Alison

 

[MickeyNicki]

I never used to make ADR's until I stumbled on this site. Many moons ago we could make a reservation that day at the park or we would just eat CS somewhere...we were not picky, chicken strips and burgers were fine with us (if there were not TS places available). I never realized the fantastic restaurants at resorts either....but until 6 years ago we stayed offsite.

I make reservations because DH loves a nice sit down breakfast and dinner to start and end the day with. And we are trying to become foodies and try all sorts of different things.

As for the b-day question I think any character meal would be a blast for her....maybe you can order her a special cake?

 

[AJKMOM]

Our next trip, without any Dining Plan, will have 3 ADR's at restaurants where we really wanted to go, and will be celebrating birthdays. I think people who have free dining, or the dining plan where they are paying for a table service meal will need to make those ahead of time. Otherwise, they could either get shut out totally, or have to travel a great deal to eat somewhere thay didn't plan on.

If you have somplace you must eat at, they you need to make a reservation. We usually just eat at the counter service restaurants when we are at a park. Plus, we belong to DVC, so we have breakfast in the room, and lots of snacks and a few other meals there, too.

 

[RMulieri]

Though walk ups at various restaurants throughout the year are not impossible,..During Sept ( Free Dining ) it is highly unlikely you can walk up to a character meal or any other really popular place to eat and get seated.I have seen many many disappointed families with children turned away from restaurants during free dining.Most places will tell you they are booked solid and are not taking any walk ups.I never used to make ressies either, but in the past few years since the dining plan became popular, unless you don't care where ,when, or what you eat you need to book them ahead of time.

 

[Laura]

I made one for my last trip. That was it. Everything else was walk-up or reserved when we knew we'd want to eat at a certain place.

 

[Cbarr]

Are you going THIS september? QUOTE]
Yes, this Sept.

We mostly eat at CS restaurants, but lots of times we have gotten into TS restaurants without reservations. I think what helps is that we usually go to WDW the week after Thanksgiving, one of the slowest times.

Guess I'll give them a call today and see if we get lucky with a character meal for DD. If not, she's not expecting it so no harm done.

 

[asmit4]

Goodluck! I hope it works out for you! I'll send some pixie dust!

 

[Haley]

What's the harm in just calling and trying for a special birthday meal

Most TS places you can cancel anytime, some up to 24 hrs prior. It doesn't hurt to try and not have to waste your vacation time calling dining.

I have friends who tried getting ADR's months ago for Sept and nothing was left.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Do you find TS places that will allow you in without an ADR? I thought it was practically impossible to get a spot at a restaurant without one.

During free dining, I've eaten at GFC, Captain's Grill at the YC, R&C (at lunch), Cape May character breakfast (that one I did make an ADR the night before)and Chef's de France (also lunch) without ADRs. So it IS possible at some places. Note that I wouldn't dream of LeCellier, Boma, CRT, or lots of other popular ones, especially at dinner time.

 

[Cbarr]

Yay!! That was easy...we will be dining with the princesses for lunch on Sept 29th. DD will be thrilled! I'm sure DH and DS won't mind either .

 

[HappyCamper87]

I'm very happy for you and your daughter.

We're eating there for the first time this October.

I hope you have a great trip.

And, regarding your original question, I make one ADR a day for our family so we have a guaranteed sit-down meal each day. We are camping or I would probably make one for Breakfast also.

And, if you find you want a couple more ADRs maybe more will open up the closer to your trip you get.

 

[ThunderMTexpert]

To me, booking an ADR is just safer. For instance: Le Cellier has been a tough one to book I heard, so just to make sure, 180 days before my trip, I booked it for me and my DH! I don't want to risk getting someplace and not having any availablity because we didn't call ahead. The wait times are always shorter, if there is a wait at all!

When traveling with children: I would ALWAYS recommend this. Let's say you get to a restaurant & the child is having a low-sugar melt-down because she's "starrrrving" & they don't have room?

On our last trip, DH and I DID walk into the Sci-Fi hoping they'd have availability, and they did-- lucky for us with only a 15 minute wait! The reason for this was that on Tuesday we went w/ and ADR & he loved it, so on Thursday, he begged to go back!

 

[roxmic]

It is advisible to always have ADR's for any TS. otherwise one of two things is certain to happen, 1. you wont get in at all or 2. you may have to wait much longer than with ADR.
Character dining for 7 year old- Chef Mickey's or the Crystal Palace. The Garden Grill pretty good too.

 

[zackiedawg]

I've never made one. I go to Disney World about 35-45 days a year during many different seasons from the most crowded to the most empty.

I guess I'm not all that picky, which is one thing that helps - I've occasionally had the restaurant I decided to go to be booked and had to go to a backup - but there are so many restaurants in Disney that I never worried and always get a second choice and a good meal.

Another thing that helps is that I tend to eat later than typical prime-time family diners - usually no earlier than 7:30pm and as late as 10pm. So I can usually get into any restaurant in Disney World except in the busiest of seasons.

But to answer your question - no...I've never made an ADR!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I make them if I'm set on wanting a certain spot, but they are NOT necessary to eat at a table service spot. As long as you're flexible

I've walked up many times and been seated within minutes, even during free dining.

That said - I like to plan out my days ahead of time because I'm a planning kind of person, so factoring in food along with it makes sense. But for this trip, I have only made 2 reservations and that may be it. To be honest, off site dining seems much more preferable right now to me so we may just eat at non-Disney spots for the most part. Better food, service, and much much cheaper!

 

[a1tinkfans]

I was one of those that did NOT plan very well during a free dining period years back. I made a reservation for Mexico and then realized that my VERY picky child would not eat anything on menu and despite asking for some help at restaurant was told no go since it was not 24 hour notice. Very UN-disney like actually as there were food allergies ( I asked to remove cheese and they said no??) BUT it was MY error, not there's for not checking (live and learn)
We wandered the world and could not get a sit down ANYWHERE and were quite frustrated. We were staying on site, I called resort, explained situation. There literally was not a SINGLE restaurant to eat at that would sit us before 9-9:30 and it was about 5 at the time. The resort said, come on back and we'll feed you. They were wonderful! We went back to POR, got a table despite a LONG line waiting and felt very lucky indeed.
I PLAN now, one table service per day and just use counter service (where we know he can eat, wherever we happen to be.
I like knowing that we can eat what we want when we want, similar schedule to home and it works for us.
I guess taking chances for my family is/was not worth it.

 

[shane&jakesmom]

I have always made ADR's but in the few instances when we at a certain park,resort, or DTD and just decided to eat there (wing it)I have never been able to get a table without an ADR. How do you do it.