Any Season When ADRs Are Not Needed?

[AntePrincess]

We like to go to WDW during its least crowded times, so I'm wondering if ADRs are really necessary or if we'd have as much luck just walking up to places in the down season plus the added flexibility of not having to make reservations. Does anyone have much experience with this?

 

[ElizabethG]

We like to go to WDW during its least crowded times, so I'm wondering if ADRs are really necessary or if we'd have as much luck just walking up to places in the down season plus the added flexibility of not having to make reservations. Does anyone have much experience with this?

It depends on the restaurant. Some restaurants book up no matter what. Character meals, BOG, and Ohana book up for sure. But, if you don't care where you eat, you should be able to find something.

Now, the above is not true if free dining is offered. September is a low travel season, but free dining will cause many ADRs to be made.

 

[AntePrincess]

Thanks, ElizabethG. I just wanted to make sure while I'm way back in my pre-planning planning.

 

[OhThePain]

If you are not picky about what time you eat or what restaurant you eat at, you can find some place for a TS meal. In the past when we didn't plan anything for a day or 2, as we got hungry I would look on my smartphone to see what had availability within the next hour or so. This kept our day free to plan whatever but also assured us to have a TS meal and to try restaurants we would have normally overlooked. You can also check with guest services at any of the parks or the concierge desk at your resort, both of which can see what is available.

 

[fla4fun]

If you are not picky about what time you eat or what restaurant you eat at, you can find some place for a TS meal. In the past when we didn't plan anything for a day or 2, as we got hungry I would look on my smartphone to see what had availability within the next hour or so. This kept our day free to plan whatever but also assured us to have a TS meal and to try restaurants we would have normally overlooked. You can also check with guest services at any of the parks or the concierge desk at your resort, both of which can see what is available.

I would agree with this. I like to be spontaneous and I don't usually know what park I'm going to until I see what bus shows up first! But especially now that I can just go online from my iPod, I just log into dining after passing through the turnstiles to see if anything looks interesting for that day.

I would also agree that September is pretty much focused on dining. Sometimes they don't even uncover the fastpass machines because there isn't enough demand. Everyone is so busy running from ADR to ADR that the rides are all walk ons!

 

[bella2117]

I would agree with this. I like to be spontaneous and I don't usually know what park I'm going to until I see what bus shows up first! But especially now that I can just go online from my iPod, I just log into dining after passing through the turnstiles to see if anything looks interesting for that day.

I would also agree that September is pretty much focused on dining. Sometimes they don't even uncover the fastpass machines because there isn't enough demand. Everyone is so busy running from ADR to ADR that the rides are all walk ons!

Haha the last sentence made me literally lol because I'm picturing people running around like crazy from restaurant to restaurant! I hope it's like that...we are going the last week of September so the least crowded the better!

 

[AntePrincess]

Thanks guys! Guess I'll just suck it up and make reservations. It seems less daunting to plan ahead since I've followed advice elsewhere on the board to adopt some basic touring plan outlines from EasyWDW, but remind me not to go in September if it's so hectic! At that pace I'll never get into Le Cellier.