Anyone ever gone ADR-less?

[sunny_]

The IL's went almost ADR-less last year on the free dining. They had an ADR for LeCellier and the Spirit of Aloha show to ensure they got to eat there. They used all of their TS meals, so I assume they got dinners. They had no young children so eating late wasn't a problem for them. They called us one night around 9pm and were having steaks at (I think) Concourse Steak House. If you are flexible, it can be done.

We had 3 little ones last year and even some of our reservations were too late for them (like the 8pm at Le Cellier - not good for the tired kids, screaming and sleeping at the table factor! lol)

Anyway, if you want to do it, it can be done....

I also wanted to add that the IL's have booked their ADR's for this free dining trip!

With free dining (this will be our second) we book ADR's. There are many people on free dining eating at restaurants they normally would not spend the money on (us included) so the TS restaurants are more crowded during free dining. And we want to ensure that we get to try some of the restaurants we never tried before as well!

Have a wonderful trip whatever you decide!!

 

[CPM]

I never make ADR's. I live my life on a schedule, don't want to do it on vacation.
We don't mind eating late, so it's never been a problem.

 

[disney's daughter]

I always make meal reservations....whenever I take my family in February...Nine of us will be going in February 2007...( I even use an EXCEL sheet with the dates, places we are eating and the confirmation numbers )Having said that..I am taking my 13 year old granddaughter, along with my sister, in October ...We only have one reservation and that is at the 50's...I plan to eat at the Wine and Food Festival a few times...and "Counter Service" it the rest of the time....or if we can get into a "sit down" restaurant...we may try it...or if we can't..."So be it"... I would never attempt that with nine of us...but, with just three of us..it just won't be such a big deal....

 

[Blondie]

We have our main meal of the day at lunch time and the only ADR's we've ever made is the day of. For example, we'll be at the MK (or Epcot, etc.) and shortly after park opening we'll go to the restaurant we want to have lunch at and make a lunch time reservation, usually between 11:45 and 12:30. We've never had a problem.

I'd never try it at dinner time though.

 

[DiszyDean]

I think if you are very flexible with when and where you want to eat, you could make it work. People cannot expect not to make reservations and have first choice of location and time. This applies not only to Disneyworld but to any popular eating establishment anywhere.

I found it interesting that someone posted in 2001, without ADRs, they had problems getting in to certain resteraunts and long wait times. I thought all of the dining pain was related directly to the Dining Plan which was not around in 2001?

 

[sunny_]

( I even use an EXCEL sheet with the dates, places we are eating and the confirmation numbers )

I have an Exel spreadsheet too!! Now I have to remember to pack it!

 

[ejhall]

Thanks again for all your opinions and suggestions! There will only be two of us (adults) and we're pretty flexible, so hopefully it won't be too bad!

 

[crisi]

We did it once, in early Febuarary 2002, after 9/11 when travel was down. Family of four with two toddlers who didn't want to be constrained with reservations because who knows when toddlers will want to eat. We arrived with a single ADR (back then - PS).

What a mistake! We were turned away from almost everywhere (good old Marrakesh came through twice) or given waits that wouldn't serve with kids in tow (two plus hours!) A few times I amost ate my hand. I HATE Roaring Forks - because we ended up eating there so often on that trip. I was chicken fingered out. When we caught on to make ADRs, we sat on hold with Dining for twenty minutes - not how I want to spend vacation.