anyone go 2nd week of Dec 06?

[Whosemom]

We are planning a trip for 12/9-12/15, and wondering if we NEED to book adrs for our table service meals. We were there at that time 5 years ago and it was pretty quiet, but I think that was before they started the whole dining plan thing. We HATE to watch the clock, but we do want to sit down for a quiet meal.

 

[forr2grls]

We were there dec 7-14 last year.We made adr's.Good thing we did.We saw lots of people try to get walk-ins (at the parks mostly)only to be turned away. We were able to make a same day lunch ressie at whispering canyon.If you are planning on a character meal i would definately make an adr,same with the "popular" restaurants-Le Cellier,Boma,etc.

Paula

 

[dburg30]

We were there dec 7-14 last year.We made adr's.Good thing we did.We saw lots of people try to get walk-ins (at the parks mostly)only to be turned away. We were able to make a same day lunch ressie at whispering canyon.If you are planning on a character meal i would definately make an adr,same with the "popular" restaurants-Le Cellier,Boma,etc.

Paula

Other then the dining being a little full on some of them, what were the crowds like?

 

[pumba]

the crowds were not bad but the restaurants were hard to get into. We had a few good meals planned and that was it........Hope you call and get the ones that you want.

 

[dburg30]

the crowds were not bad but the restaurants were hard to get into. We had a few good meals planned and that was it........Hope you call and get the ones that you want.

Cool, I think as more and more folks realize it's better to have ADR's so have a plan where to eat, this will be more the case. Folks that just call up, make trip plans, and just figure, as I can understand you would if you hadnt read boards like these, would just show up blindly thinking it was 'just a theme park' and you'd have no problems finding places to eat..


That's going to be a shock to more and more folks. As others have stated, it's not like you'll starve, but you may get suprised when you cant get into a place you wanted to try.

 

[Aneille]

We went last year during the first 2 weeks of December.

I agree the crowds weren't bad but we still got all our ADR's ahead of time and it appeared that you did need them.

I generally book an ADR for almost everyday, at a time that usually works for us and then play it by ear when we get there. We often end up cancelling 2 or 3 ADR's. It stinks that I feel forced to do that and take ADR's from someone that really would want them but thats they way its worked ever since the dining plan.

I always call up and cancel the ADR's though as soon as we know we will not eating there.

We have never used the dining plan however.

 

[pumba]

we could not get alot of ressies because we planned to late going to disney ....like our next trip was only planned like a month or so ago.....so we are going for almost a week and only have one ressie the night of the halloween party....but being in Disney is better then not being there.....with or without reservations ....alot of good counter service food too

 

[ransom]

We went Dec 8-16 last year. We made our ADRs in late July or early August (I forget which). We had no problem getting the times we wanted ... but we mostly wanted early dinners. But we also had no problem getting an 8 AM ADR for Crystal Palace, and an ADR for California Grill timed with the pre-MVMCP Wishes fireworks display.

But when we were there, we saw plenty of people waiting a long time for dinner who didn't have ADRs. I don't recall seeing anyone turned away, though. But I'd plan lots and lots of time for dinner if I wasn't going to make ADRs, and I'd have a back-up plan for every day for where I'd eat at a CS restaurant if nothing was available.

 

[cremebrulee]

I'm going Dec 7-14 this year and I called about a week ago to make reservations for Coral Reef, and a few of the nights were compeltely booked. So I would suggest making reservations now.

 

[Whosemom]

Aww man, no one said what I wanted to hear!

We do tend to eat around 4. We were even thinking midmorning snack instead of lunch and eat around 2:30 or 3. Does that change anyone's mind?

 

[mumto2]

We're booked from 12/9-15. I made my ADRs at the 180 mark, couldn't get Le Cellier. I tried again for Le Cellier when the Candlelight Processional package opened up and still couldn't get in. Also couldn't get into LTT prior to MVMCP (but did get into Crystal Palace that evening). Other ADRs weren't a major problem, but some did require flexibility, which surprised me given the time of our trip and how far out I made the ADRs. My advice is that if you have any "must dines" on your list to go ahead and make ADRs. If you are on the DDP, you should also consider making ADRs so that you don't end up with TS credits at the end of the trip. If neither of these applies, and you can eat really early, and/or wouldn't mind having to have a counter-service supper, you might be ok.

 

[dburg30]

We're booked from 12/9-15. I made my ADRs at the 180 mark, couldn't get Le Cellier. I tried again for Le Cellier when the Candlelight Processional package opened up and still couldn't get in. Also couldn't get into LTT prior to MVMCP (but did get into Crystal Palace that evening). Other ADRs weren't a major problem, but some did require flexibility, which surprised me given the time of our trip and how far out I made the ADRs. My advice is that if you have any "must dines" on your list to go ahead and make ADRs. If you are on the DDP, you should also consider making ADRs so that you don't end up with TS credits at the end of the trip. If neither of these applies, and you can eat really early, and/or wouldn't mind having to have a counter-service supper, you might be ok.

WOW, when did you try for Le Cellier? I got it for, I admit an earlier dinner before the candlelight processional, for friday the 14th, and I just did that earlier this week.

 

[JennyDrake]

We were there last year the second week and we had two ADRs. We tried day of ADR and walk ups without ANY success. One day we were turned down at 12 places. I am not kidding.

One night crowds at MGM were simply unbelievable--and it wasn't EMH. I mean that place was PACKED. Went back two nights later and almost had the lights all to myself. I would definitely recommend the park hopping option. I was/am used to going the first week in December, and I will say that they crowds were appreciably larger.