Anyone take a trip and NOT make ADRs?

[PAcpl]

In the past I have always made ADRs for DW and myself. On our last trip we went to Cape May Cafe for breakfast and they weren't able to locate our ADRs. Regardless they were able to seat us within 15 minutes. It seemed like it was a little easier for Disney to accommodate us since there aren't as many 2 person parties in Disney as there are families.

We are heading back to Disney in May and I am contemplating not making any ADRs this trip. There are still a number of restaurants that DW and I wan't to check out so we are very flexible as to where we eat. I dont think we are going to have any character meals this trip so that isn't a big deal.

Would it be difficult for DW and I to walk into one of the parks at 4pm and get a reservation for the two of us somewhere? Im sure it wouldn't be a problem in Epcot with all the restaurants, but what about the other parks?

Thanks!

 

[RCMommy]

go and not make ADRs?? not unless I plan on NOT eating while at WDW.....

No seriously, I wouldn't risk it. If you don't make any ADRs and plan on just walk-up you may spend more time sitting waiting then the time it would take you to make a few ressies at the places you would like to dine !

I am not sure if Free dining is available them, don't think so, that would up your chances of being seated quickly but I would still make a few ADRs

 

[tony67]

I did back in March. I was not on the DDP and did not think it would be that busy.

It was and it was difficult to get into any TS restaurant in the parks.
Very few places will take walk ups.
In Epcot all I could get was Mexico, and I am not a fan of Mexico.

If you are going to try to do this I would say try to book something first thing in the morning and check back late afternoon if you did not get what you want.
You may get lucky.

The good news is there are a lot of CS locations in Epcot and the other Parks.
The food is much more then Burgers and Hot Dogs.

There are also places in the Swan and Dolphin that are very good and you can walk in most of the time since they are not on the DDP.
They range from a 1950's style malt shop to Todd English’s Blue Zoo.

 

[sarah4770]

I did in the springtime, and had a lot of fun without being tied down to adrs. We stayed at the yacht club..... had Cape May breakfast, Captains Grill lunch, spoodles pizza, boardwalk bakery, hurricane hannahs... It was great just to eat when you are hungry.

 

[nwontario]

I agree Sarah - I like not being tied down but would really like to try Fultons Crab House so I am thinking of trying to book there. It's just 2 of us. Do you think we could do a walk in for that place ? I will check their website and see... not sure. We're there dec 6-12 and just deciding which theme park to go to on what day is challenge enough !!!

 

[eliza61]

It's the only way we go to Disney. Every time I make an adr, we never seem to keep it and I always forget to cancel the stupid thing.
We don't go during free dining so that's not a problem and I've never been to wdw when absolutely every restaurant was booked.

When I get up in the morning, I ccall the wonderful people at disney dining and they have always, always been able to find me a place to eat. It's actually how I've had some of my best meals and found places like Olivia's or the Yacht clubs galley. that don't get much press here on the dis but serve good food.

I don't do walk ups but I don't think any of the restaurants in the park are that really great anyway.

 

[Pakey]

My husband and I were there last May and did a lot of last minute ADR's without any problem. We just checked with guest services in the park we were at if we were in the mood for a TS meal and had a lot of good luck. It was by far the most relaxing WDW vacation we've ever had without having to run back and forth to make sure we were on time for all of those ADR's. We didn't have our hearts set on any certain places and it was fun picking from the last minute choices.

 

[Sienna]

I'm very interested in the responses. I really don't want to plan a trip around ADRs, but might want a few meals at a sit-down restaurant.

 

[momof2OH]

DH and I will be in WDW in 2 weeks and only have 1 ADR (chef mickeys for breakfast). We don't want this trip to be we have to be here at a certain time kind of trip.

 

[squirrel]

Nope!

I have always made ADR's. Even my first WDW trip in 1999, I booked CRT, Chef Mickey's and Garden Grill. I even remember walking past CRT the morning we were going to eat there and someone was trying to get a walk in. I just shook my head-he should have been on the DisBoards!

 

[TinaMcTeer]

When I went in '06 I did not make ADR's. DH and I were able to eat at lots of TS. Le Cellier, Brown derby were two that I was shocked that they were able to seat us in a matter of a couple minutes. This trip I am not going to even try to go without them. We have a party of 7, so I know that would be hard to get by just walking in.

 

[sarah4770]

I agree Sarah - I like not being tied down but would really like to try Fultons Crab House so I am thinking of trying to book there. It's just 2 of us. Do you think we could do a walk in for that place ? I will check their website and see... not sure. We're there dec 6-12 and just deciding which theme park to go to on what day is challenge enough !!!

I have done a walkup at Fultons twice with no problems. It is not on the dining plan, so I don't think it is as difficult to get in to. One thing you could do, is call for a reservation on the same day you are planning to eat there. Also, I think it should be easy to get into at lunchtime without a reservation.

 

[Luv2Roam]

If I were going during ANY holiday, I would make ADRs. Or be prepared to eat counter service.
Going during the busiest time of the year would not be pretty without ADRs.
I can't believe how busy the parks have been already. This holiday season should be very interesting.
Without ADRs just expect to eat at off times, or search for a place that will accommodate your group. Probably will be a lot of walk up guests being turned away, and signage at Guest Services listing what is/is not available.

One place, which is good, that seems empty a lot when I have been there is Sanaa. But I think it because it is so off the beaten path. But a great place to eat.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

We also do not want to make ADR's for this trip, as we have not been lucky getting ones that fit well into our park schedule and I do not want to sacrifice time in the parks with traveling to various resorts/parks for TS meals. That being said, my family and I went back in 2006, and my Dad tried EVERY morning to get us into a TS restaurant and we had NO LUCK. We ate at RFC twice and ate endless hamburgers and other CS "junk". Needless to say, that has definitely made me fearful NOT to make adr's. HOWEVER, (am I being hypocritical or what?!) I have begun to create a list of places (see my PTR) that are CS or do not accept ADR's. I suggest looking up menus on AllEars and at least having an idea of what kind of food you can be eating if you choose not to make ADRs.

I also wanted to mention that we went to Disney World in late May/early June this year and it was NOT crowded so you would have a better chance of walking in at this "off-season" time.

Good Luck. If you choose not to make adr's I encourage you to do a Dining Review of your experience!

 

[m1tchells]

DH and I do walkups all the time and generally have no problems. Makes it easier to be spontaneous! But if we are traveling with friends/family ...forget it. So our rule is for more than 2....make the ressies.

 

[livie1205]

I just came back this weekend and we did a few walk ups with no problem...whispering canyon, sci fi ,olivias and yak and yeti.We also went 2 hours early to le cellier for our dinner ADR and were seated right away and this was during food and wine fest.

 

[PAcpl]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I am going to make a couple of ADRs, but for the most part keep the trip open. I hate having to cancel a reservation or plan our day around a reservation.

DH and I do walkups all the time and generally have no problems. Makes it easier to be spontaneous! But if we are traveling with friends/family ...forget it. So our rule is for more than 2....make the ressies.

That's what I'm hoping. As soon as you break that 2 person barrier you are at a 4 person table. Its much easier finding a corner to stick the child-less married couple in

 

[tmbcole]

I have always made ADR's. We met a couple in October and they said they were eating most of their dinners in their room because they had no luck finding a table for two for a sit down meal. They said their in-room dining was very costly.

However, I recently read a blog that mentioned Disney is (as a test) holding one or two tables every hour for walk-ups. I don't recall if the blog mentioned specific restaurants, but I might guess that he was referring to table service meals not quick service.

I'm not sure that I would chance it . . . . good luck. If you decide not to make the ADR's, give us an update and let us know how you did.