Are ADR's a must?

[modernscarlett]

This will be my first trip since I was a kid, and taking my DD and DH for the first time. We like to plan somewhat, but also just kind of wing it on vacation. I'm afraid that having ADR's will have a negative effect in that we have to be this place, this time, and take away from the relaxation.

BUT, after doing reading here, I'm worried that not having them will make us miss out on some great food!

Pros, cons, please?

Thanks.

Lori

 

[Bob P]

[

Lori, if you have your heart set on eating in a particular place, make an ADR. ADRs are always necessary at the most popular restaurants like CRT, Chef Mickey's , Sci-Fi, Prime Time, Crystal Palace , and Le Cellier.

The downside of the Dining Plan is that the sit-down restaurants are much more crowded than ever, even at the slower times of year.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I made most of my ADR's at 180 days, but added a few more after that.

If you are on the DDP I would go ahead and make an ADR for each day. If you aren't on the plan and don't mind maybe having to settle on CS, I wouldn't worry too much. If you have a restaurant you MUST eat at, then make an ADR for it to avoid disappointment.

 

[JadenLayne]

You didn't mention the dates you are going but if its from now until the end of October I would say YES YES YES YES they are necessary.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

It's hard to just wing it at WDW. There is so much to see and do that some sort of a rough plan is needed. If you could decided what parks on what days, ADRs will fall into place then.

You may want to look at the schedule for extra magic hours and figure out if you want to do them. Also, checking the parade and fireworks times will help. The parks have changing operational hours, too. Based on all that, picking a day to visit each park will not be hard.

There are some really great restaurants at WDW. We always make ADRs for places like Spoodles, Flying Fish, Boma, Chefs de France, Rose and Crown, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Jiko, Mama Melrose, Liberty Tree (lunch) and Kona Cafe. We hate getting turned away or having to wait a long time.

have a wonderful trip!

 

[Anewman]

This will be my first trip since I was a kid, and taking my DD and DH for the first time. We like to plan somewhat, but also just kind of wing it on vacation. I'm afraid that having ADR's will have a negative effect in that we have to be this place, this time, and take away from the relaxation.

BUT, after doing reading here, I'm worried that not having them will make us miss out on some great food!

Pros, cons, please?

Thanks.

Lori

I would not find any relaxation in having to wait 90mins for a table at our THIRD CHOICE restaurant.

I find relaxation in knowing that a table is waiting for me.

 

[modernscarlett]

We're going Thanksgiving week, 11/18-11/25. I know an ADR would be a must for Thanksgiving dinner!

 

[poppinspal]

I booked mine with the idea that if plans changed I'd just roll with it. Of course then I switched the dates that I was going to be at WDW so I just rebooked today. For the most part I had no problem getting the places I wanted. Granted I had to be a little more flexible about the times. I even got a Hoop-Dee-Doo reservation

The only one I couldn't get for a dinner time is Le Cellier. But during the Food and Wine Festival and at such short notice I'm not shocked.

 

[Bob P]

We're going Thanksgiving week, 11/18-11/25. I know an ADR would be a must for Thanksgiving dinner!

If you are going Thanksgiving week, you'll need an ADR for everything. And you might want to make them ASAP because everyone else has had a ten-week head start on you to get their first choices.

 

[ReneeA]

Make ADR's. They will be necessary for that week. We went last year the end of August, and almost all of the restaurants were turning away walk-ups...not even keeping a list for wait times. There just weren't any openings at all.

 

[byoung]

Now more then ever with the dining plan it's a must.

 

[Gradar1]

I would definitely suggest making your reservations for each day. Thanksgiving week is crazy, and everyday is pretty packed! What park will you be in on Thankgiving Day?

 

[travelitis]

I've been to the parks for 2 Thanksgivings. You MUST have an ADR for Turkey Day, and you need to get it yesterday. Mon-Wed the crowds were light last year and in '03. We had ADR's because our group had 10 people both times. Wed. is a little busier, but it's still nice. Thursday is total gridlock in the MK. It's an excellent day to go to AK or maybe MGM. lol! After a particularly festive Thanksgiving Day (CRT, LTT, pirate cruise, and a fireworks cruise) a late lunch at LeCellier the following day was true magic. It was the quiet, mature, calm meal we needed and a definite high point in our dining plan. Last year we had ADR's but didn't use all of them.

The bottom line is that it's better to have the ADR and then cancel than to have nothing and have to change your touring plan to accomodate a restaurant sched. You may get there and be able to make dining changes easily, but you may not.

 

[Meezers]

Better to have the ADR and cancel it...then want the ADR and can't get it!

 

[Eeyore2003]

For that week ADR's are necessary. At least you will have somewhere to eat each day. We make two ADR's a day, one early meal and one later meal. You can ALWAYS change when you're there if you want.

This is not really a good vacation to "wing it" and still be "relaxing". At Disney, if you really want to do some of the more popular things, you should really plan to do them when they are least crowded. Long lines are not relaxing to me. If you don't care what you get in or what you don't get in, or are willing to stand in the long lines, then you can "wing it". If you don't care if you eat counter service vs. sit down, then it's OK too.

One busy week-end last November we were planning on eating at the Food and Wine Festival so I did not have my usual ADR made. Well, Epcot was PACKED and I DO NOT wait in long lines for anything, including meal samples. So we went back to the Beach Club and called Disney dining. There was not one restaurant with an opening for the entire night. This was at 4:00 PM. We ended up going down to the concierge desk and they did get us into Cape May, but we waited 1 1/2 hours. I actually think they gave us a time, but we were more on "stand by". So in the end, I DID end up waiting since it was either that or the snack bar.

 

[kidd_freeper]

Go ahead and make the ADRs.
They are free (almost all of them at least)
If you don't show up on time, it costs you nothing.

or

Eat your meals during off-hours (like 3pm)

===

If you don't wish to plan, you'll end up waiting longer in lines. There are tons of people like that...they are the ones who complain about the long lines.