Are ADRs as critical for just 2?

[pryncess527]

This probably won't really happen, but I just got it in my head that DH and I might be able to plan a Disney trip for this Fall during Food & Wine. But the 180 day window for ADRs is already open and we won't be able to commit to the trip for at least another month, so I'll be behind in terms of reservations.

Dining will be the central focus of the trip. Of course, we'll have the Food & Wine Festival, but I'd really like us to have many nice table service meals. Does that make it unrealistic of me to try and plan this late? I haven't been to Disney in decades, and I want to make this trip worthwhile, so if we have to wait until 2015 to do it right, I'm okay with that. But I'd also hate to abandon the idea of a trip this fall if I'm making a bigger deal out of ADRs than I need to. . .

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Yes, you need ADR's during F&W because free dining usually falls during that period and it really fills up the restaurants.

However you can make ADR's now and cancel them in a month if you decide not to go.

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

You can still get many good table services. Maybe not Be Our Guest and Cinderella's Royal Table and a few others. But you can still get good ones.

 

[pryncess527]

Yes, you need ADR's during F&W because free dining usually falls during that period and it really fills up the restaurants.

However you can make ADR's now and cancel them in a month if you decide not to go.

But I'd have to book now, right?
DH is reluctant to book, even though we could cancel. I may have to talk him into it though.

Thanks for the quick replies!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

But I'd have to book now, right? DH is reluctant to book, even though we could cancel. I may have to talk him into it though. Thanks for the quick replies!

No, you can book ADR's 180 days in advance even if you haven't booked your resort stay. You just don't get the 180+10 window you get when you have a room booked. (Things I learned on the DIS!)

 

[Simba's Mom]

This probably won't really happen, but I just got it in my head that DH and I might be able to plan a Disney trip for this Fall during Food & Wine. But the 180 day window for ADRs is already open and we won't be able to commit to the trip for at least another month, so I'll be behind in terms of reservations.

Dining will be the central focus of the trip. Of course, we'll have the Food & Wine Festival, but I'd really like us to have many nice table service meals. Does that make it unrealistic of me to try and plan this late? I haven't been to Disney in decades, and I want to make this trip worthwhile, so if we have to wait until 2015 to do it right, I'm okay with that. But I'd also hate to abandon the idea of a trip this fall if I'm making a bigger deal out of ADRs than I need to. . .

DH and I have been going to the F&W festival for 5 years, and we've never made ADRs more than a day in advance. One night we made ADRs for Cape May Cafe dinner 1/2 hour before we ate. I remember waiting in line to see about eating at CP and there was a family of 4 in front of us who were turned away-"We're all full". So then, when it was our turn and I said that "Well we WERE going to see about any availability, but I overheard..." "That was for 4, we do have openings for 2" So I don't think you have to worry.

 

[nealfreakinporter]

We didn't book our trip last year for Oct 26-Nov 1 during Food and Wine Festival, until early September (we were waiting on free dining). Yeah we weren't able to score ADR at places like Be Our Guest for dinner etc, but still got a couple, at places like the Prime Time 50's Cafe etc. Just be diligent about checking, people do cancel (in fact I did on a couple places prior to our trip).

 

[nealfreakinporter]

No, you can book ADR's 180 days in advance even if you haven't booked your resort stay. You just don't get the 180+10 window you get when you have a room booked. (Things I learned on the DIS!)

DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had I known...man I should have been active on these boards prior to my last trip! Sigh. Thanks for the heads up, going forward for the next trip! I'll be able to possibly, just possibly score an ADR for my DW at Be Our Guest for dinner...lunch was incredible though!

 

[pryncess527]

No, you can book ADR's 180 days in advance even if you haven't booked your resort stay. You just don't get the 180+10 window you get when you have a room booked. (Things I learned on the DIS!)

Ahh! that is great to know, I did not realize

thanks for the feedback everyone. Now I'm even more tempted to see if I can get the budget to agree with me.

 

[nealfreakinporter]

Ahh! that is great to know, I did not realize

thanks for the feedback everyone. Now I'm even more tempted to see if I can get the budget to agree with me.

Keep an eye out for Free Dining for fall 2014, if you are at a moderate or deluxe hotel, that offer will probably give you 2 sit down restraunt meals a day, or if a a budget hotel, an offer to upgrade, or at least in the past, that was the deal. I believe even if you've booked, that can be added later, if you call disney, and talk to someone, but someone else may be able to verify that.

 

[brielise]

We usually go with my husband's family and it's 6 of us that need reservations. We never seem to get into the restaurants we really want, even with planning far in advance. We decided to honeymoon at WDW with only about 45 days to plan ADRs so I was a little concerned. But with just the 2 of us, there were very few restaurants we couldn't get, especially if we're flexible with times. We wanted a pre RD for CP, but haven't been able to get that. We were, however, able to score a table at California Grill during Wishes.

I did leave an Epcot day open with no ADRs knowing it's pretty easy to walk up to some of the restaurants, and it wouldn't be the worst thing if we'd have to eat CS.

So, yeah, I think with just 2 people it does make a major difference. During the Food & Wine festival, I'd still at least try to book a little in advance. And like others have said, you can always cancel as long as its 24 hours in advance!

 

[kwdw]

This probably won't really happen, but I just got it in my head that DH and I might be able to plan a Disney trip for this Fall during Food & Wine. But the 180 day window for ADRs is already open and we won't be able to commit to the trip for at least another month, so I'll be behind in terms of reservations.

Dining will be the central focus of the trip. Of course, we'll have the Food & Wine Festival, but I'd really like us to have many nice table service meals. Does that make it unrealistic of me to try and plan this late? I haven't been to Disney in decades, and I want to make this trip worthwhile, so if we have to wait until 2015 to do it right, I'm okay with that. But I'd also hate to abandon the idea of a trip this fall if I'm making a bigger deal out of ADRs than I need to. . .

So, this is plenty far in advance unless you have to get into a handful of restaurants. If you are flexible with the times you eat and wiling to keep trying on and off to see what opens up as people cancel, you'll likely get what you want. Remember, if you start planning and make ADRs now, just cancel if you change your mind. I've never booked 180 in advance, and the only competitive places I did NOT get one time was Be Our Guest for dinner and on one trip, I couldn't get Crystal Palace for breakfast.

And honestly, with F&W, the carts and maybe one of the special meals associated with the festival are better choices than the regular stuff. For me, I could eat for several days from the carts. Well, not on the weekend because the lines are too long.