Are ADRs CRITICAL??

[Suzimom]

When we were last at Disney in 2005, we had only one or two ADR's -- and one was made in the morning from our resort for the evening. We ate at many of the fun, popular restaurants without ADRs. I enjoy thinking about which park we'll be at on most days, but I'm not into being thrust into a schedule into which we MUST be here at such and such time each day...not being critical of others, please believe me, my DH and DS are just too into the rides and fun (and so am I) that we don't want food to dictate our days...Is it realistic to think we can still get a reservation for the evening when we call in the morning of our stay (in June?). I think I know my answer before I post this, but I'm checkin' anyway...

 

[Beautybelle43]

Well, I'm not sure how busy June can get, but I think the answer really just depends on you-

Do you care where you eat?
Are you flexible on your meal times?
Is there any place in particular that you really have your heart set on trying?

If you are flexible with your answers, than I'm sure you could wait and see what's available when you get there. Otherwise, you might want to make a few ADR's just to have some under you wing.

Also, don't forget that there are plenty of good CS options, which might be great for you, since it sounds like your first priority is the rides!

We actually prefer CS dinners sometimes. CS in Epcot to us is more fun than choosing a TS, because we love to sit outside and be in the atmosphere at night.

We also like to do at least one night in, where we come back to the resort a bit early, grab a CS dinner at the resort, bring it back to our room, and eat in our pajamas in front of the tv (or last year we watched the animals from our balcony at AKL).

If restaurant choices are not that important to you, I wouldn't worry about the ADR's or maybe just make one or two-you can always cancel if your plans don't fit. You definately won't starve there-LOTS of CS places to choose from wherever you go!

 

[wilde_oscar]

in general... yeah, ADRs are important... the popular places book up quick.

 

[davinakb]

Is it realistic to think we can still get a reservation for the evening when we call in the morning of our stay (in June?)

If you define "evening" as between 5-7, then I'd guess no. It seems like you are a smaller party (3), so you never know. Same day ADRs for the more popular places, popular times, character meals are tough. Park restaurants will be very hard to get, you may have better luck at some of the resorts. Or stick to CS and only do a couple TS. FWIW.

 

[DaParkers]

ADR's are overrated. It's true that most WDW restaurants book up quick, BUT, many of those same restaurants are never full. How can that be? A lot of people simply don't show up. Nice weather and even rainy weather are a couple of reasons people either stay in the parks longer or go to their room earlier. Either way, that's good news for you. And as much as we would like to believe it, a lot of people don't call and cancel. You may not be able to get an ADR the same day, but you will probably have a fairly high success rate if you just show up. I'm speaking from experience. It works. As a matter of fact, it has worked for me EVERY TIME that I've done it. I can't guarantee that you'll bat a 1000, but I think it's worth a try. Enjoy your trip.

 

[auntfrannie]

Hmmmm....I've checked in at restaurants and have heard walk-ups told that there was no availability. I've heard this at Brown Derby, Le Cellier, and others. I guess if your schedule is flexible and you don't have any specific restaurants that you really want to try then you might be able to get something.

 

[tiger4me2]

Well to me making the ADR before hand is important as you never know if the place you want will have any openings. You may get lucky. If you are using the dining plan & can't find a sit down resturant you lose that credit if not used before you leave ;( If I paid for the meal plan I wouldn't give any of them back to Disney. To me it like giving the money back & you lose

But you could be one of the lucky ones & get what you want walking in without a ADR's. It is really up to you. Good luck in what ever you do.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Like auntfrannie, we've seen walk-ups turned away at a # of Signature restaurants. But Daparkers has walked in to a # of restaurants w/o ADR's. SO I guess it just depends on which restaurant, which night, what time, and how many persons eating.
That said we always make ADR"s. We look forward to eating at certain restaurants at specific times and would rather be safe than sorry!

 

[Esmerelda]

When my hubby and I were at the World early last June...we heard folks turned away on 3 different occasions...Prime Time Cafe @ lunchtime...Kona Cafe @dinnertime...and the Turf Club twice at dinnertime...(geez was that place good...yumm yumm)...

Unless you are going at a severely dead time of year (is there truly such a thing there..?)...you should make a few ADR....I have seen many disappointed folks in the last two years.

You can always cancel if you change your mine...

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Well, I think they are if (a) you're buying into the DDP -- no sense in purchasing the DDP in advance, essentially paying for TS you believe you'd enjoy and then having to settle once you arrive because nothing or not much is available; (b) if you don't have a car to get you offsite if there is nothing available.

We only make a couple ADRs when we go, and we often only make them for breakfast or lunch, times we KNOW we'll be in the parks and be hungry. We don't like to be held down to specific dinner times and locations so far in advance, so we've just chosen to change our vacation plans. We always stay off site now and we're close, so we have a car that enables us to enjoy non-WDW restaurants. I mean, I called Melting Pot at 3:30 on a Tuesday afternoon, and they could get us in that night on our last trip. Our options were CS or something after 9:30 on WDW property.

But if I were stuck on WDW property without a car and paid for that DDP months in advance, you bet I'd be making all my ADRs well in advance.

 

[chief19spixi]

If you really want to eat at a certain place.. I would not risk not making a ADR. I have seen several times last year where people show up to a charater dinner and the kids are going away crying cause they got turned away due to the places being booked up by the ADRS.

 

[DaParkers]

I spoke about just walking up, but I want to make this clear. That is NOT my strategy. I always make ADR's. Weird circumstances put me in that position last year.

 

[sherabby]

In August of last year during our stay everyone without a reservation was turned away at every sit down dinner where we had reservations. We also went during non peak times and ate during non peak times.

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree with those that say if you're flexible, don't mind substituting some CS for TS and are not on the DDP, then you should be fine without many/any reservations.

If you're using the DDP, then you're probably tied into making enough TS reservations to cover what you've bought with the plan.

 

[ntsammy5]

If you want to eat at certain restaurants at certain times you'd best served to make ADRs -- however there can be walk ups at even the most popular venues. During free dining a couple of years ago when we were being seated at LeCellier the CM told us she was able to seat 3 walkup parties of 4 just that day -- it does happen. As a PP noted there are people who make ADRs then don't show up for one reason or another.

On our November trip we will be making a few ADRs, but a lot of the time we'll eat offsite. There are some really good places to eat in Orlando that don't involve Disney.

 

[frdeb1999]

June is a fairly busy time. I'd opt for the ressie's just to be on the safe side. I have seen many people who did'nt have them turned away due to them being completely full. And also it depends on what your looking for resturant wise. Some are'nt nearly as popular as others. I guess it all depends on how flexible you are and if your willing to chance things.

 

[Luv4Disney]

The places I've seen walk-ups get turned away from are: Sci-Fi (lunch - told walk-ups booked until 9pm), Le Cellier (obviously), Chefs de France, Mama Melrose, 50's PT, Liberty Tree Tavern, Crystal Palace, and Tony's (sometimes).

 

[jimmalru80]

That said we always make ADR"s. We look forward to eating at certain restaurants at specific times and would rather be safe than sorry!

That's the way we feel. We have always said that if you want to eat WHERE you want to eat and WHEN you want to, then ADR's are essential. We look forward to eating at certain restaurants and always make ADR's.

 

[aldango]

June is a fairly busy time. I'd opt for the ressie's just to be on the safe side. I have seen many people who did'nt have them turned away due to them being completely full. And also it depends on what your looking for resturant wise. Some are'nt nearly as popular as others. I guess it all depends on how flexible you are and if your willing to chance things.

I'd also opt for reservations to be on the safe side. Nothing wrong with making a reservation for somewhere you think you'll be (as long as there's no double booking) and canceling it if you find that you won't be there. If you cancel it, you're in the same position you started in, right?

 

[DaisyLou2]

I would definitely make an ADR for a character meal.
In the past we have just had the hotel make us an ADR for that evening. One time we were in MGM and decided where we would like to eat that night and had Guest Services in the park make the ADR.
But if you don't mind eating at times a little different from the norm you can luck into some seating. We walked up to Sci Fi just after 11:30 am and asked about available tables for lunch and she said she could seat us at 11:45am. The place was empty and we had a great lunch!
But with all this free dining going on I would definitely be making more ADR's than normal. I wouldn't want to be locked out. If I were even going.....
which I'm not.