Are ADRs during a "slow" time necessary?

[iheartgoofy]

We'll be at WDW in mid-Sept, which I know is a typically less-crowded time of year. I really hate to make reservations ahead of time, because who knows what park we'll be in on any given day and who knows where we'll feel like having dinner. (It's just two of us, both adults.)

Is it possible to just head on down with no ADRs, and maybe make reservations each morning for where we'll have dinner that night?

Or is it still strongly suggested to just suck it up and plan ahead? Either way is fine, I'd just prefer the more "play it by ear" mode if possible.

(We're not really looking for any "special" dining like LeCellier, which I know would probably REALLY need an ADR. Just the usual ol' places... some in the parks, some at DTD, some at resorts.)

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

You will probably be able to get some. Plaza, biergarten, coral reef and San angel I have had luck with those without ADRs. It is free dining during that time, so even the QS places will be busy though.

HTH!

 

[TDC Nala]

"Slow" attendance times in the parks generally mean free dining, mid-September is right in the middle of free dining. Yes, they're probably necessary if there's free dining. Definitely necessary if you want one of the ultrapopular places or character dining.

 

[iheartgoofy]

It's actually 2 weeks before the free dining starts. (Which made me wonder if I MIGHT be ok w/out reservations)

 

[smitch425]

It's actually 2 weeks before the free dining starts. (Which made me wonder if I MIGHT be ok w/out reservations)

There IS free dining during that time. It is the Aug/Sept FD offer, not the current Oct/Nov/Dec FD offer. I would make ADRs for the places you really want, and then be prepared to have a backup plan in place.

 

[figment_jii]

As the PPs have said, it really depends on how much you want to eat at a specific place and at a specific time. If you're not fussy about where and when you eat, then you should be able to find something available. Usually, non-character resort restaurants are less busy than the parks (especially the moderates), so those are your best bet. Epcot is usually the easiest park to find a "walk-up" or "day-of" because it has so many options.

On the flip side, I have had pretty good luck with "day of" or "day before of" ADRs. Usually I look for 8 pm-ish dinners and things come up. So you might be able to get by without ADRs, but you have to be flexible.

 

[wdwfan22]

Yep, definitely free dining going on then. Sorry. I have been reading a lot on the dining boards, and checking reservations for a day or two out from right now to try and figure this out, but it looks like the good thing about having to guarantee signature/character dining options is that people now cancel so they are not charged instead of just not showing up. Some of those cancellations happen a day or two prior.

There are a couple places I really want that I check for 5 times a day for the last month and can't find, but I am really hoping to be able to get them once I am there.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's actually 2 weeks before the free dining starts. (Which made me wonder if I MIGHT be ok w/out reservations)

That's the current free dining offer - the one that just expired in May included all of September. So yes, there'll be guests on free dining while you are there. If you want meals in the parks or character dining anywhere you are probably not going to get them without reservations, at least not without a long wait. If you're good with DTD or outlying resorts you might be able to get some walkups, perhaps not at peak mealtimes in some places.

 

[purple figment]

If there's any character meals or restaurants you especially want, it's best to make a reservation, espcially in the MK, AK or DHS where there aren't a lot of TS restaurants. If you're willing to eat at off hours, travel to a resort or try places you hadn't considered, there will always be some place available.

Although we make most of our reservations in advance, we've had fairly good luck getting reservations once we've arrived at DW when our plans change. Just like us I think people cancel or change their plans once they're at DW so places seem to open up at the last minute. Highly desireable reservations, such as 'Ohana were still hard to get, but I was surprised at what was available.

 

[maxiesmom]

You can eat sit down meals at WDW without making reservations. However, it will probably mean you need to eat at off times, or need to do a bit of traveling to get to the restaurant.

For example, the Magic Kingdom is very limited as far as sit down restaurants go. However, you could try and eat at any of the resorts in the area--The Poly, The Contemporary, The Grand Floridian, or the Wilderness Lodge. Doing so will take a bit of time out of your day to travel to and from the resort you choose.

If your family won't be upset about eating counter service for most if not all of their meals, or eating at off times or having to leave the parks for your meal, then you don't have to make ADRs. But if you like to eat when most everyone else likes to eat and don't want to hassle leaving the parks, then ADRs are pretty necessary.

 

[sabcook]

Make the reservations. Spontenaity is a whole lot less fun when you are tired and hungry and can't find a place to eat.

 

[makingplans4WDW]

Make the reservations. Spontenaity is a whole lot less fun when you are tired and hungry and can't find a place to eat.

True that!

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I would make reservations. There really is no "slow time" at disney anymore and only the less popular restaurants MAY have availability. Its better to have an ADR than go crazy walking around looking for somewhere to eat.