are ADRs really necessary???

[DisneyJoo2008]

Hi there

I've travelled to Disney about 8-9 times now since I was about 13 (now 28!) and can't really ever remember dining at a theme park / resort restaurant - well we did the counter service / food court places and had lunch in Tony's Town Square Restaurant on our last visit (2004) which we really enjoyed. This year, as it will probably be the last trip we do on our own before my husband and I have kids, I want to add some visits to Restaurants to make it more extra special.

Are the ADR's really neccesary??? We're not planning on masses of places to go; we're thinking Jiko one night (as we're staying 4 nights at AKL) and then maybe somewhere for lunch / dinner in Epcot and then a Character breakfast somewhere.

I suppose I could be a bit naive, but I can't seem to imagine going on holiday for 2 weeks and not being able to eat at any restaurants because they're already full up from ADR's!

I will book them if you think its an absolute must, but my family would like a bit more flexibility - i.e. so we aren't tied to a specific date / time to eat.

Thanks Joo xxx

 

[magicaldisney]

Yes, you really need ADR's. We are also a family who doesn't like to be tied to a specific place due to ADR's, but we are also a family who never gets into any restaurants beacause of it. It's not a big deal for us though and we just eat counter service then. However, if you are trying to make this trip a little more special than you absolutely need to make ADR's.

 

[annie_in_wonderland]

You just never know whether you will have needed them or not, but it is extremely possible that you will be disappointed if you don't make them.

If you don't really care if you get in or not, you can wing it, but if you really want a restaurant or a character meal, you just have to break down and make the ADR.

The restaurants are so much busier than they were a few years back, maybe due to the dining plan? I don't do the dining plan so I don't know much about that, but that is what I've been blaming it on.

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

Hi both

Many thanks for the good advice, I think I will just go ahead and make a couple of reservations. I suppose if our plans do change, we can cancel or try and amend them?

I definitely want to do a character breakfast - is that wrong at 28yrs???!!!

Thanks so much again!
Julie xxx

 

[annie_in_wonderland]

Hi both

Many thanks for the good advice, I think I will just go ahead and make a couple of reservations. I suppose if our plans do change, we can cancel or try and amend them?

I definitely want to do a character breakfast - is that wrong at 28yrs???!!!

Thanks so much again!
Julie xxx

Hi Julie! A character meal is not wrong, it is oh, so right!!! You will have a blast!

THey are easy to cancel. I've canceled 1/2 hour before the ADR. It's more of a queue than a reservation. I mean to say, they are just lining you up and not saving an actual table, so they don't mind cancellations as much as a non Disney restaurant. Make it and change or cancel if it doesn't work out.

Have a great time!!!

 

[dioxide45]

Hi both
I definitely want to do a character breakfast - is that wrong at 28yrs???!!!

Thanks so much again!
Julie xxx

My wife and I did a character dinner, we are in our 30's with no kids. I don't see anything wrong with it. It was a lot of fun.

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

Yes, you really need ADR's. We are also a family who doesn't like to be tied to a specific place due to ADR's, but we are also a family who never gets into any restaurants beacause of it. It's not a big deal for us though and we just eat counter service then. However, if you are trying to make this trip a little more special than you absolutely need to make ADR's.

Same with us. I highly recommend that you have ADR's. After all....You can always call and cancel if your plans change.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

There are restaurants in many parts of WDW that have bars/lounges. You might be able to get yourself a seat in one of those without having ADRs, and they often have full menus. But for Jiko, or a character meal, you should try for an ADR.

 

[magicaldisney]

Since we are not big ADR people, are there any restaurants at WDW that will charge a fee for a cancellation that she should be aware of? I hate to have her make an ADR and cancel and have a fee.

 

[chamonix]

I'm sure others know better than I, but I think California Grill and CRT come to mind as ones that you have to do a prepayment fee when making an ADR. There may be others, but I have not encountered them. I think with CG, if you cancel more than 24 hours ahead they refund the fee....not sure, we eat at CG but never cancel, LOL!!

To the OP, since you are going in June, I would definitely make a few ADRs. I am sure you can decide when to do 1 or 2 meals and it won't ruin your trip not being spontaneous for 2 meals. Just make the Jiko dinner and the character meal for sure.

 

[GeorgeG]

A lot depends on when you go. Major holidays and school breaks can be difficult times to get seated, but not always.

We have gone to Epcot on Christmas day with no ADRs and got seated at Coral Reef and Biergarten within ten minutes. This past Memorial Day was the only time we couldn't get seated, but there was no line at the walk-up for fish and chips at Rose and Crown.

Living an hour away we often go on the spur of the moment and rarely have a problem. We may not always get into our first choice, but there are plenty of choices out there. This past Monday we walked up to Le Cellier and were seated in about ten minutes. It's usually hit and miss, but as long as you're somewhat flexible you'll usually enjoy a good meal.

It doesn't hurt to have ADRs, though, especially for larger groups and for those "must do" restaurants.

 

[Grumpy92]

It really used to be when you went for a visit. But for many of the slower time periods they are now offering the Free dining package program. Oct, the first part of Dec were previously slow time periods when you could easily do walk ins at most of the restaurants. But the last two years during the so called slower times most of the restaurants were booked and they were not taking walkins all because of free dining. So I would recommend ADRs.

 

[fla4fun]

I recommend ADR's for any character meal, for any restaurant that is an absolute must do for your family, and for any hard to get into (like Le Cellier) restaurant.

That being said, I am a spontaneous person. I typically don't make any ADR's at all. I know that there's a chance I'll have to do counter service, but I'm OK with that, especially if it's a solo trip. I've been able to get into some TS as a walk in, even during free dining, by being very flexible. Sometimes you can call the night before, or the morning of, once you know where you're going, and see what's available to avoid last minute disappointment.

 

[npmommie]

I mean to say, they are just lining you up and not saving an actual table, so they don't mind cancellations as much as a non Disney restaurant.

tell that to the person who answered when i called to cancel an adr. my kids were exhausted and there was no way we would make a 6 pm adr back at the park........so i called about 1/2 hr prior to cancel, the person practically scolded me, and I said well I am sure there is someone without an adr that will get in now........and she said " well i hope so"......i felt like i just got my hand slapped.

 

[ReninDetroit]

Definitely make ADRs, but if the parks aren't too terribly crowded, I've usually had good luck walking into restaurants. I called 4 times on our last trip to try and get into Le Cellier; was told it was not only full but overbooked each time for both lunch and dinner on the day we were in Epcot.

So, despite me not having an ADR, I walked up to the restaurant last saturday at about 11:20 (they start seating at 11:30) and just asked kindly if they could squeeze us in. They did, and we didn't even have to wait past the opening time.

So make the reservations, but don't fret if you don't meet them.

 

[annie_in_wonderland]

tell that to the person who answered when i called to cancel an adr. my kids were exhausted and there was no way we would make a 6 pm adr back at the park........so i called about 1/2 hr prior to cancel, the person practically scolded me, and I said well I am sure there is someone without an adr that will get in now........and she said " well i hope so"......i felt like i just got my hand slapped.

Did you call the restaurant or CRO? If you call the restaurant I guess you could get a little attitude but I always call CRO to cancel. They really don't care one way or the other.