Are ADR's really necessary?

[BriarRosie]

Thank you so much for all the great replies! When we went for our honeymoon 7 years ago we didn't have any reservations and ended up eating wherever we wanted but from reading all the posts I was thinking that had changed! I will definitely be on the internet tonight looking around and on the phone tomorrow!

Thanks again!

That's why it's a big culture shock now. Anything post-2005 is almost mandatory because of the popularity of the Disney Dining Plan. 7 years ago, I would have said that reservations (back then called "Priority Seating") was nice to have, not essential.

Nowadays, I'd echo everyone else's comments about difficulty finding a place to eat at a "normal" time.

 

[NJ2Boardwalk]

I would thinking that spending time walking up to restaurants only to be turned away, sitting on the phone with WDW Dine every morning on vacation or going to the hotel concierge every morning before the parks would be more of a hassle than just trying to call now and see what you can get. Make a few and if you go--you go--if you don't--you don't. At least you have them if you want them!

BUT....If you have an ADR and don't go...please call and cancel as soon as possible so those that are trying to make a last minute ADR or are calling every day to get an ADR may have the spot. Thanks.

 

[disneydiva0729]

The last time I went (with ADRs) ... the only TS restaurants excepting walkins were Sci-Fi @ lunch (@ 11 they were telling ppl to come back @ 3 and then once they checked in it would be 1/2 hr) and not popular resort restaurants. I would make ADRs if I were you.

 

[DizneyDogs]

plus they used to hold 10% of the tables for same day reservations which they no longer do - as I would call each morning and make my reservations and never had any problem getting what I wanted but those days are gone with the implementation of DDP

 

[jersue96]

ADR's are a absolute must if you are dining in disney and I would get on the phone as soon as you get this. I say that because we have made reservations at 120 days in advance when that window of opportunity was open and we still had trouble getting the resturaunts we wanted and the times, sometimes we had to opt out for luch at a table service just to have the choice we wanted, not necessarily the time we wanted to dine there at. We are traveling in August this year and I have a few weeks before my 90 days where I can start making reservations. I plan on doing it the first thing that day! WE have gone into guest services for other reasons and have seen the big sign that lists what resturaunts are available and most are filled, there are just a few that are open and from what I am hearing as I wait that is not where they want to be. Why not make reservations now and save one less stresser on your vacation knowing that your dining plans have been made and that is one thing of the to do list to worry about. Plus you will be able to eat where you want too! Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[floramidge]

We only booked our June holiday to WDW about 3 weeks ago, so phoned up to make our ADR's as soon as we could.

We could not get all of our desired restaurants, but managed to get Yak and Yeti, Brown Derby, Fultons crabhouse. We will be eating off WDW for the rest of our dinners - Kobe, Thai Thani, The Olive Garden etc.

If we had booked earlier, we would have booked more ADR's in WDW. But anyway, we will have a lovely holiday in Florida. Cannot wait to have some sun on my back. Fed up with the horrid rainy British weather!!!