Are ADRs really needed for a mid-October trip

[QueueCT]

Sounds like they are absolutely required in the summer, holiday weeks, etc, but are they needed during mid-October? I know if it's CRT or V&A the answer is yes, but what about other places such as Flying Fish and Cali Grill? If so, how far in advance are we talking about?

I'm more of a seat of the pants person who makes a dining decision based on how I feel that particular day rather than planning where I'll be 3 months in advance. Thoughts . . . reactions . . . laughter?

 

[Bob P]

With the dining plan it's harder and harder to get walk-up seating at WDW restaurants.

Having said that, if there are any restaurants you have your heart set on, make an ADR. They're free and you can always cancel them later.

Otherwise, if you are flexible with your dining times and don't mind waiting, don't make them, but be aware of the possible consequences!

ADRs are taken 180 days in advance, so people have been making October ADRs for three months already. California Grill is EXTREMELY popular, especially around the time of Wishes.

We have walked into Flying Fish in the past, but that before the dining plan got so popular.

 

[Blondie]

If you want to get into the coveted places like Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, etc. then yes, I suggest an ADR.

I have yet to make an ADR, but we have our big meal of the day at lunch time and we are very flexible. 50's Prime Time, Sci Fi Dine In, Liberty Tree Tavern, Le Cellier, Alfredo's...we've always been able to get a reservation for noon or so that we usually make around 10-11AM or the earliest the restaurant opens.

 

[n2mm]

With the DDP, ADRs are almost always required or "strongly urged" (disney words). We are going Oct. 14-27 and I have almost all of mine. It took me five different days to find an openning at LeCellier and that was with me calling 2 months ago. Resort restraurants still tend to be the easiest to get into, but usually not available for walkins as we found out while staying at the WL in early February this past winter--value season...very slow time of year, and tried to get into WCC for dinner at the last minute. We even checked to see if there were any opennings the remainder of the night and nothing. Good luck.

 

[QueueCT]

n2mm--thanks for the first hand experience on the ADRs for mid-October. Looks like I'll be planning this weekend and calling early next week. I thought it might be tough at the Epcot restaurants with F&W fest but I'll need to cover all the bases.

Blondie--we're pretty flexible at lunch and often skip the meal . . . or replace it with ice cream . . . but dinner is usually an event. It's a shame we can't follow your lunch strategy for dinner!

Bob P--I thought it might be difficult at Cali Grill during Wishes; we'll probably eat a little earlier and hang at the lounge if we want to watch from there

 

[travelitis]

If you are flexible, you can still find some availability during peak season, but it's lean. For instance, when we were there over Memorial Day weekend, we tried to get a sit-down meal on a whim. We could've gotten into 50's PT or The Plaza, but we couldn't get CP. We were looking for one day only (dd's b-day, a Sunday) and didn't ask until that morning around 11:00, so I was suprised to have any options, especially on a holiday weekend. There were places in WS, but we weren't interested in any of those. My dd decided to go the the patisserie in the France pavillion and get a pastry in lieu of a b-day cake. The middle of Oct. should be better, so even though it's good to have ADR's, you might find there is some room for flexibility after you get there.

 

[Hopefully]

We have been in Mid October several times and we always have ADR's Our experience was seeing folks turned away from every WS restaurants we were at every evening.
As others have said, there may be availability for less popular resort restaurants at odd hours, but if you want to eat at any popular restaurant during peak meal times, you will need ADR's.
Mid-October has become much more popular over the past several years. The Food and Wine Festival is very popular and draws crowds. There is also the Funai Golf Classic, the Festival of the Masters, some years Jersey Week falls in here, as well as an overlap with Super Soaps Weekend (maybe late October, early NOvember - not Mid-October). All these events draw crowds.
Have a great trip.

 

[The Sweetness]

If you have no problem with eating counter service instead of TS, or going off-site to eat at a TS, then you will have no problem at all. If you want a TS on WDW property, you should make an ADR, or you will be at risk of being told that the wait is well over an hour, or they just aren't taking walk up diners. The choice is yours.

 

[crisi]

With Food and Wine you won't be able to get into most WS restaurants without an ADR at dinner time, better luck at lunch, but not guarenteed. However, its a great time to be wandering around Epcot unable to get a sit down meal - F&W brings plenty of snacking options.

With MNSSHP going on, you'll have problems on those nights eating near the MK - including options at the MK resort hotels.

Our best luck with walk ins in October have been signature restaurants at first seating and Marrakesh.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I have been in mid October two years in a row and last year we had to cancel some of ADR's due to travelling with my parents who both weren't feeling well some of our days. We were unable to get new ones last minute and had to settle for weird times and a couple of places like Kona Cafe and Marrakesh that weren't as popular or cs. Each trip we go, as the DDP progresses and becomes more popular its getting harder and harder to get last minute ADR's. And mid October is a popular time to go as many schools have fall breaks (like mine) and many people come for F&W and MNSSHP. Those two events pretty much rule out being flexible anywhere in MK or Epcot. Also, the British school system is out and there will be a lot of Brits there as well (stepdad lived in England many years ago and loved having all of those British friends to talk to and thats how I found out about their schools being off).

And as for California Grill, it is hard to hang out in the lounge, seating is at a real premium as that is what everyone is trying to do, watch the fireworks. There is an outdoor observation deck however with a great view, and they pipe the music out there.

 

[hansel1]

As a rule if you really want to eat somewhere you should have an ADR. Likewise if there is a specific time you would like to eat.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

I also suggest ADR'S. We have been there many different month's of the year and have gotten stuck a few times. Like others have said, with the DDP being so popular, it's just not wise to be without ADR'S that you really want. I have had times when I've spent alot of time on the phone at Disney, trying to get into a place to eat and have been out of luck for reasonable times for us. If you are really flexable you may make out okay.