Are reservations a must?...

[LauraG1]

We're travelling early/mid May...we went before in September and never mad e a dining reservation....now we hear they are "a must". Is this still true in May? I hate to be that tied down to a schedule!
Laura

 

[Mr. Pig]

With more people using the dining plan the table service restaurants have become more crowded. Also there are fewer slow times at WDW due to special activities like Flower & Garden show in May. Add to the fact that people are making reservations 180 days in advance and it just feeds on itself. People get worried and make ADR's so this fills up restaurants. If you are not fussy about where you eat you may not HAVE to make ADR's but if you have your heart set on a particular place and it is a popular place you may be out of luck. It's not like you won't find anywhere to eat.

I don't like being tied down but it is becoming a fact of life for some restaurants at any time of the year.

 

[Callalily6]

Last time I was there we went during off season - so low crowd levels. I made ressies for us and planned everything out. When we got back I found out a family friend also took their family the same week - no ADR. They couldn't use their TS credits. They went to a dinner show to try and use them up, but basically, they couldnt get into anything. Now, if you eat at off hours, it may be possible, but I noticed last time we were there, that is getting tough too. Since the DDP came around it seems like the tables are always full.

 

[TDC Nala]

They are a must at any time and as far out as you can get them if you want a popular restaurant (Le Cellier, CRT, Chef Mickey's, California Grill within 2 hours of the fireworks, possibly Coral Reef). They are probably a very good idea to have prior to your trip if you want character meals or buffets. Anything else I would suggest an ADR one or two days before you want to eat. These may be much more difficult to get if you are traveling at peak attendance seasons or if you want peak mealtimes. Because this is on the dining plan board, I assume you are looking for restaurants that accept the dining plan. I personally try to limit attempts at walk-in dining (no ADR at all) to establishments that don't participate in the dining plan.

 

[LauraG1]

I see the list for the dining plan, but for someone not familiar with Disney, that doesn't tell me how many other places there are not on the plan. Are there a lot?
Laura

 

[TDC Nala]

Not on the dining plan but on WDW property:

Any restaurant at the Swan/Dolphin

Any restaurant at Shades of Green

Downtown Disney TS:
Portobello Yacht Club
Fulton's
Rainforest Cafe
Bongos
Wolfgang Puck's Dining Room (upstairs; not the cafe - they take it)
House of Blues

Epcot TS:
Bistro de Paris

Animal Kingdom TS (at the park but outside the gates):
Rainforest Cafe

Grand Floridian:
Victoria and Albert's

 

[septbaby]

We're travelling early/mid May...we went before in September and never mad e a dining reservation....now we hear they are "a must". Is this still true in May? I hate to be that tied down to a schedule!
Laura

If you chose places that aren't just a meal, but an experience you want to have it won't feel like you're tied down, but rather something you look forward to. For us we had ADRs ahead of time and cancelled one on site (too full and wanted some pool time).

Arrival night - Narcoossee's with Wishes and Electric Water parade (non park day)

Day 2 - Coral Reef lunch (couldn't get a dinner ADR), loved the tanks and as it turned out we were inside during a rain storm; had been at MK since 8am so it was great to have such a nice TS lunch break

Day 3 - Chef Mickey's late bfast, we slept in after a Pirate and Princess night

Day 4 - CS bfast, AK and Boma dinner after the park closed

Day 5 - Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic pkg, had it not been for Fantasmic I would have cancelled this ADR as we were enjoying MK that day

Hope you get some fun and delicious ADRs!

 

[KorieDWnut]

We're travelling early/mid May...we went before in September and never mad e a dining reservation....now we hear they are "a must". Is this still true in May? I hate to be that tied down to a schedule!
Laura

I had always felt the same way until my last trip. I now look at eating at the Disney restaurants like going to an attraction. I don't look at it as if I am just going to eat, I am going for the experience. Most of the restaurants are fun and if you go to a character meal, which I swear were rare when I was little but now they are everywhere, it is interactive, more than just eating.

So I don't mind doing some planning in order to have a table available for me and my family.

 

[minniekissedme]

think of it just like a fast pass!

We were there in last month and I know of two occasions where I saw people turned away w/o ressies...

We enjoy the great food at the TS restaurants. If the ressie is all you have to worry about, I'd say it's a good vacation.