Are reservations a necessity?

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I haven't been to WDW in about 4 years, when I went it was with my parents, and I remember walking right into a couple of restaurants without reservations (the sci-fi drive in comes to mind). I think we may have gone in March during spring break time. I am planning a trip for the second week in December, are reservations for most restaurants going to be an absolute necessity? Or could I probably get into most places, especially if I try to eat around 2 or 3 in the afternoon?

 

[KatMark]

Even without the free dining plan at that time, with the popularity of some restaurants, I would suggest you make reservations for those that are heavily populated no matter what time of the year. When we were at LeCellier, Liberty Tree Tavern and Plaza Restaurant last week, we saw many, many people turned away who did not have reservations.

 

[ZoZo]

If you don't make some ADRs well before you arrive, you might be stuck with restaurants you don't want (or just CS meals). I think of ADRs as a "necessary evil." If you don't make them, you'll probably be sorry. Think of it this way: if you have ADRs and decide not to use them, you can always cancel them. But you can't make them appear out of thin air if you haven't made any in advance!

(FYI, I'm leaving in 3 weeks and called a few days ago to make a dinner reservation at Kona for the night of our arrival. Mind you, this will not be during free dining. The earliest dinner ADR I could make was 8:55 pm. Ugh. By the time you order and get your food, it's after 9:30 - not my favorite time of day to eat a big meal!)

 

[audisight]

Make ADRs. If you don't you will have a very hard time eating at places you really want. Even the 2 and 3 o'clock lunch times are full at most restaurants.

 

[odd1]

It depends on the restaurant. Le Cellier -- ADRs are absolutely necessary (unless you get lucky); Spoodles -- probably not. Which is interesting, because our meal at Spoodles far outshined our meal at Le Cellier when we were there in March.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

If there are places that you definately want to eat at, then you need to make reservations. If you don't really care and could go anywhere or even settle for Coutner service if all Table service places are full, then you probably don't need them.

 

[G's mommy]

December has become a popular time to travel, the early part of the month is much busier than it used to be. I would definitely make some ADR's if you want dinner times or if you are wanting any character meals or headline restaurants.

 

[Laura]

We were able to walk into restaurants or make ADRs on short notice during our last trip. We were a party of 2, and it was late April/early May last year. I made one ADR beforehand, and we were able to get in anywhere we wanted for dinner and breakfast while in WDW. (But then, we weren't going for breakfast with Cinderella or trying to get into Le Cellier.) I would say if there's one place you have your heart set on, make an ADR, and wing the rest. That's only if you're not on the DDP--if you are, you may want to think about making ADRs so you don't lose your table service credits.



Go Bucks!

 

[Pakey]

We were there last year during the second week of December. I'm anal and had all of my ADR's ahead of time. But I do remember being at MGM on Saturday and the CM's were out front of both Sci-Fi and Prime Time announcing over and over that if you did not have ADR's they would not have seating at any time that day. I don't remember during the week if things were that bad; I just remember MGM because I was so shocked that CM's were outside announcing it.