are reservations necessary?

[lersxst]

How necessary is it to make advanced reservations? does this depend on the restaurant and time of day or do you usually need reservations for all restaurants and times?

Is it possible to make reservations online somehow or do they have to be made by phone?

thanks.

 

[Allison]

ADR's have to be made by phone.

It is much harder to walk up to a restaurant and get a table than it used to be. Many people take advantage of the dining plan which does a good job of filling the restaurants.

That being said there are several factors to consider:

Are you willing to be flexible as to the time and places you eat?
Are you going to be upset if you don't get into a specific restaurant?
How are crowds during the time you are going?
Do you have children in your party to take into consideration that won't be able to wait 2 hours for a table or won't want to walk around to find an open restaurant?
Are you on the dining plan and will want to make sure you use the credits you pay for?

 

[Luv4Disney]

I would definitely recommend it. You don't want to look forward to a restaurant and then get turned away at the door. It would be disappointing. I tried to make an ADR on November 10 at LeCellier and they were booked, now this is not a busy time, but I know that it is Jersey Week. Luckily we got it at a different date, but DF would've been heartbroken. LoL. So yeah, I'd make them!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Definately recommend it. Even during our September trip...when the parks are dead...we noticed that the restaurants were always packed (mostly due to free dining I'm sure). The night we were at CP...it was a 2 hr wait to get in w/o ADRs. Who wants to wait 2 hrs for dinner when you could be exploring the parks?!?!

 

[Heironymous]

I would strongly recommend them. The DDP has made things that much harder to get into a TS restaurant via walk up, even in the slower seasons.

If you are making them on your own, you need to call Disney. If you are using a TA, they can usually make them for you.

It pays to be prepared, since your time is very valuable once you are at the parks. The worst case scenario is if you make an ADR and don't want to go, you can easily cancel it.

 

[Karnak]

As most everyone posting on here has advised ...

CALL AND MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR THE MEALS YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE,
NO MATTER THE DATE YOU ARE GOING TO WDW, OR THE TIME OF DAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO EAT.

Otherwise, expect to be disapointed.

Enjoy.

 

[lersxst]

Thanks for the recommendations.

How efficient is the phone reservations system? Is it a quick call or is it one of those: for... press 1, for... press 2, ... please wait on the line and someone will be with you shortly...

The reason I ask this is that I am located outside of the U.S. and to me it would be an international long-distance call to make the reservation. If they keep me on the line for 10 minutes or more, it probably is not worth it.

Thanks.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Thanks for the recommendations.

How efficient is the phone reservations system? Is it a quick call or is it one of those: for... press 1, for... press 2, ... please wait on the line and someone will be with you shortly...

The reason I ask this is that I am located outside of the U.S. and to me it would be an international long-distance call to make the reservation. If they keep me on the line for 10 minutes or more, it probably is not worth it.

Thanks.

It really depends on the time of day and everything. Sometimes you could be on hold for a while (once I waited 15 minutes) and other times you get right through. It's a gamble unfortunately. If you're having issues with getting through right away, you can PM me and tell me what you want when, if you'd accept another time etc. and I could make them for you since we pay one rate per month anywhere in the US. Then I could just PM you back with all the ressie #'s and times. I'd be happy to help!

 

[littleelvis]

We went in Feb and the parks were dead no lines no waiting but needed our ARD's. Lines were very long for TS restaurants.

 

[lersxst]

If you're having issues with getting through right away, you can PM me and tell me what you want when, if you'd accept another time etc. and I could make them for you since we pay one rate per month anywhere in the US. Then I could just PM you back with all the ressie #'s and times. I'd be happy to help!

Wow! Thanks Luv4Disney! That is very nice of you!
I might accept your offer to help with this if I do find that I don't get a quick response on the reservations line. I'll let you know.
Thanks again. Very well appreciated.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Wow! Thanks Luv4Disney! That is very nice of you!
I might accept your offer to help with this if I do find that I don't get a quick response on the reservations line. I'll let you know.
Thanks again. Very well appreciated.

No problem! Let me know!