Are reservations need

[banderboo]

This is the first time using the DDP and I was wondering if we need to make reservations if we plan to eat during non-peak times i.e. Lunch before 12 or after 2 and Dinner before 5 or after 8?

I hate trying to figure out what time we will be hungry.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Unfortunately if there are particular restaurants you want to eat at you may still have to make ADR's. There are some places like CRT and LeCellier that will almost always need a reservation even for lunch at non-peak times. You may be able to get away with it if you are very flexible but you may end up being disappointed.

Of course the Dining Plan is changing in 2008 and if that is when you are going then all guesses are null and void. We won't know what the changes will do. A lot of people are saying they won't do the dining plan the new way so MAYBE the restaurants will be a little less crowded.

Also even non-peak times have gotten busier at WDW including the restaurants with the dining plan. It is a pain but we have to accept what is.

 

[ILuvDVC2]

It depends on when you are going and where you want to eat on whether or not you need to make an ADR for these times. We always plan a few ADRs and take our chances on a couple places, too. If you have a specific place you know you want to try, make the ADR once you hit the 180 day mark. It's not worth the heartache if you have your mind set on dining somewhere special and can't get in at all.

 

[septbaby]

make ADRs ASAP...you will be hot, tired, hungry and possibly out of luck without them. If you decide not to keep them call and cancel as soon as you decide.

Based on your e-mail you've already decided when you'll be hungry or eat.
Decide where you'll be (ie. park, resort, etc.) and try to find a convenient place. Here is what we did on our trip 8/30-9/4

8/30 Arrived in afternoon, no park, light late lunch at resort, special meal at 8pm at Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian, it was our event for the day

8/31 Spent morning in MK, took monorails to Epcot for 2pm lunch, made sure we would not be rushed get to Epcot if we got side tracked at MK; turned out we were hungry sooner, showed up early and were seated right away

9/1 started the day with a buffet character breakfast, could go anywhere from there

9/2 buffet dinner close to the park we were in for the afternoon (Animal Kingdom), park closed an hour before our dinner time, so no chance of getting hung up

9/3 wanted to cancel this one as it did interfere with our park activities, but it gave us Fantasmic seating so we kept it, arrived late though

9/4 no ADRs made, used up our remaining CS credits at resort

I hope this gives you some ideas on how to gurantee you'll get a nice meal and still have some good park/resort time; also its not just a meal break, but a rest and AC break too

 

[banderboo]

Thanks for the ideas so far, we'll be going Oct 12 - 16 2007.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Thanks for the ideas so far, we'll be going Oct 12 - 16 2007.

You are leaving in a month and have no ADRs? You need to decide which parks you will be in on which days and call CSO TODAY and just ask them what they have availabale on those days and hopefully they can give you something. You don't want to be wandering around looking for somewhere to eat everyday and being turned a way. That would definetly take away some of the magic. I hope ya'll can get some ADRs and also hope you have a great trip.

 

[ntsammy5]

As an example I'm going for 10 days in early December. I tried making reservations at LeCellier 5 months out and there was not a single opening over a 10 day period for lunch or dinner. Better make ADRs

 

[stitchlover]

Something important to keep in mind...just because you have reservations at a park, as long as you have a hopper pass, you aren't "stuck" in that park all day. We have at least one meal that we plan to be at MK during the morning. We will go back to WL for a swim and to relax. That evening we will pop over to EPCOT for Coral Reef Dinner and then will catch a boat to MGM for EMH. We figure we might spend a total of 2 hours in EPCOT that evening.

 

[ILuvDVC2]

Thanks for the ideas so far, we'll be going Oct 12 - 16 2007.

A lot of the best places are booked during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, so you may have some challenges getting in. I agree with the others that you should call right away and make ADRs where you can so you won't be disappointed.