Back from WDW and have a comment about ADRs

[Beca]

Wow this is all so confusing and frustrating. May I just vent for a minute? We are planning our first trip to WDW. We didn't know we'd be going until my husband's deployment "shedule" firmed up a bit. Once I realized we may be able to go to WDW, I started trying to plan this trip. Of course, deployments change... He was originally deployed to Tampa but then onto Qatar... anyway, I had less than two months to plan this from scratch (still no guarantee we can make it), having never been or even researched WDW. Trying to make dinner arrangements is almost impossible! I don't really know a better system for Disney to try but it can be really discouraging to us newbies. I was able to get ADRs for Bistro de Paris since it doesn't take ADRs until 30 days prior and am VERY excited about that.

OK now that I vented, I am so excited about our trip and I'm sure we'll have a fabulous time but I wish they'd reserve more restaurants or sections of restaurants for say like that 30 day point.

I understand your frustration completely. I took about a 10yr break from WDW (poor college student, grad student, and then young married family with LOTS of student loans to pay off....no money for pretty much ANYTHING!!). When I stopped going in the mid-eighties, dinner reservations at EPCOT were made via tv screen just underneath SSE. All ressies had to be made the day of. When I planned my first trip back in 2000, I ran to "talk to the people on the tv"....well, I guess you can realize MY surprise when everything was GONE!! Not only that, but we were there over July 4th weekend....hmmm....we didn't get ressies ANYWHERE!

The best I can say about this....you never make that same mistake twice. For you, that might mean making ressies that you will then cancel if your weeks change....but, planning is so important.

Unfortunately for you, the dining plan has certainly made getting ressies harder. It is working for WDW...people are eating on property more, but flexibility is suffering.

I would suggest that you memorize the dining number, and start calling daily about 1 week out. Keep calling during your trip, and I bet you will get some ADRs.

Good luck!!



Beca

 

[TammyJ]

Thanks, Scottwdw, I'm copying your recommendations for counter service to my itinerary right now. I appreciate the advice. I checked out your website too. I sure wish I would have had more time to plan. We intend to go again in a few years and I will certainly try to plan farther in advance!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Like so many other things at Disney, I think a lot of it just comes down to which CM you are dealing with at the time.

It's not just the CMs, but also the restaurants, too. Some Disney restaurants tend to be more accommodating than others. 50's PTC, Le Cellier, LTT, Chef Mickeys among others tend to be very popular and less accommodating to walk-ups than others.

While I don't necessarily like planning where we will eat 90 or now 180 days in advance, we make ADRs anyway, just to have them. We make some changes like nearly everyone does, but we would never think of going to WDW without ADRs. They're sort of a necessary evil.

 

[Scottwdw]

Thanks, Scottwdw, I'm copying your recommendations for counter service to my itinerary right now. I appreciate the advice. I checked out your website too. I sure wish I would have had more time to plan. We intend to go again in a few years and I will certainly try to plan farther in advance!

You are most welecome. The fun of a WDW vacation is the wonderful theming of alll the parks, resorts and restaurants. Don't forget, many resorts have wonderful restaurants too which are easy to get to from the parks which may not be as full.

Have a great time!