booking ADRS if haven't booked room yet

[Rock'n Robin]

We have not officially booked our trip yet--waiting on a big check for DH in the next few weeks. But we are coming up on 180 days next weekend. I can still book my ADRs, right? This is Easter weekend and I want to make sure I get in where we want to--I know I can't use the 180 plus 10 without an official booking. But I for sure want to book Easter dinner (Yachtsman steakhouse, where we've never been before). I am thinking since people who live down there and stay offsite can book at 180 days, I can too.
Our other choices are Kona, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Teppanyaki, and 50s Prime Time. We've been to all of those before (the kids BEG for 50s Prime Time--go figure).
Robin M.

 

[sparmeland]

I made ADRs before our trip was booked for my upcoming trip. I just used my telephone number instead of my reservation number and told them that I wasn't sure where I was staying when they asked. I had no problem.

 

[dioxide45]

You don't need to be staying at a WDW resort to make ADR. So you wouldn't need hotels booked to make ADR since those staying off property wound't have WDW resorts booked either. Those who live in the area can also make ADR, they wouldn't have rooms booked.

 

[conandrob240]

Has anyone heard of a policy that if you don't have a hotel reservation # (or dining plan reservation yet),they require a CC#? A friend said he tried to book a character meal and thye required a credit card payment? He wasn't specific in his e-mail so he may have tried for Cindy's castle but just curious if anyone heard any ne wpolicies on this?

 

[djdavies75]

I made ADRs no problem without a room reservation last month. The voice prompts you hear when calling instruct you to enter a reservation number or a phone number.

Although once upon a time this was not the case, currently there are certain dining experiences that require a credit card deposit (like California Grill) or prepayment (like Cinderella's Royal Table), but that's currently the exception rather than the rule. If you try to book something that requires a deposit, the call center rep will read you a spiel that makes the cancellation policies very clear.

Since people can be very casual about ditching ADRs when there's no penalty, there's talk that a deposit may be required for all venues in the future.

 

[karylrocks]

Since people can be very casual about ditching ADRs when there's no penalty, there's talk that a deposit may be required for all venues in the future.

I was just thinking that this might be a good idea, especially during times when it is so hard to get ADR's (like this month for example). Even if there was just a 24-hour cancellation policy, there would still me more availability for people calling in the morning to get ADR's for that day.