Booking dinning?????

[BELLE16127]

How many here Book all your reservations at restaurants BEFORE you get to WDW????? We have done it that way before and then found out that we were doing other things when we had a ressie. We really haven't had a lot of trouble ever eating where we wanted so I guess I was just curious at how many people here do it either way and what your thoughts are about it. We are 36 days out and thinking about all of this stuff now......

 

[disney queen]

we always book before we leave home no matter what time of the year we go!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I always book in advance so I don't have to worry about it when we get there (call me impatient)
I am not sure if free dining is still on when you are going but if it is you may want to consider it.

 

[disney queen]

i added le cellier to our dining in october and there were no dinner times available~only lunch. you might want to consider booking the restaurants you really are wanting. good luck

 

[lillygator]

we always book before we go...

 

[DaisyGirlAllTheWay]

I would like to say I *always* book, but my last time was my first. I booked everything and I made it to all of them. It was nice having the day planned out. My main thing was I didn't want to *not* go somewhere, and regret it when I came home.

 

[nliedel]

I book them as soon as they are available. We are not regimented but we do try to stick to the dinign schedule.

 

[LoveWDW]

We haven't been in 4 years, and the last time we went, we called the first day we were there and got the restaurants that we wanted, being flexible about times. For lunch and some dinners, we walked up when we arrived at the park and were not able to get any times on some of the places we wanted. So this time I made reservations to the places we particularly wanted to try. We ran out of nights, actually, so may try some for lunch. But I don't like to be too restricted - having to be places at certain times twice a day, so we may have to see where we are at lunch time and try for what is nearby.

 

[KathylovesPooh]

We've never booked any ADR's before but then again have done mainly CS. Have gotten into CP twice with no ADR's (early Nov and late Feb).

This trip is different - have four ADR for each of the nights. I have the same concern you do about flexibility especially since one of our days is planned at a water park and who knows if that will be a good day weather wise. You don't have to use the ADR if its inconvient and then you'll take your chances getting into a restaurant of your choice.

By the way, our neighbors go every year at the end of October and always wait until they get down there to make the ADRs. They say it works for them.

 

[sue1013]

For us it depends on time of year. We went at Easter this year so we made sure to have ADR's for each night. Didn't do any for lunch the only place we couldn't get into was Prime Time. We usually do an early December trip and only make them for the weekends or Candelight Processional. During the week in December we've never had a problem getting in where ever we want.

 

[Manon]

Whe booked in june all our meals, and we had to cancel one of them and it was really hard to find something else. For our January trip I will also booked at the 90 days all of our meals!!! That way I'm sure I will eat where I want to!

 

[icebaby]

I had ADRs (at 90 days out in mid-July) before I had a room or flight booked. I was one of the "lucky" WDW lovers who have fallen into the 2-3 week black hole of no discounted AP rates of October (after the 120 day limit and before the 60 day limit). . .so Iwas holding out for a room until about 2 weeks ago. I booked the flights about 1 week before that. My DH was laughing at mein mid-August, saying you have breakfast, lunch and dinner taken care of but no lodging or transportation and we leaving in less than 60 days. .

 

[hegs65]

I think the whole dining thing is a little different now since they introduced the free dining promotion. I think that what you're going to see happen is that alot of the people who have upcoming trips are going to purchase the dining plan after reading the dining reviews because it seems to be a great worry free value. I know I was sold on it after only a few trips reports. I know some people wing it, but I wouldn't take the chance. I feel that the dining is part of the whole WDW experience. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Nikayla]

I actually work in DRC and I always tell guest that it's easier to choose a place to dine and book it than find a place while you're here and try to walk in. Most places you will not be able to walk into if Dis is busy. I tried CP, Sci Fi and Mama Melrose's just to see how easy it really is and each was completely booked.

Besides, it's very easy to cancel if needed.

 

[shondad]

I booked my ADR's before going, made changes several times prior to the trip and changed one reservation the morning of the same day (of that reservation) while on the trip (if that makes any sense?).