Brand New Here w/ Dining Plan Question

[madge]

Listen closely. If you are willing to eat early, you do NOT need ADRs. I didn't have them last October, and I won't be having them this October. We had zero problems last year. Walked straight in to several TS restaurants.

there is one obvious difference between this year and last year:

FREE. DINING.

We have visited WDW the first week of October every year since 1998 (except 2001, when our was born). This is the first year I have called requesting PS and been told there is nothing available at all (for that particular restaurant) for the entire week of our trip. nothing. no early, lunch, or late....nothing. It has been terribly frustrating, and quite the opposite of the experiences I have had in the past.

 

[deltachi8]

I was in the world for 5 nights aug 24-29 and we made ADRs for 5 table service meals. To be honest, the only place that was telling walk ups of a very liong wait or nothing available was the Sci-Fi on our first night (8/24) for dinner.

Other than that, people were getting seated with little problem.

 

[LiteBrite]

I was in the world for 5 nights aug 24-29 and we made ADRs for 5 table service meals. To be honest, the only place that was telling walk ups of a very liong wait or nothing available was the Sci-Fi on our first night (8/24) for dinner.

Other than that, people were getting seated with little problem.

I'll be there the first week in October, and I very much hope that things will be like that for us, too.

*However*, I have made ADRs for the all the places I want to eat, because things do seem to be filling up thanks to free dining, and I figure, what could it hurt for me to have them made? If I want to change my plans last minute, I won't have lost anything by having the plan in the first place. I really can't figure out why anyone would want to go into this free dining season without ADRs made, since there's no penalty for cancelling them at the last minute. This way, if it turns out that it really is hard to get into restaurants, I'm covered.

 

[madge]

This way, if it turns out that it really is hard to get into restaurants, I'm covered.

Exactly.

I have 3 places that are on our list of "must-do" places. I wanted to be sure that I have set PS for CRT, PSB, and the Crystal Palace before MNSSHP. Other than that, I have seating for places, just in case we need them....

Maybe it's because we are a party of 5....I'm not sure....it's been challenging to get seatings at a lot of places.