Can anyone eat this much?

[DiszyDean]

I was a little confused with the OP's original question at first but I think he has explained himself somewhat.

I am not sure why people would want to discourage this person from eating a TS breakfast and dinner daily if that is what they want to do. Just because *most* people do not do that (and most may not be accurate, better to say most DISers) does not make it wrong. He knows it will be a lot of food and he knows he will have to pay OOP for one of those meals daily.

AND...If he wants to do that, he really should make ADRs at those places. If he decides at some point in the day that he cannot or chooses not to attend one of those ADRs, he should cancel. There is nothing wrong with that by the way. I can tell you if we are not too hungry because we decided to get a turkey leg, dole whip or other snack while on our vacation, I would not force the family to eat a big sit-down meal just because we had reservations. We would cancel and do something else.

Let people plan and enjoy their own vacations, their way and everyone else do the same...

 

[Laura]

I think it sounded like people were a little upset was because they WEREN'T sure if the OP was going to be eating a TS for lunch then another TS for dinner. Yes he certainly could eat light at one and enjoy the other. But I think a lot of people just weren't sure if he would decide to cancel at the last minute or not. And also that he mentioned he will be paying OOP for some TS makes it more understandable of what he is doing.

Well, see below. And who is always 100% sure that they'll keep to all of their ADRs? I guess I'm the only one who understood the OP right off the bat.

im sorry, dont get mad but i think it is selfish to make an ADR that you might not use cause you ate a turkey leg but you want to make sure you have one in case you dont eat a turkey leg. all that does is keep someone else from eating in this time slot. you must understand its not like there are lots of ADRS, often certain places are booked up 3 months in advance heck ive called 120 days out and not gotten in to certain places. it really irratates me that i might not be able to eat where i want because some guy made an ADR just in case he did not get full on hot dogs and turkey legs then does and does not show up for his ADR. oh and there is not a craze to book everything because of the dining plan. its because people need to eat and there is a zillion people there and not a zillion seats to be had.

Many many times I've seen people post that they make ADRs so they'll be sure they have somewhere to eat dinner every day on the DDP. If they decide otherwise, they say they'll cancel. This is the same thing, IMHO. There are so many reasons why someone won't keep an ADR, and is everyone selfish who thinks it's too hot for a big dinner or were surprised by the size of the ginormous turkey legs and therefore cancels an ADR? If they cancel, someone else can get in. It's inconsiderate only if people don't cancel.

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

So my wife has been booking two and somtimes three meals a day just to have a reservation and were thinking that if we are not hungry we just will cancel it why we are down there.

Tell your wife to re think her plans and cancel unwanted ADRs BEFORE YOU GET TO WDW. There are thousands of other people trying to use their free dining plans and can't find places to eat. Your cancellations BEFORE YOU GET TO WDW will be much appreciated!!!!!!

 

[DVCtinkerbell]

I wish I had a crystal ball as some of the posters here may have.

OP-have fun planning! Sounds like your trip is as thought out as can be expected.

 

[allyphoe]

If they cancel, someone else can get in. It's inconsiderate only if people don't cancel.

As I understand it, Disney overbooks ADRs, because a certain percentage of people will either cancel at the last minute or just no-show. For the more popular locations, a same-day cancellation will *not* allow someone else to get in, either as a walk-in or with a same-day ADR. Whereas a several-months-out cancellation will open a spot for someone else to make an ADR.

 

[Philagoofy]

As I understand it, Disney overbooks ADRs, because a certain percentage of people will either cancel at the last minute or just no-show. For the more popular locations, a same-day cancellation will *not* allow someone else to get in, either as a walk-in or with a same-day ADR. Whereas a several-months-out cancellation will open a spot for someone else to make an ADR.

In this scenario, a table would remain empty until the time for the next reservation? I think they'd fill up tables with those waiting with their ADR's & if there's an open one available, a walk-up family would use it.

Where did everyone eat before ADR? Especially when there were fewer restaurants to choose from. I'm one of the few who found it a little weird to know exactly where I'm going to be and when I'm going to be hungry months from now.

Also, some people have medical conditions, that try as they might, aren't so well regulated and they have to eat something quickly or suffer. I doubt that anyone is starving in Disney World. I understand how it's your vacation and you want to eat at certain places but it won't be the end of the world if you have to find alternate places to eat. Of couse I can say this cause I've already made some ADR's.

 

[Laura]

As I understand it, Disney overbooks ADRs, because a certain percentage of people will either cancel at the last minute or just no-show. For the more popular locations, a same-day cancellation will *not* allow someone else to get in, either as a walk-in or with a same-day ADR. Whereas a several-months-out cancellation will open a spot for someone else to make an ADR.

So people are supposed to go to the restaurant even if they don't feel like it so as to not be selfish?

 

[allyphoe]

In this scenario, a table would remain empty until the time for the next reservation?

I've seen trip reports where people were turned away from empty tables on the grounds the restaurant was fully booked, so I wouldn't exclude that as a possibility. More likely, the restaurant will still be overbooked, so someone else will have a shorter wait and the last seating will either be emptier or earlier.

WRT where did everyone eat before - CS. Pre-DDP, there was much, much less demand for TS meals.

I've got my ADRs for our upcoming trip, so it's not that I'm worried that anyone is going to keep me from eating. And I've already said that I couldn't care less if someone made ADRs for multiple meals as long as they intended to eat them. But if someone were to overbook their ADRs, IMHO there's no redeeming virtue in last-minute cancellations.

 

[allyphoe]

So people are supposed to go to the restaurant even if they don't feel like it so as to not be selfish?

That isn't really less-selfish, either. But there seems to be a belief that cancelling at the last minute as opposed to no-showing is a virtuous act, allowing someone else to take your place. And AFAICT, the two are exactly the same in end effect.

 

[Laura]

That isn't really less-selfish, either. But there seems to be a belief that cancelling at the last minute as opposed to no-showing is a virtuous act, allowing someone else to take your place. And AFAICT, the two are exactly the same in end effect.

But you've said this is regards to the more popular locations that overbook, that for them it won't make a difference. I suppose I don't see your point. Are they all popular locations that overbook? And how long in advance is it okay to cancel an ADR so someone gets it? A week? A month? A day? When does it re-enter the system?

The whole must-get-ADR issue is really wacky to me. I've never gone on vacation anywhere and had to make more than one or two reservations before I left, and mostly those were at really high-end places or dinner shows that gave you better seats the earlier you book. I made one ADR before our last WDW trip and the rest were made onsite. We had no problems.

 

[allyphoe]

I suppose I don't see your point.

You said "It's inconsiderate only if people don't cancel." My point is that a same-day cancellation is no more or less inconsiderate than no-showing. If the restaurant is so popular that they overbook, no one else will be able to use the ADR you cancel, any more than they could use it if you no-showed. If the restaurant has lots of availability, they'd take walk-ups either way.

 

[Laura]

You said "It's inconsiderate only if people don't cancel." My point is that a same-day cancellation is no more or less inconsiderate than no-showing. If the restaurant is so popular that they overbook, no one else will be able to use the ADR you cancel, any more than they could use it if you no-showed. If the restaurant has lots of availability, they'd take walk-ups either way.

But how is someone supposed to know it won't make a difference? You didn't answer any of my questions about how ADRs go back into the system, and when/where it would make a difference to cancel. So I'm supposing even you--a DISer in the know--can't say for sure. So how does the average WDW visitor know? They don't. Thus, the considerate thing to do is to cancel, the inconsiderate thing is not to.

It's ridiculous to berate people for making 2TS ADRs in one day for different meals because nobody ever knows for sure if they'll make it to them all or not. All we can do is try to keep other visitors in mind. But having a breakfast ADR and a dinner ADR isn't selfish at all, particularly if one has the intent to use them.

 

[allshookup]

It is definitely wise to cancel a TS lunch if you think you'll be doing a TS dinner. That gets to be way too much food, especially in the Florida heat. TS breakfast and TS dinner is different, naturally.

And you're not required to order an appetizer and an entree and a dessert at every meal on the DDP, you can just order an entree.


ETA: I don't know why some people are so angry that the OP wants to make ADRs for all these meals. Some people want to eat that many TS meals. As long as someone is not double-booking two restaurants for the same meal, it shouldn't matter to anyone. If I want to, I am able to make ADRs for every single meal of the day for my next trip. And I don't think people should be getting on my back for it. Maybe I'll just order an appetizer for dinner, what's it to anyone else?

I just had to respond to this, because you are correct you are not required to order app, entree, & dessert at every meal on the DDP, but keep in mind that the waitstaff receives their gratuity on what you order & I found a few of them to be quite pushy about ordering as much you possibly could so they in turn receive a bigger tip. Especially at Spoodles where the waiter insisted we add scallops to our meal, he asked the kids to order smoothies & when my DS ordered the kid's pizza, the waiter said the adult three cheese was much better & he would bring that. I told him no that my DS would not eat that, but guess what....he brought it anyway. The whole situation just made us uncomfortable & one of the reasons we ended up hating Spoodles & another reason why we don't purchase the DDP. I felt guilty if I didn't order everything & then I ended up feeling guilty because we wasted so much food.

I understand if the OP wants to pay OOP for an extra sit-down meal everyday, if that's what they choose to do on their vacation. I just hope the OP realizes just how much food you get even at a CS location. They are by no means "snacks". There were times DH & I or the kids would share a CS meal because we didn't feel like eating so much. We ended up having a few CS credits left over. We are definitely not light-weights & ended up being too much food for us. But if the OP understands this & still wants to pay OOP for a sit down meal eveyday, then to each his own I say. Enjoy!

 

[cncDisney4]

I know it seems a little odd to have to decide what you'll want to eat months in advance. But really it's not. Just decide which park you'll want to be at on each day of your trip. Then, look at which restaurants are either in that park or close by and decide which one you'd like to try. I actually find that planning my meals helps focus the day so you're not asking "so what do we do now?"

Remember, you only get 1 TS credit for every NIGHT of your stay. So a 6 day/5 night trip only gets you 5 TS meals. Please do not make multiple reservations for each day. That is part of the reason it's become so get get an ADR, people don't plan and just make

I totally agree. We do the same thing. I figure out what park we will be at or what activity we will be doing on that day and book accordingly. I have never double booked ADR's since it is just not a fair thing to do. We usually go to WDW twice a year and now know that you must book your ADR's - usually at the 180 day window to get some of the more popular ones (Le Cellier).

To me it is very simple to plan our itinerary and once you have that then it is just a matter of deciding what TS meal you would want that day. My DH and I had a TS Character Breakfast in the morning and a TS dinner ADR for the evening and then the next day just ate two CS meals ... you can mix it up however you want. That is what we liked about the plan ... plus paying for it all up front was great. We won't get the DDP again since it was alot of food, but the concept was great and we're glad we tried it.

I think the days are gone of "just flying by the seat of our pants" and planning as we get there. You just aren't able to do that very well anymore and get a TS restaurant ADR. Personally, I've never vacationed that way ... I love the planning part ... already have the December trip planned.

Whoops: I completely forgot about the poll. I voted "other" since my DH and I really enjoyed the Cape May character breakfast. Loved the quieter atmosphere and the bright costumes of the characters. Our 2nd fav would be Chef Mickey's - definitely not quieter but alot of fun!