Can I make ADR before I have booked my package?

[buttons]

My family and I are planning a trip to Disney World in October and this is not our typical time to visit. We are hoping for a free dining package and therefore have not booked our package yet, but I know the dates we will be going. Is it possible for me to book my ADRs before I have booked my package so I don't miss out on some of the places we really would like to eat? Will this make a difference if I already have the ADR booked and then get free dining? Thanks!

 

[Big L.E.E]

You should be able to make dining reservations without having a room. And if free dining is like it was in the past, it's basically just the DDP. So it doesn't have any effect on the ADRs.

Conversely, if you were to book now, and they offer Free dining in the future, you can re-book to take advantage of the free dining. At least, that's what I did a couple years back.

 

[Cafeen]

Dining reservations and Resort reservation are only linked for 2 reasons:
#1 - To verify that you qualify for 180+10 (which is a moot point in your case, since you're within the 180 day window)
#2 - To confirm that an applicable dining plan is associated with the reservation in the case of the pre-paid dining events only (CRT and the 3 dinner shows).

These checks are only done at time of booking* and have no other effect (or are affected by) your resort reservations. You can make reservations without a package, and then book one late. Similarly, you can book a package, make reservations, and then decide to change or cancel the package without affecting the reservations at all.

*Technically, 180+10 is checked at time of search, not at booking, but that's semantics .

 

[purple figment]

You can and should book the dining reservations you're interested in now.

Anyone (including people staying off site and local Orlando residents) can make restaurant reservations once it's 180 days or less from the day they want to be at DW. People have been reserving dates in October since early April.