Can't do ADRs or dining plan

[thebigk]

How hard is it to get into most restaurants without ADR in October? We don't want to make ADRs because we never know what we want to eat from day to day or how hungry will be. We also won't do the dining plan for this reason.

Any tips for when you don't want to do the dining plan or ADRs?

 

[ObsessedwithMickey]

Eat at off times, eat at less frequented restaurants, prepare for the real possibility of many counter service meals...and hope for the best!

 

[ObsessedwithMickey]

Also, though this may draw some fire, make reservations. If you can't keep them or don't want them, just cancel.

 

[rgf207]

If you do not want to make ADR's be prepared to eat counter service. You will have a very hard time getting into TS restaurants without ADR's.

 

[rebecca06261]

Also, though this may draw some fire, make reservations. If you can't keep them or don't want them, just cancel.

Just make sure you DO cancel them, or you may be subject to a $200.00 cancellation charge. They typically won't charge you if you call even an hour in advance or if they're super-duper busy and have guests on stand-by.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just make sure you DO cancel them, or you may be subject to a $200.00 cancellation charge. They typically won't charge you if you call even an hour in advance or if they're super-duper busy and have guests on stand-by.

I think that's only at signature restaurants like the California Grill and Victoria & Alberts where you need to put a desposit down when making the ADR's, so incase your a no show they charge you a lot more or something.

 

[selina4disney]

I hope that was a joke. It is not true.

It is very rude to make ADRs and not keep them or not cancel; there are others that could have used the reservation. But they aren't going to charge you $200. Or 2 cents.

The only time you would be charged is for something that they TELL you there is a cancellation time (often 48 hours) for something like Fantasmic Dinner Package that you have guaranteed with a credit card. Even then it isn't $200. Something you already paid for, I assume you'd lose the whole bit if you didn't cancel. But not ordinary reservations.

Again, I hope that was your attempt at a joke because that kind of misinformation starts big rumors.

 

[LadyOmega]

Just make sure you DO cancel them, or you may be subject to a $200.00 cancellation charge. They typically won't charge you if you call even an hour in advance or if they're super-duper busy and have guests on stand-by.

I don't think that's right. Unless they've majorly changed things since last year, there is no charge for cancelling, or even for just not showing up, except at meals you have put a deposit down on.

Maybe that was a joke I didn't get?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I hope that was a joke. It is not true.

It is very rude to make ADRs and not keep them or not cancel; there are others that could have used the reservation. But they aren't going to charge you $200. Or 2 cents.

The only time you would be charged is for something that they TELL you there is a cancellation time (often 48 hours) for something like Fantasmic Dinner Package that you have guaranteed with a credit card. Even then it isn't $200. Something you already paid for, I assume you'd lose the whole bit if you didn't cancel. But not ordinary reservations.

Again, I hope that was your attempt at a joke because that kind of misinformation starts big rumors.

Actually that was not a joke. I read that for the signature restaurants guests are required to pay a deposit when making the ADR's, however for all other restaurants they don't require one.

there is no charge for cancelling, or even for just not showing up, except at meals you have put a deposit down on.

That's what I was trying to say.

 

[smep013]

I would make an ADR for one or two nights and stick to those as your only reservations.

That way you are assured to get in to two of your favorites.

Then, eat at off times and also consider sitting in bar areas at some restaurants if it's booked when you arrive.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I know there's no cancellation fee for across-the-board signature dining. I've eaten at Bistro, Jiko, Citricos and just booked for Wolgang Puck's "upstairs" fine dining and wasn't asked for a CC for a deposit. I've been eating at Jiko since it opened and ate there as recently as six months ago and have never been asked for a deposit.

Now, I was asked for a CC and told there would be a cancellation fee for V&A -- $25 per person. Certainly not $200. And I had up until 24 hours to cancel with no fee. I just made this reservation and was told this as I was told I would need to leave a CC number.

I've also had to basically pay in advance for CRT. I would imagine there are other packages you might have to completely pay for in advance.

I think one poster was kidding by saying you're charged $200 if you don't show up to your ADRs; another is incorrect by saying signature restaurants guests are required to pay a deposit when making the ADR's, however for all other restaurants they don't require one.

 

[disneymyway]

I don't think that it is a big deal to cancel (as long as you really do cancel) because they aren't reservations like traditional reservations - there is no table being saved for you, just a place in line saved for you. If you cancel, the person behind you just gets his table quicker.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since I was wrong about the signature restaurants mentioned by PlutoLuvr I am sorry. However I can say that on other threads I have read tha a credit card is requried for making ADR's at the California Grill.

 

[disneymyway]

Since I was wrong about the signature restaurants mentioned by PlutoLuvr I am sorry. However I can say that on other threads I have read tha a credit card is requried for making ADR's at the California Grill.

It is, and I think that you get charged $25 a person if you don't cancel or wait too late to cancel (less than 24 hours in advance) -- so it could be $200 if there were 8 of you.

 

[daisy112878]

I went last October for a CPA conference and it all depends on where you want to eat. We saw people getting turned away from Brown Derby, Cali Grill (which does have a cancellation fee of $25/person if you cancel within 48 hours of your adr), and Chefs de France. We got into at the last minute to San Angel Inn and Nine Dragon.

 

[Bev J]

An option is to call disney dining while your at the parks or from your hotel and ask what is available for the time frame you want. It will help to be familar with some of the menus so you know what resturants would interest you. YOu might be surprised what is available perhaps from a cancellation. We were able to get Coral Reef by calling one afternoon from our hotel, we got a 7pm time and were very glad because we had a great meal.
Sometimes lunches are less crowded for a TS. We have seen Garden Grill with lots of open tables at lunch, the more popular resturants you probably won't get in for lunch or dinner, but you never know- call and ask.

Bev

 

[Crystal824]

I would make reservations for a couple of meals...maybe some places you would really like to try. If you decide not to go, call and cancel, but at least you have the option. In March, we had an ADR for one place and decided to change out plans and go to MK that night instead of DTD, we were not able to get into any of the TS resturants in the MK or at the Poly or GF that night. We had hotdogs at Caseys, which turned out really well for us, but just understand without the ADRS you might spend alot of time trying to get into resturants or waiting for a table.

 

[Island Mouse]

I would at least call and see what is available the day of, after you decide where you are going to be/where you want to eat. But as others have said, prepare for the worst, which is being turned away at all restaurants and having to settle for CS.

 

[selina4disney]

Actually that was not a joke. I read that for the signature restaurants guests are required to pay a deposit when making the ADR's, however for all other restaurants they don't require one.

That's what I was trying to say.

Your post was in response to someone asking about ADRs...signature restaurants were not mentioned in the original question, and you didn't say "signature restaurants" in your reply---so it sounded like you meant that ALL ADRs missed, if not canceled, would be subject to a $200 fee. You said:

Just make sure you DO cancel them, or you may be subject to a $200.00 cancellation charge. They typically won't charge you if you call even an hour in advance or if they're super-duper busy and have guests on stand-by.

The way you worded it sounded like they would be charged $200 no matter where they had an ADR they didn't cancel. I really do not mean to be rude, I just don't want to see people afraid to make ADRS because they think they will be charged $200 if they forget to cancel (although I do think they should cancel so someone else can have the reservation).

 

[MickeyNicki]

Nowadays it is really tough but there is some light at the end of the tunnel. We were there last week for 9 days and had breakfast and dinner reservations every day. Two nights DH did not like what I picked so I called the dining line and asked what they had open that night and there was a few things to choose from at pretty good times. We were a walk in at Capt Grille in the YC but right when they opened. We arrived 1 hour or more early for a few ADRs and were seated right away. I booked a Boma breakfast at 7:30 am for 2 days later. It wasnt so bad.

But remember Oct is the Food and Wine time and it will be very busy