Chances of being seated without ADR

[dqpowell]

At this point they're going to have a really difficult time getting reservations, and dinner reservations may be impossible. They're going to have to use their table service credits on breakfasts and lunches (and probably at odd times, but that's unavoidable at this point). Then they can use the CS credits on dinners.

David

 

[stephwa]

Ok, I'm confused.... please help!!

I'm going to WDW on 21st July for 2 weeks. Have decided not to do the DDP as we wouldn't make full use of it for the 14 nights as we'll be eating at other places other than Disney. (my parents choice, not mine!)

What's the "free dining" times? And without the DDP do I still need to make reservations for restaurants in WDW (e.g. Boma, Narcoosee's, Teppenyaki...) or can we make them when we arrive?

Reading all these posts, I'm getting so scared!

Thanks

 

[starbox]

Ok, I'm confused.... please help!!

I'm going to WDW on 21st July for 2 weeks. Have decided not to do the DDP as we wouldn't make full use of it for the 14 nights as we'll be eating at other places other than Disney. (my parents choice, not mine!)


Thanks

Make your reservations now. We made ours for that week a month ago and there was limited availibility for dinner at some of our top picks.

 

[DisneyMom5]

If I do lunch using the dining plan instead of dinner I would not get the appitizer option, is this how it works?

Thanks

Nope, TS credits purchase the same things whether it's lunch or dinner. If the restaurant has appetizer options for lunch, you get one.

We mostly did lunch for our TS, and always got appetizers.

Breakfast would not have an appetizer, I would think.

 

[estherhead]

If they just won't listen, can you make them for them? Find out their rough schedule & make them & just tell them to take the paper with the ADR info "just in case"?

 

[clarrkkent79]

At this point they're going to have a really difficult time getting reservations, and dinner reservations may be impossible. They're going to have to use their table service credits on breakfasts and lunches (and probably at odd times, but that's unavoidable at this point). Then they can use the CS credits on dinners.

David

Today I just changed a bunch of ADR's from party of 2 to party of 4 or 7 for the week of 9/4-9/10. Some were easy to change, some weren't. I definitely think it helped that we selected non EMH days to visit MGM. Some examples.

MGM was pretty easy to book for parties of 7 for Prime Time and Mama Melroses at 1:00pm and 6:40pm repsectively. I was surprised.

Ohana's was at 9:00pm (no change, LOL). Whispering Canyon Cafe at 9:00pm (again, no change).

Lunch at Whispering Canyon remained at 1:00pm for 7.

Just some examples of what you'll get NOW, if you book ADR's. My family and I don't mind late ADR's or odd hours, but our group ages range from 18 - 48. So no little ones to cater to nor older folks that generally care.

 

[aubriee]

Hi - my inlaws are going to WDW during free dining end of August. They are a group of 6 traveling together. My DH and I have said over and over that they should really make ADRs for places they want to eat otherwise they are going to eat at crazy times or an undesirable restaurant.

We have given up. What do you guys think? Are they going to have a hard time eating together as a group of 6?

I would think your chances are going to be slim to none and slim just left town. Seriously though, we've gone the last two years during the free dining period and have seen LOTS of people turned away, almost no one was taking walkups. There were lots of very angry, hungry people upset because they couldn't use their dining plan credits.

 

[Rustysmom]

They better make ADRs because I decided to change my ADR to San Angel Inn, which a lot of people don't seem to like and you wouldn't think would be so hard to get, to an earlier time in case we want to go to the P&P party and there was only one time available, so I took it.

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

We made out in April (the friday before easter) before free dining was announced. We made some changes at the end of May and had to take some times we would have not normally taken. We are a party of 10 so that also made things tough. A party of 6 might have a hard time. Then might have to split a 4 and 2. and have better luck

 

[Magic2000]

We're going for July 4th holiday, and I made us one TS ADR each day - just to be sure we got a sit down meal at a decent time.

I would definitely recommend making at least one ADR a day. Last year, the week AFTER Thanksgiving, when we were waiting to be called for our ADR (Chefs de France) for the Candlelight Processional, we saw MANY people turned away - one man said that was the third restaurant they'd been to that was booked. We had a lunch reservation for LeCellier that day, and they were telling people they were booked solid the whole day.

I think its better to be safe than sorry. Again, you can always just cancel if you decide you don't want the ADR after all. But at least you'd have something. JMO

 

[JennyDrake]

They are going to have a hard time eating ANYWHERE regardless of the group size. I was there last year twice during value season and there were NO walk ups to be had ANYWHERE. Yes, I am serious. One day we tried nine restaurants with no luck at all. Make the ADRs or be very happy with counter service.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Chances of being seated without an ADR? On a 0-10 scale, about a 1, and the number creeps closer to 0 with each passing day.

 

[CarolA]

I Then I thought DTD and I tried Planet Hollywood - 10:15 first avail for dinner - I don't think so!!!! Whispering Canyon Cafe - It was after 8 - again...way too late for my kids.

I hope they make them now!!!!

Rumor is Planet Hollywood is not taking ADRs until AFTER 10 PM, so you got an offer of an "early spot"

Now I have often been seated without and ADR, but I don't know if I would try it for every meal with a group of six! A group of one or two......I don't have any problem risking it. (I also don't have any problem getting turned down. I don't do the dining plan. I don't need or want that much food, free or not.. once on the lips.....)

 

[Jynohn]

Another vote for making ADR's ahead of time. We make them for every trip, but on our last visit in May, our flight got in earlier than expected so we tried to get in for dinner at Whispering Canyon. We called at 7PM for a party of three, and were told that there was no availability for the rest of the night.

We were also almost turned away for dinner at Boma the following night, because they couldn't find our ADR in the system and were not accepting walk-ins. But thankfully the CM finally took pity on us and gave us a table anyway.

If we had that much trouble without the free dining going on, I would hate to be one of the poor unfortunate souls trying to get something to eat without ADR's during the busier months...

 

[TJA]

We used to love to wing it while at WDW and not make any ADR's. However, those times are long gone, sad to say. Even in late January/early February of this year, we could not get in to LeCellier for dinner. Now we make our ADR's and then plan each day around where and when we are eating. Too bad it has come to that!

 

[tfc3rid]

Blame the D**ing P**n...

Didn't wanna say it

 

[LISAMWDW]

I remember in my newbie days, being turned away from Le Cellier pre dining plan days also. That said, the restuarants are definitely busier and more popular than they used to be. But the old faves were still hard to get in!