Crazy? My family has no ADR's for the first few days of free dining

[DumboDash2006]

DD and I are going with my mom, sister and nephew next week. I've made ADR's for the 9-13th. However dd and are flying home the 14th. They are staying two and half more days and haven't made ADR's despite my reminders. I thought they did a few weeks ago but found out today they didn't. They say they are winging it.

Do they have any chance at all or will it be counter service all the way lol? We do have the dining plan, but it's not free since we're checking in a few days before it starts.

 

[bluejasmine]

Oh honey I would make ADRS like now! Especially since you paid for the DDP! It would be such a waste to not be able to use the TS credits and thats where you get your moneys worth! I have watched too many times while ppl get turned away from TS places because they have no ADR..

 

[disneysailor]

I would definitely make at least tentative ADR's. We are going the week of August 20-27 and when I just tried to change a couple things around, some of the restaurants were full for the entire day. I was able to get what I wanted but only after calling and recalling until something opened up. At least if you have a back up plan, if you decide on a different restaurant while you are there and they have an opening you can just cancel your back up. It's better than getting there and not having anything available ESPECIALLY when you have prepaid! Good luck!!

 

[LadyOmega]

MAKE THE ADR'S!!!!
Seriously, I'm not yelling, just trying to put emphasis on it. They really need to get that taken care of. They will be lucky if they are able to find much of anything right now, let alone the things they really want. The restaurants absolutely will not hesitate to turn people away who don't have ressies if they are full up with people. There are NO, repeat, NO tables set aside for walk-ins. That is not to say that they couldn't walk in some place. But, it will end up being one of 2 things if they do that: 1. they will be turned away, or 2. they will be waiting a reeeaaaallly long time for a table. So they really need to try and make some plans ASAP.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

My family thought I was crazy for making ADRs last trip. They were certain we wouldn't need them for places like SciFi, for instance. When we got there, they were turning people away without ADRs...and that wasnt even during the free dining!!

I would hurry and call...

 

[Lynne M]

Oh, absolutely, make the ADRs NOW. The TS restaurants are going to be jam-packed during free dining, and most of the restaurants are turning away folks who don't have an ADR. It would be awful to have the dining plan and not be able to use your TS credits!

Good luck with the ADRs, and enjoy your trip!

 

[Crazy Kanga]

We saw a poor family of 4 get turned away from LeCellier on Memorial Day weekend, so they called Disney Dining from the phone near the podium and they said there was no TS to be had anywhere in Epcot that night. Winging it is a thing of the past now I think unless you are there during a very slow time and if you are very flexible on where and when you eat.

 

[DumboDash2006]

Ugh, that's what I was afraid of.

Well, dd and I are fine, I made them for all the days we are there and the rest along with us. So they will eat good those days at least. After that, it's up to them. I will try once more to convince them to at least make some tentative ADR's, so they at least have something.

My mom was telling me surely they don't reserve all the tables and she just knows they will have some set aside for those that don't have ADR's. I tried to convince her....

 

[dixiedizfan]

Well if worse comes to worse, remind them they can probably be able to get into places offsite, such as Shutters, Boatwrights or Maya Grill. Better than letting TS's go to waste.

 

[familydisney]

In my opinion, some of Disney's best dining experiences are off-site. Ohana, Kona Cafe, Maya Grill, Concourse SteakHouse, 1900 Park Fair, are all great restaurants. Just call Disney dining every day while you are there. hey will get cancellations and you can slip in. They have a special line for people who are within 1 week of the reservation.

 

[aubriee]

I wouldn't bet on it. I made ADRs for two people, then had to call last month to add another person. Because we went from a two person topper to a four person topper we had to cancel and rebook all of our ADRs. We were able to get them all within a fairly close time of the old ones (except of all places Whispering Canyon). I've been calling several times a week trying to get the Whispering Canyon ADR changed to three people, but thus far have not been successful.

When we were there last Sept during the free dining time there were alot of restaraunts turning away all walkups. This past May we saw people turned away at Crystal Palace, Hollywood & Vine, Sci Fi, Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's, 'Ohannas, and 1900 Park Fair.