DDP Reservations

[Wibess]

We am going in May and are trying to weigh out the whether to use the DDP or not. It is suggested that you make reservations, but it is difficult to know before you get there exactly where you will want to eat.
We were there in Feb. 06, and could not get dinner reservations anywhere! We did get reservations on morning for breakfast at Whispering Canyons and when we got there it was not crowded at all.
Also are there any menu exemptions or do you the full menu available to you on the DDP?

 

[disneyfan55]

We had no reservations in all of our previous trips and this year we booked the free dining. Having heard to make reservations early, we did so in June for our end of Sept trip. We had a very difficult time getting our 1st choices and really didn't get any at normal dinner times. I would suggest making reservations and cancelling if you change your mind. From what I have heard there have been menu changes prior to the free dining offer. My kids did the DDP the past 2 years during the free time and didn't have the issues some seem to have this year. Maybe some are making double reservations and keeping them. No rhyme or reason since Sept is supposed to be a slow time and that's the reason for Free dining.

 

[JimMIA]

We have been in May in both 2006 and 2007, and I'd strongly suggest you make ADRs whether or not you are on DDP. For Epcot restaurants, remember that the Flower & Garden Festival is going on and that will increase pressure on those venues somewhat.

In particular, I'd make Le Cellier reservations as close to 180 days out as you can. I waited until about 4 months and could only get later dinner times. That happens to be fine for us, because we like to eat late, but it would not be great for a lot of people.

We found some of the resort restaurants not especially crowded, but most of the others and all of the character meals were booked solid. If you don't make ADRs, you will have very few places to eat and probably won't get any of the choices you want.

I know a lot of people don't like to make ADRs far in advance because they don't want the dining to dictate their schedule. Personally, I find it a lot easier to adjust the schedule around the dining than to do it the opposite way. IMHO, something is going to dictate your schedule...might as well be the dining.

We're going again in May 2008, but we won't be on DDP and will probably only do one character meal onsite, so we're really not worried about ADRs this time.