dining plan without adr's

[sseely40851]

We are going in march 2015. We are on DP. We only want to make a couple of adrs for the week. we don't like to schedule things that tight. Will we have any chance of walking up to a restaurant and getting a seat?

 

[Marthasor]

It really depends on the restaurant. Character dining and other popular places like Le Cellier, O'hana, etc. will most likely not take walk-ups. Places like Tokyo Dining, Restaurant Marrakesh, Nine Dragons, walk-ups are much more likely.

We never do the dining plan and we wing dining all the time. You just have to be willing to be flexible. About an 1 1/2 - 2 hours before I know we want to eat, I simply check my iPad or MDE app on my phone, see what's available close by and book. I've gotten Garden Grill, Le Cellier and many other great restaurants last minute by doing this. I've never NOT gotten an ADR. You can also call Disney Dining and simply ask them what's available.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

If your aren't picky and are willing to eat almost anywhere and at off times then yes.

 

[Sue M]

If I have the DDP, I make ADRs. And you'll be going during March which in some areas is spring break. Things will be busy. To avoid disappointment I'd make ADRs, otherwise what may be left is 9:00 times. Especially with places you know you want to dine at. Or unused TS credits cause there was no availability at places you wanted to eat at.

 

[Kimberle]

I really wouldn't advise doing this. You aren't going to be able to walk into most restaurants and be seated quickly. March can be quite busy. If you don't want to plan, then don't purchase the dining plan. (It doesn't really save you money, anyway.)

What worked well for our last trip, was to book our 3 FP+'s around 10am, 11am, and 12pm. Then, I booked a ADR for lunch around 1pm. After a busy morning, it was nice to sit down. Most of the restaurants have the same menu's for lunch and dinner now. After lunch, our day was open. We could stay in the same park or switch to a different one. We'd grab dinner at a quick serv when we were hungry. (We were not on the dining plan.)

I don't think you can go to WDW anymore without some planning.

 

[spayne12]

having not researched too much our first time on the dp we tried this a few days and it didn't work well for us, but we didn't starve. we ended up eating late or searching for something close. with two kids this time I booked meals everyday with fastpass we knew about where we would be. while not entirely easy in the sense of how do I know I wants steak on this day in six months I would rather use the dining plan to it's full potential this time. I feel we missed out not having all our sit down credits planned out in the end everyone vacations different and you may luck out.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

March is spring break season.

You'll probably be able to get dining last minute in some of the resorts (not character dining or places like O'Hana though) but at some parks you won't find a thing.

MK - very unlikely
EP - the less popular restaurants would have availability

DH - this one would really vary - probably nothing at 50's Prime Time and Hollywood Brown Derby
AK - The only time I had any problems getting a last minute Yak and Yeti Restaurant ressie was during spring break - the other times I had no problems getting late lunch ressies. So I would say it varies at AK too.

I think if you want to use the Dining plan to the fullest, you would want to make ADR's for the majority of your meals.

Also depending on how many of you there are, it also complicates last minute reservations. The more people, the harder they are to get.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

If I'm on the DDP I would make ADR's. I wouldn't want to lose out on credits and money. Next trip we have no dp and for a 10 night trip I'm making 4 ADRs. After that I'm winging it on a day by day basis and not being overly picky.

 

[KimBean]

We are going in march 2015. We are on DP. We only want to make a couple of adrs for the week. we don't like to schedule things that tight. Will we have any chance of walking up to a restaurant and getting a seat?

If you are paying for DP I would make ADR's. It would stink to pay for it and not get to eat at the restaurants you want to. It's really not that big of a deal to plan ADR's. FP+ now that is a whole other story.

Will you have a hopper?

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Dining Plan board....

 

[GillianP1301]

Unless there is somewhere that you really have your heart set on, then you an probably make this work. Personally, I wouldn't never do it because I like having plans in place, but if you're looking for a more unscheduled trip, then go for it. I wouldn't recommend just walking up though, I would check MDE either the morning of or even an hour or two before you're ready to eat to see what is available.

 

[gtpoohbear]

If you are willing to eat outsides the parks (especially MK) ad aren't too picky about where, then you will likely find something.

I would suggest using the app to make a last minute ADR as opposed to just walking up. I have seen even less-busy resort restaurants turn away walk-ups when there were still ADRs showing as available for the near future.

And obviously, if there is a certain place you really want to eat at, you better make the ADR.