Do I dare?

[numberonenole]

We usually visit in December.

Two years ago we had free dining so we made reservations at 180 days out at places we thought woudl be good for the kids to eat. We made early reservations (4:45 to 5pm), and we checked in early, yet we waited to be seated about 45 minutes each night (and one morning at CP). It drove us and the kids (then 2 and 3 years old) CRAZY! It tried to ruin our vacation because the waits were so much longer than we expected and the boys did not want to just stand there nice and wait that long (nor did we) so we were stressed.

Last year we said no way we would do it again and we just did CS, with one character meal at the Garden Grill (waited about 20 minutes) and one sit down meal at T-Rex (walked right in with no reservation...just pure luck).

So, with the 180 day window about to open, do I dare think about TS meals with the DDP or should I just do like last year and plan diverse CS with a couple of TS sprinkled in (and a reservation at T-Rex this time for for sanity and planning)? Thanks in advance for your two cents!

 

[2Tiggies]

So your kids are now 4 and 5? How do you think they would handle waiting now?

Some people find that TS meals are a lifesaver with young children to keep some structure and routine and to break the day. For a large part of the year this has a lot to do with getting out of the heat which won't really be an issue in December. How flexible can you be? How flexible can the kids be?

You never know for sure how long you will wait. Sometimes you are seated immediately so it is really hard to tell and you have to accept the risk as part of the package.

Personally I find too many TS too much food and too much hassle. I book the ones we really want across our trip (not one every day) and we do CS for the rest. But then we don't mind CS and love the flexibility this gives us.

I can tell you what works for me, but you need to think about the requirements at this age and stage for your kids ..... and for you.

 

[everythingALICE]

If I were you I might try to schedule a couple early breakfast reservations in the parks. If you make a reservation for before the park opens that day, it is unlikely that you will need to wait, it gets you into the park early (if you get one for close to 8), and it's great for photos in the park and with characters.

I imagine that you probably eat early because your kids are used to it or don't want to wait late to eat, but just in case that's not the case, you may have luck making later dinner reservations. I always make mine for after 7:30 (often around 8), and have hardly ever had to wait for a table, even at popular restaurants like Le Cellier . The couple of exceptions are Crystal Palace and Ohana, but even those waits were only 15 to 20 minutes after the ADR. If you have a light snack around the time you normally eat, a later ADR may work for you.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

I have NEVER been during Free dining...

But I have NEVER waited 45 minutes for an ADR... NEVER...

Maybe ONE time at 'Ohana...we waited 15 minutes for breakfast...

that's it...

Wow - is DDP that inconvenient?

Mary

 

[crabbygal902]

That's strange that you had to wait so long to be seated. I mean, you were doing the right thing by scheduling your meals before 5:00. Maybe you had a string of really bad luck.

We've always scheduled one TS per day, usually for a party of 8. The worst wait I can remember was for 'Ohana breakfast at 10:00; we had to wait about 30 minutes. Most times, we are seated earlier than our ADR, even when we went over busy Thanksgiving week.

I really think that you had a set of very unusual circumstances, waiting as long as you had to for your tables. I'd be willing to try it again.

If it helps, maybe you could book places with 'fun' waiting areas: Crystal Palace--a great place to take pictures of the kids outside, 'Ohana--you are given a pager that works all around the lobby area so you can explore, and Le Cellier--take the kids down the path to the Canada Kidcot station to color.

 

[squirrel]

I think you just got some bad luck last time.

I have been during Free Dining (Sept and Oct) and haven't had to wait 45 min. Some of the restaurants don't open for dinner til 5pm. I know we arrived early for our 5pm reservation at WCC. We had to wait as it wasn't even open, my niece was chosen to ring the bell which was neat.

 

[winterman]

DH and I have been at WDW during free dining three times and also had ADRs at other times of the year. We have never had to wait 45 minutes. I agree with the pp that you were very unlucky. But here's something to consider. Make your ADRs for early in the meal time. At dinner that would be 5:00 or earlier. That way you don't get affected by people who are 'slow eaters' and take more time at a table than the ADR allowed for.

 

[pumba]

we have had free dining last year and didnt have to wait that long either......I think that if you do get some reservations ...try the buffets too. That way you go in and get seated and they take the drink orders and you can start to feed the youngsters. This is what we did last month ( two grandkids ..4 and 6 and we actually enjoyed the experience with them. They had a great time and the wait was not bad.
Hope you enjoy yourself and the kids too

 

[disnut8]

I think your time of the reservation may have had something to do with when you were seated. At 4:45-5:00 most of the restaurants are either just switching over to the dinner menu (if they were open for lunch as well) or just plain opening for the day. You didn't say which restaurants you were at before so only a guess here. If could have been that everyone all had to be seated at the same time which too a while to get through.

Try making your reservations for later than when the restaurant first opens or switches over for dinner.

 

[squirrel]

Crystal Palace was one I do recall waiting quite a bit longer than the others. I didn't time it so I don't know how long we waited.

We even waited 10 min for a 8:05am ADR after checking in. We did get photopass photos first, so I think they went by the order people actually checked in at the restaurant.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I have only once waited 45-hour for Boma at AKL and left, we were so hungry and so annoyed! They apologized. What made it worse was the food at AK food court was also not a fit. needless to say, one stay at AKL for us and we won't return. There were other reasons we chose not to return as well. The animals however were fun to see looking out your balcony, the only + at that resort, for our family. But I digress I think OP you may have had a negative streak, cause we do free dine, eat early like you and have never had an issue before.
We enjoy the one sit down each night, whatever works for your family!!!! Have a great vacation!!

 

[Hopefully]

I think PP have made good points. Your reservations were right at opening and everyone needed to be seated at the same time - extending the wait. Or you ran into a streak of bad luck.
But the bottom line is that ADR's are NOT traditional reservations, they do NOT hold a table for you for your time. You are just guaranteed the first available table for your party size. Lots of circumstances can impact the availability of that table.
If the stress of waiting nearly ruined your vacation, I would not chance it. Go with a varied CS plan.
Good Luck

 

[daisy37]

DD and I waited over 45 minutes for a 9 PM dinner at O'hana. I checked twice to see when we would be seated. Our server didn't understand why we had to wait so long as there were several empty tables. My travel agent had advised us not to eat there but I thought it sounded like my daughter would have fun. I asked when the games would start, only to have server tell me they ended at 9:30. If I had know that we would have left and had qs back at hotel. We were so tired that we ended up spurgling on a taxi-so much for free dining. I will not go back.

 

[RMulieri]

I can tell you theat we were AVID DP users..Until this last trip.With free dining going on we spent so much time waiting at restaurants and waiting in restaurants, and running to restaurants..we think our next trip is going to be a lot less running and a lot less adrs.

 

[numberonenole]

Thanks for the replies!

I hadn't thought of our reservation times being at the switch over from lunch to dinner. I was just trying to get in early before the crowds! That may have played a part in the wait times.

I think we will not do the DDP. Even without the wait times, it still wasn't very relaxing or fun to be checking my watch to make sure we planned enough time to get to the reservation on time. A lot of wasted time.

 

[ToddyLu]

We have done DDP several times but only with adults. I always make the ADRs close to 5, at the latest 6 due to my MIL's tummy. We have never had a problem getting seated that I recall. I don't know that I would have the patience to do that with children. Unless I was going for free dinning then I guess it would be a must to make ADRs.

As a side note DH and I are probably some of the only people you will ever meet who do not care for the Poly at all. We did the luau once and after made it to the lobby. It was so incredibly crowded that we were instantly trying to make our way to the door. It was creepy. When we are on the monorail making the loop DH always states "don't even think about stopping to eat here". I suggested Kona for this trip and wasmet with a resounding "no". Can't beat a girl up for tryin'. I hope you have a magical trip and am sure eating will be one of the highlights you will enjoy as a family.