Do I need a reservation for a meal?

[beachta1]

Still working on planning our DLP day. We'll be there on a Monday in October with a one-day pass and its before school vacations so I don't suspect the park will be crazy. I've only ever been to WDW so I really don't have a sense of how the crowds compare. Either way, we'd like to do a sit down meal (lunch or dinner) but not sure if we really need a reservation. For my DLP pros, do you always make one or just wing it while you are there? Looks like there are a lot of fun options of restaurants.

 

[BadPinkTink]

DLP is far more relaxed in every way than WDW. I have been twice and did ADR just because I wanted a certain restaurant at a certain time. Usually people do ADR the week before or on the day at Town Hall. A Monday in October should be ok crowd wise, I was there on Christmas Day and the park was at full capacity and the restaurants were not accepting walk ins.

I would say ADR would be useful for you as you are only there 1 day and will structure your day better and maximise your time. If you book for 2pm for example you will be able to plan your day around your meal.

 

[beachta1]

Good idea. I should look into options. I'm having such a hard time planning the day because I can't get a good sense of what the crowds will be like or how long the lines will get. There is SO much information out there about touring smart at WDW, but not as much about DLP.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

A Monday in early October isn't going to be busy so booking wouldn't be necessary unless you really wanted to do it. Several restaurants could be closed on Monday and none of them in the park will be open for dinner normally, you would have the Disney Village ones and the hotel restaurants to choose from

Don't forget also that you could be sitting in a t/s restaurant for 1.30-2.00 hrs so that would take up a large part of your day if it was at lunch time say.

Best thing to do is to phone the restaurant reservations line 60 days before you are coming and check and see what is going to be open that day and then decide what you wish to do.

I've only ever make a t/s reservation in August as it's for my b/day and I make it the week before. The rest of the time we have always either made one when we got to the park on the day in City hall or directely walked in to the restaurant.