Do I NEED ADR's if NOT during Free Dining?

[Soccer Princess]

We will be going a week and a half before the free dining promotion in August. Do I still need to make ADR'S? Just for dinner or even lunch as well?
Thanks

 

[LISAMWDW]

YES! Make your ADR's today unless you want to eat all counterservice. Restaurants fill to capacity, especially the good ones. You will be turned away. Check out www.allearsnet.com for menus to help you choose the restaurant.

 

[Bob P]

Absolutely. Early August is quite crowded.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

It's better to have the ADR's than to be turned away and disappointed.

 

[n2mm]

ADRs are needed no matter when you go to WDW now. We just returned and we constantly witnessed folks being turned away daily from many places. Every morning when you enter MK they had a sign posted of what places were taking ADRs and often there were only one or two places listed. Some days the sign would say that ALL table service restraurants are booked for the day. Keep in mind that getting into resort restruarats (not character meals or O'Hana's) are a little easier to do if you book the night before. I am still working on my late October trip (post-free dining) and had a difficult time getting an ADR for LeCellier for the end of October.

 

[Skylarr29]

Yes ADR's are a necessity.

 

[buzzman88]

This is like asking if you need to purchase a ticket in advance for a flight during a Thanksgiving's weekend. And the answer is DEFINITE YES.

But then again, you may get extremely lucky and be able to get in without an ADR, but you'll need a truckload of pixie dust to get that to happen.

 

[laura001]

Yes, you need to make ADR's. I am not sure if there is a time anymore that you don't need to. So plan away!!

 

[Chloesmom]

We went July 27 thru August 3rd last year. We were able to get Princess Storybook the day before but I am sure this was because of a freak cancellation. We were able to walk into SciFi and Garden Grill but we had to wait a bit. We also lucked out and got 1900 Park Fare . I would get at least a few of the places you know you want to eat. That way you are not disappointed. I usually get an ADR for one meal a day and wing the rest but this trip was last minute so I winged the whole thing.

 

[jenniferma]

YES! I would definitely get them.. it is better to be safe than sorry!

 

[slug]

In September we didn't need ADR's. This was pre free-dining though. I had made a bunch just to be safe, but once we got there, after the 1st few meals when there was nowhere near capacity, we adjusted our schedule and cancelled the rest of our ADR's.

I also don't worry about waiting an hour to eat if need be as it gives me an excuse to sample the bar. Next time we'll be with a child for the first time though so there will be an ADR made for every meal to reduce waiting as much as possible.

 

[pumba]

YES YES YES.........we went to Disney a few weeks ago and in 11 days had one sit down restaurant......ONE.....and that was at Biergarten in Germany. Our favorite restaurant was booked into June.....that was Le Cellier...we were disappointed but had a great time and alot of the resort food courts and restaurants do really good with the menus.......have fun

 

[cobbler]

Like others have said - yes. With the popularity of the dining plan in general restaurants are full. We go during a slow time in December and we witnessed a lot of not so happy guests being turned away, and often.

 

[Soccer Princess]

Well I called and made them, although it seems there was no great rush. I got every single ADR I wanted (including Le Cellier, Mama Melrose, Sci Fi, Cape May, Alfredos and Tony's) and had a wide open choice of times.

 

[Jrabbit910]

soccerprincess, its great that you got everything that you wanted! It was a better choice to make them instead of going and hoping you were going to get them. You are going during a busy season and its worth it just to have the ADR's.