Do I need lots of ADRs?

[BudgieMama]

OK, I'm sure this is old ground, but I'm a newbie, and next August will be making my very first trip to WDW...

We got the DDP with out booking, so will have some TS credits to use up.

There are a few restaurants I really want to visit (BOG, for example), and I've heard they get booked up, so I want to get those planned and booked when we can... but there are only 3, maybe 4 places I desperately want to eat at, and I like to be able to wander around and rock up when we get hungry. I don't mind a bit of a wait, or being told to come back in an hour, but I'm a little nervous we'd just find nowhere to eat!!

Will we find some places we can get TS without an ADR if we can be a bit flexible? Will the TS restaurant at our resort (SSR) likely be crazy busy every day?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[figment_jii]

The question about ADRs is hard one because so many things can affect your ability to get a "walk-up". In general, I would make an ADR if you know you want to eat somewhere and would be disappointed if you were told they were not taking walk-ups (e.g., BOG) and/or if you have to eat at a certain time.

Observations:
1) Resort restaurants, especially those at the moderates, tend to be less busy than the in-park restaurants.
2) Popular restaurants, especially character meals, are likely to be pretty busy and may not take walk-ups. If you want to eat at a character meal, I'd make an ADR.
3) Eating at off times will help. For example, have lunch after 1:30 pm, dinner after 8:00 pm, etc. Avoid pre-rope drop for breakfast ADRs in parks.
4) Be flexible. If you don't mind just taking what's available, my guess is that something is always available, it just might not be where you are or where you planned to eat.
5) If they are offering "Free Dining" when you go, TS restaurants tend to be busier, so ADRs are more important at that point.

Along with BOG, if you list the other places you really want to eat at, folks here on the Disboard can give you a sense of whether there in the "super popular, ADRs are a must" category or if you can probably get by with a walk-up.

 

[TDC Nala]

If there is a place that you know you want to eat, or a time you know you must eat, then you should make a reservation.

If you want Be Our Guest or any character meal then you should make reservations.

If you're traveling at a busy time, you should make reservations if you want to eat in the parks (only exception may be Epcot if you are good with the less popular choices)

 

[tzeitel]

I agree with the previous posters - if you have a list of "must do" restaurants book it at 180+ days. Especially BoG and any character meal. You are also going in August which is pretty busy.

Yes, you can find character meals here and there closer to your travel dates, but you gave to be in the right place (at your computer) at the right time. I actually found BoG 2 months out - but I had been checking everyday for a couple of months before I found it.

As for what other restaurants fill up quickly (non-character)?
'Ohana
50's Prime Time
Sci-Fi
California Grill
Coral Reef
Le Cellier
Via Napoli
Flying Fish

Plus the 2 dinner shows - Spirit of Aloha and Hoop-Dee-Doo - sell out as well.

The only resorts restaurants I've seen that get crazy are the monorail resort ones (at dinner) or if there are character meals (Cape My at Y&BC for example).