Do I *really* need ADRs? Going next week...

[JulieNMM]

Hi all--

I'm a newby and need help. We're going to WDW on 4/1-4/8 and have learned so much from this board. Yeay!!

We already have the following ADRs:
Sunday night: Chef Mickeys
Tuesday breakfast: Restaurantosaurus
Wednesday lunch: Akershus
Friday dinner: CRT

Do we need ADRs for all of our meals or can we just wing it? Here is what we are hoping for:

Sunday lunch: Sci-Fi Diner (MGM)
Monday night: Ohana's?
Tuesday night: BOMA?
Wednesday night: Whispering Canyon Cafe?
Thursday night: ??

We're not opposed to CS, especially for lunch and can eat breakfast on the go.

QUESTION: What if we get to WDW and get tired one night and don't feel like keeping the ADRs? That is the only reason I have not tried to make them yet... We have a DD4 who still naps and DS6 who will not want to leave the parks to go home and rest, which will result in a cranky DD4, which results in a cranky DH... But then again, she may be so excited she won't realize she's tired...

HELP ME!

JULIE

 

[twinsmamma]

you are better to make hose ADR's because you dont want to be dissapointed with nowhere to go becasue ll rest are full. You can always call and cancel the res. if you find you dont and cant make it to the rest. We called and cancelled some when we were there due to time and hunger etc. You are always safe if you do have them and it is only a phone call away to cancel.

 

[Ears2You]

I would definitely call and make ADRs ASAP. You are going during Spring Break time and the parks probably will be crowded. None of the restuarants you mentioned need a CC guarantee, so if you decide not to go you wont be penalized. Of course, if you decide not to go to any of the ADRs you make it is nice to call to cancel so someone else can have your table.

 

[GarrettJD]

I agree with the others. Go ahead and make the ADRs then cancel them later if you aren't going to use them. You really don't even need to cancel them as you won't be penalized, but it does help others if you do cancel.

 

[ReneeA]

I was there during a slow time, and watched people being turned away everywhere we went at dinner time since they didn't have ADR's.

I would make them, and then cancel if you change your mind that day.

 

[__disneygirl]

Make the ADRs. Definitely. Unless you want to slip every hostess $20 to let you in right away (hahaha), you'll have to wait awhile or even be turned away. Making ADRs is not really a bother either, with one phone call everything will be set and done and you won't have to worry.

 

[Pugrpooh]

We'll be there the same time you will and I called to make ADR's in January. We will also be eating at Boma on Tues. night. When I called, I had a choice of 5:20 or after 8 pm for Boma. Granted, we are a large group (15 of us) and I'm sure they weren't completely filled up for smaller groups then, but it's always a good idea to go ahead and make them.

If you don't have any luck, I've also read on these boards of people calling the day they want to eat and being able to get in. Even calling on their way to the restaurant and getting an ADR.

People do call and cancel. I was holding 2 different ADR's for breakfast at CP for a couple of weeks before I decided which time to keep.

Good luck! Boma's one of my faves!

 

[jwfla422]

You'll be very frustrated if you just "wing it" during such a busy time. I would make more ADR's if you can, you can always cancel them (you can stop by a payphone in the park and dial * or #88 or something like that I believe if you need to cancel).

Even the counter service places can have waits 30 minutes or more. We were in MGM in mid-December. The lines at the counter service places were ridiculous. We ended up having pretzels for lunch. We normally make ADR's but I decided to "wing it" that day since we changed our plans, bad choice. I didn't realize how busy it was going to be in the park. Next time I'd make a lunch ADR somewhere just in case.

I almost always make ADR's for lunch & dinner during "busy" times (except where I mentioned above). During off peak times I will still make ADR's for dinner and lunch if I know which park we'll be at that day (especially if it's a popular place like CP)...same with breakfast at CM or O'Hanas. They can be full even during non-peak times.

 

[JulieNMM]

You all convinced me! I called and made more ADRs!

There was nothing available at WCC but I booked Ohana's for Monday evening, BOMA for Tuesday evening at 6:10 yeay!, and Mickey's Backyard BBQ for Thursday. (I forgot about Sci-Fi Dining but will just wing that!)

Thanks everyone!

JULIE