Do i really need AR?

[Mall78]

Hi, me and my wife are going to the Disney parks in Florida for the first time in late Sept (21-24) . We are going as a couple ( got no kids) and just found this board and i read that for most restuarants in the parks you need advance reservations to beat the crowds.
Its likely too late for us since i havent called any resturants there. My qustion is how bad is the wait for any of the resturants in the parks,( we will be seeing each 4 parks, once for each day of our stay). We will be there for rope drops or opening on each day, so is reservations a must or just a good idea to mimize the time we will need to wait for a table to open up?
I live in California , ive been to Disneyland many times and i dont have trouble usually going to places to eat there ( reg resturants or counter service), of course its been at least 10 years since i been to disneyland though.
So, my question is, how bad is it to just go to the place you want to eat witout any reservations or would we have to go to counter service to get our food? My wife and i never been to the World, so any advice or help would be great!

Thanks in advance,

Will

 

[vicki_c]

You need to call now and make some reservations. It's not really a matter of "will I wait long without one" -- it's that lots of the restaurants may not even give you the option of waiting, they will just say they're not taking walk-ups.

Of course, you won't starve -- you can always eat at counter service locations if you don't make any reservations.

It's just a little crazy at WDW now regarding table service meals -- it didn't used to be like this, but it is now. You really need some reservations in advance.

I believe the free dining promotion ends on 9/20, so it might be a little better than if you were arriving the week before, but I think the free dining package people can continue to be on free dining as long as they arrive by 9/20 (not sure on that), so restaurants may still be extra crowded.

 

[bluejasmine]

I agree Ive heard alot of ppl who started their trips right before or by Sept 20th so free dining should be atleast another wk after that and then isnt bounce back around that time too? Use to be you could walk up to a restaurant and wait about 10-30 min and get in..Not anymore!

 

[Brer Shay]

If there are particular places you wanted to eat, then you should have made reservations earlier. The most popular places will likely be full. That being said, talk to your hotel concierge in the morning - let him know what park you'll be in and ask when/where you can get a seating. You will almost certainly be able to get something, just not necessarily a specific place. I would suggest doing it in the morning though and having an ADR. As PP said, many places will not be accepting walk-ups due to the free dining and table service popularity.

 

[Wild4Walt]

If you have your heart set on trying a specific resturant, I would call and make an ADR. If you won't be disappointed if you get turned away then wing it.

You will be able to get into some with a wait of 20-30 minutes, but this dining program is soooo popular that we found it hard to get in without reservations.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Yes, make ADR's! In fact, check out the menus at allearsnet.com and form a few ideas of where you might like to eat, with second and third choices, and make some reservations.

Don't hesitate to make some now and call back to see if anything opens up - even the day you're there.

D4D

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Comparing making dining reservations at DL and WDW is comparing apples to oranges. At DL you don't even get a confirmation number, they just take your name and that's your confirmation. DL is so much smaller that WDW that when I called a few weeks ago to make some dining reservations there I had my choice of times for the entire stay (I was calling for someone who was already there, so it was not way in advance). Dining at WDW can be done 180 days in advance if you're staying onsite, so things tend to book really quickly, especially the popular places. If you're flexible with dining times, you may be able to get something, but I would definately call now. Have a great first visit!!!

 

[marmar]

we will be at the park the same time as you. I made my ADR's back in may and still did not get into some of the places we wanted.

If you want someplace special, call them now. If you are willing to take your chances and won't mind getting counter service for dinner, you can wait.
Another suggestion is plan on eatting your big meal for lunch and eating lite for dinner.

However, I can tell you that you won't get into LeCellier even for lunch..... that was booked in April.

We were there during Flower & Garden Festival in late April, and none of the restaurants we ate at that week was taking Walk ups at dinner. (Park & Resort restaurants)

I stopped waiting to make dinner reservations the morning of, about 15 years ago...... We were stuck eating at some very obscur places that year. And try telling a 10 year old there will be no character breakfasts. My famiy refers to that year as the one without food.

 

[frdeb1999]

I would deffinately make the adr's....just not to have to wait. I have seen so many ppl turned away because of places being booked solid. And now days it does'nt seem to matter what time of the year your looking at....it's always busy.

 

[kimsuenew]

You need to call now and make some reservations. It's not really a matter of "will I wait long without one" -- it's that lots of the restaurants may not even give you the option of waiting, they will just say they're not taking walk-ups.

Of course, you won't starve -- you can always eat at counter service locations if you don't make any reservations.

It's just a little crazy at WDW now regarding table service meals -- it didn't used to be like this, but it is now. You really need some reservations in advance.

I believe the free dining promotion ends on 9/20, so it might be a little better than if you were arriving the week before, but I think the free dining package people can continue to be on free dining as long as they arrive by 9/20 (not sure on that), so restaurants may still be extra crowded.

Yes, but those of us that did "free dining bounceback" could go clear thru booking on 9/27 so that might also be an issue.

I agree with this post, call and make ADR's! I made ours 180+ days out but needed to change a few at 48 days out, and had trouble (found some in Epcot, not the most popular ones) but in-park reservations are tough to come by as were places the Monorail ran to (like Ohana or 1900 Park Fare for instance).

If you are not on a dining plan, than CS is an option of course, and that won't be a problem, but if you are, or if you really want in-park dining, call ASAP! Call daily (several times if you can)... I lucked out once doing this and several people have on the Dsiboards.

Good luck!

 

[Lynne M]

We are going as a couple ( got no kids) and just found this board and i read that for most restuarants in the parks you need advance reservations to beat the crowds.

For many restaurants, especially those in the theme parks, it's not a matter of 'beating the crowds.' You simply won't get in without an ADR. If they're fully booked for that meal, they'll politely turn you away. No walk-ups accepted.

An added complication is that you're going during the free dining promotion. Many restaurants were completely booked for September, months ago. Even if you call today to try for ADRs, you'll likely find very limited availability.

So, if you do want to eat table service meals, you need to make your plans very quickly (as in, this weekend), and call as soon as possible. It will help if you're very flexible with your dining times (late lunches, late dinners), and if you're willing to dine at resorts.

People do cancel reservations, and I've had some luck calling same-day, around 10 AM. Keep that in mind if you have trouble getting reservations now. But even that is likely to be tougher than usual, because the restaurants are packed during free dining - this is when people go to WDW for the primary purpose of enjoying TS dining they wouldn't normally do.

 

[Katiebell]

You might try calling Disney Dining right now, and just asking, "What is open in or near MK (or whatever park you will be going to) on this date?" It's possible there might be some recent cancellations, and you might get into a hidden gem that not as many people book. You might also have better luck if you are willing to take non-traditional meal times -- 2 pm lunches or dinners at 4 pm or 9 pm. If you are going to try walk ups, your best chance might be immediately when the restaurant opens, if you are able to do a very early lunch -- but not very promising at the most popular restaurants. You can check with the hotel concierge or Guest Services in the parks each day to see what might be open -- again, hoping for those last minute cancellations. Also, Free Dining will be starting to wind down the week you are there, so hopefully that will work in your favor -- good luck!

 

[Cee]

I can't say how crazy the restaurants are in Sept. because of the free dining.
But I do know that whenever we go to WDW, we call the WDW-Dining line
in the morning and see what is available that day. If we decide to eat there,
we made an ADR. We have never had a problem and have tried some wonderful
places that we might not otherwise have even considered. If you don't have
ADR's before leaving home, don't worry. You will be able to eat!

 

[LisaInNc]

Not only will some restaurants not allow you to wait when I was there during free dining it wasn't unusual to see a sign in fron of town hall that said there was NO table service available anywhere in the MK.

I would not say that ALL of the good places are gone. I have been tweaking my ADRs and been able to book CRT with a choice of lunch one day or breakfast another. I got Chef Mickeys for breakfast. I am going 9-26 through 10-5 on free dining.

Make some ADRs!

 

[DISNEY1975]

Dining at a full service restaurant is difficult these days as Disney has started a pre paid dining plan a few years ago.

Someone like me, for example, used to grab a muffin/juice for breakfast, for lunch, grab a burger or similar then for dinner eat at one of the table service places. For all of this, including a daily ice cream and a couple of drinks/water bottles, I was spending approx $60 per day.

For $70 a day, the dining plan allows me to eat at 3 table service restaurants and get 2 snacks per day. I would have never sat down for 3 meals, but I figure its not costing me any extra, so why not get the best value out of the plan. Now, most people have the same mentality. The dining plan participants are now eating in the restaurants when they used to eat only once or less per day.

Disney also offered a special package where they were "giving away" dining plan packages for certain dates Sept/Oct....so everyone will be taking advantage and eating at the restaurants rather than just grabbing quick snacks. They will be hard to just walk up to.

I suggest making reservations. Better safe than sorry.