Do I really need dining reservations?

[lacrosse_lady72]

YES!

I know this is a place to ask questions and get help from DISers but it seems like this question is asked at least once a week.

There should be a permanent huge banner in bold flashing letters saying the awswer we all give every time, that being pretty much:

Yes, if you want to eat at about half of the restaurants and at a decent time. You can probably walk up to um... the Nine Dragons restaurant... at 2? and be OK, but if you expect to eat at Le Cellier at 6PM, well we all know what would happen there!






DISCLAIMER It's true, it seems like you need a disclaimer on any opinions, statements, humorous speak, sarcasm, questions, etc. these days in fear of getting flamed. I'm not looking to get flamed, not meaning to be offensive, rude, crude, mean, no burns... nothing, just making a light joke.

I know most of you know what I mean.

 

[fla4fun]

I know the question gets asked a lot, but there are so many variables that it's hard to give a blanket answer.

Basically, all character meals probably require an ADR, although you know there will be someone who managed to get a walk in somewhere. It's better to plan ahead for these.

But even during free dining, I've been able to do some walk ins at TS restaurants, so it's not impossible to wing it.

I guess my "always answer" would be to make an ADR if not eating at a particular restaurant will be a major disappointment. You should also make ADR's for all your TS meals if you are using one of the dining plans. But, if you're paying cash, and if it's not a problem where you eat, or whether it's table service or counter service, you can wing it a lot more. After all, there are people (like me) who wait until virtually the last minute to plan some trips (I've booked as little as four days out) so we don't always have the 180 day window to work with.

 

[TDC Nala]

You mentioned Le Cellier. Le Cellier is currently at the extreme of WDW restaurant popularity. If you want to eat at Le Cellier at ANY time then you need a reservation. Many other restaurants are not that popular, and outside of peak times you can get into those without much wait.

My belief is that if you are traveling at peak attendance times, you need reservations for everything. If you are traveling during free dining, you should have reservations for everything. If you want Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's, Coral Reef, California Grill, Boma or Ohana at peak mealtimes, or any character meal anywhere, reservations are pretty much required. If you want any meal at a restaurant inside a theme park at peak mealtimes, you ought to have a reservation. This is for making the reservations as soon as you can.

Any other situation you could probably get reservations during your trip, say the day of or the day before if you want.

If there is a restaurant you really want to go to at any date and during any time, get a reservation - don't risk walking up and having a long wait or nothing available.

If you're on the dining plan I would also recommend getting TS reservations as soon as possible, so you won't run the risk of having your valuable TS credits go unused.

 

[ubermama]

Without a doubt you need reservations. If you have your heart set on eating anywhere. It doesn't take that long to make them and then you don't have to worry if you're going to get in or end of eating another hamburger. We always book everything in advance and if we decide that we are not in the mood for that rest. we call or dare I say, just not show up. I wouldn't rec. not showing up though.