Do we HAVE to book every restaurant??

[MinnieMe2DW]

Sorry for the dumb question, but it seems like anywhere to eat you have to have an ADR - is that so, or would it be ok if we're walking along, decide we're hungry, pop in at Chef Mickey's without a reservation?? I've never been, so I have no idea.

TIA

 

[TDC Nala]

At a guess, I would say that Chef Mickey's in particular is far too popular to count on a walk-in.

Disney dining has taken a major turn in popularity. It can be difficult to get into table service restaurants, especially the very popular ones, character meals, and almost anything inside the theme parks. If there's a TS place I know I want to eat, I make a reservation. If I want to wing it, I stick to counter service, lounges, and restaurants that don't take the DDP.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I guess it would depend on the time of year you're visiting and where you hope to dine. It looks like you'll be there early-may, so it shouldn't be SUPER crowded, but you would still have a very hard time getting a table at any of the very popular restaurants (esp. character dining), and even at those that aren't most popular, it's best to have an ADR just in case. If you map out your days, have a general idea of where you'll be when, eg Monday at MK, Tuesday at AK, for example, you can then make ADRs based on where you'll be, either in that park or a near-by resort. You can always cancel later, but at least you'll have a place to eat if you can't get in anywhere else.

...And there's plenty to be said for counter service. We have enjoyed all of our CS meals at Disney; no ADRs allowed for those.

 

[awaldo]

Amy - there is no such thing as a dumb question!!! I realize the pain and agony involved in planning and making ADRs, it just doesn't seem like vacation! But to answer your question quite simply, you only need to make ADRs for the restaurants you want to eat at.

My experience, regardless of time of year you go, if you plan to eat lunch at lunch, and dinner at dinner, make ADRs. You don't have to make them all, there's no penalty for skipping. But the fact of the matter is, with the amount of people you see on this board and other planning sites, you can surely bet that about 90% of them will be making ADRs. I wouldn't chance it, if there's a place you really want to eat at.

On a side note, as the previous poster said, there is NOTHING wrong with counter service, if you can't get walk up table service. The quality and variety is excellent. I would just not plan on going on the fly and getting your choice of Table Service.

 

[MinnieMe2DW]

thanks everyone. I think we're going to do an ADR for a couple, and then wing the rest !

 

[danny1649]

Minnie

 

[Aimeedyan]

Really, with plenty of decent counter service options, I think you'll be FINE if you end up just grabbing counter service on nights when you don't have a reservation for a table service spot, or don't feel like doing the 1.5 hour restaurant thing. With two itty bitties, you may not want to mess with it every day anyways.

There is a lot of variety and good counter service options, and you can often walk in to less popular spots for table service at certain times. Never hurts to ask! =)

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I've pulled off Rose and Crown as a walk in a couple of times (granted I did go to the pub side)

 

[catgirl]

You can make reservations once you get there if you don't have your heart set on a specific TS on a specfic date & time. I tried to walk up to a couple of restuarants 2 weeks ago (slow time) and wait was over an hour.

 

[disnut8]

The other thing you can do is try to make some reservatons on that day you want to dine. I've been able to do that a couple of times with just two adults. You never know what might be available. I got the Rose and Crown dining room over Easter weekend one year on the same day. Actually, it was about two hours before we wanted to eat. Surprised the daylights out of me!

 

[MAGGIED]

my sister is going May 4-9 and is having a terrible time changing some of her reservations.... she was very happy that she booked a few months ago... I don't think there really is a slow time at WDW any more.....