Do we really need ADR's?

[celesteb3]

I have only posted a couple of time so here goes. We are going Nov 28-Dec 3. Other than character dining do we really need ADR's for every night since this is value season? What are the chances of walking up and getting on a list with a wait time of less than an hour? What is it like during this week after Thanksgiving?

 

[Destination Disney]

No matter when I go I always book ADR's. You just never know what type of crowd you will run into. We also go in the "value" season a lot. I'd rather be safe then sorry.

 

[disney queen]

i would definitely book my favorites for dinner/lunch. with candlelight processional dinner packages the restaurants in epcot are becoming hard to book. i would much rather have an ADR and not need it, than need one and can't get it. you can always cancel if you decide not to dine at the restaurant. good luck!

 

[mrg013]

I think you should definitely make ADRs. Even though you are going in value season, it's better to be safe than sorry. I have heard countless tales of people thinking ADRs weren't necessary, but then becoming extremely disappointed when they couldn't get into their favorite restaurants without them.

You may be able to get in with less than an hour wait- but why chance it, or unnecessarily wait that long? With an ADR you most likely will never have to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes to get seated.

 

[Lesley]

If you are completely willing to be flexible about where and when you eat you can get by without reservations. But you may run into plenty of places where they are full for the evening.

I suggest making ADR's for anything you don't want to risk missing out on. Besides that, you should at least be able to eat somewhere without reservations....there's just no telling where.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

We only have 2 ADRs booked and I'm not having a good feeling. I don't like when I have to be at a specific place at a specific time. I'm already freaking out about it! Last year we went around the same time (beginning of oct) and we didn't have a problem getting seated without ADRs. (Except for Mexico restaurant in Epcot, they didn't have anything for 3 hours)
I like being spontaneous and if I'm in MK one day and I'm really enjoying it, I don't want to have to rush to EPCOT just cause I had to make a reservation. Everone has different opinions, what works for me, may not work for everyone

 

[Moonpie]

We only have 2 ADRs booked and I'm not having a good feeling. I don't like when I have to be at a specific place at a specific time. I'm already freaking out about it! Last year we went around the same time (beginning of oct) and we didn't have a problem getting seated without ADRs. (Except for Mexico restaurant in Epcot, they didn't have anything for 3 hours)
I like being spontaneous and if I'm in MK one day and I'm really enjoying it, I don't want to have to rush to EPCOT just cause I had to make a reservation. Everone has different opinions, what works for me, may not work for everyone

I know how you feel. I don't like having to be somewhere at a certain time, especially on my vacation. But, last year we ran into a problem when we didn't have ADRs one night while in the MK and we couldn't find any sit down place to eat, and normally that would be fine, but I felt like I really needed to sit and enjoy a meal after walking around the park all day. So now I make ADRs for every dinner, and almost every lunch. If we don't feel like going there, then we call and cancel it.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I know how you feel. I don't like having to be somewhere at a certain time, especially on my vacation. But, last year we ran into a problem when we didn't have ADRs one night while in the MK and we couldn't find any sit down place to eat, and normally that would be fine, but I felt like I really needed to sit and enjoy a meal after walking around the park all day. So now I make ADRs for every dinner, and almost every lunch. If we don't feel like going there, then we call and cancel it.

But isn't there a cancellation fee??? That's why they take your credit card info when you make the ADR ??

 

[Karnak]

I have planned a solo trip to WDW for the week after Thanksgiving, just as the OP did.

However, I made all my meal reservations (seven of them in all), on the very first day possible. Since I will be checking in, in late November, I made the reservations in early June, just as soon as Disney would allow. (This was a very easy thing to do, and I got all the spots, and times, I requested.)

True, it's "value season," but I'm not much of a risk taker, and like to know I'll be able to get into my favorite eateries as planned on my personal itinitary.

I would recommend such advance planning for anyone going to WDW.

Enjoy.

 

[n2mm]

But isn't there a cancellation fee??? That's why they take your credit card info when you make the ADR ??

No, only CRT and dinner shows where you have to put a cc on hold. All of the other places there is no fee involved.

I agree that some folks don't like be tied down with an ADR, but you also loose the opportunity of good places to eat unless you are willing to wait an hour or so, IF the restraurant has openinngs. And another factor is your party size. A party of 2 can sometimes get in, but if your party is bigger, the chances get slimer. Since the Christmas parade taping is the weekend of Dec. 1-3, the place will be packed. We were there last year and stayed at the AKL which was sold out that weekend. We were so glad we had all of our ADRs, as you couldn't get into anything. Good Luck and let us know how it works out for you.

 

[celesteb3]

I have only posted a couple of time so here goes. We are going Nov 28-Dec 3. Other than character dining do we really need ADR's for every night since this is value season? What are the chances of walking up and getting on a list with a wait time of less than an hour? What is it like during this week after Thanksgiving?

Thanks for the replys. One more thing. Since I'm not quite sure what park we will be in, we are meeting some family that has never been to Disney, is it possible to make two different ADR's for the same night at two different parks? Say I have 1 for MK and 1 for Epcot and we are having such a good time at MK and don't want to leave just because we booked at another park and call early enough in the day and cancel the Epcot one. Is this allowed? I don't want to sound greedy. I would definitely cancel the other early enough so someone else can use the time.

 

[english rose 47]

We don't plan on park hopping so will not have that problem with ADR's We also know what time we eat at home and we usually eat the same time on vacations.So Adr's are definately good for us, All the places have been selected for either character meals or the menus or atmosphere I checked menus and reviews and the only 2 I.m nervous about are H & V and Sci Fi but the characters and the atmosphere are the main attractions so I,ll hope for thebest!!

 

[ainmama2001]

Absolutely. ADR's are the only safe way to know you're going to eat at least in in the time range you want.

 

[english rose 47]

We don't plan on park hopping so will not have that problem with ADR's We also know what time we eat at home and we usually eat the same time on vacations.So Adr's are definately good for us, All the places have been selected for either character meals or the menus or atmosphere I checked menus and reviews and the only 2 I.m nervous about are H & V and Sci Fi but the characters and the atmosphere are the main attractions so I,ll hope for thebest!!

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

the one and only time we booked an ADR was valentines day 2005. wanted a really nice restaurant, booked about 1-month out. And guess what, they lost our ADR no record of it.

They did manage to fit us in2-hrs later. We just wing it now, can't be disappointed that way

 

[sconnell]

No, only CRT and dinner shows where you have to put a cc on hold. All of the other places there is no fee involved.

Also Princess Storybook Meals in Norway at Epcot.

 

[Nancyg56]

Also Princess Storybook Meals in Norway at Epcot.

CG also involves a CC gaurantee.

OP, I don't have first hand experience with this, but I read here that there are times that both ADR's are cancelled if there are two for the same time.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

We're going Dec. 5th to 15th and I made my ADR's last week. I was surprised at how many of the restaurants were already full at the times I wanted. Le Cellier, for example, was completely booked for dinner both of the nights we have planned for Epcot. We got Boma for dinner one night but it was a later time than we had hoped. So my suggestion is to make some ADR's now!

Teresa

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We're going the same time that you are OP. I called at a few days after the 180 mark and had to change pretty much all of my ADR times that I wanted (some by 15 minutes, some by a couple of hours). I think more people are making ADR's now than ever and I think more and more people are going during the "value" season every year (as it was ALOT busier last December than it was in 2001). I would make ADR's unless you are extremely flexible with where or what time you want to eat, or if you don't mind eating at a CS place. There's bound to be an opening at some restaurant between the parks and resorts, but you may have to leave the park you're at to get to one. Best of luck to you!