Do you NEED ADR?

[KenziesMommy85]

Thanks, guys! I texted him a link to this thread.. Hopefully he listens to what all you have said! I think his issue is we usually go to Disneyland, and we have going over Christmas time, and always gotten a table to eat at with reservations with a max one hour wait (and usually it's more like 40 minutes). So I think he's thinking Disney world is the same. Don't need reservations. Just eat wherever you want on the whimsy. But I know I. And he definitely always want to sit down in a fun, cool atmosphere for dinner and have a nice people and a drink (we survived the day! Haha). And Ya, we will have two kids (1 and 9) so waiting hours wouldn't be pleasant.

 

[tobikaye]

I have only had 1 trip to WDW where I made more than 2 reservations before I arrived and that was as special sisters' trip where I wanted to let my sister eat at some of the character meals. I do not have to have a sit down meal every night and I have usually gone during moderate to slow times and do not mind going to a resort to eat so I can usually get pretty decent last minute reservations day of.

That said, if I was planning to be at WDW the week of Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or NYE, I would probably make at least 4-6 reservations scattered between breakfast, lunch or dinner at various parks. Then once I got there, the day before I would be able to cancel if I had a change in plans.

 

[KenziesMommy85]

Well guys... I tried! I am not sure if he even looked at this thread, but I talked to him again about the ADR. He said its non sense, that he doesn't believe you can't get a table. That when he was there the summer of 2006 there was lots of tables. We aren't on a schedule , and we will just wait in line. Good luck to us

 

[perditax]

I'm sorry. It's unfortunate that he's not willing to give you the benefit of the doubt with regards to the research you've done. 2006 was almost a decade ago and the country was still recovering from the 9/11 recession, things are different and park attendance is through the roof. The fact that he refuses to allow you to make even a single reservation seems to speak to a larger issue.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

My exH said that before our first trip, too, but he appreciated that we had ADRs once we got there. He heard enough people trying to get in places while we waited for our name that he understood why it was necessary. That said, I don't book for every single meal. If I realize I need a break on a day we planned to have counter service, I can always find SOMEWHERE to make a last minute ADR, but it is probably not going to be the place I would have chosen if I tried ahead of time.

You might be able to sell some ADRs as ways to get out of waiting in line - the Fantasmic dinner package, for instance, gets you dinner and seating, and if you have must-see characters, you can see them while you eat. I am big on skipping lines.

 

[mco65]

We have always made last second plans, either adding a sit down or changing a time.. we have not had any issues other than having to wait 20 or 30 minutes for a table. But, we have never gone in summer.. we did go last April and were able to squeeze into Askershus for breakfast one morning just by walking up and asking.. That being said, I would prefer to have an ADR... but wouldn't hesitate to pop in and ask if we could get a table for 5...

 

[perditax]

I'm pretty sure I've read that in high season it's not even a matter of a long wait, that they literally turn people away without ADRs.

 

[kamik86]

Honestly I would make reservations for days 3-Whater your last day is for wahtever meal is most important to you (and pick places you would like). Then if on days 1 and 2 he finds he can go wherever he wants you tell him he was right and give him the option of canceling them all. You lose nothing this way.

If you find you can't get anywhere the first two nights then you still have some reservations.

I go to WDW during off times most of the time and you still couldn't find a table at peak times at some places. There were many others you could though, but not if you wanted character dining, Be Our Guest, Le Cellier or other really popular ones. We changed our ADRs same day many times then... but that was before the whole CC guarentee thing. Now that wouldn't be as easy to do.

 

[klo1335]

Well guys... I tried! I am not sure if he even looked at this thread, but I talked to him again about the ADR. He said its non sense, that he doesn't believe you can't get a table. That when he was there the summer of 2006 there was lots of tables. We aren't on a schedule , and we will just wait in line. Good luck to us

Honestly, I would make some ADR's to have on hand. My DH wants nothing to do with Disney planning right now because it is too far in advance. So he just leaves all the planning to me. Tables are going to be hard to come by in July. The only restaurant in MK that offers alcohol is Be Our Guest and that is hard to get an ADR for. Good luck.

 

[jenrose66]

I told my boyfriend today about the ADR, and since he's a fly by the seat of your pants type of person he totally blew it off. Said he didn't want reservations and wanted to be able to go and eat where've and check places out since we don't know anything about the different restaurants. We definitely want to do sit down dinners every night. At cool/nice/awesome places (lol)... Will it be virtually impossible to get a table without an ADR? How long would a wait be without one? We are going from July 3rd-july 10th, fwiw.

Given when you are going I would try to set up your ADR's. I hate having to be locked into ADR's with the no show fee...I don't find it family friendly because kids can be unpredictable. For example, I went with my DD last February and she was 3. We had planned on being in Epcot on our first night since we flew into FL in the early afternoon, however, she was tired and we decided not to go into a park. I cancelled the ADR about 4 hours before. Of course that was within the no show window so my CC was going to be charged. I spent a half hour on the phone and was able to get them to not charge me...but after that I cancelled the ADR's for the rest of the week and decided to just take my chance with what was available within a few hours of when we wanted to eat. That worked for us in Feb., but I don't think it will work in July. You may just be stuck with having to work your days around your ADR's.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would ask him who he would rather have be wrong, you or him? Would he rather be proved right and be able to go I Told You So! Or would he rather you proved to be right, and end up having to wait a long time for a meal or settle for quick service all of the time. Ask him which sounds better.

And then tell him if he still doesn't agree to make any ADRs, he forfeits the right to any and all complaining if you are right. No complaining when he is eating yet another burger, or when he has to wait over an hour to be seated. None!!!

 

[KenziesMommy85]

I would ask him who he would rather have be wrong, you or him? Would he rather be proved right and be able to go I Told You So! Or would he rather you proved to be right, and end up having to wait a long time for a meal or settle for quick service all of the time. Ask him which sounds better.

And then tell him if he still doesn't agree to make any ADRs, he forfeits the right to any and all complaining if you are right. No complaining when he is eating yet another burger, or when he has to wait over an hour to be seated. None!!!

Lol exactly! And I csn guarantee, knowing him, if he was hungry and ready for dinner and he was rejected from multiple restaurants or quoted long waits he would so peeved. "This is rediculous!"

 

[KenziesMommy85]

Awesome replies guys! I already made an ADR for a character breakfast.. and I am just going to go ahead and make dinner ones for every night we are there.

breakfast and lunch I am totally cool with quick service. Or grabbing a hot dog, lol.

But now the really hard part.. Choosing 7 restaurants out of all the awesome places!!!

 

[greentea]

Honestly I would make reservations for days 3-Whater your last day is for wahtever meal is most important to you (and pick places you would like). Then if on days 1 and 2 he finds he can go wherever he wants you tell him he was right and give him the option of canceling them all. You lose nothing this way.

If you find you can't get anywhere the first two nights then you still have some reservations.

This is what I would do. You're taking two kids, and you want to have some cool and fun meals -- book a character meal and a couple other places you think you and the family will enjoy. They can always be cancelled the day before. If it were me, I'd feel better about having some backup plans.

Awesome replies guys! I already made an ADR for a character breakfast.. and I am just going to go ahead and make dinner ones for every night we are there.

breakfast and lunch I am totally cool with quick service. Or grabbing a hot dog, lol.

But now the really hard part.. Choosing 7 restaurants out of all the awesome places!!!

I see you're already doing it! Yeah, if you know you want to sit down and eat dinner every night, this is the way to go. Narrowing it down is definitely the hard part!

 

[KenziesMommy85]

When you put down your CC do they charge it?

I am so overwhelmed lol. Now I have to do mega restaurant research! At least it will be sort of easy because I definitely want to stay close to the park we are at for the day. =P

Is it until midnight the night before that you have to cancel?

 

[maxiesmom]

When you put down your CC do they charge it?

I am so overwhelmed lol. Now I have to do mega restaurant research! At least it will be sort of easy because I definitely want to stay close to the park we are at for the day. =P

Is it until midnight the night before that you have to cancel?

Yes, you have until Midnight the night before to cancel with no penalty.

No, they don't charge your card ahead of time. Though you may see a $1 charge show up briefly, and then vanish. Sometimes they run a quick check to make sure the card is valid.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

They don't charge your cc ahead of time unless you are doing the special experiences like cinderellas royal table, mickeys backyard bbq, hoop dee doo, or the dinner show at the Polynesian.

 

[1girln3boys]

Well guys... I tried! I am not sure if he even looked at this thread, but I talked to him again about the ADR. He said its non sense, that he doesn't believe you can't get a table. That when he was there the summer of 2006 there was lots of tables. We aren't on aschedule , and we will just wait in line. Good luck to us

sorry he feels that way. No way I would be happy spending an hr waiting for a table and missing park time. Good luck I hope yall get lucky

 

[Kona65]

Good questions

 

[Farps]

Please make ADR's, Please !!!