Do you need to make ADRs during non Free-DDP?

[CruisinEars]

We are going for a week in May and the free DDP is not offered then. So, do we still need to make ADR's for TS restaurants? or would we be fine with just doing walk-up? There are only a couple of places we are planning on, but the other times we were just going to wing it and probably just do cs.

 

[Allison]

You need to make adr's.

 

[Snow Shoe]

I make ADR's for anytime we go. I just don't want to be disappointed and not be able to eat at a favorate or new TS restaurant. It just takes a few minutes to do it.

 

[simonkodousek]

I would make ADR's. Wait times for the popular restaurants (without ADR's) can be over an hour in most cases.

 

[CruisinEars]

Thanks for your quick responses. I guess I will have to plan our meals and make adr's.

 

[Tina G]

ADRs are a must pretty much any time of year. A table-service meal is already a longer experience than quick service and you don't want to compound that by having to wait or get turned away.

Both of our Disney trips have been in May and the restaurants have always been packed. Last year, when we went into the parks they would have a board that listed the TS restaurants and whether they had reservations still available. There were usually few to no restaurants that we had ADRs for that were ever on that list.

I would think that with free dining in the fall, ADRs are required or you will not eat at TS restaurants. But the other popular times of year like spring, summer, and holidays I think they are just as much needed especially at the popular restaurants. I wouldn't dream of going to Disney at any time of year without ADRs.

 

[Wenda]

I think it depends on how disapointed you will be if you miss a certain restaurant. I have been to WDW many, many times and never made an ADR. That said - many times we were not able to eat at our first choice of TS, and also we eat at odd times, like in the middle of the afternoon.

The only time we really ran into trouble was during free dining when we didn't have the dining because we booked at the last minute for 50% off.
We were still able to get into the Plaza Rest. in the middle of the afternoon and ate at the bar at Capn Jacks.

We do mostly counter-service so if we can't get into a certain place we are OK.
We don't do ADR's because we don't like to be tied down to be at a certain place at a certain time.

 

[skater]

I just returned yesterday and they were turning people away for Le Cellier - they were completely booked for lunch and dinner. Of course this is always true of Le Cellier, but I would think any popular restaurant may have the same issue.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I think I would make the ADRs. We've been to WDW in May and in June and we saw people being turned away because they had no ADRs.

When we were waiting for our ADR time at the Sci-Fi, we heard the castmembers telling guests that the only time they could seat them was 9:30 p.m.