does anyone not do adr?

[heart goes boOm]

does anyone just wing it regarding what restaurants they can get in? disboards make me feel like i'll have no restaurants to go into if i don't make a reservation lol but i would hate to have to schedule a time to eat when vacation is a few weeks away.

 

[vicki_c]

Some people wing it, but how lucky they are varies. If you are really going "in a few weeks", that is during free dining, when walk-ups are much rarer to impossible. If you are on a Disney dining plan, you really should make reservations to ensure you are able to use your credits that you paid for. Even with free dining, you have "paid" for your dining, by the fact that you paid rack rate for your room vs. a discounted room. So if you want to get your money's worth, ADRs are important - that is why people book them 6 months out.

If you're not on a dining plan, aren't picky about where you eat, would be happy eating counter service vs. table service, etc. - then you have a better chance without ADRs.

If you want to try walking up to places, going when they first open for a particular meal is the best approach.

PS - there is a long current thread on this same topic you might want to look at:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2547480

 

[Nadjalu]

Sorry that you feel that these boards make you feel that way....but in truth this is one of the most accurate places to get truthful info regarding what to expect at WDW.

I know that isn't what you want to hear. That you don't want to plan sit down meals, you would rather wing it and have anywhere you want. But that most likely isn't going to happen. Most people on here (including me) want to let others know what really happens. That you are are aware of what really happens concerning meals during high crowds and FD days.

When I planned my first trip I went to my niece who had been many many times. I had no idea that TS were scheduled well in advance. (we went within 8 wks of making the reservation).
She worked really hard to help me pick places that we would like. Some we got, others she had to help go over 2nd and 3rd choices.

If it wouldn't have been for her guidence we would've been down there unaware of how important it is to make adrs and would've had CS all week. (yuck for us).

Again it is highly recommended that you try and make a few ressies. They may not be your firtst choice, but it is better than no choice at all when you get there.

 

[MidgeD79]

I have made 2 ADR's in the 10 + trips to WDW. Spirit of Aloha I made 180 days in advance. One time (summer of '07) I called reservations in the am and asked what was available and we got Rose and Crown. The others table service places we walked up and asked what was available ( maybe 3-4 times). TS places aren't necessary for us and I don't want to plan the entire eating schedule so far in advance.

 

[Deb & Bill]

does anyone just wing it regarding what restaurants they can get in? disboards make me feel like i'll have no restaurants to go into if i don't make a reservation lol but i would hate to have to schedule a time to eat when vacation is a few weeks away.

As long as your aren't disappointed when you only have counter service locations for your dining. You might be able to get a TS here and there, but don't count on it.

 

[eliza61]

I do a middle ground between making adr's and winging it.

When I wake up I simply hit the Dining button on my room phone. I ask the very nice people on the phone what is available for TS dining. I tell them thte approximate time we want to eat and where we will be.

I HAVE NEVER NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A RESERVATION. I go during the last week in august during free dining.

Now I will admit, there are no restaurants at Disney that I have to eat at. I just don't think they are that special, so if I don't get Le Cellier it's no big deal. that's probably why I can never make adr's 180 days out.

I never do walks ups. I also have had good luck at mgm checking the guest service when we first hit the parks.

Bottom line, 10 years straight and never had to settle for a cs because of not finding a ts restaurant.

 

[emacek]

I have also done the "call dining in the AM" and see what's available route and it's worked out fine.

I have also done the reservations 90 at 7am 180 days out.

It depends what type of vacation. For the group of 9 traveling the week after Christmas--definitely did ADRs. Too many people and too much potential whining if I didn't. For me and my hubbie on Valentines....I ADR'd for the big meal but I'm not worrying about the others.

For me and my mom--call in the AM.

Granted, I live in a large city so while I enjoy dining at Disney, I can (with the exception of V&A) always get more bang for my foodie buck back at home. Plus as a DVC member, I always know there's another trip in the offing.

emacek

 

[DonaldTDuck]

If you want to see the folks that don't make ADRs, just walk up to any TS. They're the ones saying but I paid a lot of money for this trip. You just gotta let me in.
There have been many days at MK they've posted a sign in front of City Hall that says there are NO available seats at any MK TS and I've even seen a sign attached below it saying no seats at any MK resort restaurants.
But if ya feel lucky, make my day.

 

[TruBlu]

I've seen the no availability sign many times.

 

[ancestry]

does anyone just wing it regarding what restaurants they can get in? disboards make me feel like i'll have no restaurants to go into if i don't make a reservation lol but i would hate to have to schedule a time to eat when vacation is a few weeks away.

Yes, I know that it can be frustrating but keep in mind that while you don't want to decide where to eat "when vacation is a few weeks away" many people book actually make these decision and their ADRs 180 days -- 6 months -- in advance.

If you want to eat at table service restaurants I would highly recommend that you make some dining reservations. If you are okay with counter service and don't want table service then don't sweat it.

 

[DFD]

does anyone just wing it regarding what restaurants they can get in? disboards make me feel like i'll have no restaurants to go into if i don't make a reservation lol but i would hate to have to schedule a time to eat when vacation is a few weeks away.

on the trips that I do solo I never do ADR anymore... I go to Guest relations to whatever park I go for that day and check what is available. I am also inpatient so if there's nothing I do a CS or just go to ESPN if I am by DHS or EPCOT.

It is really depends on how flexible you wanna be and the boards/post/threads are just there to give you a guideline or a heads up on what is busy and not for the time frame you are going.

Goodluck!

 

[tony67]

I tried to wing it about 2 years ago and it was a total failure.
You can get lucky, but just do not count on it.

You may just have to take whatever is available, and that could be a buffet at a CS that has been converted to a TS.
I hear they have done this at noodle station in MK when they are very busy.

We did had some luck with resort restaurants, but no luck with the more popular places.
A few times we were even told that there were no reservations to be had but were able to walk right in.
This happened at Kona and San Angel Inn, but that was the exception.

I knew I shoukd make ADRs, but we do not like the idea of having to book 180 days in advance.
We have no idea where we will be, if we will be hungry or what we want to eat.
Luckily we were paying OOP so we had the option of going to the Dolphin or to DTD or getting QS.

If you have the DDP you really need to book well in advance or you will be disappointed.

 

[vicki_c]

I knew I shoukd make ADRs, but we do not like the idea of having to book 120 days in advance.

Just to clarify - it's 180 days.

 

[tony67]

Just to clarify - it's 180 days.

Thanks. 120 or 180 - I still don't like it

 

[calablovedisney]

I would at least try to make some. First time we went I had made all my ADRs and had a great trip thanks to these boards, but I met some people at the resort who had no luck getting in to any TS and were pretty disappointed. But if you don't mind CS and want to take a chance just in case, then just play it day by day.
Either way I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time!!

 

[Lumiere Lover]

With the free food programs currently being offered, you really should make ADR's. A lot of people are going to take advantage of this program. I always make my ADR's 180 days out.

 

[heart goes boOm]

I do a middle ground between making adr's and winging it.

When I wake up I simply hit the Dining button on my room phone. I ask the very nice people on the phone what is available for TS dining. I tell them thte approximate time we want to eat and where we will be.

I HAVE NEVER NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A RESERVATION. I go during the last week in august during free dining.

Now I will admit, there are no restaurants at Disney that I have to eat at. I just don't think they are that special, so if I don't get Le Cellier it's no big deal. that's probably why I can never make adr's 180 days out.

I never do walks ups. I also have had good luck at mgm checking the guest service when we first hit the parks.

Bottom line, 10 years straight and never had to settle for a cs because of not finding a ts restaurant.

we're going october 21 to 25 and i didn't know about free dining so i'll have to look it up to see if it is during that time. but that's what i was planning on doing. this makes me feel better!

 

[ktlm]

If you are going in a few weeks, there is a good chance you will already have trouble getting into the more popular places if that is where you want to eat. I have seen countless amounts of people get turned away from TS restuarants, and during off times too. I have also seen people get lucky. Free dining can make it very difficult to get into table service restaurants. If you aren't picky at all about where you eat, and don't mind if you can't get into any table service restaurants and are stuck eating counter service, you will be okay- you certainly won't starve. Most of the time, I'm guessing you can call that morning and pick up a table service somewhere at Epcot, if you don't care where or what time you eat. As far as the MK, last December there was nothing available for dinner AT ALL for the 1st night we were going to be there...I tried for almost 2 months before our trip to pick up an ADR anywhere. (I did not book on the opening ADR date, because I didn't know how early our flight was going to get in, I started trying once I knew we would be in time for dinner). I finally did find something, and when we got to the parks, there definitely was that sign up that said there were no table service ADRs anywhere that day. I have seen that sign several times at MK, and I have called the day before or morning of and been told that there was nothing available when we have changed our park plans. If I were you, I would go ahead and make at least a couple ADRs. You can always cancel them if you find there are other things you would rather do that day.

 

[heart goes boOm]

If you are going in a few weeks, there is a good chance you will already have trouble getting into the more popular places if that is where you want to eat. I have seen countless amounts of people get turned away from TS restuarants, and during off times too. I have also seen people get lucky. Free dining can make it very difficult to get into table service restaurants. If you aren't picky at all about where you eat, and don't mind if you can't get into any table service restaurants and are stuck eating counter service, you will be okay- you certainly won't starve. Most of the time, I'm guessing you can call that morning and pick up a table service somewhere at Epcot, if you don't care where or what time you eat. As far as the MK, last December there was nothing available for dinner AT ALL for the 1st night we were going to be there...I tried for almost 2 months before our trip to pick up an ADR anywhere. (I did not book on the opening ADR date, because I didn't know how early our flight was going to get in, I started trying once I knew we would be in time for dinner). I finally did find something, and when we got to the parks, there definitely was that sign up that said there were no table service ADRs anywhere that day. I have seen that sign several times at MK, and I have called the day before or morning of and been told that there was nothing available when we have changed our park plans. If I were you, I would go ahead and make at least a couple ADRs. You can always cancel them if you find there are other things you would rather do that day.

for the past couple of days, i've been checking reservations to see what is available for the next day and there are plenty of restaurants that are available. but i think i will just make some adr's now. for some odd reason, i was under the impression i COULDN'T cancel them. silly me. thank you disboards!

 

[eliza61]

we're going october 21 to 25 and i didn't know about free dining so i'll have to look it up to see if it is during that time. but that's what i was planning on doing. this makes me feel better!

It works pretty good. You have to be flexible though. If you have your heart set on eating at "XYZ" or eating at 6:00 pm then you have to do the adr's.

My trips are much more enjoyable without the adr's. first for whatever reason we never seem to keep them, either we're just not hungry and sorry 3 months out I have no idea if I'm going to be hungry at 6:00 pm on Wednesday or we're not in the mood for the cuisine we booked for. People always complain about how rude it is to make adr's and then not sjpw up, but imo disney almost makes it impossible to do otherwise.

I hate having to plan my days around eating dinner so usually what use to happened is I'd make a reservation for Le Cellier and then either we're not hungry or we're not in the mood for steak so we just don't show up.

This way (calling each morning) works so much better for me and like I said, the last 5 years I've never had the cm on the phone say "sorry every thing is completely booked up" Ever!