Dp Problems?

[ronunc]

My wife and I have been to WDW too many times to count. The dining is one of the things we enjoy the most. My impression is that ADR's are difficult to obtain because of the dp.
We are considering not going to WDW anymore because of the difficulty and the lack of flexibility. Are we the only ones who feel this way?

 

[cobbler]

I haven't had any problems getting what I want for ADR's. I may not get them exactly at the time I want but it is always within 15 minutes.

Are you making them at the 90 day point or later? Also what time of year are you going?

 

[ronunc]

Our next trip is scheduled for early May 2006. we generally make 2-3 ADR's for a 10-12 day stay and make the remaining ADR's each morning for the evening meal. Guess we will have to make all of the ADR's in advance. Is anyone having trouble 90 days out?

 

[dcgrumpy]

I didn't have any problems booking our ADR's 90 days out. I even booked a couple at 40 days out. We're a party of 10 and we are arriving Thanksgiving day. I got everything we wanted, of course I wasn't trying for CRT or LeCellier.

 

[CarolynK]

We returned from WDW one week ago. There were 6 of us. We made only one ADR (I still call them PS's!) before leaving, about two weeks out. The rest were made on-site, many same-day. NEVER had a problem getting what we wanted. I wouldn't worry.

 

[annie1995]

We only had 3 problems getting into places. Two of them were character meals and spur of the moment on weekends. And the other was also spur of the moment, at CRT. Never figured that I would get in there last minute though. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[April]

Prior to this year, we never made any ADR's for table service. We usually played it by ear, called the same day and never had problem getting in. But after reading the dis boards this year, I decided to make them. Called about 60 days out and got everything I wanted. It seems ever since Disney offered "free dining" and DDE, most of the restaurants are really busy.

 

[disney queen]

no problems for us in mid-october. i booked 90 days out. we even booked flying fish on a saturday and got the time we wanted!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I just booked our ADRs for the first week of January. Got everything I wanted at the time I wanted.

 

[Harmony]

I booked Alfredo's and Teppanyaki while at Disney. I booked them *that* morning for dinner. (we were there during peak season too--summer)

 

[krbq]

I wouldn't stop going to WDW because of that. It sounds like the free dining plan caused the restaurants to be full, but I believe that's over now. I've gotten the ADR's we wanted for our upcoming trip, some of them only 7 days away. The only one we didn't get at the time we wanted was CRT for dinner, and that was only about an hour later than we'd like.

 

[curiouser]

We're going during the busiest time (Dec 23-Jan2) and had no problems making ADRs for all the places we wanted at the exact times we wanted. The only one we had to switch was the Candlelight Processional dinner, and that was no big deal. We even missed the exact date for our 90+10 and still made all our ADRs/times.

I really don't see it being a problem, even with the new DP. The only time we experienced problems w/the DP on our last trip was at CS restaurants with people not fully understanding their plans and causing problems at the registers.

 

[NMW]

We were able to get everything we wanted at 90 days except Le Celliar. I was pretty close to gettting the times I wanted (within 20 minutes). I don't think I would ever go to Disney anymore without ADR's. I was advised by a few CM's while making the dining ADR's to make sure I was picking the times I would really want because it's unlikely that I would be able to change them during our trip. They did blame the popularity of the dining plan for this, as well as not being able to get Le Celliar-I guess it's only 1 credit. We are going early Dec. Good luck!

 

[ronunc]

Thanks to all. I feel a little more comfortable. Hate losing the flexibility of deciding daily.

 

[Dodie]

I would assume that once the dining plan is no longer "free," there won't be this glut of people using it.

 

[Thumper's Tara]

I just called for ADRs about 90 days out for my trip 1/21-1/27. I had no problem getting exactly what I wanted. My times were within 15 minutes of when I wanted to eat and the Reservations Agent was very helpful.

Last February/March, before the free DP, I made ADRs for only half the time we were there. I made them at the 70 day mark. 2 other meals we got ADRs on-site, including Crystal Palace for a Friday night (lucky I guess). The remaining meals, we just walked up and were seating. These were mainly at the Boardwalk restuarants around 8-9 pm.

I hope this helps!

ttfn,
TT

 

[jennymouse]

Thanks to all. I feel a little more comfortable. Hate losing the flexibility of deciding daily.

If it were me, I'd go ahead and make your ADR's. If you decide you don't want to go to that particular restaurant call that day and see if you can get in where you want to go. I think even stopping at Guest Services in the park a couple minutes before you want to eat is better than just showing up. This way, if you can't get in, you can always go to your original ADR for a backup.

 

[Brygida]

My wife and I have been to WDW too many times to count. The dining is one of the things we enjoy the most. My impression is that ADR's are difficult to obtain because of the dp.
We are considering not going to WDW anymore because of the difficulty and the lack of flexibility. Are we the only ones who feel this way?

I made all my ADRs at the last minute and some even day of/day before. I got them all.... and this was during *free* dining plan time.

I also noticed that when we went they were always taking walk-ins, so frankly I don't believe we needed the ADRs, we still would have been sat at exactly the same time.

 

[mjkaferle5]

I wouldn't stop going to WDW because of that. It sounds like the free dining plan caused the restaurants to be full, but I believe that's over now. I've gotten the ADR's we wanted for our upcoming trip, some of them only 7 days away. The only one we didn't get at the time we wanted was CRT for dinner, and that was only about an hour later than we'd like.

I agree the 'free' dining plan caused the problems. Now since that is over things should be fine. Yes there still is the dining plan. But people will be paying for it and not everyone is going to use it. When it was 'free' you had people who won't normally wouldn't do a sit-down doing a lot of those.

 

[rebbeca]

Made ADRs two weeks prior for trip 8-28 to 9-3. Had no problems getting what we wanted. I was traveling with my eldery father, so plans changed quite often. I never had a problem getting what I wanted for lunch or dinner that day. There were a few times (Lecellier and Mama Melrose comes to mind), I was told they were taking walk ups for a party of two. Since it is just the two of you, I don't think you will have any problems whatsoever.