first Disney trip - is an ADR dining exp. a must?

[jodivee]

hello everyone!

I am in the process of planning our very first Disney trip. I am sooooooo overwhelmed with information - my head is spinning!!

I have absolutely NO idea where we should eat. How on earth do I decide where we are going to eat when we have NEVER been there before? I so need some help. LOL
What if we are at a different park and don't want to go back for our dinner reservation? We are going Feb 2- 11, are ADRs a must for that time of year??
My DDs are 10 and 8.
thank you so much for any help.

 

[tjknitz]

hello everyone!

I am in the process of planning our very first Disney trip. I am sooooooo overwhelmed with information - my head is spinning!!

I have absolutely NO idea where we should eat. How on earth do I decide where we are going to eat when we have NEVER been there before? I so need some help. LOL
What if we are at a different park and don't want to go back for our dinner reservation? We are going Feb 2- 11, are ADRs a must for that time of year??
My DDs are 10 and 8.
thank you so much for any help.

I just got back from my first trip in Sept, so I can't be of much help as to whether or not ADR's are a must in Feb. In Sept it was Free Dining and yes, at that time ADR's were a must!

As to where you should eat.....are you looking for character meals? Are you on the dining plan? Are you and your family big planners or do you prefer to just play it by ear?

IMO, I found having the characters there while dining provided a great opportunity to get pics and autographs....so I didn't have to stand in long lines in the parks trying to get a photo op with Mickey. On the other hand, having a dining experiance where I wasn't jumping up every 5 min to get a pic with a character was nice too, so I would make sure to even it out between character meals and just reg. family meals.

Again, I'm not a seasoned Disney vacationer, but I did a ton of planning for my first trip, and I'm planning already for my Sept 2010 trip. I'd be happy to help any way that I can.....planning is part of the fun!

 

[ancestry]

I would highly recommend that you make ADRs for any table service restaurants that you want. If you are traveling during a slow period you may be able to occasionally be seated as a walk up. However the chances of that happening at the most desirable restaurants during the peak dining times are rare. For example you may be able to do a dinner walk up at 9:00 PM but finding one at 6:00 PM may be impossible.

 

[jennylyn_b]

I would absolutely make ADR's for all Table service restaurants you want to eat at. I went to Disney in May 2006 and didn't have any and we found ourselves wandering around and getting turned away. Ever since then, we always make ADR's for dinners at least. That way we know we can get into the restaurants we want. As far as which ones to eat at, what type of meals are you looking for and what atmosphere? You can look at the menus posted on this website. Also feel free to send me a private message if you want further help Good Luck!

 

[Kimberle]

It can be overwhelming!!

First, you need to make a traveling plan. Decide what park(s) you'll want to be at for what day. Next, decide how many sit-down restaurants you want. I like 1 per day (plus 1 counterservice) and a snack or 2 per day. Mix it up, have a couple b/fasts (character ones are good), a lunch or two, and the rest dinners. Decide what type of food you like.

A good tip is to book a b/fast in a park (I like Crystal Palace in MK, Pooh & friends), BEFORE park opening (not during EMH). If MK opens at 9, book you b/fast for 8. You'll get to enter the park early & see a nearly deserted main st. You can take wonderful pictures of the castle w/ no one around. You'll be done w/ bfast right at park opening.

If you're going to spend all day in a park, eat a light b/fast in your room. Book a sit down lunch. It'll make a nice break. Later in the evening, grab a counter service for dinner.

When you've made a plan of which park's you'll be on which days, you can figure out where to eat (sit-downs). Eat a the park where you are. WDW is very very large. Getting to another location for a dinner can take quite a bit of time. Some of the resorts have nice restaurants, too. Again, look at how easily it will be to get from one place to another. (for example, if you're staying at WL, it is just a 5 minute boatride to CR for Chef Mickeys or the Wave. If you're at Pop, you'll have to take a bus to a park, then another bus/train/boat/etc to CR which could take an hour or more.)

Once you've determined where you'll be around your meal time, you can figure out which restaurant to choose. Your "field" will be much smaller.

Once you're on vacation, if you want to make changes, you can try. If you're able, great, if not, at least you have something.

Hope this helps!

 

[disneyfan55]

One thing you do have to know is WDW is huge. THe parks are miles apart from each other. What I would do is check out all the restaurant menus on Allears.net just to see what you like, then kind of gear any TS reservations to where you will be visiting that particular day. (On MK days we eat in the MK or most likely the resorts near there) If it were my first visit,not knowing the layout etc. I would definately do that. I would make a few reservations. THe character meals are really neat and there are many of them! Try to decide on characters that you would like to see and plan you park day with the reservation so you don't waste time travelling across the resort to get to a meal.
We actually will be there overlapping your stay from Feb 5-12. We had no problem with most of the reservations, except Chef Mickey's for breakfast. We did make that reservation about a month ago, but wanted to switch it and nothing for that Sat the 6 for our party of 6. You might want to call and make a few just to make sure you have some TS if that's what you want. They can always be cancelled. Have fun on your first visit to WDW.

 

[tami82]

YES. This was really part of the experience for us and so glad we did it. It was so great not having to put out money for anything as everything was paid ahead of time. I highly recommend it.

 

[Dziactor]

I would reccomend reading everything on the restaurants; reading menu's, looking at reviews here, etc. When I went last June I hadnt been to the parks in about 5 or 6 years. Just did a ton of cramming I guess. Planned my first set of restaurants based on the unoffical guide reviews, reviews on the disboards(searched the forums on everything), and looking at the menu's. Now we have some favorites (le cellier, etc) and some we disliked (hollywood & vine). Going again in May, have some new ones were trying some we love that we are skipping (Jiko). I feel like all the research helps, but even going for my third time in a year in May I still read reviews and second guess my decisions. Just take your time, and if you dont get a reservation keep trying as there are always cancellations. i keep track on a basic excel spreadsheet.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I agree with everyone so far about the ADR's. Make them and if you need them then cancel but if you don't have them and want them you may not get them.

DDP, I am frugal by nature. Because of the DDP I can go in and order anything on the menu and have dessert. For me it is a holiday from being cheap and counting pennies.

Enjoy and relax, planning is the part of the fun.

 

[thehails]

whilst agreeing that it makes sense to make ADR for those reservations you know you dont want to miss, i would also say dont stress about it. We are here at the moment and it was a totally unplanned visit so didnt have chance to make ADR - at less than 2 weeks out we got CRT for 4 at lunchtime. Ohana was 2/3 empty for breakfast a week ago on Monday, We got a walk up this week at Liberty Tree Tavern again at lunch time, Tappen Edo were taking walk ups last Wednesday at lunch time, got Sci fi diner a couple of days before going, we got a walk up at Kona Cafe last night & i have just called tonight and got Hollywood Brown Derby for lunch tomorrow. We were here at the end of Jan beginning of Feb last year and the parks & dinning are much quieter than last year.

I was really worried because i didnt have anything much booked but its been great.