First Timer Question re ADRs

[MamaCrush]

We're planning our FIRST WDW TRIP!! for Labor Day weekend, 2006 (Me, DH, DS6 and DD4, and a few cousins, etc.). How necessary is it for us to book ADR's and where can I go to find out how this works? My DH and I would have absolutely no problem researching and making dinner decisions now, but that is NOT the case with the extended family we're traveling with. Should we all get our act together and make ADR's or will we be all right spontaneously choosing our dinner restaurants while we're there. I don't think we're planning to do any character meals since DS and DD are not crazy about live characters-- they prefer theirs to be in books or on tv.

Any thoughts you experts can share??

 

[gonemousin']

Definitely make your ADR's prior to arriving, and as soon as you have a general feel for where you'd like to go. Some of the popular choices book up quickly, especially since you'll be there during the free dining promotion.

Allearsnet.com as a great selection of current restaurant menus, sorted by park/resort location. You can call and make your ADR's 90 days out if you're staying off site or 180 days out if you're a resort guest. Trying to figure out where to eat the first time we went was so overwhelming. Reading through Deb's menus on Allearnet was a BIG help to us!! Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful trip!! How exciting for you all!!

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Labor Day weekend is always busy (any holiday weekend is busy). And with the free dining being offered that weekend, you'll need to book your table service restaurants ASAP. They will all fill up and you may not be able to get a table if you wait till you are there. Chances are there will not be any walkups available.

Also, I'd like to respectfully correct the above post by gonemousin'. EVERYONE can make ADRs at 180 days, so that's another reason why you should book sooner rather than later. People have been booking Labor Day weekend meals for over two months now.

Enjoy!

 

[Bev J]

Unless your going to eat counter service your whole trip then take a good look at the menues and make your ADR's. It will cost you nothing to make them and after you have been out in the heat and crowds you and your family will be so happy you made them and you can all sit and relax with a good meal. They will be thanking you for doing this!

Bev

 

[Karnak]

I would suggest that you make your meal reservations yesterday. As a poster said earlier, spots fill up quickly.

Best of luck.

Enjoy.

 

[budbeerlady]

We were there in early December. There were hardly any crowds, Dh thought I was crazy for planning and making ADRS. The Peter Pan ride at MK was a walk on. Le Cellier wasnt!

He saw how important all of my planning was! We got to eat where we wanted to, with out horrible waits. The restuarants were all very busy! I like to know that I can eat my dinner roughly close to 6:30 and I wont be trudging around to find a place to eat with a reasonable wait time.

I would tell them they need to deceide where to eat and soon. Maybe each could pick a night and the place? Nothing is worse than being hungry (and possibly tired) and then having to wait an hour to be seated. Or wandering around trying to find a place that will even seat you eventually.

 

[Hopefully]

The Disney Dining Plan - free or not - has made Table Service (TS) restaurants VERY BUSY at WDW. Folks who before ate mainly counter service (CS) are now eating more and more at the TS restaurants.
We were there last week, and although it was not crazy busy we saw folks being turned away everywhere we went - resort dining rooms, park TS etc. We tried to change a few of our ADR's while we were there with no luck at all. There was nothing available anywhere.
In my opinion, you need to convince them that this is now a necessity at WDW and try to make your ADR's ASAP!
Good Luck

 

[CanadianGuy]

So.. here's another question - what happens if I make a reservation and don't make it? Do I get charged?

Some of the restaurants I looked at (Rose & Crown) for example, warned of a charge if the reservation was cancelled too close to the actual day..

J