Going 1st week in Oct., ARe ADR's really Necessary?

[pedigot1]

we are going to go the first week of October this year. From what we have read the crowd levels will be pretty low. Do we really need to have ADR's to eat at some of the places we want to eat ie: Boma, Jiko, Liberty tree tavern(lunch maybe), Beirgarten, etc. We will probably do some CS while in the parks as well sometimes. thanks

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Welcome to the Dis..

ADR's are an assurance that you can eat where you want on what day you want.. Some of us like to go where the day takes us and do not always make ADR's, but if you want to eat at specific restaurants that are popular, I would make an ADR.. you can always cancel it if you are not going to make it.

 

[pooch]

will be starting that week. I always make ADRs just in case. As Mackey Mouse said, you can always cancel if you don't want them.

 

[Hopefully]

We have been going in October for years. Each year is more crowded than the previous. October is no longer a slow time of year, as evidenced by the fact that it is now considered Regular Season, not Value Season as in years past. Do NOT go expecting low crowd levels or you will be disappointed. I think moderate crowd levels is more appropriate. This is the time of the Epcot Food & Wine festival which is very popular with both resort guests (we go just for the F & W Festival) and locals alike.
As others have said, if there is a specific restaurant you want to eat at, than an ADR is important. We have watched peopled turned away from dinner time and time again. Sure there will be Somewhere to eat, but it may not be where you want to eat.
You have named some popular restaurnants as your choices. I would call ASAP to make reservations for these. Guests can make ADR's up to 180 days in advance and some of these may already be booked.
Good Luck and have a great trip.

 

[disneyfan55]

I would make reservations. Our reservation starts on Sept 22 for a week and we had a hard time getting anything close to what we wanted. Granted it's still free dining, but the first week of Oct can still have free dining. I was very surprised at the difficulty in getting reservations and we made them the end of June. You can always cancel if you don't want to eat at a particular place. If it were me, I would definately make at least some reservations. This free dining thing made our upcoming vacation the most planned WDW trip ever and I feel if I didn't make those reservations we wouldn't even be able to eat at many of the sit down restaurants at all or walk around endlessly looking for one.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Yes they really are, IF you want a sit down place to eat. Make them IF YOU CAN STILL GET THEM and cancel if you need to.

 

[Skylarr29]

ADR's are pretty much always a necessity these days.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Absolutely!!!!

 

[MamaQuack]

We used to go in October too expecting low crowds until last year. As previously posted it is now very busy. If you plan to snack and eat at the F & W fest then maybe you would not need ADR's but otherwise I would highly recommend them.

 

[aubriee]

I would make reservations. Our reservation starts on Sept 22 for a week and we had a hard time getting anything close to what we wanted. Granted it's still free dining, but the first week of Oct can still have free dining. I was very surprised at the difficulty in getting reservations and we made them the end of June. You can always cancel if you don't want to eat at a particular place. If it were me, I would definately make at least some reservations.

We'll be there Sept 29th-Oct 7th and will have free dining (via the Bounce Back Program). I made ADRs at the 180 day mark, but have tried in the last few weeks to change some around. I was able to get 50's Prime Time and Raglan Road about a month ago, but have had no luck with any of the others. As everyone else has said I'd definitely try to make some ADRs. You can always try to change them once you get down there, but at least you'd be assured of a place to eat.

 

[pta-mom]

Yes, I would say ADR's are necessary....you will have some of the free dining folks still there as well as many of the F & W folks....it will be nice & busy!!

 

[Tissa]

I'm going that week and have recently tried to change some ADR's around and had some problems with a few. I couldn't even add one more person to our WCC ressie on Wed the 3rd. You will be able to eat, just not at a prime restaurant at a decent time.