Going without ADRs in October 2014

[maemaesmagic]

Hi Im looking for some advice. I'm planning my trip for the 1st week in October. I'm travelling with just myself and my 12 year old nephew. It will be our second trip together and hopefully we will be on deluxe dinning. I really want this trip to be more relaxed and I was thinking of making ADRs for Ohana breakfast and HDDMR for sure but other than that going without and just picking places as we go. My question is has anyone else done this?? Is it easier because there are just 2 of us?? And Im also looking for basic advice if this is a good or really bad idea. Thanks Everyone

 

[figment_jii]

Hi Im looking for some advice. I'm planning my trip for the 1st week in October. I'm travelling with just myself and my 12 year old nephew. It will be our second trip together and hopefully we will be on deluxe dinning. I really want this trip to be more relaxed and I was thinking of making ADRs for Ohana breakfast and HDDMR for sure but other than that going without and just picking places as we go. My question is has anyone else done this?? Is it easier because there are just 2 of us?? And Im also looking for basic advice if this is a good or really bad idea. Thanks Everyone

Personally, I would not do this, but I like to know that I'll be able to eat at the places I want. You mention the DxDP, which means you pretty much need to eat at least two TS meals per day to be economically efficient. Unless you're willing to eat at the less popular places and/or at off times, I think you'll run into issues finding TS locations. There is almost always going to be some location available for walk-up, but it might not be in the park you're in or it might not be a place you want to eat. If you are going to "wing it" and forgo ADRs, I would also forgo the DxDP. I think winging it works better when you're paying OOP because then QS locations are also more viable options.

At this point, there have been no "Free Dining" offers announced (that I know of), but if it is offered while you're there, that will also make getting walk-up ADRs harder.

 

[keys2kingdom]

As long as you are SUPER flexible in places and times you are willing to eat it should be OK however, if free dining is offered then all bets are off. I agree with figment_jii, you might consider just paying for your dining as you go and then you won't have unused dining credits hanging over your head. If table services and the deluxe plan are a must then I'd schedule everything if free dining comes out.

That's too much stress for me, we're winging it out-of-pocket. I'm tired of feeling like a commander ordering around the troops and marching them to restaurants scheduled months in advance. There's one must-do for DS10 but that's the only ADR I'm scheduling for October. The rest I'll just check the app for day-of availability. Telling a 10 yo boy that he has to get out of the pool/stop riding rides/leave the water park so we can make our dinner reservation is a bummer.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Deluxe dining usually means you'll spend a lot of time in restaurants, even with ADRs. If you go without ADRs and end up having to wait for tables, you'll be spending even more time hanging around restaurants instead of in the parks. Honestly, at least to me, the DxDP seems like way too much. Only way to make it really work would be lots and lots of character meals or lots of signature restaurants--both of which are more likely to require ADRs.

 

[keys2kingdom]

Agreed, and chances are a 12 yo boy is not going to want to do that. My DS will be 11 when we go and eating at table service restaurants is not something he really wants to spend time doing. Especially more than once a day.

 

[maxiesmom]

I wouldn't buy the Deluxe Dining Plan and not make ADRs. You will be spending a lot of your time going to whatever ADR you can get, waiting for your ADR, and then the time spent eating. In most cases you won't be able to walk up to a restaurant and be seated without a wait, if they can seat you at all.

 

[figment_jii]

As the PP noted, the DxDP does tend to mean spending a fair amount of time eating/sitting in restaurants. These are the rules of thumb I tend to use:

Breakfast (park or resort): 45-60 minutes
Buffet/In-Park non-Signature TS: 60-75 minutes
Dinner (Resort, Non-Signature): 75-90 minutes
Dinner (Resort, Signature): 90-120 minutes

So, if you have two sit down TS meals, you're probably looking at a minimum of two hours in a restaurant, with three hours being more likely.

 

[Loki0panda]

We went October of last year, and while it was quieter than most times I've heard, we still saw bunches of families and couples being sent away. My suggestion is to make at least a couple of reservations. You can always cancel up to the day before. plus being able to just walk in and be seated fairly quick is a fantastic feeling, rather than worrying about where you're eating.

 

[maemaesmagic]

Thank you everyone I think your right maybe a few ADRs the reason I was thinking DxDP was to enjoy some more places i may rethink it hone the list down a bit and then it will feel less planned!

 

[spritna]

we usually go in october, more times than not you'll be turned away. we used to "wing it" and found ourselves eating cheeseburgers the whole trip

 

[maemaesmagic]

Yep that's the last thing I want on my vacation so I'm working up a full plan of attack and I'm going to get at least one ADR a day