has anyone ever done early adr to beat crowd

[brookewalker]

Im working on adr for chef mickey and ohana.

Right now they are at 6, but they have some for 4:45.

Has anyone ever done this...

I thought maybe we would be eating at 4:45 when park is busier then go back to park at 6:30 when most people are eating?

Anyone ever test this theory?

Traveling with 1 and 3 year old!

 

[ses1230]

At least for Ohana, I would look for an ADR right at the beginning of dinner service. There is a tendency for them to become very behind as the night goes on.

 

[PinkGreenBlue26]

At least for Ohana, I would look for an ADR right at the beginning of dinner service. There is a tendency for them to become very behind as the night goes on.

And I made a ADR for 8pm on our last night because of the fireworks..Wondering if that wasn't very smart..

 

[figment_jii]

I thought maybe we would be eating at 4:45 when park is busier then go back to park at 6:30 when most people are eating?
Anyone ever test this theory?

I honestly don't think it will matter in terms of park crowds. Dining times tend to spread out. My guess is that things like evening parade and firework times are more likely to affect ride lines as those are events that only happen at a specific time and guests that want to see those have to do that at that time.

In terms of 'Ohana, I also recommend getting an ADR for an early time. At opening they tend to be doing okay, but as the evening progresses, it's not uncommon to hear that folks had to wait 30-45+ past their ADR time to be seated.

PinkGreenBlue26 - did make the ADR time hoping to see fireworks from 'Ohana or in hopes that you'd be finished in time to go down to the beach? There aren't many tables that have a view of the show from within 'Ohana.

 

[disneybliss2]

I've not made an early reservation with the idea that I would get back to the parks while others were eating to beat crowds. I have, however, made reservations earlier in order to get in the restaurant before they got busy and got behind, which in the end helps me get out of the restaurant sooner and maximizes my park time. I agree with the others that it's a good idea to get in early at 'Ohanas. We've always had a wonderful experience here and seated early or right on time. I've heard horrible stories from others with later reservations here due to them getting backed up.

 

[SEA333]

Im working on adr for chef mickey and ohana.

Right now they are at 6, but they have some for 4:45.

Has anyone ever done this...

I thought maybe we would be eating at 4:45 when park is busier then go back to park at 6:30 when most people are eating?

Anyone ever test this theory?

Traveling with 1 and 3 year old!

Not only have I done this, I prefer it!! I am always on the lookout for off-peak times for dinner reservations and other activities, even down to grocery shopping. I hate crowds of people, hate waiting, hate lines, and hate sitting around after a meal waiting for the check because the server is so backed up she can't get to us right away.

Last trip, we had a 4:45pm reservation for LTT and it was awesome. MK closed at 7pm that night, and we got there at 9am at rope drop, so by the time dinner came, we were ready to head out after. It was around 6pm when we finished dinner, so we headed to the package pick-up for my 7 year olds POTC sword (which too FOREVER due to the foreign-language speaking person ahead of us who could not communicate enough to describe her package AND lost her receipt for it...sigh.) and beat the crowd leaving the park by about 15 minutes. Since we were also there at a non-peak time of the year, we had been able to get a parking spot so close to the TTC that we walked the 5 rows back to the car and were out of there before anyone else could queue up. Score!!!!

My kids are older than yours now, but this strategy was especially important several years ago when they were little - having a 5-year old, 19-month old, and newborn kind of mandated that we get in and out of some places with as little fuss as possible!