How important are ADR's?

[Bichon Barb]

Friends are taking their family of 5 to WDW for the first time during the week of April 8th, doing the dining plan and have no ADR's!!!

Just curious, if she doesn't take my advice and goes down there with no dining plans, how bad do you think it will be? (I've never done DDE, and we have always made sure to have PS's when the kids were with us.)

 

[Tigger_Magic]

They may luck out at most restaurants. During our last trip we saw people checking in at numerous places with no ADRs and getting on a wait list. I don't know how long they waited though. Some places turned people away with no ADR -- Sci-Fi; Le Cellier; Chef Mickeys; LTT.

We never arrive with ADRs in hand, but that's just us.

 

[3mickeys&me]

IMO they might have a problem. On our last trip the places we had ADR's were turning people away because they didn't have ADR, maybe because it was prime eating time, lunch time and dinner time. When we go we like to plan our Sit down meals in advance and it makes it easier to have the ADR.

 

[Mamu]

They never used to be. With the dinning plan there getting harder and harder to get.

We were there in October did make a few good thing almost everywhere was turning away people.

If there somewhere special you want to go I would recommend you make an ADR.

 

[mickeymousemom]

Though I've never been to DW in April, I would guess that the first week is still into the Spring Break crowd somewhat. I know some people just don't like making ADR's. I personally don't understand it, but some people just don't want to have to decide ahead of time I guess.
I will say this...when we went last October, I made ADR's 90 days out as soon as I could. Yes, the dining plan was free, so it was a smart choice. Every day that we were there, there were signs up in the parks telling people that there were no openings left at any of the TS restaurants and they recommended eating at specific CS places. I was extremely glad I made ADR's. It is possible to do a walk up and get a table, but during crowded times of the year, it will be much harder, even during off times of the day.
It's my opinion to ALWAYS make ADR's before you go(not really needed in really down times of the year, though). THEN if you decide to change your mind when you get there, you can always try to get in somewhere without an ADR. If that fails, at least there is a back up. I have no doubt that last October there were many people who never made ADR's that were forced to eat CS meals their whole trip!

 

[aaroncg]

I just booked last week at my 180 days out. we are going in off season ( end of aug. through sep.) and we didnt get some of the times we wanted. The CM's told me the larger party you have the harder it is to get in. They only have so many tables set aside.we are a party of 6 and at 3 restaurants we will be seated at 2 different tables. You might want to tell you friend that if they are going to get full use of the dining plan to go ahead and make adr's. Good luck.

 

[The Sweetness]

Your friends have a choice. They can either call for whatever ADRs they can get ASAP, or settle for CS at every meal. Possibly even waiting on a long line to get that CS food, with all of the others who refused, or didnt know that they needed to make ADRs Ill be making mine on Nov 30. 180 days out

 

[twins4disney]

I tallked to a CM yesterday to confrim our plan for our May trip. I asked him if they were busy with people making ADR's with the new plan. He said that 75% of the calls they are getting are people making adrs with the DP. I told him that I work with someone whose DH is refusing to make any ADR's. His response was "Good luck to them" telling me I need to talk some sense into them!
Of course I had to mention the "rumor" about the character meal, he told me that his text book answer was that he could not confirm anyting, but did tell me that since there is no character meal at MGM, it would be a perfect oppurtunity for Disney. He also told me that "if" one was in the works, it was at least 6 months out!

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

When we made our ADRs we thought that one of our restaurants didn't accept them. Fortunately, we asked and found out that WCC required them. IMO, it's worth the hassle to get ADRs. Better to be safe than sorry, especially if there are any kiddies in the group who have to eat with Mickey, a Princess, or whoever.

 

[tjmouse]

They will spend more time searching for a TS to eat at, they will not be happy. Even if they luck out and say, go to the Plaza at MK their first night and they get in, they won't have that luck all week. If you know WDW and you know which places to go, you might, but not on your first trip. If you want some suggestions for them, here's a few:
The Plaza
Grand Floridian Cafe
Shutters
Yacht Club Galley
ESPN Club (I think it's on the DP)
Nine Dragons
Biergarten

 

[momrek06]

Friends are taking their family of 5 to WDW for the first time during the week of April 8th, doing the dining plan and have no ADR's!!!

Just curious, if she doesn't take my advice and goes down there with no dining plans, how bad do you think it will be? (I've never done DDE, and we have always made sure to have PS's when the kids were with us.)

IMHO, It is WICKED (yes I am from Boston) IMPORTANT to have ADR's!! DH & I were there in Feb and had ADR's for every meal and let me tell you, esp for dinner...it was so AWESOME to just walk up to a CM and say we have a ressie for 2 @ 7pm. I did see allot of people get turned away esp @ Le Cellier and Liberty Tree Tavern. My DS is there now with DGF and he called to say one of the BEST plans of the entire trip was having ADR's. They saw crowds at O'Hana's, Brown Derby, Le Cellier, LTT, all get told 2 hour wait or that they just were BOOKED for the evening.

 

[jwfla422]

During that time I also agree ADR's are a must. We go to WDW pretty frequently, mostly off-season and even then we need to do ADR's if we want specific times or if we want a popular restaurant or want to go on a weekend night. I always schedule ADR's for each trip but of course, sometimes things change or we end up in a different park from the one I originally planned, so that can sometimes backfire.

There have been times where it was beyond our control that we didn't have an ADR (mostly because I had a to reschedule a trip a few days later, etc..) and I found it tough to get into places (especially at night) between 5:30-8:30. We did show up at some and because it was only 2 of us we've lucked out, but for a big party some places will turn you away.

And, just for the record. We were in MGM the week BEFORE Xmas this past Dec. at the end of "off-peak" season. There were no lunch ADR's to be found and the counter service places were totally PACKED!! I mean, 20 people deep in each line that didn't move!! It was terrible, we ended up having pretzels for lunch that day!!

 

[Eeyore2003]

I just advised first timers who just went this last week. I have yet to talk to her, but I made sure that she had her reservations. I told her that if she wanted table service at all, it's the only way she might get it, I was pretty adamant with her and she did have her reservations made even for the "none busier" ones like Shutters.

When we went in November I had reservations for every day except one Saturday. We were going to eat at the Food and Wine Festival. Well, we got there and it was SWAMPED. I left and said we'd go the next day and we'd eat out that night. Yah right!!! I called Disney Dining and there was ONE reservation left at ONE restaurant in all of Disney World for that night and it was really late that night.

I did go to the concierge desk at the Beach Club where we stayed and the lady gave us the last spot THEY had for thier Clam Bake Buffet there. It was a busy week-end, BUT I will never take my chances again. You can always cancel.

I agree with a previous poster, if you want a nice table service meal that day make that reservation, otherwise there's a good chance they will be standing in long lines at counter service.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I should add that I really think the conciege desk just put us on the stand by list as we waited over and hour to be seated from our given time. This has never happened when we've had advance ADR's.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We are finding it is hard to get in anywhere without ADR's now. We have seen several people turned away because they don't have them. Even the resort restaurants are starting to turn people away and this generally didn't happen before. I would say that it is very important to have them if there are specific places you want to eat.

 

[Leota]

It is definately important to have ADRs if they want to sit & eat anywhere at WDW for a family of 5. They are already going to have a problem getting seats this close to their dates....

We went 3 times last year - I saw folks getting turned away from restaurants right & left because they had no reservations. Even with ressies, you are sometimes waiting 15-20 minutes just to check-in. The dining plan has massively increased the volume of table service.

Making ADRs isn't that difficult. I cannot understand why some folks are so resistant to it? If I want to eat at a hot restaurant at home, I make a reservation - If I want to enjoy good meals on vacation (which I do) why wouldn't I make a ressie?

 

[Cinderella]

Please - tell them to make some ADR's. At one time, we would wing it, but we visited early December - which is a slow time, and we tried to change our plans and couldn't. We were staying in concierge in the Poly, and couldn't get dinner at any time in Ohana. Le Cellier was booked up through to January, and all the restaurants were so crowded.

The only walk ins we got were the Morroccan restaurant for dinner and Planet Hollywood - late lunch.

They really do need to make at least some ADR's, or the dining plan will be a waste for them.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Wow. I'm so glad I came upon this post. If I'm going in April is it absolutely too late to try for ressies? It's only myself and my dd (6) who's going. She is a very picky eater. She's basically a pizza, hot dog, chiken fingers/french fries type of girl. Is CS the best bet for us? If not, what restaurants are good for her? Help!

 

[maggiew]

Monica,
What sort of budget do you have?? If you are trying to keep it inexpensive, you could easily do counter service and get all of those things you listed that your daughter likes.

If you can budget for some table service, why not try a character breakfast or two. Your DD is at a perfect age for that. I would recommend the Princess Breakfast at EPCOT, but I am not sure you could get in there at this late date. But it never hurts to try!! Another good one is Chef Mickeys at the Contemporary.

I, personally, would get tired of counter service for every meal. Although if it were a short trip I might be able to do it. There are several Table Service options that have the things you listed. In fact, almost all of the kids menus at all of the restaurants have those things. (See http://www.allearsnet.com and go to the dining then menu section for menus) Alfredos in Epcot has a good pizza appetizer at lunch that your DD might like. Mama melrose in MGM has a pizza "flatbread" that your DD could order. Then you could order whatever you wanted and everyone is happy!!

My girls like the Sci Fi at MGM because you sit in little cars to eat. We always go at lunch and the food is good then.

Animal Kingdom only has Rainforest Cafe for sit down table service. The good thing is that the counter service at this park is sooo good. You can get table service-like quality food (like salmon, BBQ ribs, roast chicken).

Hope that helps. I would check out the menus on allears and see what places look good. You still have time to make ADRS. Although you might not get the "hottest" places at the best times, its better to make them now than get turned away during your vacation.

Maggie

 

[Piglet54]

Monica, it's not too late to make ressies for April. I called last night and re-arranged many of mine (I always change my mind a couple of times LOL). I would try to at least make one for each day so that you were sure of a nice meal each day.