How important have ADRs become at Disneyland

[Baklava]

We haven't been in three years (we were saving for a WDW trip) and we're headed back to our home park in December.

How important are ADRs now? In FL they were vital, in CA we've never really bothered before the day of. We're not doing Napa Rose or Carthay, but we may want Blue Bayou and definitely a couple character meals.

(I do figure we need one for a PPO at the Plaza.)

 

[BadPinkTink]

definitely needed but in no way as hard to get as WDW. They open up 60 days out, but even 3 weeks out you can still get pretty much everything. I have seen at Blue Bayou the CM at the host stand saying no walk ups available. Im sure you could even get ADR the day before in some places.

 

[figment_jii]

It depends on when you're going, when you want to eat, and where you want to eat. I generally recommend making an ADR if you know you want to eat at a specific place. I have been there recently when they were taking walk-up for some locations (e.g., Cafe Orleans, Carnation), but the wait time can be pretty long (>45 minutes). Blue Bayou is the one place where I've almost never heard anyone get a walk-up (at least at the main meal times), so that is one I would make a reservation for if you want to eat there. Unlike WDW, getting reservations are still pretty easy at DLR (although some of the dining packages do book up in advance, as do special event meals). I've had pretty good luck getting next day reservations or even day-of reservations. So overall, while getting an ADR is pretty easy at DLR, I still recommend getting one so you know you'll get to eat the restaurant of your choice at the time you want.

 

[Baklava]

But no need to be up in the middle of the night? Excellent!

 

[BadPinkTink]

But no need to be up in the middle of the night? Excellent!

oh gosh no, nothing like that, far less stressful, even for signature restaurants

 

[Kindermouse]

Absolutely no need to stay up till the middle of the night and book ADR the minute they become available but I think you do need to book character meals and WOC/PTN Dinning about 3-4 weeks in advance id you wanna be sure to get certain days and time. Also if you have multiple food allergies in your party they suggest booking 20-30 days out and sending in your allergy information paper with your reservation number at that time.

if your not picky about days and times you can book WOC/PTN meals the week of (I did in march) but you're likely to end up eating at not the best times.

 

[figment_jii]

But no need to be up in the middle of the night? Excellent!

Yeah, you don't have to be online right when the system rolls to make ADRs. DLR's system rolls somewhere between midnight and 6:00 am local time, but it doesn't necessarily seem to be consistently at any specific time. If you do happen to go online on the 60-day mark and find something is unavailable, it's much more likely that they haven't yet loaded it into the system. That can happen, especially at the start of a new month or if the schedule is uncertain (e.g., there was a long delay in some of the dining packages being loaded when the entertainment schedule was in flux).

 

[CherylGonz]

I just booked my PTN Aladdin's Oasis meal a couple of days ago for June 24th. If you are going soon you may want to call and make your reservations as I had problems booking online both times I tried. I couldn't find the times I wanted for Goofy's and Blue Bayou but when I called there was availability. The CM told me they are having issues with the website.

 

[chipw]

One time we were walking up to the turnstiles at DCA at approx. 8:30 A.M. and made reservations thru the app for 9:30 at Ariel's Grotto. Granted there were just 2 of us but there still seemed like there was still seating outside. I do think we might have got the last table inside though. Of course day and time of year will all affect this.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I do think you need them now as a general rule. In low crowd times they are not fully staffing so places have open tables but no one can sit at them. That said, even a week or so before you will have plenty to choose from unless you are looking for a package for night time entertainment.

 

[smartlabelprint]

For bb and characters is reserve as soon as you can.

 

[tarheelalum]

For most of them you can make them the day before unless its on a special day. Its not that big of a deal here.

 

[mmmears]

For most of them you can make them the day before unless its on a special day. Its not that big of a deal here.

I really do hope this is still the case at DL. I'm not a fan of having to make our dining ADRs at WDW 6 months in advance. I see that we can book 60 days in advance at DL, but the calendar with park hours isn't updated 60 days in advance, which would make it very hard for me to figure out where and when to book our dining at this point.

 

[Astylla]

Even a few days before Memorial Day weekend many ADR were available but as days get closer it books up quicker. I'm always a planner so I prefer to overbook then modify than to regret having no options.

 

[Aladora]

I really do hope this is still the case at DL. I'm not a fan of having to make our dining ADRs at WDW 6 months in advance. I see that we can book 60 days in advance at DL, but the calendar with park hours isn't updated 60 days in advance, which would make it very hard for me to figure out where and when to book our dining at this point.

I would not bet on being able to book Blue Bayou the day before but you should be fine with most other restaurants. My logic is that there is no harm in booking as soon as a) I know where/when we want to eat and b) it is less than 60 days out. If my plans change, I can always change reservations 24 hours out.

 

[sheetz]

WDW dining is different because they have a large captive audience on a dining plan. DLR will never be like that (thankfully).

 

[22Tink]

The only ones I book ahead are character meals and BB. This trip I plan to do the WoC dessert party and will book that one as soon as I can. Other than that, we never have trouble finding same day availability.