How likely is to get a last minute ADR *or is that conflicting statement ;)*

[archersgirl1]

We will be visiting Sept 19-25th and will be receiving FD As much as I like the free food I don't really like having to plan ahead what park we will be at every day. I think I've picked 5 out of the 6 TS resteraunts we'd like to visit but I was curious do you think it would be a huge mistake to leave our last TS up to fate ( which would friday the 25th during the day ) It wouldn't be a dinner reservation just a lunch one - does that make it anymore likely to happen ?

I'm just not too sure what park we'd like to visit again that last day...and what resteraunts I'd really like to make an effort to visit

Is there a number to call while staying Disney to see what is available for that day ? What is the likelihood that the resteraunts will be booked 100%?

Any suggestions ?

 

[crisi]

During free dining, its pretty likely that you won't have much choice calling day of. Restaurants tend to be booked full for a very popular promotion.

I'd make SOME reservation - so you have something in your pocket. Once you are there, you call the regular dining number to see if you can switch it. That way you won't be reservationless if nothing is available. And if something is, switching will be as easy as making a new reservation.

 

[princess-rn]

It can be done due to people who cancel their reservations last minute...BUT during FD it's highly unlikely. You can try though...it never hurts!

Good luck!!!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Like PP said, I would have something just to have it where you can change it later. There may be tons of restaurants open for that day, or there may be nothing... you just never know.

I would just have an ADR for whatever day you're looking to be open, go to Guest Services/Concierge at 7 AM or call from your phone then (7 AM is when cancellations from the previous day finally cycle through) and seee if there's anything open where you think you'll be that day.

 

[RMulieri]

Sorry but during Free dining it is very unlikely. I would not go to WDW with any form of the dining plan( free or paid for) and no adrs made.

 

[abc999]

During Free Dining, you will not be able to get too many ADRs last minute and extremely unlikely in the parks. You may have some options at the resort restaurants. Disney restaurants have been so packed the last couple of years that they offer people extra snacks and other perks if they trade in a table service for a counter service.

 

[pumba]

last september we went to Disney on a last minute trip......for one week we only were able to have one sit down at Crystal Palace. This was during free dining......so I say yes ......make some reservations.......

 

[perriwinkleblue]

ADR's can be tough to get last minute during free dining. Are you hopping? If you want to be free to go to whatever park you like AND eat TS, you might not get a table in your desired park last minute. We have seen signs in the parks that say all TS restaurants are booked.

Why not do a breakfast ADR the last day? After eating, you could go where you like. For example, after breakfast at the Poly, you could hop the monorail to MK or the bus to any other park you like. This would work for any resort restaurant offering breakfast, like Boma or Chef Mickey's.

Have a great trip

 

[MickeyNicki]

IMHO I would not go during FD without ADR....seems like a waste to me...and I would get soooo frustrated trying to find something last minute

 

[secretpantssam]

We did this last year during free dining and got into Tony's Town Square for lunch the first day we were there. We didn't have a problem. My parents also made a reservation for an early dinner at Mama Melrose later in the trip. So it is definitely possible, especially for lunch or early dinners.

 

[KigerKat]

It never hurts to try!!

We didn't go during FD last year, so I really don't know yet how difficult it is - but I'll find out soon!

But on our last trip, we didn't book Mickey's Backyard BBQ with the rest of our family - we thought they included us in their reservation. When I did call, it was sold out. But I kept trying, calling just about everyday. We finally got our ADR about a week before out trip - whew!!

 

[smiths02]

I am with others...I would make an ADR and then maybe change...

The suggestion of a nice resort breakfast was also a good one....

or make a late lunch on your way out at a resort or DTD if you don't want to hop around

OR

we want out last day to be whatever we want, so I am just planning on having CS credits left for lunch the last day, but we have one day during our trip where we have breakfast and lunch as sit-down...or you could plan one 2 TS meal

 

[TarzansKat]

I would consider making a reservation just to have something that's interesting to you all. Perhaps consider something at one of the resort hotels, that way you're not married to a specific park?

I do have to say though, depending on your party size, and a little bit of Disney magic, it can be possible to get reservations fairly last minute during free dining. I know that sounds crazy, but we had a positive experience on two occasions on our last trip. One, I wanted a specific restaurant for a specific party size and ended up being able to get it one-two weeks out from our trip which was a Disney miracle! The second was that, in order to do that reservation with some friends, I had to cancel what we'd already scheduled for that day, which was the Crystal Palace.

But I still wanted the Crystal Palace, if at all possible, to fit into another day. We were a party of three, and I checked every day of our trip. Wouldn't you know it, one morning it opened up (someone must have cancelled) and I was able to get us in for lunch.

So if you're flexible, sure, you can find something. But, I'm the kind of person who likes to have a back up plan, so I would probably make some kind of ressie anyway.

 

[blissventure]

I always make reservations, and during free food, I absolutely would.
With no reservations you risk being flat out turned away (which happens, often) or enduring a wait of an hour or more (if you're luck enough to have the chance to sit and wait.)

 

[VBsHustla]

Like previous posters have said, I would also make an ADR for somewhere since you'll be there during free dining just in case you can't get in anywhere else. But we have gone during FD in the past, and always change some of our ADS around. We've always gone to the concierge of our hotel at least a few hours before we want to eat and have them check what's available in the park or area where we plan to be. You may have to be quite flexible for this approach to work, but it can lead to your trying a new place that you never would have picked yourself, so it can be fun!

Good luck,
Jen

 

[archersgirl1]

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions What days are my free dining valid for ? I will have 6 days worth of free dining - with 7 days at the park.

Do they just give you a card that can be redeemed at anytime between Saturday sept 19th to Friday sept 25th ? Or do the free credits expire. When we check in on the satur day can we use the credits right that very evening - and same when we check out on the friday can we use up our credits right til the very end of the friday ? We did buy a 7 day park pass.

thanks again for all the help

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

I always make reservations.

Last year we extended our vacation for a week because of hurricanes.

So, during free dining, in September, I got so sick of calling dining reservations and trying to go through the concierge at the hotel, that we just started showing up at restaurants we were interested in.

We were seated immediately at Coral Reef at 5:00. No ressies. We were seated immediately at Garden Grill around 12:30. No ressies. We waited about 15 minutes for Liberty Tree Tavern. No ressies. CRT, we had a ressie for 10:30 am, daughter was out of BBB early, and they even took us nearly an hour earlier!

Point is, make your arrangements, but don't let everyone tell you that there is nothing left. Even the CM's on the phone will tell you that, but if you show up and ask, like we did, you may have a good shot!