How many ADRs....?

[jess1017]

How many ADRs do you typically book when planning a trip? I know that many people book multiple ADRs for a day and then cancel the unneeded ones once they make their FPs and when park hours are announced. I'm more referring to the ADRs that you actually follow through with.

One side of me wants to get ADRs for most meals to make sure we don't miss any of our favorites and to eliminate stress when we arrive. The other side of me doesn't want to feel like we're on a schedule and revolving our vacation around too many dining reservations. In the past, I've booked about 1-2 ADRs for each day of vacation, but for my upcoming trip, I find myself looking for an ADR for most meals.


What's your opinion on booking ADRs for multiple meals a day? Do you find that working your day around meals eliminates stress or creates it? What's your average number of ADRs per day?

 

[absolutmey]

1-2. At our 180 mark, I booked 2 and then when I looked at the days more closely and added up the $, I took a step back to evaluate cost, food quality at QS locations and time we'd spend eating. The list of 'wants' was long, but I pared it down to 1 per day, usually dinner. In DHS, however, we don't like the QS options, so I have two ADRs there. Everywhere else, we're able to find a QS lunch (and many snacks) we can enjoy, so no ADR needed. We're also going during F&W this year, so one day we're scheduled (and excited!) to eat from the carts for lunch.

I say do whatever you want! If TS meals appeal to you and your group, then book away.

 

[loves to dive]

I only book one in advance tea at GF. Other than that we book them morning of or during the day on MDE. No planning necessary, we decide we want a TS that night we book it.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Hi @jess1017 ,
I book 2 for every day, either a lunch then late dinner, or pre park opening breakfast and then late lunch/early dinner.
I have only booked 3 in one day when we planned BOG ppo (which I know is not a huge breakfast) a lunch around 12:30 (when CS crowds are bad) and then a late dinner at 1900 to meet the sisters...
I have never felt ADRs are a waste of park time. We need to eat, and we love the ambience of Disney's restaurants, as well as a chance to take a breath, especially when it's hot outside.
We have always shown up for our ADRs, except once, we had to cancel a Chefs du France last year as we were all sick, possible heat related. When I called the same day, the CM was so nice, she made it so we didn't get penalized with the $10 cc fee.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I'd say our average is three. Two trips ago we had six. The number of ADRs really depends if my sister and her kids join us, her budget, and the length of the vacation. Because I stay at my parent's house, we also eat at some off property restaurants and breakfast at home.

I have a trip planned this January that will just be my husband, parents and me. We'll be there about a week and so far have ADRs for TRex, Skipper's, Captain's Grill, and BOG breakfast, but we might camp at FW a few nights, so Trail's End breakfast will probably have to be added. DH wants a steak (and golf and a cigar, his stipulations for another wdw trip) so we'll hit up the Manny's down the road from my parent's house.

I'm trying to convince DH to forego TRex for Ohana, so I'm a terrible, rotten double booked ADR holder.

 

[Regan117]

Usually 2...either breakfast and dinner, or early lunch/late dinner. We always at least do dinner.

 

[Avery's mom]

If it were up to me, I would have 3 ADRs per day! We did that for our 2014 trip and my DH was a bit tired of buffets by the end of the week.

I am trying really hard to stay at 2 per day right now. I know since we are CL at the BWI, we can get breakfast already, so that is the only thing keeping me from booking 3 per day!

I like having an air conditioned seat I can count on and sometime have some great food too!

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Oops, I guess I didn't read this right. I thought it was ADRs per trip! Well, there are days we only do QS. So I guess we probably average out at one per day.

 

[Nancyg56]

I book 1 to 2 per day, depending on how we plan to tour. I book dinner every night after learning the hard way that my DH wants a "real" dinner, and CS does not count. LOL! I also will book a TS lunch or breakfast periodically, especially if it is going to be hot when we go.

 

[jess1017]

If it were up to me, I would have 3 ADRs per day! We did that for our 2014 trip and my DH was a bit tired of buffets by the end of the week.

I am trying really hard to stay at 2 per day right now. I know since we are CL at the BWI, we can get breakfast already, so that is the only thing keeping me from booking 3 per day!

I like having an air conditioned seat I can count on and sometime have some great food too!

I'm with you, I'd prefer to have each meal planned out before we go!

 

[brnrss34]

I only plan 1 a day usually for dinner. Anymore and I think it would cut into valuable park time. I do love the ambiance of Disney dinning.

 

[jknewberry]

Our last trip, we had one per day- all were for dinner and we kept them all.

Next trip we will have one per day, some lunch some dinner, PLUS one breakfast, and plan to keep all those too!

 

[Corbinator]

We could never have more than 1 per day. I just witnessed my 4 year old have a meltdown at soccer after a day of no nap and preschool for the first time this week. I can't imagine trying to get him (plus my 8 yo) around to multiple reservations in one day in addition to buses, rides, pools, not sleeping in their own bed, etc. He wouldn't eat nor would he be attentive or sit for that long. He is much happier having a bag of goldfish crackers in his stroller by 4pm.

DH and I on the other hand feel a bit more like Victoria and Albert...

 

[Linleedo]

When it's with the grandchildren, it's usually just a dinner ADR. It's easier to get breakfast at the resort lounge and a quick service lunch (since we are on the go). If it's just adults, we tend to do ADRs for both lunch and dinner after eating breakfast at the resort lounge. We have always kept all ADRs. Never had a reason to cancel. Eating at the Disney restaurants are one of the reasons why we return. We also return for the Food and Wine Festival.

 

[DrunkJam]

one, or very occasionally 2 a day

But. I really am surprised that the practise of booking a bunch of ADRs and then dropping the right as you decide which you REALLY want is allowed.
This seems really unfair.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

For us it depends on if we're on the dining plan or not (and if we do deluxe dining.)

This past trip we did the deluxe dining plan and most days had 2 ADRs (usually a 1TS and 2TS meal per day) but there were also a couple of days where we had 3. When we aren't using deluxe dining we usually book 1 per day.

 

[tlmadden73]

I would never do more than 2 and I try and do only 1.
1) It just eats up too much time.
2) It feels like you are just rushing from one meal to next
3) Since ADRs are usually buffets or table service, that is just too much big meals in one day.

 

[Viu Manent]

We try for one ADR per day. I like to have something in the books but prefer not to plan our day around the dinning.
Our next trip the kids will be 12,9 and 3. I am super hesitant to go out of our way for dining with the 3 year old.