How necessary are ADRs in late January?

[lola4795]

We're going Jan 26-Feb 2, 2007. I'm a complete planner, but no one else in my family is. I know that the rigidity of being at a restaurant at a certain time will make them feel rushed.

On the other hand I HATE waiting! I know that at WDW some waiting is unavoidable, but if I can avoid it I will try! Will we be able to get into most TS restaurants with no ADRs? How long will we wait if we CAN get in?

What is the best approach for this?

Thanks!

 

[nalabell]

I would make the ADR's, for almost all of the restaurants it won't cost you anything. If you decide you don't need them then call and cancel. BUT if your planning to do any dinner shows of character meals you will need to make those ADR's. and even if you have to pay when you make those you will still be able to cancel a few days before you go with a full refund. So overplanning can only be an advantage in the long run.

 

[skeleton_pirate]

When we went this past January we made a lot of ADRs. Most of them we didnt need in the end because there was no wait. Some of them, especially the character meals and the more popular restaurants, we are glad that we got because even with them, there was still a wait. For example, we made and ADR for biergaten for lunch, and there were very few other people there. Crystal Palace, however was for the same time on a different day, and we still waited for about 30 minutes. I would make them anyway, if you don't use them, you don't use them. There are plenty of other places in the parks and resorts to eat that might not be so bad of a wait. If there is a particular restaurant that you really don't want to miss, just do what I do- put a huge guilt trip on everybody in your party by telling them that it is a childhood dream to eat there and that if they don't get off Splash Mountain and go with you to eat, that they will be killing the child inside you forever.

 

[Mr.Disney]

I make ADRs no matter what time of year we go. This way I know that we will be able to eat where we want to.

 

[jlovesee]

This is what bothers me about these forums.... you don't need to scare someone into making dinner reservations so that they feel locked into "this is something I need to be at at exactly this time".

To answer your question, if you really want to eat at a specific restaurant, especially Brown Derby, California Grill, V&A's etc, then by all means make a reservation. Also I've heard its a good idea for some character breakfasts. However, every year for the past 5 years we have visited Disney for a week in late January, and every year we have only made 1 dining reservation (for our anniversary dinner) and that's it.

This year which was the busiest, we walked into the Italy Pavilion and had lunch about 1PM, waited maybe 5 minutes. We ate at the Liberty Tree Tavern, walked in at 11AM no wait. Friday night, called WL Whispering Canyon to make reservations about 4PM day of, walked in at 7PM and ate immediatly. Walk In's were still being taken and the wait was very short.

This point Im trying to make is if it makes you feel more comfortable to have dinner reservations then by all means do it. For that time of year though it's not necessary to plan every breakfast, lunch and dinner though.

Jennifer

 

[skeleton_pirate]

This is what bothers me about these forums.... you don't need to scare someone into making dinner reservations so that they feel locked into "this is something I need to be at at exactly this time".


Jennifer

I'm not quite sure where you're coming from with this... those of us that have responded have all emphasized the flexibility of the ADR system. What's great about ADRs is that if you want to go somewhere to eat, you know you'll be able to. If you don't want to go, you don't have to.

 

[kcashner]

An ADR does not lock you into a particular restaurant/time. It means that you WILL have a spot for dinner each night at a restaurant of your choosing. You can choose to change the ADR or cancel it.

For instance, we are planning to go to a restaurant that doesn't take ADRs on one night of our trip. However, I made an ADR for another restaurant for 3 hours later than we plan to eat (last ADR available.) IF we go to our planned place and find that there is a 2 hour wait for a table (or whatever), we will have the option of going to the ADR restaurant. IF we get in at the place that doesn't take ADRs, I'll dial my cell and cancel the ADR. At least I know that we'll have a TS meal that night.

January is normally a slow time, but IF they offer free DDP again, it could get quite crowded in the restaurants.

 

[nalabell]

I agree with 'Pirate' I think everyone here is just trying to give their own opinion, that's what the OP was asking for. I don't think anyone is trying to "scare" anyone into anything they don't want to do. I think the OP will take all the opinions and do what they feel in right for their situation

 

[bicker]

Definitely make ADRs for each meal you anticipate eating table-service. If, at a later point in time, your family finally decides on another restaurant, then you can cancel your current ADR when you make you new one -- but only after you've confirmed the new one. If you cannot confirm the new one, you at least still have someplace to eat reserved.