How necessary are reservations really?

[richmo]

I would make the ADR's. If your plans change, you can always cancel the day before. While the parks in October aren't as crowded as other parts of the year, I believe it is in the "free dining" window, so more than usual will be on DDP.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Make em if you don't want to chance being turned away. We make em but we try different TS every triptrip.

 

[IndyPirate]

Good points. Thanks for the input. I'll go on and make a few reservations knowing that I can change them closer to.

 

[Hopefully]

Has anyone noticed a difference by mentioning that you are not on the DDP? Just curious as that definitely seemed to open up more doors for us a few years back...

No

I would make the ADR's. If your plans change, you can always cancel the day before. While the parks in October aren't as crowded as other parts of the year, I believe it is in the "free dining" window, so more than usual will be on DDP.

We have been to WDW the past 12 years. Each year has been busier than the year prior. It's a busy time of year now.
Only October 1st is in this years free dining window.

 

[IndyPirate]

Thanks! I just made reservations for the pubs on the last two days just in case we aren't able to get in to them earlier in the week. We will likely try to go to Raglan Road and Rose & Crown in the first few days, but we would definitely be disappointed if we missed out on them entirely. I got an 8:50 spot for R&C...any chance we might be able see Illuminations from there (show @10pm)?

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks! I just made reservations for the pubs on the last two days just in case we aren't able to get in to them earlier in the week. We will likely try to go to Raglan Road and Rose & Crown in the first few days, but we would definitely be disappointed if we missed out on them entirely. I got an 8:50 spot for R&C...any chance we might be able see Illuminations from there (show @10pm)?

Yes. I think there is a good chance. In my experience R & C is one of the "faster" TS restaurants. They have a private outside patio for guests for Illumunations viewing. I think worst case scenario you could see Illumunations between dinner and dessert.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think it depends a lot on where you want to eat, and even then I think I'd still try to make day-of reservations. Also, I missed my 180 day window due to changing trip dates, but I was still able to get everything I wanted about 150 days prior, except for BOG, but I managed to get one since too.

 

[brertoad]

With the MDE smartphone app you can book same day reservations among what is available and it is pretty convenient, better than walking up some where just for them to turn you away.
I would highly recommend making ADRs. It sometimes means the difference between eating at a table service place or not. Limited availability means reservations are a must. The most popular restaurants will be booked far in advance.

 

[ZoZo]

If you don't have specific places you want to eat just do a quick search of what's available in the mde app for wherever you are. I've always been able to find same day reservations. It'll save from having to waste time waiting on a walk up.

I think this is the key - rather than spending your time walking from restaurant to restaurant, go on MDE and do a search of what's available. Last trip, we walked up to Sci Fi and were told they weren't taking walk-ups. But went on MDE and found availability for an ADR for a time 15 minutes later - go figure!

 

[Coffee Princess]

I truly dislike having to decide where I want to eat so far in advance but, one year we tried "winging it" and didn't make any ADR's, biggest mistake of my life! We had the worst time trying to get a table. With young children, having to wait a long time for a meal is not feasible. Our only luck was on our first night in the MK, we were able to get into Tony's with no problem. After that it was impossible to get a table anywhere. So I would suggest that you definitely do ADR's for your favorite "must do" places and possibly book enough for half of your stay, that way you can see which way works best for you, some days you will have freedom and others you will have a little security.
I will never go again without them. Hope this helps.

 

[aprincessatlast]

I have been eating TS at Disney for about 11 years and reading here for about the same.(granted not a long time lol) In that time I always was under the impression that is was just necessary.

I find it interesting someone compared it to a fastpass because with fast pass you still have an option to ride the ride but with a longer wait. This is really the first I have ever heard where people have said if you want to wait. I have always read and experienced just being turned aways with a simple NO. Now granted if you want to eat at Nine Dragons or Spice Road there was something usually available but outside maybe 3-4 restaurants at Epcot, the ones at Disney Springs, and a small handful of Resort Restaurants all else was a no go. Granted it has been a few years but has something changed recently?

 

[greentea]

I think this is the key - rather than spending your time walking from restaurant to restaurant, go on MDE and do a search of what's available. Last trip, we walked up to Sci Fi and were told they weren't taking walk-ups. But went on MDE and found availability for an ADR for a time 15 minutes later - go figure!

The same thing happened to us at Tusker House --we saw people turned away for not having a reservation, so I checked my phone and made one for a few minutes later and we were seated right away.

 

[TinkFan74]

We went mid August last year and about half way through our trip we began to feel that our reservations were a burden, so we cancelled everything and played it by ear. We were able to walk up or make last minute reservations at The Crystal Palace, 50's Prime Time and a few other places, but BOG or other in high demand restaurants were not an option at all.

 

[GPC0321]

I just checked to see what is available for dinner tonight for a party of 4. Except for BOG, Ohana, Sci-Fi, fireworks dessert parties, and some of the Disney Springs places that require reservations be made a day in advance, nearly everything else was open. And I did both a search for "dinner" times and "6:00pm" with equal success (except CRT, which does have an opening tonight...at 11:05pm).
Le Cellier, California Grill, 50's Prime Time, Hoop Dee Doo, Afternoon Tea at GF, Fantasmic dining packages at HBD and H&V, Club Villain....all had openings along with most of the other restaurants on property.

I don't know if I'd do walk-ups, but I think seeing what's available that morning or even just a few hours before you want to eat would be fine. The 180 days out thing is silly. I made ADRs 180 days out and then changed them on an almost daily basis for the next 6 months until I scrapped them all and went QS. Still had the BOG ADR to play around with, and a week out from our trip I was still moving that around pretty easily. Lunch. No breakfast. No, lunch again. Lunch and breakfast. No, just breakfast, but on this day instead. Maybe breakfast this day and lunch this day? It was pretty hilarious. And this was for Good Friday through the Wednesday after Easter, so a peak time.

Don't fret.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think this is the key - rather than spending your time walking from restaurant to restaurant, go on MDE and do a search of what's available. Last trip, we walked up to Sci Fi and were told they weren't taking walk-ups. But went on MDE and found availability for an ADR for a time 15 minutes later - go figure!

I've had the opposite experience too. MDE not showing availability, but being able to get in at the restaurant itself.

 

[Nancyg56]

Think of an ADR as a Fastpass for eating. We value our park time too much to take a chance on not eating at our favorite restaurants, or having to wait.

I like this analogy. I realize the difference between FP for attractions and ADR for TS restaurants, but it does make clear that an ADR is a place in line within a specific time frame.

OP- I don't think every family needs to book ADR's but for my family, they are necessary. WE like to have meals that we want at times we like to eat in places that are convenient to us on that day.

Someday I want to "plan" a trip that I am fee as a bird, and can be "spontaneous" in regards to when and where I eat. WHo am I kidding? LOL!!!!

 

[LovesTimone]

We are AP holders and Fl. Residents so we do a lot of 1 or 2 nights stays...but even when we go just for the day I always make ADR's if we are planning on a TS meal. Then we plan FP's around that. We love F&W and trying all the new options each year, but in the past couple years we have gotten into a rhythm of having a few appetizers and drinks early on, then a table service meal.

I would recommend making a few ADR's if there is a special TS you would like to try or that might have a special memory.

 

[IndyPirate]

Interesting to see that people have had such opposing experiences. Out of curiosity, I checked today for Be Our Guest and Le Cellier and both had availability at decent times (10:30 and 12:30 for BOG and 7:30 for LC) and on a Saturday. I ended up making one reservation for each day (some lunch, some supper), so we have something. I'm glad to know we should be able to get in on the day of at most places. It's just too hard to know what kind of food we'll be in the mood for six months from now!

 

[Aurora0427]

We always have reservations, but we always end up changing some once we get there. I was able to find lots of ADRs on our October 2015 trip the night before and early morning the day of. We even snagged a same day lunch at Le Cellier. You just have to be flexible!

 

[Aurora0427]

Also, the app makes it really easy to see what's available. If you're at Magic Kingdom, it enables you to see what's available & when for the entire park. You can then check resorts, DS, and the other parks. So much easier than calling.