How terrible would it be to show up with NO ADR?

[fergibabies]

We will be at DW Nov 15-21. I have no idea what I'm doing as far as planning. We have the quick dining pass, but I know ill need to get another meal. Should I make ADRs? Where (suggestions please)? We are 3 adults and 4 kids ages 14, 8 6 and 6

 

[si-am]

Yes, you need ADRs. It can be almost impossible to find seats without them, especially for a group as large as yours!

 

[TDC Nala]

The system has a lot of problems today, but if you want table service meals you will probably want to have ADRs. If you want anything popular, they're probably already booked up. It sounds like you have the quick service dining plan so you won't need ADRs to make sure you use that. However, it's increasingly difficult to get seated at a restaurant in the parks without an ADR, especially at peak dining times, during peak seasons (your trip is not all that close to Thanksgiving though) or for a large group.

 

[fergibabies]

The system has a lot of problems today, but if you want table service meals you will probably want to have ADRs. If you want anything popular, they're probably already booked up.

I will be happy just to get through today to pay for the rest of my trip! I'm bording on tearing my hair out!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Thanks for the answers

still looking for suggestions from those who have "been there done that"

 

[RMulieri]

For a party that size ...YES. Character meals and the popular TS meals will probably be all booked up at this time. Free dining is going on thru the end of this year so TS places have been booked, most at the 90 day mark. You can try a walk up but I wouldn't count on it

 

[SGMCO]

I would make ADRs just to be on the safeside.
Everytime we have eaten at Disney and have ADRs
we see people coming up to the stand and asking about
availabilty and I've never seen the CM that checks you in
say that there is any available, they are turned away.
I hate to be hungry going from 1 TS place to another looking for an opening, especially with kids.

 

[ElementCamper]

You can always ask but don't be surprised if there is no availability for a walkup.

Do some research on this board and you will see several places mentioned where it is very unlikely to get a walkup (Le Cellier for example).

But, you can sometimes get lucky. A group your size will be harder than a group of 4 though.

I asked for a solo table at Le Cellier once, they were happy to check and asked if I could come back later. I replied 'sure, when?' They said 2nd week of December, unfortunately I was there 3rd week of September!

ADRs-must haves nowadays for TS if you really want to go somewhere particular.

 

[Snork]

With those ages on those kids, I would suggest buffets. Character buffets might be difficult to get inot now, but I would say with those dates you might be able to get walk ups. Crowd calender are 4 thru 6, so it won't be that bad. Give it a shot and have fun.

 

[gerows]

I have always been able to walk up at Tony's in MK. Longest I've ever waited was maybe 1/2 hour for a party of 6 during one of the busiest weeks I've seen.

Also, depending on where you are staying, if they have a concierge desk, I would go there immediatly upon check in. They seem to be able to make thing happen.

I beleive you will have 2 TS meals a day with your package, so you may just want to pack dry foods like cereal, pop parts, granola bars, etc... and eat those as your breakfast, then just use the TS meals for lunch and dinner.

 

[RobinHoodGirl]

When I went May 2008 it was just my mom and me. We made a handful of ADR's for days/restaurants we knew we wanted to go too (like Le Celler on Mother's Day), but though other days we'd be fine walking up. After not getting dinner until 9pm for a table of 2 our first day there the next morning we called Disney Dinning and get reservations for the rest of our trip.

I'd say get them. Have fun on your trip

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. If you're planning on eating more than one TS meal during your stay, then I would recommend upgrading your dining plan from the Quick Service plan. Right now, you're getting 2 quick service meals a day. The regular Dining Plan is only $10 more per person and you can get one TS per day. BUT, if you don't want to eat TS every day, you can use a TS credit for a Quick Service meal.

If you only want to do one character meal, or TS meal, then stick with what you have. Otherwise, it would be less expensive to pay out of pocket for a quick breakfast or light lunch, rather than the TS meals.

 

[MickeyNicki]

You def need to make reservations..with a party of that size you will probably get turned away as a walk up.

On the flip side I hear that week is a very slow week so there are lots of dining openings...we are going Nov 17-22 and are not having any trouble, but then again we are just 2

 

[Hopefully]

I echo what others are saying, in my opinion you NEED to make ADR's for a party of 6. I also agree that you may have trouble finding a particular restaurant to be available at this point.
Take a look at the menus here on the DIS and also on allears.net to see what interests you. Figure out which park you will be in on which day, then choose a restaurant in or near that park for that day. Then call and make an ADR ASAP
Everybody tastes differ. What one family thinks is great another family hates. All restaurants get both good and bad reviews here ont he DIS. Look at the menus for yourself and see what appeals to your group.
Good Luck

 

[JoliBug]

I know it is best to have reservations before you go, if you can't get what you want when you call or you see somewhere you would like to eat while there you can always ask, no harm no foul if they say there is no availability. I told my Mom that durring our vacation there that ended a week ago they needed to make ADR's if they wanted to eat at a sit down place and she opted not to. Turns out every day they decided they wanted to eat a sit down dinner and were never turned away and all but one occasion were seated right then, she said the longest wait was at Boma which was the dinner that we all had ADR's for. I had heard that the place was going to be packed because of the F&W festival and free dining, but it wasn't too bad. They ate at Merikesh on a Friday night and Rose and Crown on Saturday night durring the festival without ADR's.

 

[maroo]

I walked up to Biergarten for lunch - as a party of 1 - in the middle of February. I really thought they could take me. But they refused to take me without an ADR.

I called right then and got one for 20 minutes later. When I was seated, there were completely empty sections.

I guess my thoughts are...get an ADR before you go. But if you get there and want to eat somewhere, just call the ADR line - you might get lucky.

It is harder with a larger party.

 

[fergibabies]

Thank everyone so so much for all their advice. I actually got through just now and was able to pay for the remainder of the trip, but unable to book ADRs. I was told the system is down and to call back tomorrow. That will give me a little more time to plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

I beleive you will have 2 TS meals a day with your package, so you may just want to pack dry foods like cereal, pop parts, granola bars, etc... and eat those as your breakfast, then just use the TS meals for lunch and dinner.

I got the impression the OP is on the quick service dining plan, which does not include any table service meals.

There is no plan that provides 2 TS meals per day. None of them provide meals per day at all. The quick service plan allots 2 QS meals and 2 snack credits per NIGHT of your stay, not per day. This is an important distinction, as most WDW guests are on property more days than they are nights.

I definitely think a party of 7 would have a much easier time with ADRs for all their table service.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Thank everyone so so much for all their advice. I actually got through just now and was able to pay for the remainder of the trip, but unable to book ADRs. I was told the system is down and to call back tomorrow. That will give me a little more time to plan.

For a group your size and make-up my choices would be the following...

A Character Meal - If you can luck into Chef Mickey's I'd go with that (breakfast or dinner). If CM's is unavailable I'd try for the Tusker House breakfast (lunch and dinner at TH do not have characters), the Crystal Palace (breakfast, lunch or dinner), 1900 Park Fare (I'd choose breakfast here, but dinner is also offered) or Cape May Cafe (breakfast).

The Biergarten (Germany, EPCOT) - This restaurant will offer something for everyone in your party. The food is always great and there's a fun show for entertainment.

50's Prime Time Cafe (Disney's Hollywood Studios) - The Prime Time is lots of fun and offers great, comfort food type meals. This is an interactive restaurant so be prepared, but if you're up for some good-natured teasing from the waitstaff (no elbows on the tables and such) then you'll have a blast!

Those would be my top 3 picks. You can see the menus for all WDW restaurants at www.allearsnet.com. Just click on Dining at the top of the page and go from there!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm going to go against the flow here and say that going without ADRs isn't the end of the world. I say that based on what I saw at WDW last week. One day at the MK, there was a sign at City Hall saying that all resturaunts were booked-no ADR availability. Yet, when I checked into LTT for lunch, the woman in front of me was told it would be a 15-25 minute wait without ADRs. She didn't want to wait at all, so she asked "Why don't we just make ADRs and then come back at that time". The hostess told her that there were no ADRs available for the day. Then, another day at 50s Prime Time, there was a family of 6 in front of me. "Do you have a reservations?" "Oh, no-were we supposed to make a reservation first to eat here?" They waited about 1/2 hour for they're table. Be prepared to wait, but you won't be turned away everywhere.

 

[ShannonMB]

Just so you know, OP (I couldn't tell from your post if you know this or not), your Quick Service plan will give you all you need to eat and more, it's just that you can't use credits at a sit-down place. If you are thinking it would be nice to HAVE a couple sit-down meals while you are there, you'll just pay for those out of pocket. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but you had said "you know you will need more meals" or something like that in your original post.

I would suggest a character meal if you can get it. We like the Crystal Palace at the MK (with Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger, tasty buffet food), and since we're going the same week you are, I have seen a lot of availability there as I've tweaked my reservations online.

Best of luck, and don't pull your hair out!