I know better but thinking of winging it with only one ADR this trip? Am I crazy?

[disneynanacat]

We've been to WDW several times and I usually load up on ADRs. Last trip we did DxDP and it was a lot of food but great. But between running to make Fastpass+ times and ADRs it just seemed soooo scheduled. I've only made one ADR for our upcoming June 3rd trip and that's because DGD15 wants to eat breakfast at Crystal Palace. I'm not planning on doing a dining plan this time either.

I'd like to just kinda go with the flow this time. DGD15 is taking her BFF and I'm taking my BFF who's never been before. Mostly the teens will be touring the parks by themselves and although we'll be there too and I'm sure we'll be having some meals together, there may be times when we don't. I'd love to be able to slip off from them and do a signature meal or two but I don't even want to plan that ahead.

Am I just totally insane? I know there are places we won't be able to get into, but I'm thinking we should be able to find an ADR open somewhere. Anyone have any luck doing this? TIA

 

[Mainemama]

As long as your heart isn't set on eating at a specific restaurant, you will be fine. Especially if looking for just your party of 2. It helps if you have a park hopper, so you can choose from more restaurants, but I have had luck booking meals for a party of 4-5 around 5:00 pm for dinner the same evening. We booked CA grill, Prime Time Cafe, Boma and more this way during peak weeks (Xmas- NYE or July).

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Nope, not insane. We do this all the time. On our last trip (week before Christmas), I made two ADR's (Skipper's and Cali Grill). I then made more once we were there and we had a better handle on what we were up for. While on the trip, I ended up making ADR's for WCC (for the following day) and Artist Point (two days in advance) and we walked into Spice Road Table. As long as you aren't picky about where you eat, you will find something. I will typically go on the MDE app about 2 hours before we want to eat to see what is available in our general vicinity. EP is especially easy to find something, IMHO. And if you can't find anything, there's always pretty decent QS around.

I've found it's kind of fun to wing it. We've stumbled across some pretty good ADR's, day-of, in vacations past!

There are some restaurants on opentable now too, so make sure to also check there for day-of/last minute ADR's.

 

[BLLB]

We only make 1 or 2 ADRs a trip. We don’t like feeling so scheduled on top of the FPs.

 

[Bete]

Keep in mind if you find a TS available you will have a longer wait to get in without an advance reservation. I don't think you will be able to just walk up and get in 10 minutes later. I've heard of 45 minutes waits without ressies. You can forget about the more popular places, too.

Next, you can forget about prime time. Think more about a late lunch or late dinner time.

To me the above is more stressful then doing an advance TS reservation.

We like getting our three fastpasses done one after another early and break for a TS lunch reservation which is generally cheaper than doing dinner and then try for more fastpasses after lunch. I don't feel scheduled about it; I think it's smart planning.

If you're willing to do more quick service meals than that would be more doable.

 

[Linkura]

You can easily book most places the day before, as that's the last date to cancel without penalty. So I think it's fine.

 

[B-Ride]

As long as you aren't picky about where you eat and are willing to use QS as a plan B you should be okay.

 

[shocker]

I remember my first trip with 1 ADR, what?? I played over each day in my mind and tried to make really sure this was the goal and it was. I had several lounges, QS's, and off-sites I wanted to try and yes, it worked out just fine. But, like others have pointed out, don't expect last minute entry for a place you have your heart set on or if you're planning a special occasion. I really only help others plan for a WDW trip by answering specific questions they have, when a friend returned and said "I didn't know I wasn't going to be able to eat." I replied with "You didn't ask me about dining." He had been turned away from every TS they went to, as they were not accepting walk-ups.

 

[loves to dive]

We never, ever book our ADRs any earlier in advance than maybe a day or two and that is while we are actually there. We don't eat at BOG and we don't eat character meals but otherwise we have had no problems. We were there the week before Christmas and I booked the following: On the drive down while my son was driving I booked Tiffins for the next night. While walking around at about 5:00 the day we arrived, we booked Monsiur Paul for that night for about 8:30. So first two nights booked, one night of. Day three we walked up to Spice Road Tables and got a table right then outside. While walking around that night we passed Rose and Crown and realized we had never eaten there, we sort of kind of knew we would be in Epcot 2 nights from then (we don't book FPs in advance either) so we went ahead and booked Rose and Crown for two nights from then. While on the bus back to CSR the next night around 7 pm we realized we hadn't eaten in a while and were sort of hungry, I hoped on MDE while on the bus back to the resort and booked an ADR for that night for Mayan Grill. So we ate at Monsieur Paul, Tiffins, Spice Road Tables, Mayan Grill and Rose and Crown with no ADRs made any earlier than two nights in advance. The rest of our meals came from the booths at Epcot, small plates at Nomad Lounge in AK, HBD outside lounge in HS, ADR at Skippers Canteen for a hour later while walking around MK, breakfast at our resort a few mornings except for at AK where I had to eat breakfast at Kasafari (sp) next to Safari cause I have to, the Jeoffry's cart outside of ToT at HS because I have to.

We have done Flying Fish, Sanaa, Jinkos, just about every TS at Epcot last minute for the day of while walking around.

 

[Megara5115]

We did this last trip (first trip with baby) and for me it was such a nice change from the hectic itinerary. We got to try some new places and I was surprised what was available the night before when I would check for the following day. Agree that if you won't be disappointed if a certain ADR is available you will have a great time!

 

[JETSDAD]

We typically only have a couple ADR's booked before we go. We never walk up to a TS though without a reservation...instead we just go on MDE and see what's available as there is often a lot of options available. Between Epcot and DS there's always someplace decent to eat if we wish to have a TS meal.

 

[disneynanacat]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should've said I wouldn't just walk up. I'd use MDE and make a same day or day before ADR. I've been playing around with the app pretending I'm there today and seeing what's available for tonight and several places come up. No problem eating QS either. Just want to relax, (as much as possible on a WDW vaca) this time. lol

 

[Linkura]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should've said I wouldn't just walk up. I'd use MDE and make a same day or day before ADR. I've been playing around with the app pretending I'm there today and seeing what's available for tonight and several places come up. No problem eating QS either. Just want to relax, (as much as possible on a WDW vaca) this time. lol

Should have no problem then.

 

[disneynanacat]

I just broke down and made an ADR for California Grill for our last night there.

 

[tjmw2727]

We have been making less ADR's than prior trips and as long as your flexible you will be ok. It fun to check the app day of and see what's available and what works with your plans, we have tried a few place we may not otherwise have and been pleasantly surprised. Also when its just the 2 of you don't hesitate to find a spot at the bar and eat - we have had some great meals doing that, most recently at Homecoming!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should've said I wouldn't just walk up. I'd use MDE and make a same day or day before ADR. I've been playing around with the app pretending I'm there today and seeing what's available for tonight and several places come up. No problem eating QS either. Just want to relax, (as much as possible on a WDW vaca) this time. lol

You'll have no issues finding something and, as you said, if you don't, just go to a QS. We do this all the time!!

I just broke down and made an ADR for California Grill for our last night there.

I broke down on that one, too! The view is worth it!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Keep in mind if you find a TS available you will have a longer wait to get in without an advance reservation. I don't think you will be able to just walk up and get in 10 minutes later. I've heard of 45 minutes waits without ressies. You can forget about the more popular places, too.

Next, you can forget about prime time. Think more about a late lunch or late dinner time.

To me the above is more stressful then doing an advance TS reservation.

We like getting our three fastpasses done one after another early and break for a TS lunch reservation which is generally cheaper than doing dinner and then try for more fastpasses after lunch. I don't feel scheduled about it; I think it's smart planning.

If you're willing to do more quick service meals than that would be more doable.

This hasn't been our experience and we've done this multiple times. Typically, if we walk up, we are either seated in 15 minutes or less (we've done this at Spice Road Table, Biergarten, Skipper Canteen, Garden Grill, Via Napoli, BOG lunch and WCC) or completely turned away (WCC on another occasion and Le Cellier repeatedly, LOL!). Restaurants seem to be taking walk-ups or turning them away altogether (depending on the day, time of day, etc.) With that in mind, we never go out of our way for walk-ups. We will go up to restaurants when we are ready to eat and happen to be passing by. If it's a no, it's all good, we just do QS, but we've never waited 45 minutes at a TS when they have told us we could be seated as a walk-up.

OP, The Plaza in MK only does walk-ups during prime meal times, so that may be one to try on an MK day if you feel like winging it.

 

[Disneylover99]

Thanks for the replies. I guess I should've said I wouldn't just walk up. I'd use MDE and make a same day or day before ADR. I've been playing around with the app pretending I'm there today and seeing what's available for tonight and several places come up. No problem eating QS either. Just want to relax, (as much as possible on a WDW vaca) this time. lol

I bet you'll love the flexibility and freedom of fewer ADR's! Enjoy!

 

[Disneylover99]

This hasn't been our experience and we've done this multiple times. Typically, if we walk up, we are either seated in 15 minutes or less (we've done this at Spice Road Table, Biergarten, Skipper Canteen, Garden Grill, Via Napoli, BOG lunch and WCC) or completely turned away (WCC on another occasion and Le Cellier repeatedly, LOL!). Restaurants seem to be taking walk-ups or turning them away altogether (depending on the day, time of day, etc.) With that in mind, we never go out of our way for walk-ups. We will go up to restaurants when we are ready to eat and happen to be passing by. If it's a no, it's all good, we just do QS, but we've never waited 45 minutes at a TS when they have told us we could be seated as a walk-up.

OP, The Plaza in MK only does walk-ups during prime meal times, so that may be one to try on an MK day if you feel like winging it.

Yep. Same experience for me. We either walk up and get seated immediately or wait 5-10 minutes like everyone else, or get turned away immediately.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We stopped making more than 1 or 2 ADRs per trip a few years ago. We would rather try to find an ADR the day of, when we know what where we want to eat, if we even want a TS meal at that time. Last trip, we had 2 ADRs and when it was time to go eat, none of us really wanted to. I might make one ADR for our trip in June (if I can get a PPO Garden Grill on the right day), but that is all I'm going to make ahead of time. We won't try to walk up though, if we can't get an ADR day of, we just won't worry about it.