Is it impossible to get ADR's without the 180+10?

[TSRE]

Hope this is an okay place to post this - I wanted to get the opinion/experience of people who have stayed offsite. Is it really that difficult to get a reservation at the more popular restaurants onsite without having the benefit of being able to book everything 180 days + 10 days out like the onsite people can?

We do like to have a sit-down meal at the park once a day (which is really easy to do at Disneyland, where we usually go), but it is really hard for me to justify spending (a lot ) more than 2x as much for the same amount of space onsite just for the few perks like the ADR thing and the EMH.

What is your opinion?

Thanks!

 

[iheartdolewhips]

No, it's not impossible to get reservations even if you don't have the 180+10 benefit. It may be more difficult in a time with free dining, but especially if you're flexible in what time you eat. I think the furthest out we've ever booked anything is a month and a half - two months before the trip and we've not had trouble getting what we want. Sure, we had to take Le Cellier and Cinderella's Royal Table at odd times, around 3 - 4 pm, but we still got to eat there. And sometimes there may not be an opening on the first day I search for, but if I look on another day of our trip, I can find one. If you called at 180 days out every day or even 180 days from your last day, I'm sure you'll be fine.

However, the dining plan and EMHs really make it worth staying onsite, imo.

 

[megthewonderful]

I've never had a problem getting any ADRs we wanted and we stay off-site at the Windsor Palms each year. Of course, I have never tried to book during free dining.

 

[nifferearly]

I can usually get all of my reservations when staying off-site. If you're booking the trip with less than 6 months to go, or you don't get a reservation you should subscribe to the cancellation thread in the dining section. I've always nabbed great reservations this way when I booked last minute. Good luck!

 

[mdinme]

We walked into Jiko and Boma in Jan. and we're seated within 45 minutes w/o a rez.

Yes it was off peak, right after New Years which helped but if you're flexible and walk into a restaurant they'll try to feed you if possible.

We tried to get into Tutto (stopped in around noon asking about a dinner rez "for anytime after 600") and they were very busy but they gave me a bus card and told me to call in two hours... I did and they siad sure we can seat you at 650 is that ok.

It was. IF you've got 9 or 10 on the parkometer and/or free dining I'm sure it's tougher.

 

[spiceycat]

some of the character meals and LeCellier - might be hard to get.

also would definitely do offsite dinning.

with the dinning plan to many of WDW restuarants have the same stuff - just some cost more.....

if you are staying offsite - it is so much easier to get offsite to eat.

 

[Brian Noble]

Nope. I routinely make ADRs "late"---as in, months after my six-month window opens. We have no trouble finding places, but we're also not super picky.

 

[TSRE]

Yay, all of these responses make me feel much better. I just know our family of (soon to be) 5 will be sooo much happier with space & a kitchen than crammed into a hotel room. We aren't big character breakfast people, so we should be good. Thanks!