Is it true that I really will need to make ADRs for all of my sitdown meals?

[JenniBarra]

I suppose there is a thread somewhere on this topic so if I need in another thread for this answer, please let me know!

I am going to WDW in late January of 2009. In the past (and having gone around the same time of year), I have typically made a few select reservations (usually for 'ohana and Boma) in advance of our departure. We've had no problem while in WDW to later just walk in to some places such as Garden Grill or to even make reservations for that day or the next. Even though we have not purchased the dining plan, I keep hearing how I need to plan *all* of my sitdown meals out and make the reservations now. As that makes me feel rather boxed in with scheduling, I wanted to know what everyone else's take is that has recently been in WDW. Are the restaurants really that crowded right now due to the dining plan? I will not be going during any kind of holiday period and it will be just my husband and myself. Please advise - thanks!

 

[IndyClown]

Nobody says you have to but depending on when you go, competition for ressies at the time you may want to eat can be fierce. It really is stressful and frustrating (for me anyway) trying to plan meal reservations, 5-6 months in advance as it takes away from some of the spontenaety but it is what it is and I'm just following "the rules.

 

[dwmlaf]

For the most popular restaurants or TS meals you should. But since it is only the two of you and you don't eat at the 6:00 - 7:00 pm time frame, you probably won't have to.

 

[MHSweb79]

ADR's don't have to box you in. Last trip, we made 9 sit-down ADR's for a 7 day trip and we just cancelled the ones we weren't going to use. I liked having reservations and the flexibility to use them or not.

 

[Andrea from PA]

I like to err on the side of caution -- I'd make the ADR.

But then again, I'm on the Dining Plan so basically I pre-paid for my meal & want to be sure to get it.

ADRs are easy to cancel, so I'd make them & then just cancel if you decide to go with something else.

Although the economy is in a downturn, the get 7 nights for the price of 4 promo may increase the January attendence.

 

[Jschlich]

Three adults on 4th of July weekend had no trouble finding plenty of dining opportunities over the three day "high season" visit.

The only cautions should be:

1) If there is a specific dining experience that you want....reserve it!

2) If you require a specific hour to dine...reserve it!

Otherwise, don't feel you have to yield to the pressure to book reservations.

 

[tatajess]

We used to just walk up to restaurants we wanted to eat in and would easily get in.

However, since Disney started the Dining Plan, we found it very difficult to get in without reservations (even for lunch!).

It might have just been poor timing on our part, but if you know of a few places that you definitely want to eat in, I would make reservations. It's better to have them and cancel if necessary than to regret not making them.

Something else we do is while in Disney: For example, if we know on Mon that on Tues we want to eat somewhere and don't have reservations, we make our ADR the day ahead of time. This way, we have the flexibility to plan our day but know when we show up we'll have a seat.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jax1023]

I made ADRs last night for a few places for my trip Jan 24th- 31st. It did not seem busy- I was given multiple time choices, and I picked some popular resteraunts like Le Celier, Ohana and Chef Mickeys.

So less than 45 days there was plenty of availabilty. This obviously may change as we get closer.

 

[fla4fun]

I am going for 10 days in late January. I have made exactly three ADR's, for my three favorite restaurants. I am OK with the idea that if I'm passing a restaurant, and they aren't taking walk in's, that CS is fine. It really bugs me to be tied down to a schedule at Disney. Sometimes I don't decide what park I'm going to until I get to the bus stop, and just get on the first bus that comes in. But not every one likes to vacation that way.

So I would say it depends on what you want out of the trip. If you want to dine TS at least once every day, or if you want to go to character meals, or signature restaurants, I would make the ADR's. If you're like me, and prefer to be really spontaneous, just make a few ADR's for the places you really don't want to miss, and wing it for the others. You can always try making additional ADR's when you arrive, even try the day you want to dine. You just need to have a backup plan and be OK with the alternative of dining CS instead of TS.

Of course, if you have the dining plan, I recommend making all your TS ADR's in advance. You don't want to have credits left because you couldn't dine.

 

[MickeyNicki]

It is always better to have ressies instead of being turned away

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Don't forget there are some locations that accept ADR's like the ESPN Club and Beaches and Cream, so you should check to make sure the locations you want to eat at accept ADR's.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Three adults on 4th of July weekend had no trouble finding plenty of dining opportunities over the three day "high season" visit.

The only cautions should be:

1) If there is a specific dining experience that you want....reserve it!

2) If you require a specific hour to dine...reserve it!

Otherwise, don't feel you have to yield to the pressure to book reservations.

Exactly. The only ADR I wanted for a two day post cruise trip the Sat/Sun after Thanksgiving was Le Cellier which I booked at the 180 day mark and could only get an 8:15 dinner.

But I called the both the Sat and Sun in the AM and could get anywhere for lunch.

 

[maccagerl]

When we were there last year, we would check at the customer service booths when we entered the park- they would have a chalkboard out front with a list of the restaurants and the time of day they had open reservations.
We would choose one from the list and make the ressie right there at the booth.
We ate at all the places we wanted to, without having to make reservations 6 months out!

 

[dburg30]

We decided to do another trip mid january, about 2 weeks ago. I wasnt able to get LC during any of the time (at this point) so I went to yachtsman steakhouse instead. I decided I wanted my mom to experience a character meal, and I called for CM breakfast. I was able to get either a 720 or 1030 reservation. I took the 720 as I didnt want to 'waste' park time. So during the slower times, you can still get some of the 'wanted' adr's, but you'll have to go in expecting to have to eat at off times or go with what's available sometimes if you just wait and make ressies at the park the day of.

 

[IllumFan]

We've been visiting Disney for many years now -- 90% of the time in the off-season. We used to be able to either walk up or call that day for an ADR.

In recent years, we've found ADRs to be absolutely necessary. For example, we've tried to change ADR's that day as our plans changed. We were flexible in times (didn't have to be between 6 and 7 for example) and still had no luck.

It's all very unscientific, but to me, this seemed to start happening when the Dining Plans were offered.

 

[DaniTaylor]

It is very hard to predict so I would totally suggest if you have a must do restaurant you make a reservation for it. We live 10 minutes from Disney and eat on property all the time and we've gotten really lucky. Thursday afternoon we were able to call and get ADRs for Whispering Canyon Cafe at 6:25 Friday night so it all depends we make a lot of same day or day before reservations but it is hit or miss and we always have a back up in mind

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

I am leaving today from a week trip and you definetly need to make your ressies ahead of time. We could not get ressies anywhere. Le Cellier I was told was booked until January. We could not get into italy or coral reef either. Next time I am planning the whole trip ahead of time with dining reservations.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Character meals and signature restaurants can be hard to just walk up for, but if your heart isn't set on eating anywhere in particular, then I wouldn't worry about ADR's. I do make ADR's for all meals though with the thought that we can always cancel if necessary. All it took was one time where we had no ressies and we wasted a lot of time looking for a place that could accomodate us.

 

[traci]

We were there late October and were able to get into restaurants like Tokyo Dining and Kona for dinner and breakfast...there were 4 of us. Of course, more signature type of restaurants were not as likely.

 

[dalt01]

ADR's don't have to box you in. Last trip, we made 9 sit-down ADR's for a 7 day trip and we just cancelled the ones we weren't going to use. I liked having reservations and the flexibility to use them or not.

I like to err on the side of caution -- I'd make the ADR.



ADRs are easy to cancel, so I'd make them & then just cancel if you decide to go with something else.

sorry, i dont believe in getting an ADR just so you have it. this type of thing keeps other people who actually want the ADR from getting one. if a lot of people "tie up" the system it just makes the problem worse. some of you will not understand this thinking cause its a me, me, me world and you figure my three ADR's wont hurt anyone. but think about it, you are just one, if thousands of folks do it...well, i think you can see that thats many ADR's that have no substance.