Is there anyway to avoid ADR's for everything??

[loveDmouse]

I would like to make ADR's for the places I know I don't want to miss for sure then thought about leaving the rest open. Is it possible if you go at off times to be able to get into a TS without an ADR? Like say 11-11:30 for lunch or 3-4 for early dinner or late for breakfast like 10:30? It is crazy to think that at all times during the day every TS will be filled up with no hopes of getting in.
Just seeing what everyone thinks. IF IT MATTERS it is just two adults.

I know I will make them for Le Cellier, LTT (dinner) and CP(breakfast).


Last time we went, which was February, 2001 we only made one ADR (then I think it was PS) for Coral Reef for Valentine's Day dinner and we made out fine.

We will be there 2nd week in December. Sunday-Saturday

THANKS!!!!

 

[estnh]

I would think you would be able to get walk-ins at that time assuming you could live with off peak hours.

We did a few walk-ins at odd times during our last visit, and actually enjoyed them more than the some of the ones that we had reserved months before.

Each park has an information desk that can handle restaurant reservations--we found them very helpful in booking spur of the moment reservations!

 

[loveDmouse]

We don't mind doing meals at off times. I think it would be nice to not be so scheduled in everything we do. It has been very stressful trying to figure all this out and it is suppose to be RELAXING. It is vacation after all.
Thanks for the info.

 

[maggiew]

Unfortunately, I have seen a post where there was a sign at MK when they walked in that said ALL table service were booked for the day. So you wouldn't be able to get a table service in the park if that were the case, even at off times. You could probably get a table at a resort restaurant if you went at off times.

I also personally saw people turned away at LeCellier while I was sitting and waiting. They said they were booked up through the new year and this was the first week in Dec.!!

I would at least try calling the night before and not wait until the day of to try and get in. Unless you are willing to go to a resort restaurant.

Maggie

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

If you are flexible, you'll get in somewhere. It may mean leaving the Mk and going to Kona or GFC at off prime times.
It may mean going to Marrakesh
It may mean going to MM late.
It may mean going to a place like Maya Grill.

But you'll be able to get somewhere.

 

[bicker]

The one place you may have trouble is inside the MK. There are days, even in the off-season (we were there in January 2006), when there are simply no seatings to be had, at any of the restaurants, "for the rest of the night".

 

[formernyer]

I can't really speak for the hotel restaurants, but I know that in the parks you will be hard pressed to find ANYTHING without an ADR.

The DDP has resulted in the TS restaurants filling to capacity prior to even opening the doors in the morning. Many people (like myself) who would never, ever consider paying for a Disney TS restaurant are now eating in them once a day for their entire stay.

We were in WDW for four days last week. It was a last minute trip, so my ADRs were only made one week in advance. I was unable to get an ADR (at any time at all) when I called for the Fantasmic Dinner Package, Le Cellier and Whispering Canyon. Times were very limited at the places we ate. We took what was available. We ate at Crystal Palace, Coral Reef, and Sci-Fi. By the time the date of our ADR arrived, there were NO remaining walk-in reservations available at any of those restaurants.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

Having an ADR however does not mean you HAVE to make it 180,90 or even 25 days out. I have gone to WDW at all times of the year and other than making ADRs for a character breakfast and Le Cellier before we left all other ADRs were made while at Disney. Sometimes they were made the day before, sometimes they were made the same day, sometimes they were made at the resteraunt for an hour later. I do find it completely unnecessary to plan 180 days out.

 

[dustysky]

I hear people all the time sayng they make ADR's 180 days out, thats amazing to me. I have never made a ADR more then a few days before our trip.
I know I will get all kinds of hate for this but the dinning plan has really made it hard for those of us who pay for our meals to get walk-ins now.
I would love to see that go away but it seems to be here to stay

 

[estnh]

I hear people all the time sayng they make ADR's 180 days out, thats amazing to me. I have never made a ADR more then a few days before our trip.
I know I will get all kinds of hate for this but the dinning plan has really made it hard for those of us who pay for our meals to get walk-ins now.
I would love to see that go away but it seems to be here to stay

You know, while I think the dining plan is a great value, you are absolutely right! Even for those using the dining plan, it has forced everyone to become a master planner, and not everyone wants to plan every minute of their vacation six months in advance.

It really is hard, when you are sitting at home on a Monday in December to forsee exactly how hungry you will be on a Saturday in June!!!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

It used to be when we went at slow times it was possible to make ADR's the morning of. We went last December (second week) and left one dinner open not really caring when we ate or where we ate, in the middle of the week. We couldn't get anything that morning. We called 8-9 different places in different parks looking for any time. Everything was booked until 9 or 10 at night. We finally just went to WCC (not our favorite) because we were staying at WL (and even the call line said there was nothing open at WCC until 9:30 p.m.-we walked down there and waited 30 minutes for a table). So even when you choose off times doesn't mean you'll get to eat at the place you want to eat. I miss the days of not planning out each and every meal, but oh well, it's less stressful than calling around trying to find someplace to eat.

**We also went to LTT for lunch on a Monday at 2 p.m. (we had ADR's) and they weren't accepting any walk ups since that morning and the place was full of people.

 

[formernyer]

I hear people all the time sayng they make ADR's 180 days out, thats amazing to me. I have never made a ADR more then a few days before our trip.
I know I will get all kinds of hate for this but the dinning plan has really made it hard for those of us who pay for our meals to get walk-ins now.
I would love to see that go away but it seems to be here to stay

Like I said earlier, I'm one of the people who would never pay OOP for any of the Disney restaurants. I'm very grateful for the DDP because it gives cheap people like me the opportunity to dine at places I wouldn't otherwise consider.

That being said, I agree with you 100%. I think Disney should REQUIRE the restaurants to maintain 10% vacancy for walk-ins. You'd probably still have to wait 30 minutes or an hour to get a table, but at least you'd have the option of being spontaneous. The restaurants would still be booked to capacity, the walk-in people would be less frustrated, and the restaurant would reap the rewards of a better profit margin on that 10% of their business.

 

[bicker]

I think Disney should REQUIRE the restaurants to maintain 10% vacancy for walk-ins.

That works against their goal of 100% occupancy.

I suppose if they could charge extra for walk-ups, they might consider holding back more tables for walk-ups.

 

[micknpluto]

We are planning on trying Cap n Jack's at DTD,,They do NOT take ADRs. I wonder how hard it will be to get in, in a timley manner? It will be during the week and the CM I spoke to says they shouldnt be as busy during the week.

any suggestions? Should we have a back up plan with ADR for that night or just take the chance with CJ?

 

[loveDmouse]

Wow, thanks for all the repsonses.
It really is so hard to plan 180 days out. I think I may make my reservations for LeCellier, Liberty Tree Tavern & Crystal Palace in June. The rest I think I will wait. We won't be spending most of our time in MK so that wouldn't be a big deal besides the two I have chosen are the only ones I want to do there. I don't want to just walk up to a place but it would be nice to call the day before when we are there and see how things are rolling.
We were going to do the dining plan but I called & cancelled it today. That was putting even more stress on me trying to make sure I got all I could for the money. We also decided we may not want to eat a big TS every day. But if we do that is fine too! I like having the option to decide when we are there. Seems that is hard these days.
Thanks again for all the responses. Boy alot has changed since we were there in 2001.

I forgot, does it matter what meal you are doing a TS for. Like I was thinking about some breakfast meals because I love breakfast. Would we probably have to make ADR's for those as well??? OR are they easier than say dinner?

THANKS AGAIN!!!!!

 

[dustysky]

That works against their goal of 100% occupancy.

I suppose if they could charge extra for walk-ups, they might consider holding back more tables for walk-ups.

Why would they have to charge more to people paying full price to eat?

 

[bicker]

Making ADRs has nothing to do with the dining plan. People can make ADRs 180 days in advance even if they don't have the dining plan, and people on the dining plan can try to make ADRs at the last minute.

So the extra charge for walk-ups would make up for that revenue they'd lose from having empty seats if there weren't enough walk-ups one night.

 

[loveDmouse]

I don't think it would be fair to punish the people who would just like a little less "structure" to their vacation by charging extra.
I don't know what to do. I think, like I said before, I will make ADR's for a few that I know I don't want to miss and then wing it for the rest. Some of the counter service places aren't bad either. Not like we will starve to death. I don't want to go hungry and I don't want to have to plan out all my meals so far ahead of my vacation! Just isn't very relaxing to me and that is what vacation is all about!
RELAXATION!!!!
Thanks!

 

[bicker]

I don't think it would be fair to punish the people who would just like a little less "structure" to their vacation by charging extra.

I do. Most things works that way. You can book your flights months in advance and get a good fare, or you can book them at the last minute and pay through the nose. You can book your package vacations in advance and save a lot of money, or you can just find a room when you arrive and pay a lot more.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Wow, thanks for all the repsonses.
It really is so hard to plan 180 days out. I think I may make my reservations for LeCellier, Liberty Tree Tavern & Crystal Palace in June. The rest I think I will wait. We won't be spending most of our time in MK so that wouldn't be a big deal besides the two I have chosen are the only ones I want to do there. I don't want to just walk up to a place but it would be nice to call the day before when we are there and see how things are rolling.
We were going to do the dining plan but I called & cancelled it today. That was putting even more stress on me trying to make sure I got all I could for the money. We also decided we may not want to eat a big TS every day. But if we do that is fine too! I like having the option to decide when we are there. Seems that is hard these days.
Thanks again for all the responses. Boy alot has changed since we were there in 2001.

I forgot, does it matter what meal you are doing a TS for. Like I was thinking about some breakfast meals because I love breakfast. Would we probably have to make ADR's for those as well??? OR are they easier than say dinner?

THANKS AGAIN!!!!!

We didn't have any problem getting breakfast buffet places (like Crystal Palace). We also ate here at like 9:45-10:00 a.m. as we're not early risers (that may have had something to do with it). Alot has changed since 2001..some for the good...and some for the bad. Crowded restaurants are part of the bad, but then maybe Disney will build even more places to eat that we'll get to try out (silver lining! ).