Is this a workable idea

[pad406]

We had our first visit over Christmas/New year last, and had a great time, mostly down to planning advice received here

One of the main issues though that we had was really sticking to our plans when things got quiter, after Jan 3rd, due to our ADRs. At the time we said we wouldn't do the dining plan again, but hindsight shows it wasn't the plan at fault but the ADRs, and we'd be in the same position even paying OOP. So my question is

Is it a reasonable idea to make ADRs for the first 8-9 days when it will be really busy and try to rely on walk ups for the last 9-10 days when things will be quieter, we're going from April 3rd to 21st, and the last 9-10 are showing as crowd level 4/5/6 on touring plans. There is no free dining in this period, or I hope not as we paid . Anything special we want to do, like last night, I will book, but if we're not really fussy for those days, it would give us more freedom to hop around. But and it's a big but, I & DD escpecially, like our food and I do want to be able to get something reasonable, not talking Cali grill or any signature, but reasonable, say Marekkesh, 50s prime time, Garden Grill etc.

 

[pad406]

Anybody

 

[OhThePain]

What I would do is plan your must do's for the first half of your trip or however long you want to stick to some sort of structure. I would then make ADR's for the second half of the trip, but make it for restaurants that you wouldn't mind skipping if you had to. Then when the day or time comes and you decide you don't want that ADR and want to go some place else, either go to guest relations at whatever park your in, go to the concierge at your resort or keep the Disney Dining number in your cell phone and call them to make the switch whenever. This way your not really tied down that second half of the trip and also don't have to worry about wasting any credits. It's a fine plan as long as you are flexible in the restaurants you are willing to eat at as well as the times you are willing to eat at.

In other words, if your on the dining plan I wouldn't just show up with only some ADR's booked. It's easier to book ADR's and cancel them than it is to just hope something you like is available. Just my opinion.

 

[pad406]

Will it's opinions that I am looking for

And as things go, this is a pretty good one. But is there a minimum time to cancel a reservation? I'd obviously try and do it as soon as I can, to free up for anybody else that is looking for one.

thanks

 

[OhThePain]

Will it's opinions that I am looking for

And as things go, this is a pretty good one. But is there a minimum time to cancel a reservation? I'd obviously try and do it as soon as I can, to free up for anybody else that is looking for one.

thanks

With the exception of a few restaurants, canceling is more of a courtesy. It is the right things to do to cancel unwanted ADRs, but you won't get into any trouble for not.

The only exceptions to the rule are the hand full of restaurants that require you to use a credit card to hold the reservation. Akershus, California Grill and the Fantasmic Dinner Packages all require a credit card hold. Dinner shows (HDDR, SoA, MBYBBQ) and CRT require you to either pay for the meal in full at the time you make your reservation or if you plan on using TS credits you can let them know you will be using credits but you will still need a CC to hold the reservation. Other meals that require a CC hold or pre-payment but are NOT on the dining plans are V&A's, the Chef's Wine Tasting Dinner at Flying Fish, Dining with an Imagineer/Animal Specialist and the Wanyama Safari. All the reservations that require a CC hold or payment have cancelation policies, which, if you do not cancel (I think for most it is within 48 hours) you will be charged per person. In some cases this also includes being charged for the party members who do not show if only part of your party makes it to the ADR.

If you make an ADR that requires a CC, it is just easier to make it a point to get to that ADR. If you have no interest in any of the dining experiences that require a CC to make the reservation, you won't have an issue.