Is this all getting too much?

[walkerford]

I was just wondering what other peoples views are on this? Is it all getting too much now with regard to ADR's and availability at restaurants. I consider myself pretty clued up on Disney but have to say I am struggling to make any reservations for our holiday for the last 2 weeks in August. I was only able to confirm that I could get away from the office a couple of days ago so hence the late booking.
It is now starting to be the case that if you haven't commando booked 90 days in advance then you can forget about dining at Disney. I think I would be pretty miffed if for instance I was told by my hotel for instance the polynesian, that there was no chance of eating in the restaurant for either breakfast or dinner for the entire duration of my stay- its almost as if thats a facility in the hotel that then no longer exists for the people staying there?
I realise this is down to the free dining plan etc but the wonderful array of eating establishments available is no longer a selling point if you can't eat there.
This is no offence at all to those who have booked 90 days in advance I just wonder if there wasn't some other alternative middle ground?
Any views?

 

[eliza61]

I realized it was too much when dining required the same planning the Allies needed during the D-Day invasion.

First, my disclaimers. I intentionally avoid disney during free dining. so who knows whether my usual routine will work.

2nd disclaimer. There are not any restauarants at the world that for me that are "must do's". none really are that great, so if I don't eat at Le Cellier or Boma one year, it's not tragic.

I call every morning when I get up and I ask the wonderful cm's at disney dining what is available that day. They have always been able to recommend one or two restaurants, once again I'm not sure if this will work during free dining. then I pick from what is offered. Also some DTD restaurants usually don't take adr's so try some of those.

Once again, I'm very flexible and my kids are not fussy eaters so no worries there.

One other alternative, about a mile from DTD is the crossroads shopping plaza. It literally is a 7.00 cab from DTD. They have the standard line up of restaurants TGI friday, Macaroni grill, chinese and really good Italian place. I know it's off site but since we don't go "commando" style it's a nice break and you more than make up the 14.00 difference in the menu prices.

 

[FireDancer]

I have never had a problem finding a place to eat. I am usually there solo over marathon weekend and the only ADR I make is at Boma. I can usually walk up and get a place withing 15 minutes or call an hour or so ahead of time. I don't try for places like LeCellier but the last time I was down there I ate at Biergarten, The Wave, Kona, and Marrakesh by walking up. The longest wait I had was 15 minute at Biergaten and I just walked the shops until it was time to eat.

As long as you don't have a big group. don't go to the most popular restaurants, and don't go during the peak seasons or free dinning I think the difficulty of getting into the restaurants is greatly exaggerated.

 

[Kim1964]

I do think it's a lot of work, depending on when you go. The people I feel bad for are the ones who have no idea about ADRs and think that they'll choose where they want to eat when they get there and then are stunned that they can't get into the most popular places. Before I became the Disney nut I now am, I was one of those people and I remember being very frustrated.

I'm pretty over Disney food, though, and my kids are really happy at food courts. This trip we are doing 1 character meal and that is the only sit down meal we have planned. If they get "food court" fatigue, we'll head to Crossroads.

 

[walkerford]

But thats the point isn't it... "if you don't go during free dining". My holiday is booked via our DVC membership, I don't get free dining, and have no choice as to when we can travel ie british school holidays. Just going via the online booking there really are very very few available reservations.

 

[eliza61]

But thats the point isn't it... "if you don't go during free dining". My holiday is booked via our DVC membership, I don't get free dining, and have no choice as to when we can travel ie british school holidays. Just going via the online booking there really are very very few available reservations.

How flexible can you be? I just went on line, disney booking and helped a coworker book a 5:30 dinner at Shutters restaurant at old port royale on 8/27. The computer also give us 4 alternatives. Maya grill, Olivias and the Wave. Well also snagged a 5:50 pm at Tokyo Dining at Epcto on 8/25 . Now I know they are not the most popular restaurants but as I said flexibility is key.

 

[k5thbeatle]

I was just wondering what other peoples views are on this? Is it all getting too much now with regard to ADR's and availability at restaurants...Any views?

In general I agree with you but the answer is long and complex. I'll get flamed but I truely believe the root of it all is the dining plan in general (and now free dining plan).

 

[stella27]

In general I agree with you but the answer is long and complex. I'll get flamed but I truely believe the root of it all is the dining plan in general (and now free dining plan).

I want to hear it.

 

[ransom]

It can be tough to get what you want when you want it when going to WDW.

Especially when booking at WDW during busy dining times (any time the parks are very busy + during free dining).

But the rest of the year, they need far less seating. I've never had a problem getting exactly what I want.

So what should Disney do?

 

[minnie_michelle]

I was just wondering what other peoples views are on this? Is it all getting too much now with regard to ADR's and availability at restaurants. I consider myself pretty clued up on Disney but have to say I am struggling to make any reservations for our holiday for the last 2 weeks in August. I was only able to confirm that I could get away from the office a couple of days ago so hence the late booking.
It is now starting to be the case that if you haven't commando booked 90 days in advance then you can forget about dining at Disney. I think I would be pretty miffed if for instance I was told by my hotel for instance the polynesian, that there was no chance of eating in the restaurant for either breakfast or dinner for the entire duration of my stay- its almost as if thats a facility in the hotel that then no longer exists for the people staying there?
I realise this is down to the free dining plan etc but the wonderful array of eating establishments available is no longer a selling point if you can't eat there.
This is no offence at all to those who have booked 90 days in advance I just wonder if there wasn't some other alternative middle ground?
Any views?

I agree that it has gotten to be too much. We are not even on a dining plan, but I've always wanted to try some of the restaurants, so during my restaurant research on this site, I discoverd how important it was to book 90 days out and was lucky enough to get the 5 ADR's I wanted. I never imagined that you HAD to have ADR's in order to eat at almost any TS restaurant. I assumed that Disney had the ADR option in place for convience, but that anyone could still walk up and eat at a TS restaurant if they were willing to wait an hour or so. I almost feel that Disney should take half of their ADR's away and have the option for walk-ups as well. It takes a little over an hour to eat at a TS restaurant, so why not have several tables of different sizes set aside for walk-ups only. I just know that there are going to be tons of people on free dining completely unaware that they need an ADR for every single meal or even ADR's at all.

 

[Rip]

In general I agree with you but the answer is long and complex. I'll get flamed but I truely believe the root of it all is the dining plan in general (and now free dining plan).

Without a doubt, which is why it will never go away. When I lived there 7-8 years ago, we never make reservations in advance and could almost always get a table at whatever restaurant we decided on whenever we got there, especially if we were just a little flexible with the time. The dining plan is the reason for a lot of things (fewer selections, higher menu prices, etc. in addition to crowded restaurants), but there is no question that the second time around Disney got it right in terms of public perception, and now they are making a killing off of it.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I agree the dinning thing is enough to drive you crazy. However I do book 90 days in advance
1. cause we do enjoy our dinners .
2. we like eating at certain places where we will be that day.
3. I don't want to get stuck eating at a CS for dinner.

 

[estherhead]

I call every morning when I get up and I ask the wonderful cm's at disney dining what is available that day. They have always been able to recommend one or two restaurants, once again I'm not sure if this will work during free dining. then I pick from what is offered. Also some DTD restaurants usually don't take adr's so try some of those.

Once again, I'm very flexible and my kids are not fussy eaters so no worries there.

I've done this strategy during free dining. We had to change things & cancel some of our beloved ADR's so I just called when I got up & asked what was available near MK that day. We got Tony's for around 6:00. We liked it & would go back.

We did it later also at Epcot & ended up at Nine Dragon's in Epcot, which again, we enjoyed.

If you were to go to NYC at the spur of the moment you wouldn't expect to get into THE hottest place at the last minute. Or the best seats at a Broadway play. But you could always have a delicious meal and great entertainment.

I do intend on getting up at 6:00 a.m. at my 90+10 window for our Nov free dining trip. However, while we're there if our day changes I will not hesitate to cancel an ADR and get whatever is available that day where we really will be. Mostly, it won't be the case, but I'm sure we will have at least one day when we're all too tired or a child is sick or whatever. It's vacation. We have a nice plan that is flexible depending on circumstances.

So, no, for me I don't think it is too much. Long before free dining, I put the same amount of effort into trips to Italy or cruises (and choosing what to do on the islands) or even visiting national parks you have to have ressies at the best hotels a year + in advance.

 

[tami82]

You know if you never came to these boards you would probably not know any better about some of the restaurants. It wouldnt matter and would seem there was plenty to choose from aside from the more popular restaurants which book up. I remember when i was on the phone with the reservationist i happened to mention the message boards. She said right away, dont go by the message boards, read up on each & every restaurant and form your own opinions. Not every restaurant is going to fit every familys needs. She told me there are some great restaurants that dont get booked up and doesnt understand why because they are really nice places and so much to choose from. She is probably very right. I also think some of the restaurants are overrated. I say dont give up. Im sure there are bookings that are double bookings because people dont know what they are going to do that far ahead. Ibet you can call same day or even walk up and find some availability of some of them.

 

[DaughteroftheKing]

Yikes, that would be bad to not be able to eat at your own hotel! I don't know how reservations work, but one option would be for the hotels to keep X amount of ressies open JUST for their guests per meal. Say the room seats 200, maybe they keep 25 or 50 seats open for just their guests, and the remaining ones are up for grabs to anyone. ?? Heck, they might do that already, I really don't know. Just a thought.

Hope you get some pixie dust and are able to eat at places you'll enjoy!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Disney used to (a long time ago ) only let a certain percentage of their restaurants be ADR reserved leaving some available for walk ups. I'm sure once the restaurant managers started seeing a few empty tables and a packed ADR list that slowly started changing. Like a PP said, as long as a person has flexibility, there's usually SOMEWHERE to eat (you may not like the place or the time). What's Disney to do? Only allow ADR's 7 days before? I remember my Mom making our ADR for HDDR TWO YEARS before our 1993 trip. Unfortunately, yes, if you have a last minute trip planned during the highest volume of people eating at WDW restaurants (free dining) then it does suck. I do believe that Disney does the best they can to accomodate the people who want to plan (and thus adding money to their pockets by making sure every table is filled, "free" dining is a huge money maker for WDW, they are a business after all) AND the people who's plans are still up in the air (hence shortening the ADR "window").

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I have to agree with some of the posters that the I do feel it has gotten out of hand. When you go on vacation, you should be able to eat what you would like to. I don't normally do the dining plan (free or otherwise) but as a teacher I do have to travel at peak times. And I do make a few ADRs for favorite places or character meals. I do this because I have no choice. If I do not, I will be eating counter service fast food for a week.


Uh, by the way, there is a reason Shutters CBR) and Maya Grill (CSR) are available when you go online-they are terrible. Besides, you have to be more than flexible to travel to a moderate resort just to get a decent meal.

While I agree all vacations require some degree of flexibility, I feel it is just silly to say as long as you don't travel in a big group, or during peak season, or during free dining, and as long as you aren't picky about where you eat, you should have no problem dining in WDW. Fact is, on pretty much any other vacation, you would not need to do the insane advanced planning of your dining that you have to do in WDW.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Fact is, on pretty much any other vacation, you would not need to do the insane advanced planning of your dining that you have to do in WDW.

WDW is one of the most visited places in the World. There's no way Disney can accomodate everyone who wishes to eat at a certain restaurant at a certain time and, of course, the best places are going to be booked first. When that happens the options are eating at the less desirable places, eating counter service, or eating off-site. Disney could build more restaurants (which may or may not become less desirable) or put some effort into figuring out why some of their restaurants are less desirable. Of course, a "desirable" restaurant is all subjective .

 

[Belleandtinker]

It's too crazy!!!

When we went in April 2008, we planned 50% of our dinners before we left. When we arrived and tried to get additional reservations each morning we were out of luck. This vacation I was trying to "go with the flow" since I'm an over planner this was hard and WRONG!

When we went in February 2009, I planned every last dinner - no longer did we want to "go with the flow." I couldn't get section 1 for the Luau or Fantasmic, but we survived.

Then a month ago, we made a last minute (last minute meaning less than 90 day in advance) reservation to WDW. Great room rate and awesome airfare!!! Went to book dining - no much left at the times we wanted. With a 4 year old, eating dinner at 4 pm or 7 pm doesn't work for us. We cancelled the trip. We find dining to be a special part of the vacation and eating counter service for up to 10 days (or stressing over the line) isn't our cup of tea.

We are planning a trip in the spring and I'll be on the phone at 5 am with all of you. I would rather over plan it based on my past experience and based on the stories.

Thanks for letting me vent too.

 

[mmmears]

Yes, it's too much! On our trips 10 years ago, you could walk-in to almost any sit down meal, or get a same day reservation (except, of course, CRT). Now if you are an hour late making your ADRs, you could potentially be too late for all or most of your dining choices.

IMO it's the dining plan. Before there was one, there were less people clamboring to get into sit down restaurants. Disney has succeeded in filling their restaurants, but at a cost. The food and menus are not what they used to be, either.

At Disneyland, it's still possible to get into most places (Blue Bayou can be hard) as a walk-in, and I find that planning trips there or to other places in the world can be less stressful!

For my family, it's hard to decide where and what we want to eat 3 months in advance (so glad it's not 180 days anymore!). Especially when the park hours aren't even released then!

But we like to take a break when we eat, so I do book our dining as soon as I can. Just don't want to have no choices but fast food when we get hungry!