Is this silly or should I be scared????

[Minnie]

Okay first realize this is coming from a self acknowledged spreadsheet making and self acknowledge trip commando (see my trip report in my siggie below)

I have made NONE not even one ADR for our trip next week. We will only be in WDW from Thurs-Sat so we don't want to be tied down to any schedule. We will be at MNSSHp on Thurs but other than that we have no set plans. We are considering Epcot on Friday but other than that no real plans.

We are staying in a 2BDR at OKW if that makes any difference

Please either assure me that this is an OK plan that it will be okay to go without ADRs or get my fingers dialing the phone to make ADRs and some sort of schedule.

Please help!

 

[KristinU]

Honest opinion? I think if you want to eat table service and don't want to eat really late then you should get dialing ASAP. If you're game for some late evening (like past 8:00 or 9:00) seatings then you might be OK. I just don't think you should go expecting to walk in anywhere and expect to be seated. We were there last week and saw a lot of walk-ups turned away. But we also got some last-minute ressies for Brown Derby on Saturday night at 7:50 (called earlier that day around 10:00 or so).

I think I'd call and try to book a couple of favorites now if I were in your spot.

It also will vary a lot on your party size - if it is just one or two you stand a way better chance at more options.

Good luck!

 

[Magic2000]

I agree with the previous poster. But unless you have your heart set on a really popular place (like LeCellier or something), you could be OK.

It would make me a little nervous though, cause I like to have at least one ADR each day. And we can always cancel if we change our minds. With a younger child, I know we can't wait too late for dinner!

Have a great trip!!!

 

[n2mm]

As long as you like CS meals you should be OK. Don't expect to get a walkin at the more popular places. Several weeks ago I tried to get an ADR for Coral Reef for table for 2 for dinner and nothing available. I called back later and did settle for a late lunch. You will probably be able to get in some places, but will have a wait. I personally can't stand spending my time sitting outside a restraurant waiting to be called if I can help it. You best bet it to stop by the front desk each morning and see what's available for your options for the day. I called 6 months ago to get into LeCellier for a table for 6 and 7:20 was the best seating time available for the entire week. I called many times afterwards and nothing ever became available. You should be able to get into Olivia's at OKW. But I would still make an ADR the morning of. Good Luck! We went to WDW in early May and used the DDP then too and it was impossible to get into many places, especially 50s Prime Time and WCC (of course LeCellier and Coral Reef). We know because we had ADRs and were waiting to be seated while folks were all being turned away. The DDP is very popular even when not FREE and it's getting harder and harder to get into many places. Given that the food and wine is going on at EPCOT, the EPCOT restraurants are even more difficult to get in to, especially during the weekends.

 

[Robert P]

I would suggest calling now and getting something, if you want TS.
Since you are in a 2 bedroom, your party is probably larger than just 2 people doing a walk-up (which can usually get squeezed in fairly efficiently). I am having a tough time right now filling an empty ADR spot for our party of 5 in a few weeks, largely due to the headcount. Lots more tables (most places) for 2 and 4, than for 5 or more.

If you want CS, you should be okay, but if you intend to do TS, I would call and try to get something, even as a fall back option.

 

[CPer'sMom]

Honestly, I think you'll be fine. It looks as if you make enough Disney trips to know if you'd be happy with that decision. If you really thought you *wanted* an ADR or 2 you would have already made them since you are a planner! Since you'll be at Epcot during the Food & Wine festival you certainly make a meal out of that on that day.

My last trip was a short last-minute one in September. I had no ADRs and was a little concerned since we'd be there during *free dining*. I knew we'd be happy with CS But once we arrived we actually we able to just call in the mornings and get dinner ADRs for that day with no problem -Kona, Boma and Jiko. All the times were between 6:20 and 7:20 which is what I'd have chosen if I'd done it months ago!

Just yesterday I finalized our dining plans for December 19-26 and got everything I wanted without even having to do any 'adjustments'. Some of the ADRs were for 4 people and some for 6 ~~ I got LeCellier, Boma, Kona, Cape May breakfast, Jiko, CG, SciFi, Donald's breakfast at AK, Mama Melrose and Spoodles. Two of those were dinners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (CG).

Don't fret about it ~~ You'll be at Disney after all! Have a great trip!!

 

[makinorlando]

You can always eat your way around the world in EPCOT since it is F&W Festival.... no ADRs necessary for that!!!!

 

[Minnie]

Thanks everyone for your comments

It is actually just the 3 of us (2 aduts and 1 child) in the 2 BDR - we are being very spoiled by this trip all due to an awesome DVC member

The lack of plans is tough for me but I'm trying. My family asked for a low key relaxing trip without the normal got to be there spreadsheet toting deadlines of previous trips

We'll see the days are counting down quickly now

 

[robinb]

The lack of plans is tough for me but I'm trying. My family asked for a low key relaxing trip without the normal got to be there spreadsheet toting deadlines of previous trips

My extended family wanted that of me once. I asked them again and again where they wanted to eat and they never got back to me. I didn't make any ADRs. THEN we we got to WDW they asked me why I didn't book Chef Mickey's for them! *sigh* I would go ahead with your non-plan. You may end up at second and third tier restaurants but that's OK. My family had a GREAT TIME at Raglan Road in August. It was the just about the only restaurant I could book them into at the last minute while my DH and I went to Alfredos.

 

[byoung]

Hope you enjoy counter service.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Just to save you from the worst-case scenario (all counter service meals), I would book a few ADRs and cancel them if you decide you don't want them.

DH and I really make very few ADRs, and mostly make them on the same day. We have been lucky in that we have walked into many places even during busy times, but there are only 2 of us.

 

[NancyIL]

You can always eat your way around the world in EPCOT since it is F&W Festival.... no ADRs necessary for that!!!!

That's what I plan to do next week when I'm there! In fact, I purposely don't eat at table service restaurants at Epcot during the F&W Festival because I love sampling food from many different countries. I have only one ADR for the 5 days I'll be there - at Whispering Canyon for breakfast on the 15th, and that's because some family members will be joining me.

**Oops...edited wrong post!

 

[checkwriter]

Does Vero Beach offer ADRs?

Kidding aside, I'd call now and see what you can get. Then if you don't like what you have, call the day of and see if there have been any cancellations.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With the 2 bedroom, you'll have a nice big kitchen to eat in. You may want to take advantage of that. You can also try Olivia's at OKW. It usually isn't that crowded, but you probably should call before you just show up. You could also try Boatwrights over at POR, not always that crowded, but you will need to get an ADR.

 

[lovwdwalot]

Just wanted to let you know that my DW & I are going to WDW next week,
well last week we called to make our ADR's and we could not get alot of our chooses that we wanted as alot of restaurants were already booked.One that comes to mind is Canada, they were full for the week of the 15th to 20th.

So I would say you should start calling ASAP!

 

[Merriwind]

I think you will be fine. It's a short trip, so you may not want to spend a lot of time in restaurants. We plan on F&Wing it a couple of nights next week. A few days of that and CS won't kill you, plus you may be able to get into some TS, just not really popular ones. Relax, enjoy, go with the flow. You might find you like this kind of touring. (she says as finalizing her spreadsheet for next week!) LOL

 

[GC&S]

I think you will be fine if you don't eat at peak times. We were there last week and everywhere we ate (except Le Cellier) was taking walk ups. I can't remember if you said you were going to all the parks, but HW&V Playhouse Disney character dining at MGM was basically empty when we were there for lunch. Most people in front of us did not have ADR's. Chef Mickey and Ohanas were also taking walk ups. All TS at MK had available seating. We even checked with CRT and could have gotten seating the same day but declined since it was 2 TS.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Minnie]

I talked to my mom again this weekend and she doesn't want ADRs so I guess we will be roughing it this trip

This trip will be a quicky though so I guess its a have way safe time to toss the spreadsheets and give a non-planned trip a try

Thanks everyone

 

[Deb & Bill]

As long as you are not paying for the Dining Plan, and have no expectations for dining at certain restaurants, you'll be fine.