Let's make a list of the restaurants you really need ADRs for

[disneymyway]

I think you can arrive at WDW without ADRs and find places to eat - maybe just not the ones you want. We always make them but sometimes change them at the last minute, so I know not all restaurants are so crucial.

I called for California Grill a month in advance and we have to eat at 5:30 (it was that or nothing!) so I think California Grill is definitely one of those restaurants where ADRs are a must do.

Others?

 

[RMulieri]

Le Cellier, CRT,Chef Mickeys

 

[disneymyway]

Le Cellier, CRT,Chef Mickeys

Oh, so right! Has anyone just walked into one of those places without ADRs?

 

[suzimar57]

narcoosees

 

[disneymyway]

narcoosees

You're right, and I guess you don't just walk into V&A's either!

 

[Karnak]

When making ADRs I cull no eatery. If the restaurant accepts reservations, I make one. 180 days in advance. I also make my daily itineraries so as not to miss a reservation. In other words, if I make an ADR, I honor it.

Having said that, let me add that sometimes the reservation turns out not to have been necessary. In looking back at my last visit to WDW (Dec. 2007), my reservation for lunch at the Nine Dragons was not at all necessary. I think there were fewer than ten tables being used while I was having lunch there. And, I was able to walk into Tony's Town Restaurant for dinner on Dec. 11, as well as dinner at Raglan Road on Dec. 13 on the spur of the moment with no reservation at all. In both cases I had planned to eat at a counter service spot, but decided to try to get into a table service spot just for the heck of it.

So, you can take your chances without a reservation sometimes, but for meals that you really want on your itinerary, you do need to make an ADR.

Karnak

 

[disneymyway]

When making ADRs I cull no eatery. If the restaurant accepts reservations, I make one. 180 days in advance. I also make my daily itineraries so as not to miss a reservation. In other words, if I make an ADR, I honor it.

Having said that, let me add that sometimes the reservation turns out not to have been necessary. In looking back at my last visit to WDW (Dec. 2007), my reservation for lunch at the Nine Dragons was not at all necessary. I think there were fewer than ten tables being used while I was having lunch there. And, I was able to walk into Tony's Town Restaurant for dinner on Dec. 11, as well as dinner at Raglan Road on Dec. 13 on the spur of the moment with no reservation at all. In both cases I had planned to eat at a counter service spot, but decided to try to get into a table service spot just for the heck of it.

So, you can take your chances without a reservation sometimes, but for meals that you really want on your itinerary, you do need to make an ADR.

Karnak

We always make them, but really mostly for fun! They are just part of the "getting excited planning" part!

I guess the real question is "Which restaurants can you walk right into?" Nine Dragons would be one of them. We were able to make last minute reservations at Tokyo Dining this past trip.

I think that it would be a very long wait if you tried to get into the Disney Studios restaurants spur of the moment.

 

[Abharmagic]

LOL- IMO ALL OF THEM!!! (that aren't counter service)

We went in October last year and you can't even believe the people turned away at the front hostess desk.

At LTT a man had a fit with swearing, screaming, etc at the CM b/c his family could not eat ANYWHERE that night. It was embarrassing and inappropriate!!!

All over the parks we heard people complaining that there was nowhere that they could get into without an ADR. So, lesson learned- MAKE ADRs for EVERYWHERE you want to eat and don't risk it. Even in a *low* attendance month (Oct) there were no tables to be found at restaurants within the parks.

 

[momofpirates]

In January of this year, we walked into Chef Mickeys and didn't wait more than 2 minutes to be seated without an ADR. I couldn't believe it. DS celebrating his 5th b-day wanted to ride the monorail so we decided on a list minute dinner. He had seen Chef Mickey on an earlier ride through the hotel, and really wanted to eat there. I was expecting croc tears as they smiled and said "sorry we are full", but we were greeted and seated within minutes! I consider that a little Disney magic.

 

[MouseEarsForLife]

Oh, so right! Has anyone just walked into one of those places without ADRs?

About four years ago, we walked into CRT for lunch. This was during the week before Thanksgiving, and it was before princesses at lunch. (I think..)

 

[eliza61]

We haven't made an ADR in the last 3 years but we don't go during super busy times and never during free dining. We usually eat 2 TS a day. I would say if you want to do a character buffet then make an ADR for that.
I'll be in the world 5/1-5/7 and I have exactly 1 adr made so I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Pumbaa_]

ALL TS can require an ADR - it all depends on the season, the day of the week, what special offers are out, etc.

I don't think you can make a list with any accuracy and I would caution against anyway thinking that any list would be accurate.

If there is somewhere you want to eat, MAKE AN ADR!