Making ADR's DURING your trip

[oasispaul]

Our trip is 4/28 - 5/5 (our daughter's first trip to WDW!). We've made ADR's for Chef Mickey's & Crystal Palace and that's it. Since our girl is 2, we're really not sure what her napping schedule is going to be like once we get there, and we didn't have any other "can't-miss" restaurants on our list, so I didn't make any other ADR's.

Having said that, in late April/early May how difficult is it to get an ADR at a table service restaurant either same-day or a day or two in advance? I'm not talking about any of the extremely popular restaurants (I know we wouldn't have a shot with those), but let's say one afternoon we decide we'd like to try the Kona Cafe or Grand Floridian Cafe for dinner that evening. Would we be able to make an ADR a few hours ahead of time?

Thank you!

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have been successful in getting ressies while at WDW but the popular ones like any character meal and Le Cellier, Cali Grill...they are almost 100% booked, especially the week that you are going....

For lunch you may have more luck.

 

[oasispaul]

thanks!

 

[JamesB]

I would book your ADR's and if they work out great and if they dont just cancel them. If you are on the DDP book them now. Im coming in about a week before you and made all my ADR's about a week ago. I tried to make some changes yesterday and some of the restraunts were already tottally booked so I couldnt change anything(Ohana and le Cellier,I was trying to change times). So unless you want to eating at some unpopular restraunts book em and hope for the best.

 

[goin2themouse]

I would book your ADR's and if they work out great and if they dont just cancel them.

That definitely. Add the 407-WDW-DINE number to your mobile so you can cancel quickly on the fly.

Enjoy your DD's first trip!

 

[buckirj1]

Sure, that's the only way I'll make ADR's. If there's room, they'll fit you in. There's almost always _something_. Just be flexible and prepared to eat at a counter service or food court if the _something_ restaurant doesn't grab you. No need to make yourself nuts planning if that isn't your thing.

On the other hand, if that's your thing, there's nothing wrong with planning, although some of you act like eating and planning is a competitive sport. Breedah thing, I guess.

 

[goin2themouse]

On the other hand, if that's your thing, there's nothing wrong with planning, although some of you act like eating and planning is a competitive sport.

It is. Didn't you get the memo?

 

[onelilspark]

I agree with some of the PP's, I would go ahead and make some ADR's, then if you can't make them, give the dining number a call and see what else is available. I've had success booking the morning of for that night, but I've not tried just a few hours before

 

[PoohsFan1]

We've done it a couple of times. Once was in the morning and made ADRs for WCC for dinner no problems, and we were a table for 7 (this was in Sept. of '05). The last time we were in WDW, was in June of '07 we went to DTD thinking that we would eat at RC, but found out that there was a 2hr wait to get in . So I immediately called Disney Dining and told them our situation, the CM I talked to was so nice about it and got us an ADR for PYC for 10 mins. later (just enough time for us to get from Marketplace to the restaurant). When we go in March, I will be making sure I keep the Disney Dining number in my cell phone, just incase something comes up and we need ADRs fast.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Okay...You said you made some ADR's that you have your heart set on already...beyond that ..if you want to call day of - your best bet is calling in the morning. It is also good to be flexible when you call, ask what's available in the MK, not just ask about CPalace. It is also good to know your areas - like knowing that it's no big deal to get from HS/Epcot to the YC, or from MK to the monorail resorts and WL.

I'd also say, you have fairly good odds of getting a monorail resort for lunch,or even late breakfast. folks just have itin their head to be inthe parks mid-day. They also have it in their head to eat lunch exactly at noon, for some odd reason. So any meal you can eat at a slightly off time is to your advantage really. Nap times aside, the kids in our family have shown themselves to be amazingly flexible when it comes to dining times. It's the adults who get cranky when they get too hungry. In which case, it is wise to grab an emergency Mcieky ice cream bar. A Mickey bar will solve almost any WDW problem, in my experience.
youcan even eat them for breakfast, or a late morning snack.

One good choice that's often available is the new Wave at CR. I don't think it's caught on yet, but the food was quite good when we went, especially if you are craving something healthy or some good coffee or tea! An option that's often available day of in Epcot is Marrakesh, and that is also quite good. HS can get booked up, but sometimes you can hop just over to the Swan or Dolphin. The brewpub at the BWk only takes walk ups (I think). I know Beaches and Cream only takes walk ups, but the wait can be long for a table there. I think pertty much you can always eat at either the Pepper Market or the TS place at CSR. I've never done the TS there, because I really enjoy the Pepper Market. It get's busy at breakfast, but otherwise it is usually fairly quiet. On DDP, it counts as Quick service though you get partial table service. (Drinks delivered, plates cleared) The only drwback is that it will take you while to get over there if that is not your home resort. Still, if you want a break some night, it's a nice place for a stroll around the lake.

My one caveat is that if you are on DDP, and will be heartbroken if you can't get what you want at the last minute. If you are in that camp, I'd would book now.

 

[1hero2princesses]

Personally I would make the adr's and cancel them beforehand. My only experience with trying to make adr's while there was last September during free dining, so it was busy. We discovered our DD3 was terrified of characters and had to find all new adr's since our were almost all character meals. The big thing is it can take a lot of time. I would spend time in the morning with the concerige, trying to find different places. Then if we didn't find anything be calling on my cell from the parks. Sure there were restaurants but they were either no where near where we were going to be or they would have a 9 pm which was crazy with small kids. I spent at least 2 hours of my vacation trying to find restaurants. Really not fun.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Last year, in early May, we didn't make any ADRs in advance, same thing in October. Yet I got every resturaunt we wanted, when we wanted. Granted I didn't try for any of the "biggies" like LeCellier or California Grill. But I had no problem with Boma (B), Tusker House (L), Liberty Tree Tavern (L), Rose and Crown (L), Grand Floridian Cafe (L),Cape May Cafe (L), and Captain's Grill (D).

 

[k&a&c'smom]

I thought I'd mention, when we were in WDW a couple weeks ago, calling the dining line to make a reservation took forever! The CMs said that is only going to get worse, with the 90-day policy. If you are on the dining plan, I'd make some reservations now, so you have something booked and don't spend all your time on the phone.

On the other hand (if not on the DDP), most people are not calling in their cancellations with such a long wait - so you may be able to just walk in to some of the restaurants that are in less demand.

 

[emmiesmom]

We took a last minute trip during new england april vacation last year (decided on Sunday and flew down on Monday- so no ADR's )
We were able to get an ADR at California Grill (early but we prefer that with a tired 3yr old!) and one for Knoa Cafe. The character meals were all booked.

When we went back in July- it was pouring so we wanted to switch from Tutto Italia to something closer to Wilderness Lodge. We were able to get California Grill for later that same day (again early dining time 5:30 ish but that worked for us)

We found it's possible if we're flexible with when and where and we're not trying to book a character meal

 

[oasispaul]

Thanks for all of the advice. We are not on the DDP, so our sense of urgency w/ ADR's probably isn't as great. But I did take most of your advice and made a few more dinner ADR's to be on the safe side.

Another question for you ADR experts:
My best friend and his girlfriend live down in Orlando and are planning to meet up with us a couple times during our vacation. I imagine we'll all do dinner one night, but we won't know which night until we're down there. If we have an ADR for 3 people, is it possible to change it to 5 people? If so, would you recommend calling ahead to try to add people to the ADR or showing up to the restaurant and asking if 2 more people could join your party? The two dinners I could see them joining us at would be Kona Cafe & Raglan Road, if that helps.

Thanks!

 

[DannysMom]

If we have an ADR for 3 people, is it possible to change it to 5 people? If so, would you recommend calling ahead to try to add people to the ADR or showing up to the restaurant and asking if 2 more people could join your party? The two dinners I could see them joining us at would be Kona Cafe & Raglan Road, if that helps.

Thanks!

To be on the safe side, you might want to make the ADR when you think they may join you for 5. It's a whole lot easier to "downgrade" an ADR on the spot, than it may be to "upgrade" one. If your ADR is only for 3 & you show up w/ 5, sure they will accomodate you *if they can* -- but if it's a busy night, and they are booked solid, it may not be possible. On the other hand if you show up w/ 3 & your ADR is for 5, when you check in w/ the host/hostess, just telling them "the other couple was unable to join us, we are only 3 tonight" -- never seems to be a problem.

You might also program the dining number into your cell phone, so that you can make or change plans on the fly. If you are flexible, you can ususally get in somewhere.