MAW Trip - Get ADR or take chance?

[mom2cjm]

I have to start off by saying that DISboards have been a tremendous help in planning our family's first trip to Disney World. Our daughter was granted a wish by Make-A-Wish and she wanted to celebrate her 4th birthday at Disney with the Princesses! So we will be there Jan. 24 - 30.

MAW has already set us up for lunch with the Princesses at Akershus. We also want to eat at the Sci-Fi Dine-In and the Rainforest Cafe. I know I probably should make ADRs for these two places if we definitely want to eat there but I also am not 100% sure of what our plans will be once we get there. My question is - what are the chances of eating lunch at both restaurants at the end of January without ADRs. Do you think the wait time would be very long? Or should I just go ahead and make the ADRs and make our schedule work around them?

Thank you!!
Karen

 

[danceintherain]

My suggestion would be to make ADRs in advance for what you think you'll want to do. Then, if your plans change at the last minute, call and see if you can change your ADR. I've been successful at changing ADRs the day before for a party of 7 in July, so the end of January should be easier.

Sometimes restaurants can't accommodate walk ups. If you walk up right after a restaurant opens, then the chances of being accommodated go up. Even then they may tell you that the only available time is 2 hours later. They will then book you an ADR for that particular time.

I've had two experiences at Sci Fi Dine In.
Positive: I had an 11:10 am ADR (right after opening in July) and was able to walk up and add 3 people (for a total of 10) to my reservation without waiting any longer. I think we were seated around 11:15. We were given 2 cars as well, which we were told may not be possible.

Negative (though not for me): My ADR was at 12:30 in January. We checked in and were waiting to be seated while I watched the podium CM have a conversation with an upset guest. They asked "how long the wait was" the CM told them that they had an available opening at 3 pm. The guest was upset and wanted to sit and wait for an opening before that, because they were hungry now. The CM tried to explain that there wouldn't be any available tables before then, because they were booked with reservations.

Basically, if you want to be successful as a walk up trying during off peak hours would probably be better. If you think you'll want to eat during peak hours, between Noon and 1, then having ADRs will probably turn out better.

 

[mom2cjm]

Thanks Becca! I think I just needed someone to reinforce my gut feeling. My DH has NO idea what all goes into planning for this trip and it was he who suggested not making any reservations and just seeing what happens. I'm a planner and that just makes me a nervous wreck! Thanks your your help!

Karen