Maybe we're doing this all wrong.

[Dakota731]

After a friend who just came back from WDW told me she didn't make any ADRs and just checked each day and got every restaurant she wanted. I decided to check it out and did searches for dinner tonight and almost every restaurant had openings. So instead of setting our alarms at the crack of dawn 180 days out, we are probably better off waiting to the last minute when all the people cancel their extra reservations to avoid the penalty!

 

[deedubb]

I guess it depends when you are going. Good luck with that strategy over the Christmas holidays!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

After a friend who just came back from WDW told me she didn't make any ADRs and just checked each day and got every restaurant she wanted. I decided to check it out and did searches for dinner tonight and almost every restaurant had openings. So instead of setting our alarms at the crack of dawn 180 days out, we are probably better off waiting to the last minute when all the people cancel their extra reservations to avoid the penalty!

If you are willing to roll the dice, that's the way to do it! This is how we roll most of the time. For those that have to get that BOG or O'hana dinner or that BBB appointment followed by CRT, it's a risky game!

 

[Fangorn]

There is a lot of wisdom in that approach. We've been doing it for years. About the only time we make an ADR far in advance, is when we have some schedule restriction or special meal planned with friends. Pretty much the same reasons we'd make reservations at home.

Outside of the obvious 3 or 4 "my vacation will be an abysmal failure if I can't eat there" places (looking at you BoG, CRT, 'Ohana), we've never had a problem getting an ADR at least the day before, and typically the afternoon of.

But then our style is pretty laid back and flexible.

Steve

 

[MamaBelle4]

Not advisable if you're travelling with a large party though. I don't imagine there are many openings for parties of 10.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We're a party of two and always adr our ts meals 180 out. We're hoppers so its easier that way. We have made changes on the fly and have always gotten what we wanted.

 

[supersnoop]

Works great for small parties and off-hours. But it can also be a psychological affect. You search for a reservation and find something you like, so you "got everything you wanted." You never really notice what isn't available.

There are a few places that I've never been able to get into last minute; like 'Ohana and the Rose and Crown. Most resort restaurants are wide open. Most park restaurants have reservations available at less desirable times.

 

[pjhootch]

We are a party of 5 and have been successful at last minute reservations. BUT- I am not attempting that in December, and dutifully got up at 5 a.m. last month to make ADRs for the week before Christmas. I prefer to not plan more than absolutely necessary. But we did want a breakfast at BOG and at the holiday time I would rather know when our meal breaks are coming and work around those.

Other times of the year I can be more flexible. Around Christmas I dont want to be wandering around trying to figure out where and when to eat.

 

[rosiebean]

I usually travel with a party of at least eight (and often more) so last-minute reservations at popular restaurants (actually, most restaurants) are really hard to come by. Snagging last minute ADRs really depends on the time of year you go plus your party size, in my experience. It's really and truly great that some people can grab great ADRs on the fly during their trip...but that strategy does not work for all parties visiting WDW.

 

[alex9179]

As a party of 5, we didn't "get what we wanted" last minute. I made ADRs early and canceled some the day before because of how our schedule was going. I wasn't successful getting day-of, at all. That was ok, I had little expectation of doing so but I'm glad I didn't try that for every day. CS worked out for us when TS didn't. Places that were hard to change or get last minute were Sci-Fi, 50's, Via Napoli, Boatwrights (very surprising), and Homecoming (never worked out over 3 evenings of trying). One night we ended up at DS without planning to and Raglan Rd was the only one that had an opening during our dinner time frame. Another night I tried to change the time for Trail's End and couldn't. This was in early June and the parks weren't busy, yet.

I'm not planning very many for my upcoming trip in January. We're going to take advantage of lounge apps/drinks more often than full meals. Even though we'll be two and don't anticipate difficulty, I'll make a few at 180 so that I don't have to wonder about availability. Also, I find it easy to work around meal times when touring.

 

[loves to dive]

We never book ours more than the night before, normally day of but there is only two of us and we like eating at different places so we have no problems.

 

[Chrelaine]

I agree with the prior posts. If you don't "have" to eat at 'Ohana, BOG or CRT, you will most likely be able to successfully obtain tables at most others...although SciFi has been tough for us. I wouldn't try this at Christmas for sure.
Personally, I like to have a plan ahead of time to work out transportation, FP+,...etc around the TS time, but that's how I am.

 

[bianca]

Party of 8 here ...... almost impossible to get on the day of.

 

[han22735]

Agree with all who already posted...But I'm in the group that booking in advance doesn't really affect what you do day to day so as long as you cancel the day before what's the harm in booking some ADR's ahead of time incase you want them.

 

[raddisneyfan]

I always book lunch TS only and always at 12:30PM (always like my biggest meal midday rather than later)--that way I don't have to remember what time lunch is--I know, CRAZY me! I book as close to 180 days just to get something in, but am constantly changing. Sometimes I'll have to book a 1PM 180 days out, but then I wait a few days and my 12:30 is available. However, that said, I wouldn't be averse to waiting until I get there. Of course, then I get to the FP+ day (60 out) and that changes everything and I have to rethink the whole plan. I don't know how their reservations systems work, but I've had ADRs for a particular place and tried to change and it wouldn't let me and I get there at an earlier time on the day and there is no wait at all and hardly anyone in the restaurant. I say go for it and let us know how it worked out.

 

[Shanti]

After a friend who just came back from WDW told me she didn't make any ADRs and just checked each day and got every restaurant she wanted. I decided to check it out and did searches for dinner tonight and almost every restaurant had openings. So instead of setting our alarms at the crack of dawn 180 days out, we are probably better off waiting to the last minute when all the people cancel their extra reservations to avoid the penalty!

No, I think the issue there is that summer is now one of WDW's lower seasons, so it's easier to get ADRs for summer than for many other times of year.

Whenever you go, use Touring Plans free reservation finder to help snag those hard to get ADRs.

 

[kastoney]

We never make reservations at the 180 day mark and most of the time its closer to the 18 minute mark instead We are usually either a party of 3 or 4 and as long as your are flexible on where and when you get there are tons of options available. If I had my heart set on something I'd go with ADR route, but as long as you are willing to compromise it works great. In all our years doing this I don't think there is a single restaurant I've never seen available, including the most popular ones, but their availability isn't guaranteed or consistent

 

[AngiTN]

After a friend who just came back from WDW told me she didn't make any ADRs and just checked each day and got every restaurant she wanted. I decided to check it out and did searches for dinner tonight and almost every restaurant had openings. So instead of setting our alarms at the crack of dawn 180 days out, we are probably better off waiting to the last minute when all the people cancel their extra reservations to avoid the penalty!

This is what we always do. I don't even plan trips 180 days out, much less get up and book ADR then.
We book our dining on the bus heading to the park that day, if not later than that.

 

[as1]

After a friend who just came back from WDW told me she didn't make any ADRs and just checked each day and got every restaurant she wanted. I decided to check it out and did searches for dinner tonight and almost every restaurant had openings. So instead of setting our alarms at the crack of dawn 180 days out, we are probably better off waiting to the last minute when all the people cancel their extra reservations to avoid the penalty!

This looks to be somewhat sound logic. I just checked the MDE app 10 minutes ago and there are open tables currently for 4 people tomorrow night for dinner, from 6-8:30pm at:

Le Cellier
Be Our Guest
Beaches and Cream
Via Napoli
Victoria & Alberts
50's Prime Time

 

[Dakota731]

I was just telling my neighbor about this, and she said they were there spring break and got all the popular character meals reserving the day before. I checked now for our size party (six) and I could have Coral Reef, Le cellier, Kona, Ohana, and tons more today! Maybe we all buy into the 180 day hype and could all relax a little more (myself included).