New to Dining Plan / Reservations; Please advise!

[chrispo86]

I'm trying to plan a trip from Sunday 5/17 - Friday 5/22 (week before Memorial Day) for my girlfriend and I and am a little confused by the dining plans. Firstly, how far in advance is it really necessary to make reservations? We're not interested in character meals or anything fancy, we would just like to be able to sit and enjoy a meal here and there instead of always eating on the run. Is it really necessary to make reservations?

My second question is, is it really worth getting the dining plan? We would be staying in the park (Pop or Music, haven't decided yet). We would probably want one sit down meal a day, be it breakfast or dinner. We tend to be a little on the pickier side (resturant suggestions?). Is it really that much of a savings to go with the plan? I would probably go with the regular dining plan, but I was considering going with the quick service plan and just paying regularly whenever we wanted to sit at table service.

What should I do??? Thanks in advance!

 

[Faldred]

1) It is not necessary to get ADRs, but it is strongly advised. Restaurants, especially the more popular ones, do fill up. If you're going at a non-peak time and you're flexible about where and when to eat, then you can try to "wing it", but I'd advise getting some ADRs, if you can.

2) If you plan on eating 1 sit down meal per day, and typically order dessert, then you would very likely save money on the plan, especially if you make that sit-down meal a dinner (which tend to be more costly than breakfast or lunch). It sounds as if basic DDP is pretty much tailored for the way you like to eat. You can do the QSDP and just pay OOP for your TS meals, but for $10 more a day for basic DDP, you might be better off going that route and paying OOP for extra CS meals.

 

[chrispo86]

That's pretty much what I assumed. How far in advance do reservations typically start filling up? My trip would be 7 weeks from today, am I in trouble seeing as I haven't even booked the trip yet?

 

[Faldred]

ADRs are taken up to 90 days before the date -- the most popular choices fill up very fast. If you're flexible about where and when, you should still have plenty of options, just not necessarily "ideal" locations or times.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

That's pretty much what I assumed. How far in advance do reservations typically start filling up? My trip would be 7 weeks from today, am I in trouble seeing as I haven't even booked the trip yet?

You need to get on the phone today and book your package and then ask to be transferred to Dining and go ahead and make your ADRs.

 

[chrispo86]

Well, I've been looking at the spring deal $68 a night for the value resort room, and then I was adding the tickets/airfare/dining package right online. Just haven't determined if it's actually feasible yet. Hopefully this week I'll book it.

If I waited and just went day of to try and get a reservation, am I going to be completely out of luck? I'm pretty flexible as to what time to eat, I wouldn't particularly care if I had to wait, it's not like there's not things to keep us occupied! I would rather have the flexibility to decide that day (or the day before) "hey, I'm in the mood for this, let's go there" as opposed to being locked into something 2 months out. If I have to make reservations though of course I will...

Thoughts?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Well, I've been looking at the spring deal $68 a night for the value resort room, and then I was adding the tickets/airfare/dining package right online. Just haven't determined if it's actually feasible yet. Hopefully this week I'll book it.

If I waited and just went day of to try and get a reservation, am I going to be completely out of luck? I'm pretty flexible as to what time to eat, I wouldn't particularly care if I had to wait, it's not like there's not things to keep us occupied! I would rather have the flexibility to decide that day (or the day before) "hey, I'm in the mood for this, let's go there" as opposed to being locked into something 2 months out. If I have to make reservations though of course I will...

Thoughts?

On the crowd calendar at www.touringplans.com, which is the companion website to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World has your week at mostly 9's on a 1 out of 10 scale - with 10 being the highest in regard to crowds. Also, Star Wars Weekend will be going on during those dates. If you are wanting to get any decent seatings at any of the choice restaurants on your list, then I would suggest making your ADRs as soon as possible.

Also, have you tried booking under the 4/3 deal. That would have to give you more savings than the $63.00 room rates.

 

[jenbear123]

If you do end up going with the dining plan, might I suggest you still make the reservations. You can still cancel at least 48 hours prior to your reservation date and time. At least this way you still have something secured when other restaurants are filling up. A good tell tale sign of getting a same-day seating would be to call disney dining reservations a week before you go (after you made your initial reservations of course!) and see if there is any availability. Trust me when you find out there is no availability you'll be glad you secured a table two months in advance.

These are only suggestions of course...

 

[chrispo86]

Yeah, I've been looking at the crowd calendar. It was evenly split between 8/9 for the 6 days . I would be leaving on the Friday that begins Star Wars weekend, so I figured I'd miss the bulk of that crowd, especially since that's also Memorial Day weekend. The 4/3 deal ended yesterday (unless there's another I don't know about), but I was only looking at 5 nights/6 days anyway and the room deal worked out less than the 7 days.

I don't have a list, I've never eaten at a resturant at the park, so hitting specific resturants isn't a priority to me. It's more or less getting a good meal somewhere, whereever that may be lol.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Yeah, I've been looking at the crowd calendar. It was evenly split between 8/9 for the 6 days . I would be leaving on the Friday that begins Star Wars weekend, so I figured I'd miss the bulk of that crowd, especially since that's also Memorial Day weekend. The 4/3 deal ended yesterday (unless there's another I don't know about), but I was only looking at 5 nights/6 days anyway and the room deal worked out less than the 7 days.

I don't have a list, I've never eaten at a resturant at the park, so hitting specific resturants isn't a priority to me. It's more or less getting a good meal somewhere, whereever that may be lol.

The 4/3 deal is good for MYW packages booked through August 15, 2009.

 

[chrispo86]

Do you have a link where I can price it out?? I'd be curious to re-run the numbers. The link is gone on disney's website though. I know it had said "last four days" all last week. I'm pretty sure it was good on vacations through August 15th, but had to be booked by March 29th. If there's a link though, I'd love to take another look!

 

[squirrel]

I would book some ADR's now. You can always cancel the ADR's later. You can tell them you have the DDP and then if you change your mind you can pay out of pocket.

The Wave at the Contemporary Resort is good. We also enjoyed the Kona Cafe at the Poly.

 

[WDWCommandos]

Last year we booked our ADR's the first week in April for our last week in August trip. We weren't even able to get LeCellier with 4 1/2 months advance booking. And the rest of our ADR's were earlier or later than we wanted. We didn't have a single ADR that was actually a perfect time for us. If it is a busy time for WDW you need to make your ADR's and do it as soon as possible. Winging it just may be too risky and you may end up eating burgers and fries the whole trip.

I hope the 90 day change works out for us this year.

 

[WizardLarz]

Sorry to tell you but the buy4 get3 deal came to an end yesterday.

 

[chrispo86]

Sorry to tell you but the buy4 get3 deal came to an end yesterday.

That's what I thought... Oh well, I was only planning for 6 days anyway. Not a huge loss...

All this talk of getting reservations or risk not having somewhere to eat is getting me concerned. Even if I had my trip booked, I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to make reservations for. As I said, I've never eaten at a resturant in the park. Hrmph...

 

[rodeo65]

That's what I thought... Oh well, I was only planning for 6 days anyway. Not a huge loss...

All this talk of getting reservations or risk not having somewhere to eat is getting me concerned. Even if I had my trip booked, I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to make reservations for. As I said, I've never eaten at a resturant in the park. Hrmph...

I'd suggest checking out allears.net and go to their dining link. They have menus for all of the restaurants and you can get a pretty good idea of what is served and if it's up your alley. Have fun!

 

[WDWCommandos]

That's what I thought... Oh well, I was only planning for 6 days anyway. Not a huge loss...

All this talk of getting reservations or risk not having somewhere to eat is getting me concerned. Even if I had my trip booked, I wouldn't have the slightest idea where to make reservations for. As I said, I've never eaten at a resturant in the park. Hrmph...

http://www.allearsnet.com has the best menu information.
It really isn't that complicated! Just figure out which days you will go to which parks and make a reservation for a restaurant in that park based on which menu looks the best to you after reviewing it at allearsnet.com. Also look at the photos of the restaurants at Disney.com. That helps, too. When you are not going to a park, those are the days you would go to a restaurant at one of the resorts. That way you aren't all sweaty and icky feeling and you can have a really nice dinner! With all of that said just be sure to make your ADR's, you really will be glad you did!