No ADR's at all?! T-r-o-u-b-l-e?

[pouty_tink]

We'll be going to WDW in just a few weeks and I was just wondering if we will really be in trouble by not making any ADR's? I will be close to six months pregnant and I dont want to have to commit to anything that I would have to cancel last minute anyway. I have no idea when I will be hungry for what, and what time is going to work as far as eating while visiting different parks.
I do know that I would like to eat at Ohana's for the character breakfast and possible one or two other 'bigger' ts restaurants.
We were trying to really make this a day by day trip and much more relaxed then our usual trips (were always on the go and riding everything we can) for obvious reasons. Do you think we'll still be ok without making ADR's?!?

 

[kcashner]

No, I don't think you will be ok without ADRs. We were there may 5-13. Most restaurants were turning away "walk-ups." On at least 2 days, Guest Services at the park had a sign up that said there was no availability for dinner at any restaurant in that park!

I would strongly suggest that you make ADRs somewhere. THat way, you know that you will have a sit-down meal if you want it. You can always cancel. A last minute cancellation just makes an opening for a walk-up person. I'm afraid that if you don't make ADRs, you may be unable to get a real meal where you want it.

 

[Christine]

You need ADRs. Times have changed. Used to be you could do walk-ups. The dining plan has changed all that. If you don't mind eating at 8:40 p.m. at night, you might be okay.

It doesn't *hurt* to make ADRs, you can always cancel them. Just make them. I know it's a pain in the neck, but they will give you some guarantee of food.

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

I agree that you need to make reservations and soon!Yes it is hard to know what your going to be in the mood to eat weeks from now, but at least you know you'll be eating somewheres that appeals to you

 

[KHubbs94]

Just back from a 5 day stay and on Tuesday my DH wanted to prove a point to me that all the ADRs I had racked my brain over for months were not needed. To my surprise we walked right in to Crystal Palace for Breakfast!!! On Wednesday my FIL stood at Liberty Tree Tavern for 30 minutes waiting on a no show, and got us in. My advice is to have the ADRs you can always cancel. We were all glad in the end that we had made a few ADRs and being able to walk in to CP and LTT were just nice surprises.

 

[Christine]

Just back from a 5 day stay and on Tuesday my DH wanted to prove a point to me that all the ADRs I had racked my brain over for months were not needed. To my surprise we walked right in to Crystal Palace for Breakfast!!! On Wednesday my FIL stood at Liberty Tree Tavern for 30 minutes waiting on a no show, and got us in. My advice is to have the ADRs you can always cancel. We were all glad in the end that we had made a few ADRs and being able to walk in to CP and LTT were just nice surprises.

I do agree that these *magical* moments can still happen. However, the OP is going in "a few weeks." Sounds like June to me. As you get closer and closer to the summer months and schools being out, those magical moments will be few and far between.

 

[Quinn222]

Do you think we'll still be ok without making ADR's?!?

No. You really should make at least a few ADRs. You can always cancel if you don't feel up to going or want to try something else but going in summer with no ADRs is a huge risk to take. Especially if you want a character meal.

 

[nalabell]

My vote is get those ADR's you can always cancel. The breakfast thing is going to hard to get if your going in just a few weeks. So call and make a few plans.

 

[Sammie]

If you want any full service and definitely character meals you best call right away. You may find many are already completely booked.

Good luck.

 

[pbharris4]

Defintely make ADRs (especially if you're doing the DP!)..if you should change your mind, then you can always cancel. By making an ADR will have a place to sit down, relax in A/C and not have to wait long. If you don't make ADRs..you might get lucky, but the odds are against it. I called to see if I could move back my ADR for 1900 PF becuase we are now flying and will be cutting it close, but the ladt at WDW Dine checked and there was NO openings at any restaurant until after 8:30 or 9pm and I am going June25th. I made ADRs around the 180 day mark. It's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[pouty_tink]

Thanks everyone. I'll try and make a few ADR's then. We are leaving June 8th so I'm sure the parks are getting to be pretty crowded. Obviously all hotels are pretty booked as there are not any codes being offered
And we also are not on the dining plan as they dont offer it for that time frame.. right? Atleast not that I am aware of. We used the DP back in October when we went and really liked the idea, I was disappointed we couldnt make use of it again, but I am kind of limited on my time frame to travel, otherwise we would be returning during the DP time in Sept/Oct..

 

[rigs32]

The dining plan is *always* available, it's just not free when you're going. It's $38.99 per adult per night anbd $10.99 per child per night. You can add it when you arrive, but then you REALLY need ADRs to make sure you get to use your TS credits.

 

[pouty_tink]

The dining plan is *always* available, it's just not free when you're going. It's $38.99 per adult per night anbd $10.99 per child per night. You can add it when you arrive, but then you REALLY need ADRs to make sure you get to use your TS credits.

Thanks for the info! I didnt realize that we could still add it, I thought it was only a promo thing, but I understand what you mean about it being 'free'.
So now my question is this.. Does it need to be applied to all days/nights of our trip or could we just add it for a certain amount of days.. meaning our trip is a total of 8 days, but we wouldnt really be around most of the last day so I could I purchase it for say only 6 or 7 days?

 

[JuneDisney]

Double post, sorry.

 

[JuneDisney]

The dining plan is for each night that you stay at the resort. So if you have a 5 night/6 day trip you would get 5 days worth of meals.
I only paid 37.99 per adult and $10.99 a child.
Being pregnant, you will probably really enjoy the snack part of the plan. I remember when I was pregnant, I always had to have snacks or I would get so sick.
We'll be there the next day, on June 9th, for our 1st trip to WDW. Have a great trip!

 

[CheapMom]

If you think that 8 nights of the dining plan would be 'food overkill' you could always break your trip into 2 reservations- and have the reservations linked together- that way you could do the dining plan for a few days of your trip and then the rest of your trip would be a room only ressie. You can do all of your TS while you are on the plan and it will probably save you a good chunk of change.
But unfortunately you won't be able to spread your credits out over the whole trip- For example: If you take the DDP for the first 4 nights- you will be able to use the credits on days 1-5 of your trip.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Add me to the "make ADR's" group. If you are going in June - I believe the entire WDW is sold out.....you won't be able to get a decent meal; and I know if it were me; and 6 months pregnant without food.......EVERYBODY better get out of my way

To give you an example of how booked the resorts are - The other day I received an email Disney offering us a resort upgrade to Sarasota Springs (1 bedroom villa) and to refund our dining plan money if we will switch our dates to August. We declinded - for one - I couldn't get the ADRs I wanted for August 2) Its too hot for us in August and 3) The dates they proposed mean that DD5 has to go to back to school the day after we return from our trip and 4) how do I tell the kids that we are not going in 22 days.

Please get some ADRs

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

With your ADRs, just make sure that you can cancel it without penalty. I know that some of the more popular character meals charge if you don't cancel within a 48 hour window. And it's definitely a good idea to get ADRs. In early May, when the crowds were fairly light, most places only had limited openings for very small parties.

 

[tjmw2727]

We'll be going to WDW in just a few weeks and I was just wondering if we will really be in trouble by not making any ADR's? I will be close to six months pregnant and I dont want to have to commit to anything that I would have to cancel last minute anyway. I have no idea when I will be hungry for what, and what time is going to work as far as eating while visiting different parks.
I do know that I would like to eat at Ohana's for the character breakfast and possible one or two other 'bigger' ts restaurants.
We were trying to really make this a day by day trip and much more relaxed then our usual trips (were always on the go and riding everything we can) for obvious reasons. Do you think we'll still be ok without making ADR's?!?

I would highly recommend making ADR's and honestly if I were 6 mos pregnant (congrats) I would make one each day. If you know you want to do Ohana then just pick a day and make the ADR, also try for your other two must dos. I would try for some later lunch meals, this will give you a nice break from touring and the hot sun and you will want to eat well, for yourself and the baby.

Its not a problem to call and cancel an ADR if you find something better or just change your mind. It can be a huge problem to find a TS restaurant last minute - why take the chance.

During our April trip my sil and I decided last minute to try and eat at Epcot WS for lunch. Of all those TS choices they were all full except Biergarten. The next day Sat the 7th there was a sign outside of Epcot Guest Relations that there were no ADRs available for today!

Even though its not free right now many more people are doing the Dining Program as its still a good deal, hence more people are making ADR's.

Why not pick up the phone, use the 800 number and make a few ADR's? Its much less hassle than tyring to find one last minute or eating counter service.

TJ

 

[cobbler]

Thanks everyone. I'll try and make a few ADR's then. We are leaving June 8th so I'm sure the parks are getting to be pretty crowded. Obviously all hotels are pretty booked as there are not any codes being offered

Exactly!! Which means the restaurants are going to be just as full. Like others have suggested I would definatly make a few ADR's unless you want counter service for every meal.

And we also are not on the dining plan as they dont offer it for that time frame.. right? Atleast not that I am aware of. We used the DP back in October when we went and really liked the idea, I was disappointed we couldnt make use of it again, but I am kind of limited on my time frame to travel, otherwise we would be returning during the DP time in Sept/Oct..

This has probably been answered already but the dining plan is always avail. Just not for free. If you aren't getting it for free in the Aug/Sept time you can still get it but you pay for it.