No ADR's-doable?

[sdfabrizio]

We are heading to the world the week AFTER New Englands schools spring break -April 25-May2. We have been to WDW 3 times in the past & I made crazy ADR's, just to get there & the place is half empty. One trip we could only get WC for late lunch at 2pm & there were 3 other tables seated-but that was the ONLY reservation they had. This trip I am thinking of winging it & if we feel like eating at a certain place, I will call & try to get what we want. How have others done with this "go with the flow" type of planning, did you get to eat or did you starve to death? . No DP, as we are staying at the Poly and dont feel like the QSDP would work & we feel that the regular that we had the last 2 trips forced us to eeat more than normal. What say you Dis'ers?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Well, we normally travel the last week of May through the first week of June. During this time period, we have seen guest after guest after guest turned away since they had no ADR. When we went in the end of August, we say the exact same thing.

I think if you have your heart set on eating at any Disney restaurant, you should book an ADR.

 

[RMulieri]

Anything in life is possible, but not probable.It depends on how many people in your party, and what restaurants you want .If you are not picky about where and when you eat, you can easily call disney dining each am and take whatever is available.I would do that instead of just tryin walkups , which if there is nothing availabe will waste alot of time just aimlessly walking around.If you have your heart set on certain places ,or have a large party, or a party with small kids, I would make adrs before you go.

 

[fla4fun]

I would agree with the poster that suggested calling at least by day of, and making an ADR for the park you are going to, especially if you tend to eat during "typical" meal times. If you have more than four people in your party, you may also want to call ahead, due to the limited number of tables for more than four people in most restaurants. If you prefer TS to CS restaurants, you should also plan ahead.

As far as my own experience goes, I typically don't make a lot of ADR's, if any. I was there in September for two weeks, during free dining (I did not have the dining plan), and still managed 4 last minute ADR's and a couple walk ins - which is about as much TS dining as I usually do on a trip if I'm staying in a DVC villa where I can eat in the room. I am going the 26th for 11 days, and I have three ADR's for my three favorite Epcot restaurants, and I don't plan to make any more. I have another 10 day trip planned for late April, and I am not making any ADR's (I'm staying in a FW cabin on that trip, so I have a kitchen). I don't mind counter service - it's not all hotdogs and hamburgers any more. I prefer to eat when I'm hungry instead of eating according to a schedule. I've never gone hungry yet!

 

[Nikki_Mouse]

I have to say that I am an obsessive/compulsive about Disney dining. I would NEVER go without ADRs. We saw many groups at every place we ate in December being turned away. I am already frantically reviewing menus for our Dec. 09 trip. I am going to give myself an ulcer- but either way you decide- good luck. I actually cancelled a LeCelier ADR in Dec the day of the dinner. We were already at Epcot and did not feel like going back. We ate at Big River Brewing on the Boardwalk and it was MUCH better of a meal than we had a LC last time. Have a great trip! You may have a better chance to dine at hotels instead of parks too. Do not forget Kona, Big River (no ADR), Turf Club.

 

[starann]

We were there in Oct and had Adrs but also walked right into China for lunch at 11 or 11:20am and got seated right away. One night we wanted dinner at WCC and were able to get a 9pm ressie (which worked out as we had a late lunch). When we got there it was all but empty, had I known that I would have gone around 7:30!

So it is possible, you may have to eat at off times.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Just because a place looks empty doesnt mean you will get in with out a problem. I always make ressies no matter what time of the year we go and for that last week in April I would FOR SURE make them because that is still a busy time

 

[sdfabrizio]

Thanks for the responses. I agree with the other poster who wants to eat when he is hungry, not according to a schedule. We are a family of 4, Me, DW, DS8 & DD5 so it wont be as bad as in the past when we didnt have the luxury of being able to wait to eat or for a table. I agree that calling that day makes sense instead of going door to door-no doubt. What happened to Starann is what I am talking about though, same thing happened when we got to WCC for lunch-EMPTY, but they only had THAT time when I made the ressie 4 months prior. I guess what I am getting at is, I do fully agree that if we HAVE to have dinner someplace special, then I agree to make the ADR, but to be able to do a few TS breakfast, a couple lunches & a few dinners, I am hoping that we will have good luck, and see that Disney WAY overbooks the ADR's & still has some tables for walk ups. Do you typically see the regular restaurants with tables available? Not talking about CRT, CP, LeC or YS type of places. Do you think I have to make a ADR at Kona for Breakfast if we are staying there?
And yes, we willl in all probablity eat at off times when possible.
Thanks all!!!

 

[idatwilight]

I just came back today, and I agree that you can probably get reservations once you get there and have a better idea of where you'll be each day. For example, we had ADRs at Chefs de France, but my family didn't like the menu, so I called Disney Dining and could have gotten an ADR within an hour at Spoodles or a host of other places. (We wound up at Big River Grille, which doesn't take reservations.) If you're not too picky, you can find a place to eat.

On the other hand, make the ones you really want early. We had ADRs at Crystal Palace and Boma, and they were both packed.

 

[kirbsam]

hope you like hamburgers and pizza and chicken tenders and fries.

 

[RMulieri]

Disney never holds tables specifically for walk ups.If there are availble seatings it is because 1) the restaurant was not fully booked 2)there were alot of cancellations and no shows.My last trip I booked my ressies 180 days in advance.A few mornings i called and cancelled and switched things around.There were a few places availble but none ofthe more popular places.Most places I was at had signs up outside and podium Cms telling people No walk ups.I felt so bad waiting for my table at Le Cellier and listening to the Cms tell people over and over that they had no openings all week, no walk ups etc. I look at Disney like I look at dining in NYC.If you want to eat what appeals most and at the time that appeals most make a reservation.Most dining in NYC requires reservations months ahead of time as well.I guess I don't feel as smothered by reservations as others do.Just because I decide I am eating at a certain place does not mean I have to decide what entree and dessert 90 days ahead of time.There is still choice.

 

[lorax123]

I agree with other posters, you can do it without ADRs. Especially if you eat an early or late dinners/lunches. I'd think some places might be unrealistic to expect to get in (certain character meals) but if you are flexible and do as a few others suggested, call DD in the morning, and see what's available, you'll be ok.

I totally get your reasoning but I totaaly like making our ADRs and knowing where we will be. That could change one day (ESP when we go without kids) but right now we enjoy the planning.

 

[Poohbear5]

The week you are going is actually vacation week for alot of NH.
We were also wondering if you can get walkup is you go early for dinner (say 4ish). We will be there that same week.

 

[distherapy]

We were there in Oct and had Adrs but also walked right into China for lunch at 11 or 11:20am and got seated right away. One night we wanted dinner at WCC and were able to get a 9pm ressie (which worked out as we had a late lunch). When we got there it was all but empty, had I known that I would have gone around 7:30!

So it is possible, you may have to eat at off times.

Don't forget that just because a restaurant is all but empty doesn't mean that they would fill it if they could. All sorts of issues - but especially staffing - can limit the number of tables they will seat.

I'm much happier when I have ADRs that I can cancel if I don't feel like going that day, than I am if I am scrambling trying to get a reservation or walking from place to place looking for openings.

 

[itchin2go]

Sure - but your choice of place and time will be way more limited.

I don't like for my places and times to be limited, so I make ADRs.

 

[pixeydust]

We had great luck with the concierge finding day of, or next day ressies for us. Having said that, we did make ADR's (6 months out) and used this service only when we decided to deviate from our original plan.