No ADR's for entire trip

[eyeheartgoofy]

When we went this past January, we only had 2 ADR's - Boma and CRT. One afternoon, it was very chilly and rainy - the lobby concierge told us we could eat dinner anywhere we wanted that night if our times were flexible (they even had CRT - we went with a 4:50pm at CP). BUT that was in OFF season and during icky weather.

 

[Lynne M]

No ADRs during Easter week....that's going to be really tough. I hate to be a downer, but I'm afraid you're going to be eating a lot of counter service food. There's a lot of variety for CS nowadays, so it's not a terrible thing, unless you really want a sit-down meal.

I understand where your DH is coming from, but since they started the DDP, the days of being able to 'wing it' are gone.

I was there from 3/18 - 3/22, and even resort restaurants were very tough to get. And it wasn't anywhere near as busy as it will be when you go.

My best advice for you:

1) Do NOT just walk up to restaurants and hope they'll let you wait for a table. Many TS places don't take walk ups if they're booked, they'll just turn you away.

2) On the day that you want a TS meal, call Disney Dining around 9 or 10 AM. I had better luck calling the same day, and taking advantage of cancellations. You're still going to have a limited selection of restaurants and dining times, but this is easier than wandering from restaurant to restaurant, looking for one that has openings.

3) You may want to consider trying to get some ADRs now, regardless of what DH says. He'll thank you when you arrive at the restaurant and he hears the hosts/hostesses turning away all the guests without ADRs.

 

[MaeDaisy]

Look on the bright side, OP: If you and DH ever disagree in the future, you can simply say those three magic words, "Disney... no ADRs..." to instantly hear "Yes, dear. We'll do it your way, dear."

 

[LilGMom]

There have only been two trips when we've made ADR's and they were only advance by a few days or even a few hours. We've never made ADR's and just go where our stomachs take us at that particular time. Of course you run the risk of not getting into restaurants that you might want to try but there are so many places to choose from that there is bound to be something else.

 

[dsnymomof4]

I called today to try to change our ADRs for next week that I made a while ago. I need to add a person to our tables - only 1/6 reservations could be accomodated. Everything else is BOOKED SOLID - all day and night! They don't even have tables for 1 anywhere! I knew it would be crowded, but now I'm getting scared.

 

[Grumpy92]

Easter Week and no ADRs. Plus add this new Dining plan which is causing restaurants to book up even during slow periods.
I agree this will definitely be a good lesson for your husband. Please make sure you report back to us on your return. I will see you there but we did make ADRs for every other night.

 

[micksterlee]

We will be there the week of Easter and have made no ADRs either but we are planning to just do CS and snacks since there will be so many people we didn't want to get tied down by dining plans.We figure if worse comes to worse we can always grab something at the food court at the resort.

 

[disneycake]

We don't do ADR's because we don't like being tied down as your DH put it. However, we don't get during spring break (going mid-May this year), don't have a particular restaurant we want to eat in, and don't mind if we don't get TS. We'll try resort places this year or just do some fun CS things. Also, once that hot weather hits me my appetite goes way down.

 

[Christine]

What I'm wondering is, even if some people don't want to plan (like the OPs hubby) why you wouldn't make ADRs anyway? I mean, they don't FORCE you to go to your ADR. If you get up that morning or even a few hours prior to the ADR and realize that you just don't want to do it, you can go to any of the MANY guest services and cancel it.

Is it just a consideration thing? They aren't taking your credit card.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Look on the bright side, OP: If you and DH ever disagree in the future, you can simply say those three magic words, "Disney... no ADRs..." to instantly hear "Yes, dear. We'll do it your way, dear."

 

[tbrenk]

We will be there the week of Easter and have made no ADRs either but we are planning to just do CS and snacks since there will be so many people we didn't want to get tied down by dining plans.We figure if worse comes to worse we can always grab something at the food court at the resort.

Same here. We plan on bringing some sandwiches for lunch and grabbing CS for dinner. it isn't the ned of the world. I look at it this way, Disney isn't known for their food and fine dining. I am not going to WDW for great food. I can get that at home at much better prices.

We are flexible and don't mind CS meals and don't want to be locked into ADR's.

 

[Christine]

We are flexible and don't mind CS meals and don't want to be locked into ADR's.

This is what I'm trying to figure out. You are never "locked" into ADRs.

Also, I think (if I read the OP correctly), they do enjoy dining at WDW. If you do enjoy it and you go down there thinking that you're going to have a few nice meals and you get shut out, it can be disappointing.

I, for one, would not want to eat counter service for a week. Knowing that, though, I made some backup ADRs. If I end up going to a different park and feel I can't get to them, I will cancel them as soon as I know.

 

[tbrenk]

This is what I'm trying to figure out. You are never "locked" into ADRs.

Also, I think (if I read the OP correctly), they do enjoy dining at WDW. If you do enjoy it and you go down there thinking that you're going to have a few nice meals and you get shut out, it can be disappointing.

I, for one, would not want to eat counter service for a week. Knowing that, though, I made some backup ADRs. If I end up going to a different park and feel I can't get to them, I will cancel them as soon as I know.

When I said locked in, I guess I meant that if I made ADR's I would feel the need to stick with them. I would feel too guilty making them fo ra holiday period and then cancelling at the last minute. I don't think that is fair to others.

We are staying at a villa and will eat some meals there too. We plan on bringing some lunches as well

 

[Christine]

When I said locked in, I guess I meant that if I made ADR's I would feel the need to stick with them. I would feel too guilty making them fo ra holiday period and then cancelling at the last minute. I don't think that is fair to others.

Well, that's what I was asking--if this was a consideration thing?

I get what you are saying, but believe me, that cancelled ADR will not be wasted. There is always several hundred people calling "that day" for last minute ADRs, or even trying to do walk ups. As long as you are considerate enough to cancel the ADR, you haven't done anything unfair.

 

[disneycake]

I have a much more relaxing time knowing that I can go wherever I want to eat whenever. Having an ADR would really stress me out especially since I have no clue what time I would feel like eating and where I would want to eat, and yes while I can cancel them without penalty it's just too much for me. With that being said if I truly wanted to eat somewhere (a character breakfast, Le Cellier, V&A's, etc...) or had kids then I would make an ADR but since I don't then it becomes the fun of finding someplace.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Since we know what we like and what restaurants we definitely have to eat at, I guess it's easier. Plus, I'm a planner and luckily DF doesn't mind it since he likes to eat!

 

[Disney Anna]

My aunt and uncle never make ADRs and think I'm a compulsive nut for doing so. Anyway, I went on a trip with them in November. They said no ADRs. I said okay and then made them behind their back. Boy, were they glad I did. It was Thanksgiving week. What were they thinking? It would have been CS every day. But, due to my foresight, we ate every where we liked.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Before we were really Disney nuts, we went the week between Christmas and NY's. We didn't even know about ADR's. It was CS for both meals and we were soo sick of it after only 2 days! We will NEVER go without ADR's EVER AGAIN!

 

[Christine]

I can't wait to revisit this thread when my trip is over.

I'm leaving tomorrow. I have one ADR for Saturday night (at Citricos) and a reservation for Sunday night at HDDR. Monday and Tuesday I left open because I didn't know which day I was going to Universal and where the heck I would be on either of those days.

Now that the trip is closer, I figured I would be at Epcot on Monday. It's going to be VERY interesting to see what I can walk into on Monday. I am well prepared for counter service that day!

 

[bgdiznee]

Well we've always been an ADR and Priority Seating planners. But this time we are going to "wing it". We will only be there for two days and plan on Epcot the evening of arrival day and then probably MK (we are trying SOG) or AK the next day. I actually am looking forward to being a bit more spontaneous with our schedule. This will be our first sans kids trip (yes we still go with all our adult kids and their kids). We've always planned out each and every meal. Including lunch TS and quite a few breakfasts TS. The only CS place we have ever tried was Flame Tree. So I feel like this will be a treat to be able to stop when and where we want to grab a CS meal. I've been looking over the menus and feel like there will be lots to choose from. BTW we were just at WDW mid March and had many fabulous TS (ADR) meals. I do think there are many stellar dining opportunities at WDW. And I do feel that part of the Disney vacation experience is the food.