No ADRs & Q re meal times

[Amapola]

DH and I will be at WDW Jan 1-8, staying on site (Pop), and except for New Year's Day, I haven't made any ADRs. On previous trips around this time of year we've always winged it, but now I'm getting nervous that with the Dining Plan the TS restaurants are busier. Opinions, please!

Also, on a related vein, our usual practice is to have a late TS lunch (2-3 pm or so, as late as available) and a late CS light meal. No breakfast or snacks except for coffee & water. However, I've seen suggestions to the opposite -- early meal times. I'd love to hear experiences from people who've done it both ways -- pros and cons of each strategy

TIA!

 

[tjmouse]

First of all, if there is somewhere you definately want to eat, make an ADR. You can always cancel if you are not in the mood to go or decide on somewhere else, but better safe than sorry. Also, I would do the late lunch TS. It's cheaper at lunch and that is a good "off" time so the restaurants are usually not as crowded, and better chance of getting in without an ADR. Sounds good to me! We usually go for later seatings unless we want to get in before the park opens. We like to do breakfast around 10, lunch around 2 and dinner around 7 unless we are wanting to catch a night show.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Can't help withthe TS/CS thing, but would always advise making ADR's, especially for a place that you are certain about.

 

[aviva5675]

I think alot depends on if you stay up late. If so you'd probably want to stick to your current plan. We hit the sack pretty early, so the early times work best for us. Im planning early (1100?) lunches and early (5-530) dinners...

 

[Amapola]

Thanks for the replies! I've always done just a couple of ADRs and it has worked out well, so I don't know why I'm so antsy about it this time. Probably because of the Dining Plan stories. In any case, we're leaving next Sunday, so I hope that at this late date I can get at least a couple more in. Better get on the phone a bit later (after the early morning madness )

I appreciate all of your suggestions! Happy Tuesday!

 

[Kaycee]

I hope you are able to get ADRs for the meals you really want to do. I agree that it's better to have the ADR and then cancel if it doesn't fit your plans than not have the ADR and not be able to eat where you want. You are right that things have changed due to the popularity of the dining plan. Even during slow times, when ADRs weren't needed in the past, you may not get to eat where you want without an ADR.

And eating your TS meals at 2 or 3 is a good plan. As tjmouse said, that's an off time for dining, increasing your chances of getting in to restaurants where you want to dine but don't have an ADR.

Have a great time, and let us know how your plans worked out once you get back.

 

[Amapola]

Thanks, Kaycee! I think I will go through the exercise of choosing one TS place per day and call today. Hope that by going at off times I'll be able to get something!

 

[InstImpres]

Also, on a related vein, our usual practice is to have a late TS lunch (2-3 pm or so, as late as available) and a late CS light meal. No breakfast or snacks except for coffee & water. However, I've seen suggestions to the opposite -- early meal times.

I think the first strategy is a cash one... get to enjoy the TS with cheaper pricing, use CS for dinner as price doesn't vary. With the dining plan, I think more people do the opposite to "gain more value" from the plan.

JMHO

 

[Amapola]

DH and I sat with our schedule and chose restaurants for each day. I called and voila! Got every single one for the times I wanted. I do have a couple of CS meals because I eat a full meal only once a day; my other meal is just a protein & a veggie, so a CS chicken caesar salad is perfect for that.

We decided to go with early lunch [light] (11:30-12:00) and dinner [full meal] (5:30-6:00).

Thanks to everyone for your input! Now I can sleep tonight without fear of starving

 

[byoung]

Better making them you can always cancel. Have a great trip.