No ADRs???

[bebelle]

My DH and I will be in WDW the week of 5/23. It will just be a romantic trip for the two of us. All of our previous trips have been extremely planned out. For this trip we realy just wanted to "wing it" but are concerned that we will not be able to get TS meals without ADRs. What do you think? Are we taking too big a risk?

 

[goldielocksraj]

If you're really wanting to "wing it" and be more relaxed than other trips, then I think not having ADR's is worth it, especially just the two of you. I think you would need to be more willing to eat in non-popular times and maybe sit at the bar for your meal, but those factors could add in to the "winging it" feel! And you never know how much pixie dust you'll get . . .

So, I say go for it! And if possible, take pictures and post reviews when you get back!

 

[MissionMouse]

... week of 5/23... romantic trip for the two of us. ... "wing it"... concerned that we will not be able to get TS meals without ADRs. What do you think? Are we taking too big a risk?

Per Disney, "Due to the popularity of our Table-service restaurants, the restaurant and seating of your choice may be limited or may not be available."

You can go out to the Disney site and try to book ADRs for the time you are thinking and see if anything is available. You will most likely see that many times are booked already.

I think it is always a good practice to make ADRs well in advance and if you do not then you should have no issue in eating counter service or odd times at TS, if available. If available, it may be easier to get seated being only two people

 

[OceanAnnie]

My DH and I will be in WDW the week of 5/23. It will just be a romantic trip for the two of us. All of our previous trips have been extremely planned out. For this trip we realy just wanted to "wing it" but are concerned that we will not be able to get TS meals without ADRs. What do you think? Are we taking too big a risk?

We did something very similar to you guys. Our first family trip was totally all planned out. So many ADRs. It was ADR extreme. The second family trip we had zero. We did fine. It was absolutely freeing not to have all of those plans. While we enjoyed both styles, I have to say I loved winging it.

We were flexible with our dining times, and it worked for us. We went in Oct. but I think it's doable in May also.

 

[catne]

have been to Disney that week...your best bet will be to check each morning you're there for what's available - I think you'll actually find quite a lot of availability. We're going to be there the weekend of 5/21-5/23 and have 6 reservations (dxddp) I've repeatedly changed those reservations (for 3 or 4 people.) Have not had any trouble changing things around (have been booking at Raglan Road, Kona, Whispering Creek, 50s Prime Time, Sci Fi, Wolfgang Puck Cafe) Have switched these around for different times, etc. And those lunch reservations were still available yesterday for Sunday May 23 in Hollywood Studios...which is also a Star Wars weekend there, so think you'll be able to get in some good places, especially if you're flexible on times. I can tell you that you'll probably have good luck at resort restaurants (non character meals of course.) I'd bet you can fairly easily get into places like Grand Floridan Cafe, Kona Cafe, Captain's Grill, Maya Grill, etc. We found park restaurants busy the last week of May, but resort restaurants were not as long as you're not trying to get into character meals.

 

[Chellymouse]

We usually have quite a few ADRs (if not nearly every day) and for our upcoming trip we cut it down to 6 ADR total for 10 days. We made ADR at our favorite places that we would have been crushed if we couldn't eat there other than that, we are winging it the remainder of the trip.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One option is, as soon as you get into a Park, go to Guest Relations. They will have information there (often a sign) about table service reservations availability and you can make a reservation on the spot.

 

[crabbygal902]

Another option would be to book ADRs and then cancel them if you don't want them.

To add to the list of restaurants that may not need ADRs: Biergarten, Nine Dragons, and Marrakesh in Epcot, Boatwrights in POR.

 

[mauigal]

'Winging it' is always fun in my opinion.....have fun!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

This week for the first time ever, I winged it at Animal Kingdom. We were going to do CS, but the park was not crowded and we accomplished more than we expected in the AM. For a quick test I called wdw-dine for Yak and Yeti for 6. It was 11:30 and the earliest the phone line had available was 3:30. We walked up to the to the podium at 11:50am and were seated 10 minutes later. Enjoy your trip.

 

[connorlevismom]

Doable for sure. There are several restaurants that are not that busy. However, if your heart is set on a particular place make an ADR. If you don't really care where you eat, you will not have a problem.

Kristine

 

[AirGoofy]

My DH and I will be in WDW the week of 5/23. It will just be a romantic trip for the two of us. All of our previous trips have been extremely planned out. For this trip we realy just wanted to "wing it" but are concerned that we will not be able to get TS meals without ADRs. What do you think? Are we taking too big a risk?

This would be an absolutely great way to go. DW and I honeymooned in Disney without any ADRs, and were seated within 15 minutes at each place. Depending on your view, we were blessed or lucky. Now that we have children, we usually make our ADRs. However, last October, we did not make a evening ADR, but as we were all tired in Epcot, we decided we would just walk-up and see. Le Cellier was booked (obviously - worth a shot), but walked over to Coral Reef and were seated in about 10 minutes without an ADR. If you aren't ready to go cold turkey, try to make 1 or 2 ADRs for the places you each want to go, and just try the walk-in elsewhere. Have a great trip!

 

[WAHMto5]

Really depends on what places you are looking to eat at. Our vacation starts 05/30 and I had a very hard time getting some of our ADRs for the more popular places like Ohanas, LeCelliers, ect.. You might just want to try and make a couple if there are a few that you were hoping to eat at.

 

[Haley]

I wouldn't do the dining plan if you are going to "wing it". That way you don't have to feel like you have to get your money's worth of TS meals.

 

[TDC Nala]

If there is anywhere you know you want to eat, and it's not in an outlying resort, I'd suggest you make a reservation.

If you are on a prepaid dining plan including TS meals, you should probably make reservations. If I wanted to completely wing TS restaurants, I wouldn't choose a TS dining plan. You have extra options (including bars/lounges - try a progressive monorail crawl - or the Swan/Dolphin restaurants) if you are not on a dining plan.

Otherwise, wing it and enjoy it.