Not doing ADR???

[becca011906]

Is it possilbe for us to get one sit down meal if we don't use ADR? We though about doing sit down at the prime time in MGM b/c we really liked it there a few years ago when we went and think the kids might actully like it. Is there a chance of us getting in or should we just plan on nothing but counter service if we done ADR??? Thanks!

 

[crisi]

Its possible. But Prime Time is very popular. Several years ago we were in MGM in early Febuary and Prime Time was unable to seat us at 1:00 for lunch - it would have been a two hour wait with hungry kids.

 

[cobbler]

When are you going? It also depends on the time of year you are going. If you are going during the free dining, I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[skiwee1]

If you are going in Sept or Oct then you will need an ADR for Prime Time. Every time we eat there I see all walk ups being turned away because they are totally booked. I got an ADR there for the beginning of my Oct trip coming up and the time I wanted wasn't even available. I settled for a slightly later time and this was calling 90 out.

 

[princess aurora]

Is it possilbe for us to get one sit down meal if we don't use ADR? We though about doing sit down at the prime time in MGM b/c we really liked it there a few years ago when we went and think the kids might actully like it. Is there a chance of us getting in or should we just plan on nothing but counter service if we done ADR??? Thanks!

Is it possible to get a sit down meal without an ADR? The answer is yes! But will it be the specific restaurant you want...probably not or at least I wouldn't count on it.

If you know you're going to MGM then call the night before to make an ADR while you're at Disney. If you decide that morning to go to MGM then as soon as you get there go straight to the restaurant and book your lunch or dinner approx. time. Or when you get to Disney on your first day plan out when you think you might head over to MGM and make the ADR for that day.

It's always better to be safe than sorry, especially when dealing with a specific place you want to eat at.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

If you know where you want to eat, why wouldn't you try and get an ADR?

If you're not going during free dining, Thanksgiving week, Christmas week or New Years week, I would say that if you're willing to wait and you're willing to get there earlier (before the dinner rush) say around 3 or 4, you might be able to to get a table without an ADR. If you're going during one of those times, I would say it's probably not going to happen, at least not without waits of well over an hour.

I love Prime Time! Definitely try and go - themed dining is one aspect of Disney that I really enjoy. Peanut Butter and Jelly shakes are great! Fried chicken is great! Look for Aunt Claire- she's the best! She even drove a bunch of college program kids home when I used to work at Disney so we wouldn't have to wait 20 minutes for the next bus! Great lady!

Consider making an ADR to avoid all that hassle, though. It will ensure you get to eat there.

 

[MinnieM21]

If you know that you want to eat at 50's PrimeTime, why not just make the ADR?

 

[bluejasmine]

I say it depends on what month you are going with the free dining alot of the TS restaurants will be booked from late Aug until the end of the first week of Oct. I have gone to several TS places in the past without a ressie but I know that PT is extremley popular if you cant get in there try Mama Melrose or H&V or Sci Fi since they are all in MGM. I have walked into Rainforest Cafe at DTD, Sci Fi, H&V, Captain Jacks without a ressie...

 

[Aimeedyan]

If you know that you want to eat at 50's PrimeTime, why not just make the ADR?

That's what I'm wondering. We went to PT in May and in Dec, and both times they were not taking walkups. And this was not during a crowded time.

 

[flminivanmama]

If you know that you want to eat at 50's PrimeTime, why not just make the ADR?

:yeahthat

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

If you know that you want to eat at 50's PrimeTime, why not just make the ADR?

Hehe, not a knock on the OP at all, but lately there seems to be a great deal of people asking, "Do I really???" and it's like...YES, hehe.

Some people may report stellar luck - hey, I've had good luck before - but I'm also one who likes to have a "backup" plan if the winging it doesn't work.

Unless you want to eat very early or very late, don't want the popular restaurants (anything at MGM, Le Cellier, etc.), and don't mind waiting for a long while at best (and getting told "no way" at worst), then yes, you can wing it.

But during this free dining promotion, I don't think very many people without ADR's are going to be eating many TS, much less the ones they prefer at the most convenient times.

N.E.D.

 

[becca011906]

If you know you're going to MGM then call the night before to make an ADR while you're at Disney. If you decide that morning to go to MGM then as soon as you get there go straight to the restaurant and book your lunch or dinner approx. time. Or when you get to Disney on your first day plan out when you think you might head over to MGM and make the ADR for that day.

I didn't relize you could do this... that works out much better. DH HATES to have a "set schedual" he doesn't want to be bound to doing this park on this day would much rather do the where do you want to go tomorrow thing... But that sounds like it would work out if we can call the night before to get ADR THANKS!

 

[MinnieM21]

If you're going during August 21st through October 4th, remember that is when the free dining plan is happening. That will make it more difficult to get an ADR.

 

[LiteBrite]

I didn't relize you could do this... that works out much better. DH HATES to have a "set schedual" he doesn't want to be bound to doing this park on this day would much rather do the where do you want to go tomorrow thing... But that sounds like it would work out if we can call the night before to get ADR THANKS!

Just keep in mind, this may or may not work out. It's often been possible *in the past* to do this in the off season, but this year with the free dining, all bets are off in the "can I get a last minute ADR" lottery. I've been there in the past, trying to get a seating without an ADR when I couldn't find anywhere that would take us, and it ended up being one of the most miserable evenings ever at WDW. (Hungry, tired miserable group all looking to me for the answers as we trudged around Epcot - not a happy memory.)

My advice FWIW - do yourself a favor and make the ADR. Don't tell hubby you have it if it will make him grumpy to know. The thing is, you don't have to use it if something better works out. You can cancel it the day before, you can cancel it that same day, or you can even not cancel it at all (although this isn't really a nice way to handle it) - there will be no repercussions to you however you do it (assuming it's not one of the few exceptions that require a CC guarantee). What could it hurt to go ahead and have that little "insurance policy" in place in case you can't get what you want at the time?