Not interested in making ADRs, will I still be able to eat table service?

[finallygoingtoWDW]

I don't want to eat "Fast food" the whole week, but I also have no idea what kind of ADRs to make or where. So I'd rather not be tied down to them. Any chance we'll still be able to get lunch or dinner at a TS as a walk-up? I know there are some popular restaurants that will not be possible. That's fine, I'm not going to Disney for the food. But I don't want to be stuck at CS the whole time either. We'll be there April 18-25. So the week after Post-Easter week. Hopefully it won't be too terribly busy then.

 

[kirbsam]

i see burgers, fries, and chicken tenders in your future. maybe even a turkey leg or two.

 

[Aimeedyan]

There will be places to dine, sure, you just have to be flexible.

Since you can waste quite a bit of park time wandering from restaurant to restaurant to see about availability, what your best bet may be to call that morning from your room and snag a reservation somewhere that sounds good at the park you're going to.

That said, last trip we didn't make any reservations and ate at several table service spots without an issue. We just didn't try to get into anyplace super popular.

In the MK, they had a big sign up that morning stating what places had availablity for walk ups. I didn't see a similar sign in the other parks but they could have been there and I missed it.

 

[Iggipolka]

There's a similar sign outside of Guest Services in Epcot. We went to WDW on year the week after Easter and it was surprisingly crowded. The restaurants at the parks were mostly completely booked, but we were able to get same day ADR's at some resort restaurants.
If you are willing to eat at off peak times, you will have a better chance of getting a same day ADR.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

What is the problem? It is not hard to plan a little. Just look at the calendar, decide where you want to be on a certain day, and call and make ressies. If when you get to WDW you decide not to do those same ADRs, just do something else. If you need a place to eat, the ADR will be there for you. I have never understood how some people feel "tied down" by ADRs.

 

[Mary976]

If you're staying on property, you can also get the concierge/info person to check on restaurants for you, if you wanted to stop by in the morning before heading out the parks. Also, some CS places have more offerings than just burgers. Especially in Epcot, Sunshine Seasons and the World Showcase CS places are nice.

Mary

 

[septbaby]

This is your first trip to WDW, why waste time trying to find something to eat, plan some meals. The meals can be as entertaining as the park so don't think of them as just eating. Decide what parks you want to hit and plan a meal at or near that park. Thousands of WDW guests do this every year so it really isn't that bad. Also if you book some character meals and want autographs those will save you time, you won't have to stand in lin in the park to get them.

 

[DebbieB]

You probably will have better luck with early or late lunch/dinners rather than prime times. Say lunch 11:00-11:30/2:00-2:30 or dinner 4:00-5:00/8:00-8:30.

 

[finallygoingtoWDW]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Looks like we won't be completely out of luck. Hopefully. As for making ADRs, this is our first trip and I have no idea where I want to eat 4 months from now.

 

[lisadr]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Looks like we won't be completely out of luck. Hopefully. As for making ADRs, this is our first trip and I have no idea where I want to eat 4 months from now.

Here's how you have to look at ADRs. Remember when you lived at home with mom? It was you eat what she made and that was that? Well take a look at the menus, pick some restaurants you might like and then make your ADRs. Then when that day arrives- you eat there and that is that . And remember you are picking from a whole menu that day-not deciding you want the pork 4 months from now.

Make the ADRs -you can always cancel or change when the time get nearer. Just please remember to cancel and not just not show up .

 

[knewton64]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Looks like we won't be completely out of luck. Hopefully. As for making ADRs, this is our first trip and I have no idea where I want to eat 4 months from now.

----

I am going to WDW / DCL (01-07-09 thru 01-15-09) for the very first time. Have been planning this trip for approx last 18 months. Thought I had a pretty good handle of things until the issue of ADR's.
yes, I regret not having any ADR's when I go to MK 01-10-09!
Whereas I don't mind "park food," having an ADR at the Grand Floridian that day (and not 1st avail as I j-u-s-t made this "ADR' just 2 days ago!!! )
would have really made my day at MK just that much special.

OH WELL ! Live and Learn I say. .....as you will if you don't rreeaalllyy check into the issue of ADR's.

GOOD LUCK

 

[anonymousegirl]

If you do try walking up, be prepared to wait as some restaurants are booked and they may have to wait for a cancellation or a no show to seat your party.

I mostly make ADRs, but occasionally the mood strikes (usually at lunch) and I pop in to check if I can be seated. I find that if I arrive just when they open for lunch, I have better luck getting a table.

Also, ADR are made 90 days in advance now, instead of the old 180 days (except CRT, V&A at the GF and maybe Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary), so you do have time to check out the menus and think about doing some ADRs.

 

[LadyGracey]

I seem to have the best chance of walkups if I go right when they open, or close to the last seating of the evening. I have walked into a "fully-booked" Le Cellier at 11 AM with no ADR and been seated within 5 minutes. But, it might also matter how many are in your party--I usually only get a table for two, which might be easier to get in some restaurants.

Definitely try and make some ADRs though, before you go! It's worth the extra effort and planning to know you're going to have a place to eat and be waited on. You'll have more options, and a lot of TS meals are magical experiences in themselves! Don't count on there being same-day availability, especially for MK restaurants, and character meals anywhere.

But if all ADRs fail--here's another vote for Sunshine Seasons at EPCOT! mmmmmmmm.

 

[aviva5675]

Have you planned what parks what day? Then at least for your lunch you will know where you will be--I agree, look at allears menus and give yourself some choices. Make a few ADRs so that you are not scrambling for every meal. First trip is hectic enough figuring it all out without getting stressed about a nicer meal.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

That's fine, I'm not going to Disney for the food.

But seriously, as long as you go with the right attitude you'll be fine. Take what you can get, be flexible & adventurous.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

There are also several counter service options that aren't traditional "fast food".

I'd go with a list of those in mind, just in case you can't get into an acceptable table service restaurant.

Also, if you know where you're going the next day, call the evening before to see what you can get. I've had good luck making changes the night before or the morning of.

Usually I'll call Dining from my room and just ask, "what do you have in Epcot for tomorrow night around 7pm?" (or where ever you plan to be).

 

[bytheblood]

I have 2 words for you --------> Good Luck!!


If you have any sit down places you really want to dine, I strongly suggest you make those reservations.

 

[disnut8]

My advice is to at least try and figure out what you want to do that day. Then call and see what is available. Depending on a lot of things - your party size, the time you want to eat, where you want to eat, the crowd levels - you could get something very good on that same day. I was able to get a table for two at the Rose and Crown for 6:30PM the day after Easter one year. I called at 5:00PM to see what was available. But I did not have to do a walk-up as I had a reservation when I arrived. Saves lots of time and frustration to do at least that.

 

[december14disney]

Why dont you just make the ADR's and if you dont want to stick with them or you want to change your mind you can do that when you are down there? If you do decide you want to keep that ADR at whatever restaurant then you have it all set! Whats the harm in just taking 10 minutes to make some "just in case"?

 

[disprincessatheart]

We've been that week the last 2 years and will be returning the same week this year (it's our anniversary week and we had a Disney wedding). That week tends to be starting to slow down crowd wise, but you're going to have a hard time with TS in the parks being readily available. Will there be some? Sure, but you can also waste a lot of time looking for somewhere that has seating available for your party. We're going in January with no ADR's and we'll see if we can get something TS if we feel like it, but in the parks I wouldn't count on that in April. I probably won't make one for every day on our April trip, but we'll have 3 or 4.