Not making ADR in september. Is it possible to do?

[Bingham2]

We are going the last week of September for 4 days. I don't like the thought of planning every aspect of the trip around lunch or dinner table service because I have a 4 yo and a 1 yo that makes life unpredictable. We plan to ADR for a character meal however.

Anyone just winged it? Have any luck? Advice? Think I'm crazy?

 

[DLB]

We didn't have ADR's in Sept 2004 and we were able to eat places. You just have to go at "off" times and not be picky. BUT it can be done.
If you cant find a table service you could always eat at a cs? The food is actually quite good there. Some places I rather a cs to a ts. It all depends on what your expectations are

Interested to know how it turns out.

 

[smitch425]

We are going the last week of September for 4 days. I don't like the thought of planning every aspect of the trip around lunch or dinner table service because I have a 4 yo and a 1 yo that makes life unpredictable. We plan to ADR for a character meal however.

Anyone just winged it? Have any luck? Advice? Think I'm crazy?

It is possible, but keep in mind that you will be there during a free dining period. Be prepared for the possibility of a long wait or being turned away. You might have better luck trying to dine at resort TS. The good news is that since they began charging a no show fee and multibooking can no longer be done, it has helped a bit with availability. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and because I don't care for very many CS restaurants and do pretty much all TS, I always make ADRs at exactly 180 days out. I currently have ADRs for my upcoming May trip and have a list of places I want to eat at for our Oct/Nov trip written out and sitting on my computer desk. I'll be going online April 30th, at 0600ET (exactly 180 days out) to make those. However, for my Sept 1st-8th solo trip, I just can't seem to get in the mood or think of any places I really have to eat at. I did go online at my 180 day mark, but online reservations was messed up, couldn't find my reservation, and would only let me make an ADR for that first night. I keep meaning to go online and book ADRs, but just can't seem to decide where I want to eat for that trip. I'll be solo and am thinking about just trying for walkups or maybe calling the day of, to see what may be available. It's something I've never tried before. I always have ADRs made at 180 days out, but then always change one or two once I get down there. I have the WDW dining number programmed into my phone.

I really hate the new cc guarantee. I prefer to dine mainly at Signature restaurants just about every night, but even though I plan on keeping all my ADRs, you never know what may happen and I am not willing to commit to that cc guarantee. For my May trip I purposely did not book a single restaurant that required a cc guarantee and made all the ADRs for later in the evening. I just plan on trying for a walk up at my favorite Signatures as soon as they open and will cancel the other ADR if I get in. I'll still be canceling at least 2 1/2 hours prior. For our Oct/Nov trip my husband really wanted Ohana and Cape May, so I agreed and put them on the list to book, but warned him we absolutely had to show up for those two. The rest of our ADRs will not require a cc guarantee.

 

[Bingham2]

Thanks for the responses. Makes me feel better about our decision.

 

[Bonniec]

Are you on the dining plan? Do you care if you eat at TS verses CS?

We live here and only this last time where we stayed a week did we actually make ADRs and eat TS. It was nice, but eating TS definately became a bit of a stress with having to make sure we got there on time. For us, it was fine because we go to Disney a lot so it was nice to do something different.

But if I were coming here on vacation and didn't go to Disney often, I would not like it. Plus, it takes a huge chunk out of your day. If you were a friend of mine coming for a week, I would recommend 3 TS meals max. One character, one non character like Boma or O'Hana or a signature, and then the Wishes dessert party (the dessert party is pricey for what it is, but it's just worth it, in my opinion, to not have to stand in a crowded area to watch the fireworks at MK).

Beyond that, I would recommend either snacking your way around the world or eating at CS. Both of which have great options if you know where to look (Do a search on Disney food blog for snacks or great counter service options).

Of course, if you are on the TS dining plan, you'll have to figure something else out. Clearly I'm not a fan of the dining plan. Disney has some really nice restaurants but it sure takes a large chunk out of your vacation time.

 

[rafiki14]

Yes it's possible, just know you're going during a Free Dining period

 

[slyster]

we are going the last week of september too...seems a lot of folks are

 

[Phatoomch]

Sorry to put a dampner on it but, we went last year (6 nights, 16-22 sept) and it was free dining - we booked 5 weeks before getting there (last minute decision) and we were only able to make 3 ADR's and none of them were our first choice restaurants, nor were they at times we wanted - basically we had to take what we could get.... at the time I wasn't bothered (it was our first trip on resort) and I thought, no biggie, we'll just wing it as I am a 'wing it' type of person.

The other 3 nights where we did not have ADRs, it was hard to eat somewhere other than CS (burger & fries type thing) and one night we ended up going back to the resort and eating at the food court as everywhere was packed.

We have booked again for December and this time I will be making ADRs for every evening as soon as I am able.

 

[Rockislander]

We're going the 3rd week in September, and I my kiddos are about the same age as yours (my son turns 5 next month), so I know what you mean about not wanting to be tied down to a reservation. Having said that, I decided to go ahead and make a bunch of ADR's for our trip... I figured I'd rather have the option than not, you know? I made sure to book at times when I think my kids will be most agreeable (early morning or late afternoon after we've had our daily "down time" at the resort"). And finally, I figured I'd get a sense of how the kids will be within the first 24-48 hours of the trip - if it seems like they're not jiving with things then I'll just go ahead and cancel all of our ADRs (giving 24 hours notice, of course).

 

[Pipkin]

We have had better luck walking in and being seated when there hasn't been free dining. Last fall we were unable to walk into Jikko or get a reservation there for our five night stay because we didn't have ADRs. It was disappointing. If you think you will be disappointed if you don't get your favorite restaurant, make an ADR and then cancel it. If it isn't that important, wing it.

 

[Lisa71]

Booking your character meal is key, as you know what the kids like. We went in September of 2010 and booked 2 character meals and just a few others. My parents were able to at at Artist Point at WL where we stayed without ADR and many people just asked each day what was available. We loved the places we went in general, but had to cancel at the last minute one of our ADR as it was too lound and our son (who was 3, but has mild CP) had a melt down..he is now almost 5 so we are hoping for better luck this time. I think you will be fine.

 

[JUSTAND]

I dont think I would risk it especially if there are restaurants you love to eat at

 

[buffettgirl]

we're actually also going ADR free in August (yes, busy) but I've eaten everywhere that I want to eat and then some. I'm going to probably book one ADR or two not in a park, and/or character meal and then we're going to wing the rest of the days. We're only taking a short trip this time with 4 park days and so I just don't really see the need to have a full sit down dinner every night like we've done in the past.

I feel nervous, but I'm also not anticipating trying to walk up to 50's prime time at 6pm and think I'll get in We're just going to avoid those. We're going to basically stick with some of the more off beat CS restaurants (there's a thread where I've asked for favorites from each park) . Something other than burgers and fries. I know it can be done.

I think if you know the limitations and your expectations are set at a reasonable place, it seems manageable.

 

[LilyWDW]

Do you like to eat at normal dinner times? If yes, make reservations.

Do you want to do character meals? If yes, make reservations.

Is free dining going on? If yes, reservations are recommended.

Do you mind waiting 45 minutes to an hour or more to eat? If yes, make reservations.

Do you want to eat at any of the "must do" locations like Ohana or Le Cellier? If yes, make reservations.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm trying a no-ADRs approach for our May trip. I really dislike the new CC policy so I'm not willing to book our usual signature-every-night habits, especially not knowing how the crowds and heat will effect our appetites. So we're going to wing it over Memorial Day weekend. I only made one ADR - California Grill for my birthday dinner - and the rest we'll figure out as we go.

If you have a web enabled phone or travel with an iPod/tablet/netbook try checking for last minute ADRs on the web site rather than taking the time to travel to a restaurant to check for a table. It isn't unheard of for restaurants to be turning away walk-ups at the podium despite the system showing available ADRs, so if you can you're better off checking the WDW-Dine system first when you know where/when you'll want to eat.

 

[Bingham2]

Like many others going that time, we are on the free dining plan. We are staying at a moderate, so got the dining with the TS. I haven't been to Disney in YEARS so I don't have any favorite places to eat. We don't really care if we have TS vs CS. We are pretty laid back people.

I appreciate all the responses. There is still so much I don't know about, so thank you.

 

[Bingham2]

If you have a web enabled phone or travel with an iPod/tablet/netbook try checking for last minute ADRs on the web site rather than taking the time to travel to a restaurant to check for a table. It isn't unheard of for restaurants to be turning away walk-ups at the podium despite the system showing available ADRs, so if you can you're better off checking the WDW-Dine system first when you know where/when you'll want to eat.

Good idea! Thanks. Is there an app or where I go for this?

 

[rachellm]

Since you'll have the dining plan, I'd make some ADRs.
Personally I'd just pick places with no CC cancellation policy and pick times that you think your kids will be up for. Than if it doesn't work out, you can just cancel.

I also have young kids (3 and 2) and I think it would be much more stressful to be trying to find someplace to eat and facing hour+ wait times (or just places that aren't taking walk ins at all.) That would be doable with adults, but it sounds like a bad plan with kids!

I was going to say it was doable if you were okay with CS for most meals (and CS is certainly more than just "burgers and fries" as another poster described it.) But since you'll have the TS credits, it would be a shame to waste them.

 

[buffettgirl]

Since you'll have the dining plan, I'd make some ADRs.
Personally I'd just pick places with no CC cancellation policy and pick times that you think your kids will be up for. Than if it doesn't work out, you can just cancel.

I also have young kids (3 and 2) and I think it would be much more stressful to be trying to find someplace to eat and facing hour+ wait times (or just places that aren't taking walk ins at all.) That would be doable with adults, but it sounds like a bad plan with kids!

I was going to say it was doable if you were okay with CS for most meals (and CS is certainly more than just "burgers and fries" as another poster described it.) But since you'll have the TS credits, it would be a shame to waste them.

yep, I ditto this now that I know you have the dining plan. Even though it's "free" you're paying for it somewhere, so might as well take advantage. There really is no way you're going to get into any table service place at any normal dining time without an ADR. So you'll have wasted the entire plan. And you'll have two cranky kids.