PLEASE tell me I dont need to make ADR's!

[DJ Disney Kid]

I absolutely can't stand to go on a vacation and have reservations and places to be at certain times. It makes me stressed and I end up watching my watch rather than just enjoying myself. But I am taking a Disney newbie and I really want her to see the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater and the restaurant where "mom" and "pop" wait on you ( the name escapes me at the moment ). How important is it that I have a reservation for these places or do you think I should be ok just walking up. At Sci-Fi I just want to go in and order maybe a drink, but no food. I was planning on eating at the other restaurant though.

 

[TinkerTracy]

NOT making ADR's could be a huge problem...but not always. I mean you could walk into a resturant and asked to be seated and most likely you will, but probably with a long wait.
Make a reservation for some nights...and wing it the others?

 

[huey578]

I would highly recommend you making reservations. Sci Fi is always packed, you might have a hard time just walking up but you never know. Guess you will have to take a chance.

 

[krissyh]

YES YOU NEED ADRs! If you have restaurants you want to go to - YOU NEED ADRs.
You will be having too much fun to watch your watch and honestly it makes planning other things easy - work around the ADRs.

On a personal note - skip SciFi and definitely do 50s Prime Time Cafe.

 

[tink1978]

If you don't have ADR's, you could be waiting a long time. It depends on the time of year that you are going as well. I would recommend ADR's, but you can make them the morning that you go to the park too at Guest Services.

 

[yourgoingagain?]

Yes you should make a reservation for 50's prime time cafe (Mom) and the sci-Fi Diner. Maybe if you go to Sci-Fi when it first opens or during the lull between lunch and dinner you willnot have to make a reservation but I would make one just in case. Sci-Fi gets very busy.

 

[MomofKatie]

When are you going? If it is during the Free Dining promotion (mid August through the end of September), you will most likely have a problem. Your best bet is to go at off-times- early or late lunch or as soon as they open for dinner. Otherwise, you will probably be stuck with no walkup availibility. Or if you don't mind deciding to follow a schedule, you could try calling the Dining line the morning of the day you want to go and check if you can make an ADR then.

Unfortunately, more and more diners are becoming aware that they need ADRs- it is increasingly difficult to be able to "wing it" at the TS restaurants, especially the more popular ones (which both Sci Fi and Prime Time qualify as).

 

[TenThousandVolts]

You do not need to make ADRs

But you need to be prepared that you may have to eat at mostly counter service. If you choose some of the less popular places at less popular eating times- you may get lucky and be seated with a minimal wait- but be prepared to scrap the idea of a table service restaurant for a quick bite at a casual place.

Early is better than later: just a hint- you are more likely to get a table for dinner at 4:00 when they open- then say 9:15- even though they are both considered 'off hours' the snowball effect makes it harder later.

 

[mking624]

It's up to you if you want to make ADRs or not...HOWEVER, be prepared to be turned away if you don't have them. Your siggy says you're going in September...so that will be during the free dining promotion..you will encounter problems getting into TS places because everyone doing free dining is booking or has already booked a spot. Many people are reporting that a lot of restaurants are full. Yes there are always cancellations, but don't count on it. If you have your heart set on eatnig somewhere, make an ADR.

 

[ParrotBill]

Park and dining hours will be sharply reduced in September and the free dining will pack the table service restaurants... usually at that time of year you would not need ADRs but this September I think you will need them or not get seated.

Also, I don't remember a bar in Sci-Fi so if you go there just for drinks please tip well!

 

[sstucush]

We usually just make a few ADRs then do counter service the rest of the time. It's really not hard to plan around a few ADRs but I wouldn't want to do it every day of the trip.

 

[almacdonald]

I see you're going during the free dining plan promotion. I suspect that the restaurants will be busier than usual. When we went during May (no free dining plan then) we only made 1 ADR at O'hana because it was a special occasion and wanted to go to that specific restaurant. Other than that we were able to call the day before from our hotel room and make reservations. We weren't able to get inot Tepanyaki but went to Nine Dragons instead (MMMMM yummy!) We also tried to walk-up one night in Epcot but no-go, all restaurants were filled up. So, if there are restaurants you definitely want to try make 1 or 2 ADRs, if you're flexible i suppose you can try and walk-up, no guarantees though. Have fun.

 

[mnasf]

I absolutely can't stand to go on a vacation and have reservations and places to be at certain times. It makes me stressed and I end up watching my watch rather than just enjoying myself. But I am taking a Disney newbie and I really want her to see the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater and the restaurant where "mom" and "pop" wait on you ( the name escapes me at the moment ). How important is it that I have a reservation for these places or do you think I should be ok just walking up.

I made my ADRs 6 months out. (We just got back.) I tried to move some around when I got there and found some restaurants completely sold out. I tried same day reservations at MGM twice and there was nothing available. I saw people turned away at Sci-Fi. I'd rather have ADRs and try walk ups if you want. Otherwise, you could be finding disappointment. Of course, we're a party of five. That is more difficult.

 

[Micca]

Make the reservations and if you change your mind, you can cancel. Being at WDW hot, tired, and hungry and having to wait for hours is no fun.

BTW, I've been reading your posts here on the Dis and think it's cool that you are getting into your trip so much.

 

[Moonpie]

You can make an ADR and then chose not to go. It's just some peace of mind so that you know you'll get into the restaurant you want.

 

[BlindTyldak]

We've found that the best time to try to sneak into the Sci-Fi for a drink is around 3:30. It's one of our favorite spots to cool off with a milkshake. But if you're referring to your trip during free dining, I wouldn't bank on it. Unfortunately ADR's tend to be one of the things that it pays to be obsessive about, lol, whenever crowds or ressies might be up.

 

[mking624]

You can make an ADR and then chose not to go. It's just some peace of mind so that you know you'll get into the restaurant you want.

But just a word of caution on this..if you choose not to go, PLEASE call and actually cancel the ADR...don't just not show up. This gives other people the opportunity to grab that spot.

 

[Fionasmommy]

If there is any TS restaurant you really want to eat at, or if you know you'll be in a particular park one day and want to eat there, make the ADR's in advance.

We went in June and every single night we watched people being turned away from restaurants. I never witnessed a single walk up get in anywhere.

Our first night there we ended up missing our reservation at the CP after we left one of our park tickets behind at the resort. We hopped on the bus back to the hotel to get the ticket and I immediately called dining on my cell phone, but no luck - there wasn't a single reservation available in the MK or vicinity. We ended up having hot dogs - not exactly the first night celebration we had planned, but by then we were happy to get anything! And that wasn't even during free dining!

 

[goofylover]

Just got back. I didn't want to make ADR's but decided to a few days before we left. I got what we wanted! Then I just put the dining # in my cell phone and called to cancel and/or see if there was anything open. The dining people are so nice. One held my res while she looked what else was open. Then she booked the one we wanted and cancelled our other one.
We tried to walk up but most said they were full - especially at MGM.
Good luck!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Disney holds NO tables for walk ups at table service restaurants.

None. That means if you walk up, if all of the ADR slots have been filled, you'll have to wait until there is an opening. And if there isn't one until the end of the night - that's when you'll be able to eat. Even if you walk up and they HAVE time slot available, they'll make an ADR for you before they seat you.

Make a few ADRs and if you can use them - great. If not, that's fine too. (As someone mentioned, just drop by Guest Relations to cancel it so someone else can have it). It's always better safe than sorry. Especially for those two restaurants where you REALLY want to eat.