Probably a silly question about food...

[kittykitty87]

If we want to go and eat in Downtown Disney, do we have to book ADR's or is that just restaurants at the parks?

 

[stoneyloon]

You don't have to but you can do.

Some places are very busy, so if you want a table at a guaranteed time, it's probably worth it. We've never done an ADR for DTD apart from the House of Blues Sunday Brunch (which is different anyway...).

 

[kittykitty87]

You don't have to but you can do.

Some places are very busy, so if you want a table at a guaranteed time, it's probably worth it. We've never done an ADR for DTD apart from the House of Blues Sunday Brunch (which is different anyway...).

Ah thats fine. We arent worried about booking any, I was just worried it might limit us if ALL the restaurants were ADR!!

Thank you

 

[darthtatty]

Theres no such thing as a silly question

The ones at Downtown are similar to the theme parks-there will be some that are counter service and some table service (which you can book adr's for).


Where are you thinking of eating?

 

[jen_uk]

You don't have to make ADR's for the parks, we make very few on our trips and most of the we just turn up and ask for a table then and there. There are only a few places that you absolutely need an ADR such as Le Cellier, the princess dining (can't remember what its called!). The only place we have never been able to get a table as a walk-up is T-Rex, otherwise we have never had a problem.

 

[kittykitty87]

Theres no such thing as a silly question

The ones at Downtown are similar to the theme parks-there will be some that are counter service and some table service (which you can book adr's for).

Where are you thinking of eating?

Anything and everything

We haven't booked any ADRs at all, think we will just wing it and eat where we can

 

[darthtatty]

Im sure youll do fine, its nice to have ADR's for the must haves but if youre flexible then you should be ok-esp with the non show fees.

 

[kittykitty87]

Im sure youll do fine, its nice to have ADR's for the must haves but if youre flexible then you should be ok-esp with the non show fees.

Thats what we thought. I like the idea of ADRs but my boyfriend doesnt really like the idea of being tied down to a certain place at a certain time. He just wants us to go anywhere whenever we feel like it

 

[queendisney]

Thats what we thought. I like the idea of ADRs but my boyfriend doesnt really like the idea of being tied down to a certain place at a certain time. He just wants us to go anywhere whenever we feel like it

I'm with your BF on this one. We have one ADR for Jiko but thats because its my birthday. Other then that we always just wing it. I hate being tied to an ADR because I find that I am forever clock watching and thinking 'right, do we have time for one more ride' or 'better leave now because we have an ADR in one hour' Disney to me is not about the food, which I don't think is that special generally. Sure you can get nice things to eat but not worth the hassle to plan your holiday around it. Also we have had an ADR for somewhere and on that day we just didn't fancy eating at that place and at that time.. Just my opinion

 

[chmurf]

I'm planning ADRs for every day because it's more relaxing.

Even with ADRs you're sometimes kept waiting to get a table ... without an ADR, it might be ok for some restaurants, for some others you need to rely on luck, or be willing to wait a long long time, or possibly end up at the first place with availability when your stomach can no longer wait.

I've been turned down quite a few times when trying to do walk ins ... some restaurant in DTD told me I could get a table in 2 hours ... no way Jose.

I plan those ADRs depending on where I'll most likely be on that day ( depending on park crowds) but I will gladly cancel the ADR for the next day (no penalty if done before 10pm) if I decide to change my plan for that next day.

You can go without ADR, some do that and are pretty happy about it.
I make ADRs because I want to be sure to be able to eat what it like, at a "civilized" time.
It all depends on when you go (crowd wise) and at what time you want to eat (trying to walk in at 12:30 for lunch is often a recipe for failure, as well as trying walk ins for sunday morning) and what you want to eat.

Even if most of the time you'll be successful finding a decent restaurant, without a big wait (half an hour you can expect) also bear in mind that you might end up at counter service eating a hamburger when it would have felt nice to seat down and enjoy a meal

at the end of the day, you'll see what suits you best.
Also remember that you can drop by guest relations, or at your front desk (if you stay onsite) or even go online, to try and make reservations for the days to come.
In the end it's always better to try and make an ADR, even if it's for the next day, if you fancy going some place that next day. If there is availability you'll secure your table.

 

[starrysky]

I'm planning ADRs for every day because it's more relaxing.

Even with ADRs you're sometimes kept waiting to get a table ... without an ADR, it might be ok for some restaurants, for some others you need to rely on luck, or be willing to wait a long long time, or possibly end up at the first place with availability when your stomach can no longer wait.

I've been turned down quite a few times when trying to do walk ins ... some restaurant in DTD told me I could get a table in 2 hours ... no way Jose.

I plan those ADRs depending on where I'll most likely be on that day ( depending on park crowds) but I will gladly cancel the ADR for the next day (no penalty if done before 10pm) if I decide to change my plan for that next day.

You can go without ADR, some do that and are pretty happy about it.
I make ADRs because I want to be sure to be able to eat what it like, at a "civilized" time.
It all depends on when you go (crowd wise) and at what time you want to eat (trying to walk in at 12:30 for lunch is often a recipe for failure, as well as trying walk ins for sunday morning) and what you want to eat.

Even if most of the time you'll be successful finding a decent restaurant, without a big wait (half an hour you can expect) also bear in mind that you might end up at counter service eating a hamburger when it would have felt nice to seat down and enjoy a meal

at the end of the day, you'll see what suits you best.
Also remember that you can drop by guest relations, or at your front desk (if you stay onsite) or even go online, to try and make reservations for the days to come.
In the end it's always better to try and make an ADR, even if it's for the next day, if you fancy going some place that next day. If there is availability you'll secure your table.

I agree and we were able on occasions last year to change and get one that night elsewhere.
I though when we did the DDP that I would hate be tied to ADRs and now I find it comforting to know that we have them booked. I think if you have not been before or not been in a long time (i.e as an adult) then its tough to know where you would like to eat at.

I think if there are places you really want to eat at making an ADR is a good idea. We tried to get into places with out ADRs a couple of trips back only to be turned down. We also saw a lot of people getting turned away from a few places as we were waiting.

If you don't want to feel tied then wing it. You might just be lucky.