Question ADR's

[abbie13_15]

Ok does ADR stand for Advance Disney Reservations? This is just my guess. and
1. What restaurants take adr's
2. Can we eat at a restaurant that takes them, without make one
3. Clue me in on anything else I need to know about them

 

[B9erSteve]

Your definition is as good as any. More generic would be Advance Dining Reservations. Here's my answers to your questions. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

1. Most if not all of the Table service restaurants in WDW will take ADR's.
2. Yes you may eat at an establishment without an ADR. You will probably have to wait a while for a table. I'm sure that they hold aside a certain number of tables for walk-ins. You will be at the mercy of non-reserved tables or no-shows.
3. ADR's can be made up to 180 days in advance but can be made upon arrival. Certain high demand dining experiences will probably not be avail if you wait too long. (Hoop-dee-doo or Cinderella's Royal Table)

Steve

 

[angel's momma]

Close - it's Dining Reservations.

Pretty much all of the Table Service restaurants do. I know that Beaches & Cream does not - there may be others though.

Yes, you can eat at one without an ADR, depending on if there is a table available when you arrive. With so many people on the dining plan, it is advisable to make ADRs, especially if you really want to be sure that you eat there. Otherwise you may have to wait a long time to get a table, or even be turned away.

ADRs can be made 180 days ahead of your arrival date. If you are staying at a wdw resort, you can make up tp 10 days worth of ADRs starting at 180 days from your arrival date.

I'm sure there's more you need to know, but that's all I can think of right now.

 

[abbie13_15]

But how do you know that you will be close to that restaurant to eat. We don't want to be on a schedule. So would ADR’s be a bad thing for us? We don’t mind waiting, there is plenty you can do while waiting for your table!

 

[pta-mom]

But how do you know that you will be close to that restaurant to eat. We don't want to be on a schedule. So would ADR’s be a bad thing for us? We don’t mind waiting, there is plenty you can do while waiting for your table!

I was exactly the same way two months ago, but than I got on this discussion board and realized that I needed to make ADR's and a schedule! We have never been to DW before so I had no idea how big it was! I've come to realize that if we wanted to visit each of the parks and not at least miss out on the big rides or certain fun attractions, I needed a plan. We leave in ten days and have a schedule finished!!

Actually, what I did was take recipe cards, one for each day, and write out the info on it I didn't want to forget. So Monday, we go to Epcot, World Showcase....I have 4 different restaurants written down that I've checked the menus on and know my family would like the food so we can choose one of them; there are five different entertainment groups or shows that we are going to try to see if possible; there are two different rides that the kids want to do so they are listed along with an * meaning they have a fastpass; I have ADR for a restaurant so I've written the time and Reservation # down; and last, we have anything listed that we want to stay and do for closing, such as fireworks, etc.

I know it probably sounds a little anal but honestly, though we may not follow all of it, I at least know that I'm not missing something that we wanted to do! And yes, because we know the parks we are visiting each day, I have ADRs for each evening meal....some not in the same park but we modified the day to accomodate that. And again, if we are having way too much fun to leave to do dinner, we will skip it and eat a CS meal. No harm done! Except for, I've learned that there are a couple of restaurants that when you make your ADR, they take you MC number...if you don't show and don't cancel within their policy time, you get charged! But it is rare, mostly shows.

Anyway, either way, have a great time!! I KNOW we will!!!!!!

 

[angel's momma]

abbie13_15, Here are some questions that might help you decide.

When are you going? If you are going during a slower time, you'd have a better chance of obtaining a table without an ADR.

Do you have specific restaurants you want to eat at? If they include the most popular ones, they tend to fill up with ADRs.

What times do you plan to eat? Avoiding the most popular dining times would give you a better chance of getting a table.

It's not always just waiting for an available table - it can be being turned away entirely.

If you couldn't get a table, would you be fine with counter service?

I understand your concerns about not wanting to be on a schedule - it doesn't work for everyone.

 

[B9erSteve]

I'm with you on the not wanting to have a schedule. I generally like to do things off the cuff. But As I learned more about WDW I realized that I would miss out on certain things that I would have really wanted to participate in (such as Hoop-dee-doo) and I decided to go with a schedule rather than deal with the regrets later on.