Question for people with an annual pass

[FSU Girl]

So I'm about to have my very first annual pass with my boyfriend. Since we live 3 hours away from Orlando we figure we can go up to Disney most weekends pretty easily. One of my favorite parts of going to the parks are all the restaurants we get to go to and try out. Our past couple vacations have been week long ones planned a little far out and able to get restaurants we want.

My question to annual pass holders is what do you do about making reservations? Is anyone in a similar situation where you go all the time? I'd like to have the restaurants I've yet to try, but a lot of them are hard to get reservations you need to make 180 days out. Would it be crazy to just make reservations for all the weekends I think we will be going up? I like having structure and planning to my vacations so going up to Orlando on a whim for a weekend is totally new to me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[cluvsdisney]

I don't think that's crazy at all! If we lived close enough to go on weekends like that we would do the same thing.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

There are really only a handful of restaurants that book up quickly. The 180 days thing gets really overblown on this board.
But for those few high-demand restaurants there's nothing wrong with your plan. Just make sure you cancel what you know you won't use so you don't get charged.

 

[FSU Girl]

Thanks! I'm really excited to be able to go all the time. I'm sure after the first couple weekends up I won't be as stressed about getting reservations. There are just so many restaurants I've yet to try

 

[loves to dive]

As ShirikiUtundu said, there are only a few that you can't book either day before or even day of. We never book ADRs in advance and other than character meals or BOG (which we have eaten at and didn't like) we've never had any problem making ADRs the morning of.

 

[CraigInPA]

Except for a few times a year, you are likely to be able to get next day or same day reservations pretty much anywhere. Just go online, using either the website or the Disney app and check availability.

 

[CabesLove]

We always seemed to have pretty good luck snagging reservations...including a BOG dinner reservation the morning of. To be honest, I think most of our luck came from last minute cancellations as opposed to planning ahead. lol But having said that, we also have a very laid-back approach to Disney. Unless it's for something special, we just kinda wait and wing it.

 

[FSU Girl]

I'm like the ultimate planner, making spreadsheets and detailed lists of my vacations ahead of time so I've never winged a vacation. I think it would make me so nervous to just go with nothing planned. Maybe I'll change after I go up a lot and gone to the restaurants I want.

 

[tobikaye]

To ease your mind, check today and tomorrow for a certain times and number of people as an example of what could be available last minute. I do this on occasion just to see what is there. I leave in a few days and we will probably do some last minute ADRs or walk ups at some restaurants.

 

[CarrieR]

If there's somewhere special you MUST eat, make a reservation and a concrete plan for the weekend.

But otherwise... let the variety be the fun of it. Thurs night, when you say, "Hey let's go to Disney this weekend!" you can log in and book whatever suits your fancy. There will be plenty available and you might find some hidden gems.

And when you get to the point where "xyz is always booked!!" then you can stalk for that reservation. But I probably wouldn't book tons of stuff at 180 days just based on spec.

 

[Barbydoll8]

We live about an hour & 1/2 away and go often. I always try to book if I know we are going but we do wing it sometimes. I think having alternate places in mind will help you and don't discredit the hotel restaurants. I find it's much easier to get those last minute. I've only not gotten what I wanted 2x's even with a walk up.

 

[FSU Girl]

thank you all this is all very helpful!