Reservations for normal resturants?

[JeremyGNJ]

I know that the character dining requires advance booking, and I've already booked the Stotybook Breakfast for our trip in April.

However in regard to the normal restaurant, like Ohana. Do you really need advanced reservations?

We're not exactly sure how two of our days will play out, but I want to be covered. I was thinking of making 2 or 3 different reservations and canceling them based on what's going on at the time.

Do other people do this?

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

Ohana is a character dining location. As far as booking ADR's and then cancelling - it usually depends on the restaurants. Some have a 48hr cancellation policy or there is a charge pp. Hope that helps.

 

[Jennasis]

in my experience you really do need ADR's for any table servcie restaurant. Even at slower times of year! As far as making multiple ressies and cancelling...well, we frown upon that around here and I think Disney does too. You'd be taking away ressies from other families who need them while you "figure out" what you want to do. Make a plan and try to stick to it. Walk ups CAN be doen, but you will probably find a longer wait time before being seated.

 

[Lynne M]

We've heard reports here that Disney has been cancelling multiple reservations for the same time period. It causes problems for the restaurants, and it's unfair to all the folks who are unable to get a reservation because someone made a reservation they have no intention of using. I woudn't risk it, no way. You're liable to end up with no reservations and no dinner.

Yes, you do need reservations for even the non-character meals, if you want to be sure of getting a table. Many restaurants turn away walk-ups if they are fully booked.

 

[DCLLVR]

We've heard reports here that Disney has been cancelling multiple reservations for the same time period. It causes problems for the restaurants, and it's unfair to all the folks who are unable to get a reservation because someone made a reservation they have no intention of using. I woudn't risk it, no way. You're liable to end up with no reservations and no dinner.

Yes, you do need reservations for even the non-character meals, if you want to be sure of getting a table. Many restaurants turn away walk-ups if they are fully booked.

Good!!!! I'm very glad to hear that!!!! Making multiple ADRs (for which I have seen discussed here before as a "tactic") is (in my very personal and humble opinion) extremely RUDE and very unfair to both the restaurant and other guests. I mean come on people, think about it .... how rude!!!!!

.... sorry, just had to get that off my chest, a big pet peeve for me. I feel much better now, thanks for listening.

 

[sjaakie]

We've heard reports here that Disney has been cancelling multiple reservations for the same time period. It causes problems for the restaurants, and it's unfair to all the folks who are unable to get a reservation because someone made a reservation they have no intention of using. I woudn't risk it, no way. You're liable to end up with no reservations and no dinner.

Yes, you do need reservations for even the non-character meals, if you want to be sure of getting a table. Many restaurants turn away walk-ups if they are fully booked.

Same happend to us. No reservations made. Just thouhgt so many restaurants .........

We ended up by eating every day a hamburger ore something simelar.

All sitdown restaurants where booked out for weeks ore months.

 

[RMulieri]

I know that the character dining requires advance booking, and I've already booked the Stotybook Breakfast for our trip in April.

However in regard to the normal restaurant, like Ohana. Do you really need advanced reservations?

We're not exactly sure how two of our days will play out, but I want to be covered. I was thinking of making 2 or 3 different reservations and canceling them based on what's going on at the time.

Do other people do this?

UH, yeah you kind of need adrs.When you say make 2 0r 3 different ressies.Do you mean for each day?If so.... people do do that, However imho I wouldn't.Simply because many people want ressies for the popular places and if you make ressies just on the whim you may eat there it kind of isn't fair to people that will make a ressie and use it.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Well I was more thinking that I'm not sure if we want to go on Monday or Tuesday, so I would make reservations for both, and then cancel one on Saturday or Sunday when we have a better idea of what we're doing.

I would definitely consider it rude to make several reservations on the same day just to fit your schedule.

On the other hand it might make a few walk-up guests very happy. hehe.

 

[Hopefully]

'OHana is a character breakfast, not a character dinner.
In our experience you need ADR's for any of the popular or resort TS restaurants at most any time of the year.
Making multiple reservations for the same day at multiple restaurants is very self centered and frowned upon. Even cancelling an ADR on Sunday that you have for Tuesday doesn't help the person who is trying to book it months in advance. That said, it is better to do that than simply be a "No Show". Most folks advocate for making a daily plan and basing their ADR's on that plan.
You can make ADR's for the same restaurant on multiple days, but that still leaves you with some meals and no ADR's once you cancel the extra ADR.
Good Luck.

 

[Pakey]

We just returned from a week at WDW. Parks were empty, no lines on rides. But all of the eating establishments were packed and I mean packed. I guess that's why nobody was on the rides, everyone was eating. So I would definitely say if you want table service, make your ADR's.

And I'll throw in my 2 cents on booking multiple places for the same meals. You are depriving another guest of having the opportunity to book that place by doing this. Even if you cancel last minute, the other guests will not know this and will have given up the chance to eat there. Now that everyplace gets booked in advance, it's not fair to do this to other guests. If you want that kind of flexibility, plan on eating counter service.

 

[Starr W.]

Trust me do your ADR's. We first plan on our park/pool schedule, then plan the meals around that. We usually TS for lunch or dinner, one TS per day. We eat breakfast in the room.

Now I'm someone who, had an ADR at a DTD rest when we stayed at SSR, but when our waitlist came through for VWL I changed the ADR to WCC.
I'm not one to be swimming in the afternoon, then have an ADR for dinner at Jiko's or Boma's when I'm not staying at AKV. I try to make it stress free