Reservations necessary?

[JustBob]

I hate to sound so ill-informed, but are reservations abolutely necessary on the DDP?
My wife and I are going over Labor day weekend for our anniversary and we would rather remain totally flexible - for example if we happen to be in AK on a particular day THEN we'll eat there. Is the wait going to be insane if we don't have advanced reservations? Even if we like to eat dinner very early or lunch late or whatever?

 

[Kaycee]

The DDP has made ADR's necessary for most sit-down meals, especially during busy times like holiday weekends. At many restaurants the wait can be hours, or you may be told that nothing is available at all. Eating at off times and choosing less popular restaurants doesn't work like it did before the dining plan. You may luck into a TS meal without an ADR, but it's not very likely.

If you make ADR's and decide when you get there that you want to do something else, you can always try and then cancel your ADR if you do get in somewhere else. But at least you'll have the ADR if all else fails. It would be a shame not to be able to use your TS credits, or to end up spending a lot of your vacation time trying to find a restaurant with an opening.

 

[GIOny]

I would imagine on a holiday it would be a very good idea to have ADR's or you may get shut out all together . What you can do is make the ADR's and if you have to cancel them you can (as long as it's not one of the restaurants that is reserved with a credit card ex:Cali Grill). This way if you find something else and you can get in then go for it.

 

[daisyduck123]

I would make an ADR for each evening. You can always cancel it. If you get there & every place you try to eat at has a 2 hour wait, you will be glad you already have an ADR someplace.

 

[drogerstn]

...we would rather remain totally flexible ...

This is a big reason (besides cost) why we do not do the DDP. (Haven't visited when it was "free".)

 

[angelbaby29871]

We have got the DDP for our trip in Nov/Dec. I have made ADRs for the resturaunts that are a 'must do' for us but the rest of the time we are going to try and wing it by making the ressie on the morning or evening before. we wanted the plan but also some flexability as well. Just have to hope that it works other wise it will be a waste. we were thinking of eating at different times to the normal dinner times. maybe this could be an option for you.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

This is a big reason (besides cost) why we do not do the DDP. (Haven't visited when it was "free".)

I don't quite understand this.. What does being on the DDP and being flexible have to do with each other. You still have to eat, don't you? Therefore, whether you are or are not on the DDP, you still need ADR's

 

[The Sweetness]

Maybe I am wrong here, but it *seems* to me that most families try to do a TS dinner. Maybe you will have better luck walking in to a TS lunch (esp if you show up around 11AM and request a time for later (such as 130) or just enjoy a meal right then, if they have a table available

If you dont make ADRs, you may end up with most of your TS credits unused. I have read here of people not getting into their preferred rest. at all, regardless of how long they were willing to wait.Some places now have a no walk-ins policy, case closed

 

[schoen]

I have ADRs my upcoming trip, probably only because of this board. In the past (like last July) my husband and I just get up in the morning, and say... "I think we should go to MGM today" We would call WDW DINE and they would just tell us what was open for the evening. We often did not get in our "ideal" restaurant, but there was always something we would eat. We were flexible, and if that is something you are okay with, than just wing it. There will likely be something open, somewhere!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I can't imagine NOT having an ADR no matter when I visit. I would much rather plan a little bit before hand than be down there, hungry, and not able to get in any place.

DH and I use our meals to relax (we don't go back to the resort for naps or anything) so it makes ense for us to guarantee we have a place to eat.

Why not just make a reservation at a resort? Then it doesn't really matter what park you are in (of course, you would have to factor in travel time).

 

[ronardo]

I was on the DDP last September for 9 nights and I didnt make any ADRs...so then everyday when we reached the selected park I made my ADRs for that day and I found place for every TS we wanted but CRT....

But now I´m a little scary about our this year Sept. trip cause I still dont have any ADRs....

Wels, I have to say that we have lunch/dinner at very late time...lunch 2 - 3 pm and dinner 8:30 - 10 pm...maybe this helps us...

Venga,salu2.

 

[Kaycee]

I don't quite understand this.. What does being on the DDP and being flexible have to do with each other. You still have to eat, don't you? Therefore, whether you are or are not on the DDP, you still need ADR's

If you are not on the DDP and you want to be flexible, you can just eat CS meals when you can't get into any TS restaurants. If you are on the DDP and end up eating CS meals instead of TS meals because you didn't have ADRs, then you will end up having spent more for the plan than what your meals would have cost OOP. I hope I explained that clearly, lol, I feel like I'm talking in circles.

This is one reason we aren't doing the dining plan. We make ADRs for a few meals that we really want to do each trip, and we are willing to sacrifice our flexibility in order to have those meals. The rest of the trip, we want to stay flexible, so we just grab a CS meal or a snack wherever we happen to be when we get hungry. This doesn't equate to what is offered on the DDP, and we spend quite a bit less on eating than what the plan would cost us.

While the DDP is a great plan that works very well for many people, there are some of us who have weighed the issues and have decided it isn't for us. Flexibility is one of the issues we considered.

 

[brat5063]

I know how you feel. I didn't like making ADRs but we did. This is the first time we are on the DDP and we are only on it b/c it was free. We normally just grab CS. But since we have the Dining Plan we are going to try out some TS meals.

If there is any place you have to eat at, I would get ADRs. We are traveling the same time you are and I was having problems getting a table for 6 for around a 6pm dinner time. If it is just 2 in your party, I think you will have an easier time. And if you are flexible to eating lunch or a late dinner, you'll have a greater chance too.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We went the week leading up to Labor Day last year during the free dining, and there were people being turned away at every restaurant we went. It wasn't really crowded, the most we waited to ride anything was 15 minutes, but the restaurants were full and not taking people who didn't have ADRs.

 

[kaybird]

We love the DDP and think we are amoung the most flexible in the parks. If you want to be in a certain park without ADRs, just call when you get to the park that morning and see what is available. They can tell you if a restaurant is fully booked, and make your ADR on the spot. Over the years even before the current DDP, the most popular restaurants were always hard to get into during peak times. Love walking past the crowds of people waiting

 

[JustBob]

Lots of great info in response - I think I'll hedge my bets and make a few, but also leave a few open - I darn well better make a ressie for our actual anniversary!

thanks everyone

 

[va32h]

The days when you could just walk up to a restaurant and get seated are over, I think. I read somewhere that Disney restaurants don't allot tables for the possibility of walk-ups, every table for every time slot is given to ADRs.

On a non-holiday weekend, you might try making same or next day reservations, seeing if anyone has canceled. We've tried that before - and it helps to call back. A restaurant that was booked full at 4pm one day might have an opening at 8 am the next morning.

But on a holiday weekend? Labor Day? Heck, I think you'd have a tough time getting in anywhere now, much less as a walk up on the day you eat.

 

[jamounger]

Good luck to you. We are travelling Aug 12-19 which ended up being during free dining. I made all my ADR's but have tried to switch a few. All of the restaurants have been completely booked or nothing available except 8-9:30 (not feasible with a 2 year old. Forget the Fantasmic package, have been trying to switch Hollywood and Vine for Mama Melrose and there is no availability for any party size the entire week. Guess we will suck it up at H&V despite poor reviews. Maybe we will be the bunch that loves it.

 

[kimberh]

Bob,
We went in May, a party of 2, and I had ADR's for all the TS meals and we love the break to be able to sit down and have a nice meal. We saw 30 -40 people being turned away ( and this is while we were waiting to be seated). This doesn't count how many they turned away while we were eating. Just a note for the Animal Kingdom day, the park closes early so there isn't a nice restaurant in the park, it only has CS. We leave there and go to one of the really good hotels and eat. We love eating at Boma's at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We feel we are staying in the theme of the day. Tour the Lodge, sit in the rockers etc. There are soooo many great restaurants to eat at and if you don't book you are going to spend more time trying to figure out where to eat then already having it planned.

Happy Anniversary!!

 

[aubriee]

We were there last Sept (17th-24th) during the free dining period. The parks were almost empty, but almost all the TS restaraunts were turning away walk ups. This included 'Ohannas, Chef Mickey's, Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose, Crystal Palace, and most of the World Showcase restaraunts. I'd make ADRs. You can always cancel once you get down there, but at least you'd be assured of a place to eat.