Resort Dining Reservations

[d1gitman]

I was looking for some feedback on lunch reservations at resort restaurants based on the following scenario. We are looking to try a different approach this time (11/30/08 - 12/12/08).

We (DH, DW, DS3, DS7) vacation at WDW 1 or 2x each year. For the last 2 years we have taken advantage of the free dining promo. This was when we started making ADR's at the parks which then dictates what day you are in each park. This year we want to celebrate Thanksgiving with family in FL then head over to WDW. However, we do not want to be tied to a daily park schedule dictated by ADR's. So this year we will make our ADR's for lunch at various resorts and then be free to go whereever we please afterwards. This will also get us visiting resorts we haven't stayed at which should be neat. We will be eating dinner in the parks at counter service locations. We like to stay at the parks till closing and sleep in the next day, taking our lazy time and relaxing a bit on vaca. We also like to start our day later to avoid the morning and noon time sun.

Anyway, we were wondering if any fellow Disney Fanatics had input as to whether or not ADR's are necessary for lunch time at the various resort restaurants, during the late Nov - early Dec timeframe. It would be nice to have some of that 'new discovery' feeling injected back into our Disney trip since our last 4 trips have been so regimented. With park and dining schedules.

thanks

 

[GatorLady]

We always rather be safe than sorry and make ADR's no matter what. For some ideas, you could make the latest reservation for breakfast at Chef Mickey's or Ohana for a character meal. That way it's more of a brunch. 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian as one too, but your boys might not like the characters as well. Your sons might also like Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[d1gitman]

Thanks GatorLady. We love Whispering Canyon at the Lodge. Wilderness Lodge has been our most favorite resort to date. We will probably make our ADR's at the 6 mo. mark. Once we get to WDW, then we will call disney dining to see what availability is like at different restaurants. If we find availability isn't an issue for same day or next day reservations, then we may just keep our ADR's as backup but plan to do the entire trip freestyle, like the good old days of when we first visited.