Ressies ***(Absolutely Necessary????) ***

[SNylund]

I see all of this endless planning about ressies for every single meal. I have never done this, never anywhere I go. My Disney experience was always walk up whereever we've been, even at sit down restaurants in world showcase, or hotel or whereever. Even in Universal at all the nice sit down spots, always walked in, I just never make reservations, if the wait time is too long, I always go somewhere else.

What are your experiences? Have you found you probably didn't even need them for the most part. (One thing I hate is making a reservation and then getting there and waiting along with everyone else for a table.) This is my point of why I don't do it.

 

[Robo]

Absolutely Necessary?

At certain times of the year, they are essential for Table Service restaurants.

 

[jennyraye]

From what I hear, if you are going during Free Dining--even if you are not using Free Dining--and you want to eat at a table service restaurant, you are going to need reservations.

 

[bytheblood]

If you go during free dining and want to eat TS, you are smart to make ADRs. Without them, you are going to be eating a lot of burgers, nuggets and pizza.

 

[KellyNY]

I see all of this endless planning about ressies for every single meal. I have never done this, never anywhere I go. My Disney experience was always walk up whereever we've been, even at sit down restaurants in world showcase, or hotel or whereever. Even in Universal at all the nice sit down spots, always walked in, I just never make reservations, if the wait time is too long, I always go somewhere else.

What are your experiences? Have you found you probably didn't even need them for the most part. (One thing I hate is making a reservation and then getting there and waiting along with everyone else for a table.) This is my point of why I don't do it.

I do the same but it does not work at some places like last May we wanted to do CG at Contemporary but it was full and we ended up at Ohana with 10 min wait. However with all the free DP, everything is overbooked and you better to ADR if you want to eat somewhere.

 

[figment41]

Example of this problem is when we were there in Dec they were telling people there would be a 2 1/2 hr wait for a table with no res. We had a res and had to wait over 45 min several times. People were also told No there was no more seating at all. I am sure it just depends on when u go.

We never used to make res but now with the free dining it is crazy and has rolled over to non free dining because u can always purchasethe dining plan. In order to make it worth it u need to eat at TS. Unfortunately Disney does not seem to have enough TS restaurants to accomodate everyone right now.

 

[rgf207]

They are not required but if you would like to dine at a popular restaurant or one that's within a park, you will most likely be turned away at most times of the year. If you are not turned away, it will probably be a very long wait time (90+) mintues.

That is how it is 99% of the time. It definitely up to you whether or not to make ADR's

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

Since we have been travel with our son, I always made ADR's since we like him to eat at certaing time. But before him when we went to Disney we never had ADR but then they did not offer free dinning back then. We are going again in Dec and I plan all the ADR (I like having a plan and we can always cancel it that day if we change our minds)...I like knowing we have a place to have our sit down meal.s

 

[sueandkent]

I see all of this endless planning about ressies for every single meal. I have never done this, never anywhere I go. My Disney experience was always walk up whereever we've been, even at sit down restaurants in world showcase, or hotel or whereever. Even in Universal at all the nice sit down spots, always walked in, I just never make reservations, if the wait time is too long, I always go somewhere else.

What are your experiences? Have you found you probably didn't even need them for the most part. (One thing I hate is making a reservation and then getting there and waiting along with everyone else for a table.) This is my point of why I don't do it.

We're not booking ADR's. If we eat burgers then so be it. Didn't take the dining plan anyway because we booked a combo pack with the cruise and it's not offered with that booking. Besides, we've looked and looked at the menus and believe Disney's TS resturants to have not much we like and VERY over-priced. We'll eat like Kings on the cruise ship and be happy with CS in the parks.

 

[klwdisney]

DH & I were there in May and planned on eating only counter service meals but ended up walking up to table service restaurants and being seated no problem... even at high traffic times... with little or no wait.

 

[SNylund]

This makes sense why things can be booked. I've actually never even looked into the free dining thing. I take it you buy free dining for certain restaurants on the list and you eat "free" after you pay for the plan? So its not really "free"???

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

At Universal they aren't neccessary but I did have to wait awhile (about 40 minutes) at Marguaritaville. Usually those I just book the morning of and have no problems.

But at Disney, if I wanted to eat at a popular restaurant or one in the parks I had to have an ADR. Most times that I've gone have been busy and they aren't accepting walk ups.

If you want to eat at less popular places or at really off times, you may be able to find someplace with an ADR available but if you go during busy times or free dining, be prepared to eat at alot of CS places. There a quite a few of those that are really good though.

 

[Robo]

This makes sense why things can be booked. I've actually never even looked into the free dining thing.

1- I take it you buy free dining for certain restaurants on the list and you eat "free" after you pay for the plan?

2- So its not really "free"???

1- That's not how it works.

2- You must be staying at a WDW Resort,
pay rack rate for the room, and then, your party does eat free.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

As everyone else has said, it depends when you go, how many are in your group, and where you want to eat. We went for a quick weekend trip in May - I wasn't able to get Chef Mickey's or O'Hana a few weeks in advance, but I got Crystal Palace before MK opened. We got an ADR for Prime Time that day at DHS. It was a bit later than we wanted (1:30 or so for lunch), but we were able to make reservations that day.

If your group requires more than a 4-top table, I'd make reservations, and if you want to eat somewhere specific, I'd make reservations. If you are going at a slower time and don't care where or when you eat, you can wing it as long as you don't mind waiting. But you may not get into your first choice, and it might not be at your choice of times.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

This makes sense why things can be booked. I've actually never even looked into the free dining thing. I take it you buy free dining for certain restaurants on the list and you eat "free" after you pay for the plan? So its not really "free"???

The dining plan is a prepaid plan (about $40 per day for each adult) that allows you one table service meal, one counter service meal, and one snack per night of your stay at a WDW resort. It is available if you book a package. You can book ADRs for any table service restaurant on the plan (some restaurants "cost" two credits, like Cinderella's Royal Table and signature restaurants like California Grill or Jiko). If you go during free dining, you are competing with a lot of people for the tables at certain restaurants that can be a good value on the plan (like Le Cellier) or that offer character meals.

Free dining gives you the plan for "free", but as Robo said, you have to pay rack rate for your room. May or may not be a good deal, depending how many people are in your room and which resort you choose. Four people in a value resort will save money with free dining, while two adults at the Grand Floridian might find a better room discount if they pay for the dining plan.

But the dining plan has encouraged people who never bothered with table service meals to try them, so restaurants are more crowded.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

It really depends on the time of year, the restaurant, and the time of day. There have been times when we've called right at 90 days and the TS place we wanted was already booked at the time we wanted. There have been other times when we've walked up to a TS place right when they opened and got an ADR for 1 hour later. Or called in the afternoon for something later that evening. Overall, I think it's better to have them than not, especially if you want to go somewhere with limited seating like San Angel Inn or Coral Reef.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We always use ADR because we are such a large group. I don't see how a couple would have much trouble.

 

[ParrotBill]

For really popular places, ADR is essential all year
(CRT, Le Cellier, for example)

During free dining, it really depends on how many have it and how the crowds are. 2 years ago we went inlate August and could not get in to any table service restaurant without an ADR. We were turned away many times.

This year, however, it was only a problem at popular restaurants, and even them we saw some that were not a problem. We were able to walk up to many restaurants and even though we had ADRs for most the places were typically only half full.

 

[cymbaldiva]

If you go during free dining and want to eat TS, you are smart to make ADRs. Without them, you are going to be eating a lot of burgers, nuggets and pizza.

Just to clarify - there's a lot more available thru counter service than burgers, nuggets and pizza (good thing too - burgers and pizza aren't 2 of Disney dining's strong points! )

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Just to clarify - there's a lot more available thru counter service than burgers, nuggets and pizza (good thing too - burgers and pizza aren't 2 of Disney dining's strong points! )

So right! Sunshine Seasons at Epcot and Flametree BBQ at AK are two of our CS favorites that go way beyond burgers and fries.