Should we wing it or are we crazy?

[diamondcharl]

We are going on a second honeymoon Aug 21-24th. It will be the first time without the kids. I am a definite planner. I was trying to be spontaneous this time around and just see where the wind takes us for lunch and dinner. We know which parks we are going to on which days. Am I crazy to not make any definite dining plans? There really isn't any place that is a must do for us. We definitely would like to see all of the 4 parks nighttime shows. We are typically people who prefer to do a late lunch and then just a light dinner/snack for dinner. Does anyone have any advise or has flown by the seat of their pants during August? Thanks for any input!

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

We hit a brick wall trying to get in to some of the more popular places without a reservation. We were able to get in to some like "Nine Dragons" and Tokyo Dining". I would say that it will be hit and miss. Good luck if you decide to choose that path. You'll find something, but it may or may not be your preference.

 

[maxiesmom]

As long as you are not on the dining plan, and are flexible when it comes to where and when you eat, then you should be fine. But I would say that you are already not really being spontaneous as you know which parks you are hitting on what day. So why not make ADRs? You can always cancel them as long as you do so the night before.

 

[Linleedo]

It's all good if you just want to eat at quick service restaurants. There are plenty if them. Many have very good food. It's even best if you look for some that are air conditioned. But, to just be able to get a table service meal without a reservation is very difficult. Especially in the summer when they offer free dining. Many more people are reserving meals.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I'd say that for nighttime shows, I would strongly consider ADRs at popular locations for them.

By this, I mean Rose & Crown for Illuminations, a Fantasmic! dinner package at HS, and when they roll them out, a Jungle Book Rivers of Whatever package for AK. I think a package will be especially helpful for Rivers of Whatever, as that is a very small theatre.

 

[addiln]

As long as you don't really care about when and where you eat then winging will be fine. You may not get into all the places you will try but you will be able to find something. Also since you stated you are bigger lunch people I would go to the restaurants in for a late lunch. After that you can hit a quick serve or something like for a snack or a lite dinner. You will be fine and this sounds more enjoyable that you will be just going with the flow instead of worrying about getting to a meal on time or having to plan your day around what you are eating. I may have to try the same thing on a trip soon.

 

[LovesTimone]

I will say that going without your kiddo's you will completely tour differently, and you will see something's that you most likely have missed when the kids were with you.

I would suggest making 1 or 2 ADR's for diner maybe at a signature so you have a nice meal on your trip to celebrate your anniversary.

You can try last minute but don't expect to find the more popular TS available, and if you go try walk up just be prepared to be turned away. Lunch might be a bit easier to get into, and check out other resort TS for last minute ADR's.

I have some friends that just did the whole not wanting to make ADR's and did not care what or where they ate...until they arrived and could not get in anywhere the first or second night where they wanted to eat and ended up with QS... Not that anything is wrong with QS... but they wanted steak and it wasn't happening... They did decide to make ADR's for the rest of the trip but were not happy with what was available.

 

[SunnieRN]

Even though winging it is great, (we've done trips with only 1 TS meal), I would think it would be nice to plan one romantic anniversary trip and a couple of lunches at some of your favorite restaurants. Paying OOP, you could even go to HBD and share a Cobb salad one day. If you find you're feeling too penned in, you can cancel your TS meals the day prior without penalty. August heat can make an afternoon or evening air conditioned meal an enhancement to your celebration!!

 

[margot31]

I would do a little planning. When my husband and I go we plan certain things like he loves Star Tours...so I make sure we get fast passes for that. As far as restaurants we wing that and can book even short notice.

 

[kittyab]

If there is a particular place you really want to eat at, I would try to get a ADR. But really quick servs are just as good.

 

[CarolynFH]

DH and I winged it on a last-minute trip in March, in the sense of not making ADRs before we left home. However we did get on MDE the day before or the morning of to see what was available and make an ADR if we found a location & time we liked. Once or twice we even checked MDE in the afternoon for that night! It was so relaxing that we're doing the same in October. But for our trip in January we'll book at 180+10 because we'll have DD and DSIL with us. Last minute ADRs for 2 people are easier to get than for 4.

 

[loves to dive]

We never make ADRs in advance, (except for tea at GF). We either do it the morning of or even just walking around the parks and looking on MDE, I will admit it's a little easier for us because we have PHs always so the park doesn't matter. I agree your best bet since you prefer to eat light in the evenings is to do a later lunch, maybe around 3:30 or 4. Then you can either do QS, or even go to some of the places that have a bar and do appetizers at the bar, most if not all of the deluxe resorts have a bar/eating area. If at MK, do the monorail pub crawl, if at Epcot go out the IG and walk over to YC, they have a great lounge that serves food.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I wouldn't personally do this, especially in the summer. We like to hit some favorites that are very unlikely to be available day of.

If you're flexible on where you end up eating, and especially for only a party of 2, then it's certainly possible.

 

[B-Ride]

There is nothing wrong with flying as long as you are happy with QS every night.

 

[Eastern]

If you are flexible, winging it is fine. And there is always CS anywhere you go. But if you are set on TS at a park, I would make an ADR.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Yes, we do this all the time. We typically make ADR's for restaurants we really want to go to or want to try for the first time (like Morimoto's during Christmas week), otherwise we make ADR's day of once we know where we are going to be and what we feel like doing. We've never gone hungry! As long as you're flexible and willing to eat QS if need be, you'll be fine.

 

[diamondcharl]

Thank you all for your input. I think I'll make one special TS reservation to celebrate our Anniversary as some of you suggested. Then we will probably make the other reservations the day of as others have suggested!

 

[Hisgirl]

We had a very unfortunate dinner at California Grill on April 26th, and had to leave. We searched for another place for dinner since it was our wedding anniversary and we found several options but most all started at 8:15pm or later. I think as long as you are flexible on your eating times you will be fine. Also, that is a slower time and probably less busy. Have a wonderful time!

 

[Eastern]

We had a very unfortunate dinner at California Grill on April 26th, and had to leave. We searched for another place for dinner since it was our wedding anniversary and we found several options but most all started at 8:15pm or later. I think as long as you are flexible on your eating times you will be fine. Also, that is a slower time and probably less busy. Have a wonderful time!

Do tell.

 

[Hisgirl]

Don't want to hijack the thread.