Table Service Question

[pookybean]

Hello,
I am in the process of planning my first Disney trip as a "grown up" with my own kids. We are going 5/8-5/16 YAY!

We are seriously thinking about doing the dining plan, but the only thing holding us back is the having to make all these ADR's. We want to be able to eat when we want rather than running around to all these reservations. Some like the character meals and shows are a given and thats ok its just all of the other ones.....

So I was wondering, 1) if for every table service restaurant do we need a reservation? Are there any that we can just walk up to and be sat with a normal wait (like within 30-45 mins at the most)? and 2) do any of the table service restaurants do take out/to go stuff? that way we wouldnt have to have a res. get the food and go to a picnic area or something?

Thanks so much, I am sure i will be writing back with a ton of other ???'s between now and May!!!


Megan

 

[MouseWorshipin]

ADRs (Reservations) are a really good idea, especially for the more popular restaurants (like Crystal Palace or LeCellier). I've seen people turned away or told they'll have to wait 2 1/2 hours.

To the best of my knowledge, WDW does not do take out.

I am in the small minority of people here who do not like the dining plan. I didn't like being locked in to eating this-many table services and that-many counter service meals. It also became a scheduling nightmare for me. But everyone else seems to like it a lot!

Have a great trip!

 

[jtlover]

I like the plan in that you know you have paid for the food up front and dont worry how much it is going to cost you. We have made all our ADRs for our trip in February - but should we change our mind we will cancel them - it just means that we have reservations for places we definitely want to go.

To be honest some of the places we chose we probably wouldnt have gone if we were not on the plan - it saves a fortune if you look into nice places to eat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you're planning on table service meals, including Character and non-Character buffets, you pretty much need ADRs with or without the Dining Plan. If you think you'll be eating mostly counter service meals, with an occasional Character one thrown in, the Dining Plan is NOT going to be cost-effective for you.

 

[Hopefully]

First of all Welcome to the DIS!!! You will find yourself here often as you plan your May trip. There are lots of experts who can answer most any question you may have.
With the advent of the Dining Plan most TS (Table Service) restauarants have become far busier than in the past. As other posters have already said, lots of people have been able to try restaurants that they would not have been able to in the past. When we went in October we saw people being turned away as walk ins at restuarants everywhere. Some of the hotel restaurants are generally not as crowded as the park restaurants.
My rule of thumb, if there is somewhere I really want to eat, if I want to eat at a specific time, or if I want to insure a sit down meal versus a Counter Servie meal, then make an ADR.
You can check out the menus at allearsnet.com.
Have a great time planning your trip, it is a lot of fun too!

 

[bicker]

My trip is in less than two weeks. I tried to add a character meal yesterday and had to settle for splitting my party in two, and eating earlier than we had planned. Even in the off-season, it is very tight getting accommodated for a good meal on short notice.

 

[Allison]

As another poster said, if you plan to do table service meals, you should have ADR's whether you have the dining plan or not.

Will you be able to find someplace to eat? Probably. Will it be at a convenient time or at a place you are interested in eating? There's a good chance you could miss out on something you wanted to try.

Good luck deciding.

 

[The Sweetness]

Looks like, if you dont make an ADr, plan on eating CS, or leaving the park.