this year & the DDP

[DebRMN]

I have read the cons comparing this new plan to the old one......but I have never done it, so I will be going in, naive to the past

I have also read about it seeming to be easier to get ADRs this year.

My question is this:
How crazy would I be to try to 'wing it' with TS?? I have made a couple ADR's......but I have a hard time planning meals every single day. I can't even plan a meal at my own house

There are 5 of us (me, dh & a 5.5, 5.5, & a 2y9m).....we will be there April 29-May 8th
I know it isn't a crazy-busy time of year, its when we usually go......but what are thoughts here?

 

[TDC Nala]

Depends on where you want to eat and if you want peak dining times. If you want a popular restaurant, to eat inside a theme park on a particular day, or you want a peak time, I wouldn't suggest winging it.

I'd recommend one day ahead or same-day reservations before I'd ever recommend a walk-in, unless you do it right when restaurants open. Even then, you could be told they're totally booked. Dragging three little kids around looking for a table service with seating for 5 won't be fun when they're hungry.

If you prefer not to plan for TS meals, it's possible the dining plan wouldn't be the best fit for your family.

 

[2moms]

Hi. I'm traveling in Mid-May when it's supposed to be a slower time. I just had to change one of my ADR's for Coral Reef from 4 to 6 people and they were not able to accommodate us until 9pm! Just a heads up, some of the "more popular restaurants" may be harder to get into unless you go pretty early or pretty late...Or you could opt to do a TS for breakfast/lunch and do a CS for dinner on the nights you don't have ADR's. Good Luck!

 

[Allison]

If I paid for the dining plan, I would not be willing to wing it and possibly end up not finding a place to eat that was acceptable to us.

Tables of 5 are also harder to seat than smaller groups.

 

[LSchrow]

i would definately make the ADRs ~ we saw many, many families last year with hungry, tired, crying children, looking for a place to eat & being turned away .
if you don't have the DDP, and/or don't care whether you have TS or CS, and/or are willing to eat at the less popular restaurants at less popular times, it might work. expect that there will still be some crowds (we're going around the same time, may 3-10, & had to waitlist to get the DVC unit we wanted ~ we booked last october ).
especially with 5 ppl, i would make ressies ~ you can always cancel them

 

[heartbeeps]

I've got ressies at popular restaurants like Le Cellier in May (booked the ressies about 130 days out) and could only get 4:10pm or after 9pm. Couldn't touch California Grill after 5pm, etc. the best times for the best restaurants go early so as long as you don't have expectations to eat at some of the notable restaurants, you could consider "winging" or even a "wing and a prayer!"

 

[CU82]

What about for 2 adults in Sept? We don't mind eating at off times (like 8pm or 4pm). DH is so weird about food, I am afraid to make ADRs and then him say "I don't want that today"

 

[heartbeeps]

personally, I think if you are 70% confident you'd use the ADR, make it. You can always cancel it (in advance please so others can take it). I made a ressie at Narcoosie's for prime time one night in May then just recently changed it to another night when we booked the sunset safari at AKL which includes dinner at Jiko. If it's a top restaurant, you won't be able to get in at the last minute so keep that in mind. My DH would NOT be happy eating at CS for dinner so I made sure I had "something" booked even if I wasn't pleased with the times offered.

 

[warriorboy648]

You will probably have a plan as to what parks you are going to each day. Plan out a tentative schedule based on what parks you are going to then schedule your meals around that.

If you're not planning parks in advance, will you be going back to the resort to relax and then could you go from the resort to your adr's??

Not sure if I am making sense, but you have to have adr's with a party of your size if you want TS meals.

 

[Allison]

What about for 2 adults in Sept? We don't mind eating at off times (like 8pm or 4pm). DH is so weird about food, I am afraid to make ADRs and then him say "I don't want that today"

If free dining is offered in September (and I believe some people already have it booked through a bounceback offer) then the restaurants will be busy.