Tips for dining without ADR's

[eliza61]

I've noticed that there is a small underground cult like group of disser who like me, really don't like making ADR's 180 days out, but we still want to eat a TS meal now and then.
So in the interest of helping these poor, unfortunate (some say evil, rebels)souls. here are a few of my tips for surviving without the dreaded ADR's

Please remember these will not work if you are on the DDP

1. Be flexible: Try to avoid the high dining hours. We have dined late at night ~ 7:30 and we've had great success finding 4:30 openings. The great thing about eating late afternoon is when you get hungry later at night you can pig out on a really huge dessert item. Like a ice cream sundae in the MK. This was very popular with my kids.

2. Be flexible: Many times its easier to get a ressie at a resort than in the parks. People don't like to leave the parks to go back to the resort just to eat. This might not work if you do Disney commando style.

3. Be flexible (yep, it's a reoccuring theme): When you get up call disney dining and see what they have available. These people are professionals and are not to be taken lightly. Whatever they have, unless we absolutely hate it, we take. you may need a park hopper for this one.

We had great succes with this last March, we were there for 7 nights and ate TS every night and we are giving it another wack during Jersey week. May the force be with you!

Any other tips?

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I do not make ADR's......till I get there and then we may make a few. We do not always eat at the restaurants that seem to be the popular ones.....and may in fact eat at some of the resorts.. Most of all, we are FLEXIBLE about our times and may eat a big breakfast and a little snack at lunch and then a big dinner...or small breakfast, big lunch, then small dinner, I am talking little.

Also, I found this out on one of my trips.. the Galley restaurants was holding tables for people who may make ADR's ....so they were turning away walk-ups for prospective ADR people.. We immediately walked over to guest services after being turned away as a walk up and got an adr from 5 minutes from the time we were turned away... just a heads up..

 

[Mackey Mouse]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/reservations.htm

 

[disneyholic family]

yes, we tend to eat at weird hours, so that helps a lot..

 

[SharonLowe]

My DD and I are making a "last minute" trip over Veteran's Day weekend, which happens to be the last weekend for Food and Wine plus the 12th is the fist MVMCP and Osborne Light Show. She really wanted to eat at Coral Reef for dinner but the CM said there was no availability any day we were there. But, she said we could do lunch. I asked about the latest lunch we could get and it was 3:20 - fine with us. Changed an ADR for CP lunch to CP late b'fast and we were good to go.

So, it really pays to eat odd hours and if dinner isn't available try for a late lunch.

 

[SuzieN]

Eliza61: Your tips work perfectly fine on the DDP! We had the plan Feb.'06 and only had 2 reservations [made a week ahead of time!] before our trip. We did manage a TS every day! Of course this was NOT during a free dining promotion - definitely wouldn't work then! Only downside was that we couldn't get into some places that we really wanted to go to.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I do not make ADR's......

You're going to make me do this, aren't you... more to come...

 

[SamSam]

I've noticed that there is a small underground cult like group of disser who like me, really don't like making ADR's 180 days out, but we still want to eat a TS meal now and then.
So in the interest of helping these poor, unfortunate (some say evil, rebels)souls. here are a few of my tips for surviving without the dreaded ADR's

I'm also a non-planner, at least for dining. Thanks for all the helpful ideas for all of us who prefer to dine 'on the fly'. When calling for a last minute ADR, like an hour ahead, do I call the regular disney dining number?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disclaimer: This is ALL Mackey Mouse's fault!

I do not make ADR's......

and with my apologies to Theodor Ceissl...

I do not make ADR's

I do not make them at Jiko
I do not make them for Bistro
I do not make them for Maya
I do not make them with Kona
I do not make them night or day.
I do not make them anyway.
I do not make those ADRs.
I do not make them, DISBoarders.

 

[eliza61]

You're going to make me do this, aren't you... more to come...

Come into the light, follow the white light!

E

 

[eliza61]

I've noticed that there is a small underground cult like group of disser who like me, really don't like making ADR's 180 days out, but we still want to eat a TS meal now and then.
So in the interest of helping these poor, unfortunate (some say evil, rebels)souls. here are a few of my tips for surviving without the dreaded ADR's

I'm also a non-planner, at least for dining. Thanks for all the helpful ideas for all of us who prefer to dine 'on the fly'. When calling for a last minute ADR, like an hour ahead, do I call the regular disney dining number?

If your in the parks, I think you can go to the little concierge desk. In mgm I know it's in front of the brown derby and they have a phone that directly calls, not sure where you go for MK.

 

[jlovesee]

Oh good, a support group for people like me!

Last summer, late June called around Noon, got an ADR for the Plaza at 3:30PM for four adults, Just this last Thanksgiving weekend, Sunday, called at 11AM and got an ADR for the Mexican restaurant at 12:30PM, Two years ago, January walked up to Liberty Tree Tavern at 11AM and got an ADR for Noon, and same week called 5PM for a 7PM ADR at Whispering Canyon.

I have broken down a bit though and made an ADR for Ohanas for our trip in December.

Jennifer