To ADR or not ADR?? That is the question.

[Brancaneve]

We are from CA and have gone twice to WDW. Both times I made ADR's and found that sometimes the times were not convenient, we weren't hungry or something else caught our eye. Once or twice I had to cancel ADRs. We always traveled in February when the parks were not very busy.

However, now we will be going again in late May/early June. Will we have long waits for a table without ADRs? Should I make ADRs or just go with the flow? This time we would like to try Boma, Le Cellier and San Angel's in Epcot. Perhaps Tony's in MK. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Pakey]

If you have your hearts set on eating at these particular places, make the ADRs. Is there free dining going on when you are going? If so, the restaurants will be crowded.

I'm not a fan of ADRs and prefer to go with the flow but if there's someplace I want to eat, I make an ADR. You can always try a walk up at a more convenient time but have the ADR as a backup.

 

[Brancaneve]

Thanks Pakey! How does one find out about the free dining opportunity at the time of our trip? Thanks for the great tip!

 

[clutter]

Why not make ADRs and change them if plans change. We were there in late August, and were able to re-arrange many ADRs to fairly popular places. We also found that MANY restaurants, in spite of having no availability, were only about 2/3s full. I think a lot of groups make multiple ADRs and simply didn't show.

 

[Nadjalu]

No way will you dine at LeCellier without an adr. That place is fort knox.

I do recommend that you make all adrs for where you would like to eat. If you want to change them you always have the chance to, if there is availability.
But if you don't and there isn't any availability you are stuck eating CS. Plain and simple, make the adrs and if you can change them if you need/are able to.

 

[Satchmo128]

I would encourage ADR's for Le Cellier and Boma. Otherwise, I bet you will have good luck with walk-up for San Angel and Tony's.

(I have had a difficult time even getting an ADR at Le Cellier...good luck!)

 

[EvilQueenT]

you'll never get into le cellier without an adr. tony's is hit or miss getting in as is san angel. if you're a gambler and flexible enough to say "ok i guess we'll go eat counter service instead" then you might be able to skip the adr for these two. i've not tried with boma. remember you're going at a busy time of year and with free dining you'd be better off making the adr's 180 days plus the number of days you've booked out (5 day stay book adrs at 185 days before stay etc...) to have a much better chance of booking meal times that are closer to your normal eating patterns.

 

[Pakey]

I have gotten into Le Cellier without an ADR and we've done Boma as a walkup too. I just returned a few days ago and they were taking walkups at Cape May character breakfast on Sunday morning and we did a walkup at bluezoo on a Friday night. The point is, you can't expect it to happen. It might and it might not. We are not planners and we've had a great deal of success, and continue to have success, with walkups. However, we don't have places that are just that important to us so if we don't get into one place, we try another.

OP, Disney has released the dates for free dining in 2011 but since I never do a dining plan, I'm not familiar with the dates. I'm sure Disney's website has the information or you can call Disney's reservations to see what's still available.

 

[Cinderella94]

For the places you've mentioned, definitely make ADRs. You can always cancel them if need be.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Thanks Pakey! How does one find out about the free dining opportunity at the time of our trip? Thanks for the great tip!

Free dining is not available if you are staying at DVC on points.

If you will be staying at a resort for cash, you can look into packages with free dinings for your dates on WDWInfo: LINK

 

[canopynut66]

We are from CA and have gone twice to WDW. Both times I made ADR's and found that sometimes the times were not convenient, we weren't hungry or something else caught our eye. Once or twice I had to cancel ADRs. We always traveled in February when the parks were not very busy.

However, now we will be going again in late May/early June. Will we have long waits for a table without ADRs? Should I make ADRs or just go with the flow? This time we would like to try Boma, Le Cellier and San Angel's in Epcot. Perhaps Tony's in MK. Thanks for the advice!

Le Cellier you will need 2TS for dinner starting in March think it is and want to get that ADR as soon as you can as it fills up fast San Angels would also need to get fairly soon and also Tony's as not that many TS places in MK We have always had ADR'S at Bomas but they have never been standing room only but we were there for breakfast. Have been for dinner and would be sure and have ressie for that time also

 

[ManMythLegend]

The idea of not making ADRs before going to Disney would not even cross my mind. I live off ADRs and typically make them immediately upon trip booking, sometimes earlier.