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

[CatNipRules]

So, I'm considering doing something totally crazy. We are going to be in Disney from September 13th through the 20th. We did some ADR's when we were there on our last trip. This time however, I'm thinking about only making a few ADR's.

The three that have scheduled are T-Rex, Mama Melrose fantasmic package and the Garden Grill. Other than that, we are thinking about winging it.

So, is this totally stupid? Should I plan for more? We are just the kind of people that decide at the last minute that we want to eat something.

We've done this before and had luck with it.

Has anyone done this before?

 

[maxiesmom]

Well, that is Free Dining time. So that makes it a little more difficult to get in to a table service restaurant at the spur of the moment.

If you want to get in someplace at the last minute, you need to be flexible. Walking up to Le Ceiller at 6 pm is probably not going to work. Walking up to The Grand Floridian Cafe may be a bit more doable. As long as you are flexible with time and place and are ok with counter service as a last resort, then you should be fine.

 

[addiln]

I don;t think it is totally crazy. My brother did the same thing this past April and it worked out ok for him. As long as you are not looking for a prime time and prime seating restaurant you should be fine to be able to get something somewhere. Also it is nice not having to worry about being tied down to a certain schedule. You can do anything you want whenever you want.

 

[ShannonMB]

We are arriving the day after you, and are also going without many ADR's this time. I booked the trip well after our 180 days passed, so knew we'd have to be flexible (especially with free dining). We did book Tusker House for breakfast one morning, Tony's for a dinner, and found a cancellation for a BOG breakfast. Otherwise, we are winging it! We usually do the DDP and decided to go without that this time, too. There are so many snacks in the world we've been wanting to try for awhile and just never have room. So this time we are eating what we want, when we want - and heavy on the snacking! Very aware we likely won't be able to do some of the favorites, but DD and I are keeping it casual for this impromptu mother/daughter trip! And very excited about it!!

 

[crabbygal902]

The more trips I take, the more I like this. In the beginning, I used to stress over ADRs and if I had the "right" ones. Now, we are much more likely to go without every meal planned. 'Ohana booked? No problem. We can have apps and drinks in the Tambu lounge or Trader Sam's. Narcoossee's booked? Well, we can walk over to GFC. No last minute ADRs available for MK? We've been meaning to try the fajitas at Pecos Bill's anyway, or The Wave Is just a monorail ride away.

Now, if you have the DDP...this advice completely changes! I want to squeeze every penny out of it and book the most expensive restaurants 180 days in advance.

 

[CatNipRules]

We are arriving the day after you, and are also going without many ADR's this time. I booked the trip well after our 180 days passed, so knew we'd have to be flexible (especially with free dining). We did book Tusker House for breakfast one morning, Tony's for a dinner, and found a cancellation for a BOG breakfast. Otherwise, we are winging it! We usually do the DDP and decided to go without that this time, too. There are so many snacks in the world we've been wanting to try for awhile and just never have room. So this time we are eating what we want, when we want - and heavy on the snacking! Very aware we likely won't be able to do some of the favorites, but DD and I are keeping it casual for this impromptu mother/daughter trip! And very excited about it!!

We are excited also. With me it's a mother son trip. The reason for the trip can be found in my Pre-Trip report. Long story short, we lost the head of our family at the beginning of May and we need this trip.

The more trips I take, the more I like this. In the beginning, I ised to stress over ADRs and if I had the "right" ones. Now, we are much more likely to go without every meal planned. 'Ohana booked? No problem. We can have apps and drinks in the Tambu lounge or Trader Sam's. Narcoosssee's booked? Well, we can walk over to GFC. No last minute ADRs available for MK? We've been meaning to try the fajitas at Pecos Bill's anyway, or The Wave Is just a monorail ride away.

Now, if you have the DDP...this advice completely changes! I want to squeeze every penny out of it and book the most expensive restaurants 180 days in advance.

We definitely don't have the DDP. We did that a few years ago and it was way too much food. I felt like we were touring around the ADR schedule and it was too hard to structure everything we want. We are simple and most of the places we like to eat we have always been able to get into at this time of year. We were even able to book a last minute Le Cellier.

I find that I'm not stressing out over this nearly as much as I did on our last trip. Trying to make sure every single meal is planned.

We were so sick of eating on the DDP that every time I told my guys that it was time to eat, I got a look and a sighed, "Again? We just ate 4 hours ago."

LOL!!

 

[knkmom]

For our trip next May I'm only planning to make ADRs for 4 of our nights and winging the rest! In 2015 we did the same and were able to get into places without reservations, of course we had to wait to be seated but it wasn't a big deal! Also we stayed at WL and the concierge desk was able to get us great reservations for Raglan Road (same day) and Whispering Canyon, no problems at all.

 

[dvcHammer]

We only make one or two ADR's per trip. There is always someplace that will sell you food. Try the restaurants at the resorts to widen your search. For popular table service it might be hard, but there is always someplace to eat, and a few gems of places to eat at resorts that you never need an ADR for.

 

[ShannonMB]

I am so sorry for your loss, literally shuddering to think of it. I hope a little Disney magic can take the edge off of what you guys are going through for a short time. Take care of each other and enjoy your planning (or lack of!!).

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We do this all the time!! We make our must-do ADR's (last trip was Tiffins) and wing the rest. As long as you aren't looking for hard-to-get reservations, you will always find something to eat!

 

[SGMCO]

Since it's Food and Wine Festival you can always eat at the different Food Booths.

We will also be there that week and I have all of my ADRs I love having them.
We have FD and only have the Reg. Dining plan so to eat one TS per day that is not very much. I space early lunch then TS dinner, try not to get them any closer than 5 hours apart, so we are hungry by then. Plus, I don't eat the desert that comes with CS, I ask for a water to go instead.

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

My trips are usuallly planned 2-3 months in advance, but I do prefer to make ADR's. A few times I've
gotten same day ADR's by going to concierge at the resort, or pulled up My disney experience on my phone
to look for same day reservations. Guest services in the parks can also help with same day in park ADR's.
I agree with PP's in that you will have to be more flexible, and don't forget to consider resort restaurants.
There are lots of very good single credit Table service at the deluxe and moderate resorts as well as Disney Springs

 

[Regan117]

As long as you aren't picky, there's nothing wrong with winging it. But I can tell you we are there Sept. 17-25 and every resort and restaurant seems REALLY booked. Coupled with the free dining, craziness. But if you're ok with QS or eating at odd times I say go for it.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I think it's fine. You have a few lined up and there are always places to eat. I actually enjoy several counter service locations and the resort lounges.

 

[tinkerbella16]

I don't think it's crazy. You have at least a few. I went in November last year, during free dining and I checked same day ADR's almost every day, just to see while I was there and I couldn't believe how many openings there were.. even for popular restaurants. People cancel the day before, so that helps. We decided on a whim that we wanted to do a TS in Epcot, so the night before I checked and I was able to get Garden Grill for dinner at a good time. It was wonderful!

 

[loves to dive]

We usually only make one or two in advance. All the rest are either made the morning of or walking around and looking something up during the afternoon on MDE for that night. We've never not been able to find something, but we have hoppers and are adults so time doesn't matter and we love trying new places. We love going to GS in the morning at whatever park we are at and asking them either to find something in that park, time doesn't matter or this time frame, place doesn't matter. We try to go to GS in non-busy times and the CMs seem to enjoy looking, we've actually had them get in competitions with each other to see who can find us something. I will also be there the same time you are, going solo for F&W so 95% of my meals will be eaten at the booths. I'll most likely do a QS kids meal for breakfast, one ADR for tea at the GF, one food and wine pairing meal at the festival and the rest knoshing at booths.

 

[Nancyg56]

While this would not work for me, it seems that you want the flexibility that comes without being tied to ADR's so I bet you will be fine. You can check to see if anything is available when you want to eat, and if not, the CS options are always pretty good. One thing that is good about Disney: if you are hungry right you can find a place to eat. It may not be a TS restaurant, but that doesn't mean burgers and dogs all week.

Enjoy you trip!!

 

[tami82]

So, I'm considering doing something totally crazy. We are going to be in Disney from September 13th through the 20th. We did some ADR's when we were there on our last trip. This time however, I'm thinking about only making a few ADR's.

The three that have scheduled are T-Rex, Mama Melrose fantasmic package and the Garden Grill. Other than that, we are thinking about winging it.

So, is this totally stupid? Should I plan for more? We are just the kind of people that decide at the last minute that we want to eat something.

We've done this before and had luck with it.

Has anyone done this before?

That's ok as long as you have a few reservations set. We too have only a few planned and the rest we will play by ear. Our next trip I just don't like the idea of having too many reservations, especially if they are in a certain park. I really don't know what I am doing each day except for our arrival and last day. Lately I'm just a last minute type of person. The last few times we had free dining so I had everything set and at the time they didn't take credit cards to hold reservations so I didn't mind making them, now not so much.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I think as long as you're willing to be flexible (as others have said, because of free dining) you should be just fine. If you have a place you have your heart set on, make sure you have an ADR, otherwise, sit back and enjoy yourselves. I also took a Disney trip shortly after a loss and Disney can be healing in ways you would never imagine. Have a wonderful time!