To plan, or not to plan...

[Lizziejane]

We will be heading to WDW for 13 days next January (yes, I like to plan early!). We've been several times before, same time of year, and I've always done the ADR thing. HOwever, this is our first trip of this many nights - it's usually just been 5 or 6 nights to plan up to now.

So my question is this: do I drive myself nuts and try to plan ADRs for all 13 nights? I'm struggling with just basic park planning - the first 4 or days days will be easy - we'll be excited to "get at it", and I can reasonably pin down where we'll be on what day. But as we get further into our trip, I can see us slowing down and going with the flow a little more. Heck, thats why we're going for 13 nights this time! So I'm wondering if *gasp* I didn't make ADRs, would we still have a chance of getting in for some TS meals? Obviously, I"m not talking about Le Cellier or CP - I know enough to make those ADR's - but just wondering about places like Kona, Spoodles, some of the other restaurants in Epcot...what do you think, considerng the time of year? Do you think walk-ins, or same-day ADRs are likely?

 

[TillyMarigold]

I can tell you I was just reading Kona reviews this evening and of course the most recent ones are written by people who visited in the mid/late winter season, and there were several references to last minute ADRs and walk-ins at Kona.

Spoodles will be closed by then.

I might be inclined to do it as you plan and only book maybe half the ADRs—keeping in mind that there may be some or even all last-minute restaurants that are absolute disasters and that's why you were able to get a last minute ADR. But if you're willing to risk it, you could also discover a restaurant that's amazing but no one knows that.

 

[catne]

We will be heading to WDW for 13 days next January (yes, I like to plan early!). We've been several times before, same time of year, and I've always done the ADR thing. HOwever, this is our first trip of this many nights - it's usually just been 5 or 6 nights to plan up to now.

So my question is this: do I drive myself nuts and try to plan ADRs for all 13 nights? I'm struggling with just basic park planning - the first 4 or days days will be easy - we'll be excited to "get at it", and I can reasonably pin down where we'll be on what day. But as we get further into our trip, I can see us slowing down and going with the flow a little more. Heck, thats why we're going for 13 nights this time! So I'm wondering if *gasp* I didn't make ADRs, would we still have a chance of getting in for some TS meals? Obviously, I"m not talking about Le Cellier or CP - I know enough to make those ADR's - but just wondering about places like Kona, Spoodles, some of the other restaurants in Epcot...what do you think, considerng the time of year? Do you think walk-ins, or same-day ADRs are likely?

I think you'll be fine...if you're there for MLK Jr. weekend, you might want to get ADRs for the holiday weekend. But any other time, you'll probably be fine winging it, especially if you're not wanting the most popular places. We arrived the day after MLK Jr. day...we were on the DxDDP so we had 6 TS meals in two days (too much, lol) But we had Chef Mickey's breakfast, Coral Reef lunch, Les Chefs de France dinner, Kona Cafe breakfast, The Plaza lunch and Grand Floridian Cafe dinner. Every single one of those restaurants was taking walk-ups. Now at Chef Mickey's and Coral Reef, they were telling them it would be 45-60 minutes wait. But the other restaurants were virtually empty -- I mean EMPTY. At Grand Floridian, 5:30-6:30 there were like 5 tables occupied...same with Kona for breakfast 8-9:00 a.m. The Plaza was maybe 2/3 full at 12:30 for lunch. Les Chefs was mostly full for dinner at 6:00 p.m., but telling walk-ups 20 minutes or so. I don't think you'll have any problem getting same day ADRs

 

[DisneyCruiser83]

My husband and I have never done ADR's before (I never really gave it much thought until recently). In the five years we have been going together, I can only remember one time having an issue (the restaurant in Mexico was completely booked). We made reservations for he following night without a hitch. As long as you are flexible, and go with an open mind, you will be fine. As the pp said, you may discover a new restaurant not on your radar. Have fun!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I always make sure we have a TS planned for every single night because DH likes to end the day with a nice relaxing dinner...breakfast and lunch we will wing it but never dinner

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Same as Mickey Nicki . I would never wing it.

 

[skellingtonfreak]

I say make ADR's for every night, and then if you do'nt feel like going, then go to the concierge and see if there is something else available that might sound better and cancel the others. It keeps you from having to go to different places to see if they have openings. If worse comes to worse, and there is nothing available, at least you have someplace saved.

 

[smiths02]

I would make a plan and then cancel if need be or if I could get something I felt like more

 

[maggiew]

Make your ADRs for the beginning of your trip. Then maybe try to make them the night before once you plan out what you will be doing the next day while at WDW.

Maggie