Torn: Keep ADRs or Wing It?

[LJSquishy]

I'm really torn on whether to keep all of our ADRs or cancel most of them and just do CS or make reservations the day of with whatever is available. We're traveling 10/21 - 10/30 (9 nights) and are a party of 4 adults (2 couples, each staying at different resorts).

My fear is that we will feel rushed or focused around meals at Disney instead of just doing what we want when we want. If we do mostly lunch ADRs, we give up prime park time, and if we do evening ADRs it makes mid-day breaks more difficult since we have to allow time to get to our reservations. My husband and I went in 2012 with the DDP and felt like the days were filled with, "we don't have enough time to do this before our ADR so we better not", and "we can only go back to the resort for a couple of hours before we have to head back out to dinner", etc. A couple of times we wanted to eat at 4pm but our reservation wasn't until 6pm or there were times when we weren't hungry when we thought we would be. Since we're going with my parents this time, I would like to go at a slower pace and enjoy each other's company and our surroundings more. It sounds really nice to decide in the moment to go back to our resorts mid-day if we're tired rather than have our lunch or dinner ADR determine our schedule. I would say BOG, Boma, and Beaches & Cream are the biggest priorities if we keep some.

Here are the ADRs I have scheduled:

10/21: None (Arriving in evening)
10/22: Kona Cafe 5pm
10/23: Sci-Fi 1:20pm
10/24: Boma 6:05pm (Blizzard Beach/mini-golf/whatever day)
10/25: Yak & Yeti 1:30pm
10/26: Via Napoli 6:30pm
10/27: Be Our Guest 4:10pm
10/28: Beaches & Cream 12:20pm
10/29: Boma 4:30pm (will probably change to something else, wasn't sure if we'd do Boma on this day or 10/24)
10/30: None

I like the idea of waking up on a specific day and seeing what ADRs are available that day (I know they're usually resort restaurants) but I'd also hate to have no options at all...we're going during F&W, MNSSHP, and I think even free dining was released during our dates (not sure). Also, some of our dining times aren't really ideal...lunch at 1:30pm is very late for us, however, I realize how much you can get done from rope drop to 1-2pm. I don't even know if we want to worry about FP+ or just schedule them "just in case" for mid-morning/early afternoon.

Any suggestions? For those who have winged it or even had the quick service dining plan, how did it work out for you? Any issues finding meals with enough veggies so your days weren't filled with fries and lots of bread/fried foods?

 

[DISNEY1975]

With only one ADR per day, I would keep them. If you change your mind the day of, call as soon as you can to cancel.

 

[fly girl]

You didn't go overboard with booking 3 meals per day. You're going during free dining and if you actually do want a TS meal, you may not get what you'd prefer.

The great thing is you can cancel 24 hours before, so you are in no rush.

Keep them.

 

[Lucius Best]

You've got some nice restaurants, and not more than one per day, I think your schedule looks good. The late lunches are good to get lots done in the morning, and then relax in AC during a really busy time of the day. But might not be good if you were planning pool breaks that day. Doing CS for lunch can save time and money, and is good for flexibility, you're not missing much if you dropped those 1:30pm lunches at Sci-Fi and Y&Y.

On our recent trip, we had our ADRs front loaded in the first half of our trip. The only ADR we had on the second half was BOG. Once we had hit every park, we wanted more flexibility the rest of the week, and much cheaper to dine CS. Of course, after a while we were getting sick of chicken fingers and fries, so we did a walk-in at Grand Floridian Cafe one night. Also, a lot of the ADRs we planned at resorts we wanted to visit.

I don't even know if we want to worry about FP+ or just schedule them "just in case" for mid-morning/early afternoon.

I would absolutely positively get your 3 FPs. You've already planned most of your park days anyway with the ADRs, so you know where you're going to be, and it doesn't cost anything, you might as well reserve them, even if it is "just in case". I'm guessing crowds are getting a little heavier end of October, once you get to 10:30-11am, lines start getting long. You don't have to stress over planning, pick three of your favorites, get FP between 10am and 1pm, and you're done.

 

[Disney Mom 7272]

I would keep them! We usually do 1 table service every night for dinner and then out of the 8 days that we are there we will always do 2-3 table service breakfast meals. Usually they are character meals.

 

[staceycrouton]

I agree with PP. I find that by having one reservation a day gives us a little direction in planning our day. Otherwise we end up with a lot of "What do you want to do today?", Which is followed by "I don't know, what do you want to do?". Plus, we get to eat at some of our favorite restaurants, or try new ones, and don't have to "settle" for what is available. And, as was previously stated, you can always cancel. I think that you have to cancel at least 24 hours in advance so as not to be charged the $10 per person cancellation fee.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Yup, like staceycrouton said, if you cancel any of those ADRs you mentioned above within one day or no show for the reservation, you'll be charged $10 per person so be careful to cancel the day before if you're not going to go!

 

[Rosebud123]

For Yak and Yeti, make the reservation directly through them. Then there's no penalty for a no show. You can do the same with Raglan Road through Open Table (not sure if your plans include DTD, but that would be a fun choice with couples and a no risk ADR!).

I would pick three other dinners that you really want, and then wing it from there.

I do not like having an ADR every day! I know some people even do 2x a day, but I don't like being locked in.

 

[senadler]

If you are planning to get to the parks early, some of your late lunches might be too late. We used to make lunches around 1:30 PM and found we were done with the park and ready to eat a little earlier. We now make them around 12 PM or 12:30 PM and then head back to the hotel on our early park days.

 

[eliza61]

I'm really torn on whether to keep all of our ADRs or cancel most of them and just do CS or make reservations the day of with whatever is available. We're traveling 10/21 - 10/30 (9 nights) and are a party of 4 adults (2 couples, each staying at different resorts).

My fear is that we will feel rushed or focused around meals at Disney instead of just doi

I like the idea of waking up on a specific day and seeing what ADRs are available that day (I know they're usually resort restaurants) but I'd also hate to have no options at all...we're going during F&W, MNSSHP, and I think even free dining was released during our dates (not sure). Also, some of our dining times aren't really ideal...lunch at 1:30pm is very late for us, however, I realize how much you can get done from rope drop to 1-2pm. I don't even know if we want to worry about FP+ or just schedule them "just in case" for mid-morning/early afternoon.

Any suggestions? For those who have winged it or even had the quick service dining plan, how did it work out for you? Any issues finding meals with enough veggies so your days weren't filled with fries and lots of bread/fried foods?

Luke, come on over to the dark side. LOL.

Op, I rarely do a lot of ADR's, believe me you will not have any problem finding a place to eat. Now if you really want to eat at Be our guest I would keep it.
We are going the last week in august and the first week in September and I have two adr's. no worries.

look at it this way, I went to Disneyworld.com and searched for dinner for 5/29, got 59 restaurants.

 

[OasterP]

For what it's worth - I was in your position last year. We had some amazing ADR's, and at good times, but I wasn't sure how I felt about things being so structured. My opinion is to keep them. This is what we did - we kept them and then if we thought we'd want to change, we did it the night before. I know that upsets some people, but you aren't hoarding reservations (nor were we). I kept a few of my ADR's, and I canceled a LOT. Also - this was just my experience, but we went at the end of September while free dining was going on and I was completely shocked at the ADR's I could get the night before if I wanted. I saw CRT, 1900 Park Fare, Ohana, CP, and Garden Grill at a minimum. I know there were more. That way you keep the ones you really do want to do, and if you think the night before that something might not work - cancel it and do what works for you.

This year we are going and have the QS dining "free dining". I'm thrilled to have more leeway with times, but the table service meals were fun to do once.

 

[LJSquishy]

Thank you all for your input so far. It gives me a lot to think about and also bounce the options off of my parents to see if they have a preference. For now, I'll certainly keep them, but I can see myself trimming the list down in half easily...if not almost completely. I know we will probably want to keep BOG and Beaches & Cream (my dad mentioned B&C several times so I think he's really keen on trying it and they're staying at BCV) for sure...I'd like to keep Boma even though we aren't fond of buffets (we're staying at AKV) but that's not a must do since we don't eat giant meals.

Ultimately if my parents think they'd be happy with CS meals and winging it I think that'd be the way to go, but if they would like to be waited on and have a few higher quality meals then we'll need to do some table service meals. If it were just my husband and I, I'd cancel everything and play it by ear the day before/day of but we're pretty easy going/low maintenance.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We only do 1 ADR most days and it is usually a late lunch/early dinner. This way we get a reprieve from the heat, don't worry about fighting for a table at a CS restaurant, and still make evening shows. Doing this, we do not feel like we are giving up anything.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I would probably keep what you have and if the day before, you decide you want to wing that day, cancel the ADR.

I will say that it is one of the biggest myths on this board that unless you book every ADR 180 days out, you will not be able to eat at any good TS locations in Disney. That is just not the case. Right now, at 10:30 pm at night, you can go to your MDE account and find some GREAT choices for dinner tomorrow. Maybe not the most popular resteraunts in Disney World but GREAT resteraunts. I would theorize that if someone made no ADRs, even during the busiest time of year, they could going the night before or even the day of and pick some very solid ADR TS choices. So, yes, you can wing it at Disneyworld within reason.

 

[North of Mouse]

I'm really torn on whether to keep all of our ADRs or cancel most of them and just do CS

We only make a very few ressies for our 'usually' 10-14 night trips for all the reasons you mentioned, and more. We are more 'wing it' people and try to leave 'schedules' at home so we can truly relax. Could never plan our days around meals - way too stressful for us.

Bad enough to now have to make advance FP+'s - which we usually only use the 'one' headliner we can get, and get others fairly early for short lines.

Try it, you'll probably be way more relaxed! Good luck!

 

[eliza61]

also a cautionary note op. if you keep them you must cancel at least 24 hours ahead. now for me I hated that because it meant living by my cell phone which I hate to do on vacation. but I also dislike fp+ for the very same reason so take my advice with a grain of salt.

I have gotten dinged once or twice (80 bucks ouch) simply because I forgot to cancel and believe me they keep to that 24 hour rule. I tried to cancel a 6:00 pm adr the morning off around 7 am when I first got up and was dismayed that they charged me the 10 bucks/ a head.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would keep them, and I would also schedule FP+. The ADR's are like insurance, especially when Free Dining is in play, and while it is possible to make spontaneous meal plans, it is also nto a given you will eat where you want when you are used to eating. I did not notice if you were traveling during FD, but keep that in mind before canceling. You have soem great options and times already.

I am biased, I like to know upfront my family has meals already in place so I don't have that to think about when we arrive. Also, I was there the same time period last year, and it was crowded! Way more than I was used to, so looking at your luncheons, it seems to me that your plands are perfectly planned for an early arrival, (good idea) and then a respite from the heat. (It was HOT) There is no "right" way to enjoy Disney, so think about you family. I would keep them all for now, and as you get closer, check out the crowd trackers. If the numbers keep climbing, then you know your spontaneous dining options will become more limited.

 

[kastoney]

Adding in here, we are fans of winging it too. I don't know what I want for dinner tonight, let alone several weeks/months down the road. We typically make day of ADRs based on what is available and when we feel like eating. As long as you are open to when and where you eat, we find it works well.

Want to add on to your comments on Boma. We don't care for buffets much either so we've never been, but I would offer Sanaa as a suggestion in AKL. The food is great and even better we've gotten lots of last minute reservations here ; )

 

[wdwpracticalprincess]

kastoney's "we don't need no stinking ADRs" is one of my favorite posts about this topic!

 

[drcmk]

FWIW, I sometimes felt a little trapped or limited by my ADRs on our recent trip in May. But I also found that it was often (not always) possible to get some flexibility and move ADRs earlier or later on the day of the ADR if my day didn't quite align with my plans. I did this both in person and using the MDE app.

We definitely looked forward to having a cool place to sit and having our food served without having to wait in line or hustle to find an extra table. Prior to our trip, we planned to rely on CS as much as possible (to save $$) but once we were there, we really appreciated a nice break at a TS restaurant and ended up adding two or three TS meals beyond what I had already planned.