TS Dining Reservations

[Dandy8]

My husband and I are spontaneous people but also like to do sit down meals. We just booked our trip for the end of march and it includes the Dining plan with the 1 snack, 1QS & 1TS per day. If we don't make reservations, is it going to be hard for us to use our TS credits? Are reservations a must?

 

[Hootch]

getting into a lot TS locations without an ADR. That doesn't mean that it's not possible but you'll be limited in locations and times. You may find that the only TS locations with an opening are on the other side of Disney.

I would recommend that you try to get a couple of ADRs at least.

 

[Mich123]

I really, really, really recommend that you make the ADRs. If you change your mind, you can cancel them, but if you don't make them you could end up eating CS or at places that aren't to your liking. We just got back from WDW on Wednesday and we had ADRs for 9 out of 10 dinners. I had hesitated on the 10th because I thought my family might like to pick after we got there. It was much more difficult (and this was for a Monday night) to get that 10th reservation once we were at the World--we ended up at a great place, but it was by luck and it wasn't our first choice.

 

[Pig Pen]

Make the reservations! You can always cancel them if you decide to do something else. There's nothing worse than wandering around WDW, starving, and being turned away at every restaurant. Plus your feet will hurt.

 

[n2mm]

My husband and I are spontaneous people but also like to do sit down meals. We just booked our trip for the end of march and it includes the Dining plan with the 1 snack, 1QS & 1TS per day. If we don't make reservations, is it going to be hard for us to use our TS credits? Are reservations a must?

You will find a place to eat. However, it may not be the place you want and may require a long wait. While being spontaneous is great, it does come with a price in WDW. I, on the other hand, want to know where I'm eating each day and know there's a place for me and not have a wait. For example, my co-worker went to EPCOT during a slow time in November and went from place to place asking about dining and was turned away about 4 times before then ended up grabbing a burger. I do find this especially sad for families with kids. Can you imagine dragging your kid to Chef Mickey's and your kids getting really excited, only to be turned away with crying kids. This is pretty much how my husband would be if we went to LeCellier without an ADR only to be told no. Your best bet is to stop by your front desk each morning and ask what is available either at the park you're going to or one of the resort restruarnts. Keep in mind that resort restraurants do turn folks away also and do not hold tables for their guests. Late lunches will be your best bet and it does appear you are going during Spring Break, which doesn't help you. Good luck and let us know how you do.

 

[luvindis]

We have never made ADR's before our trips. Now that being said, we eat at alot of the TS restaurants, but not at high noon or at dinner time. We usually eat breakfast and then do a late lunch early supper. What I do is call the night before from our room after deciding what park we are going to the next day, (don't have that planned either ) and get a 2 or 3 o'clock ressie for whatever restaurant I think we want. We have eaten at Whispering Canyons, Sci-Fi, LLT, Ohaunas, Bomas, Planet Hollywood, Tusker House, Mama Mel Rosas. These are the ones I can think of off the top of my head (there are more). We have not eaten TS at Epcot only because my husband loves the fish place CS in England. This trip we are going to try Teppan Edo I hope. Have a great trip , my family leaves 2 weeks from today!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Most likely. yes.
Agree with others. It may be possible. However you will spend more time trying to find a walk in restaurant. Or need to go during off times, etc. Not impossible. But you very well will spend more time and effort, and maybe having to travel to other locations, such as the resorts.
At least book some ADRs as back ups. You can always cancel those last minute and see about rebooking at that time. The only exceptions would be those ADRs that require a credit card at the time of booking.

 

[Aliceacc]

Make the ADRs. Consider them to be your security blanket.

On any particular morning of your trip, if you decide that your ADR doesn't fit in with that day's plan, simply cancel. You'll probably spend at least a bit of time that day on a line-- take out your cell phone and cancel the ADR and do as the mood strikes you that day.

But if you choose to keep that ADR, you've at least got something lined up.

 

[Dandy8]

Thanks for all of the responses. I took your word for it and we made a schedule and did the reservations. Like you said, I can always cancel. I didn't do to bad getting dinner reservations anywhere between 4:00pm to 5:30pm on the days we are there. That's perfect time for our DD9 & DS6. We wound up reserving Dinners in Liberty Tree Tavern, Hollywood & Vine, San Angel Inn, a character breakfast at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club and a lunch at Tony's Town Square on the day we leave for home. Any feedback on these restaurants?