Value Season & ADR's

[DLBDS]

I'm undecided about whether I should make ADR's. We're going to be in WDW Nov. 28th-Dec.5th, during the off-season. (Yeah, I know I have plenty of time to decide....but a decision HAS to be made by 180 days out) We'll be eating some dinners off-property to save money but there are a few places that I want to try such as Le Cellier, California Grill, 'Ohana and Chefs de France. What are the odds of being able to eat at these places without an ADR? This is our first time and it's hard to pin-point a time to eat as I don't know exactly when we'll even WANT to eat. We eat dinner here anytime between 5:30-8:00 pm. Basically, we eat when we get hungry. I don't think this strategy is going to work well in WDW though. What about lunches? Is it safe to assume that all character meals will be unavailable without an ADR? Lunches are much easier to plan for but dinner is a toughy. What's been your experience in the off-season? So many good eats. Not enough days....or $$.

 

[Allison]

You picked popular places so you will need ADR's. We went to LeCellier for lunch with an ADR. Many, many people tried to get in without an ADR and none of them did. They were booked up for days and days according to what we heard.

We also went to 'Ohana for dinner. They took a walkup while we were there but the wait was 90 minutes.

 

[maddhatir]

me and DH really do like to make ADRs- we like to wing it b/c you never know where you are going to be at a certain time-- we dont like to HAVE to be anywhere!

however, we were in disney dec 5/9th and tried to get into alfredos in epcot at night-- and it was BOOKED solid-- nothing!

if you really want to eat at the places you mentioned- you better make the ADRs ESPECIALLY the charachter meals-- ANY character meals!

 

[orlosipher]

I would definitely make ADRs. You can always try to change them around once you're there. My family only makes ADRs for our dinners, and we inevitably end up changing a few around once we're there!

 

[lillygator]

those are popular choices...I would definitely make ADR'S~~!

 

[n2mm]

We were in WDW during slow/value time (Feb. 2-10, 2006) and most of the places you mentioned would not take any walkups, esp. LeCellier. Let me warn you, the time you're going is hardly slow anymore. We were in WDW Dec. 1-5, 2005 and it was a madhouse. I believe it was the taping for the Christmas parade and the resorts were booked. We had to have a ADR to get into every place we wanted to eat. Maybe during the week it slows down, but not while we were there (Thur through Monday).

 

[camillatin]

I agree with the previous poster - make ADRs! We were there from Dec 4 - Dec 9, which is value season and relatively close to when you're going. We had ADRs for Dinner at Alfredo's, which is usually far less popular than your choices, at 4:30 p.m., which is usually an easier time to get a table, and we still witnessed people being turned away because they didn't have any room for walk-ins.

 

[jann1033]

we always go off season and i always make at least one adr per day.

sometimes i probably wouldn't have needed one but I always want to go to certain "detail oriented"( nicer way to say anal) preplanned places on certain detail oriented preplanned days so nothing can be left to chance so considering you are planning 3 months or so before you can make your 6 months out adrs, I'd say make the adrs.like someone said your chances of walking in is not fantastic at any of your choices.

as for times, i usually make mine for out of park dinners slightly before the park we are going to would close..like i'd go to Ohana from MK so maybe around 6:30-7 for 7 closing( unless you want to see wishes from there, then get the first seating as no one leaves and it's hard to get seated) for Lecellier i'd just pick my most likely time according to what we are eating other times that day( small meals, we usually eat earlier dinner, etc) it's always worked for us. we usually don't do 2 sit downs in a day unless it's early breakfast and dinner around 6:30-7 as we are not hungry enough till then .

a good way to save is we eat a big sit down lunch ( gives the advantage of a rest without going back to the resort plus in the past it has always been cheaper for the same/similar meal although i noticed some places now charge the same at both meals) and light dinner

 

[glass slipper girl]

Most definitely ADRs for LeCellier, Chefs (unless it's lunch, you may be OK there) and California Grill. You are just about guaranteed not to get in to LeCellier or California Grill without an ADR that time of year. We were there that same time frame this past year. We had lunch at LeCellier on our first day there and they were turning people away, no tables available and completely booked (lunch and dinner) till after January 1st. We had dinner at Chefs and same thing, turning people without ADRs away (thoguh there were odd times available for later in the week. California Grill all year round you need reservations. Ohana is pretty popular too so even that one you should consider an ADR. You may be able to get a "walk up" table but by walk up realize that may mean "we'll put your name on the list but it may be an hour or more before a table is available for you."

Keep in mind with the World Showcase restaurants that the Candelight Processional Dinner Packages will fill up a good portion of theier available time slots eery night. There are people who book that who normally would not be eating in a World Showcase table service location but they want to make sure they get in to the CP without a long line.

Yep, ADRS...definitely. That doesn't mean you absolutely MUST make them right at 180 days out. I got our LeCellier lunch reservation (and I was asking for lunch, not dinner) maybe 30 days out and had a choice of times. California Grill is the exception and that is really only if you are trying to time it with the fireworks.