What do you do when ADR's go wrong???

[Colleen27]

Ok, so I have back ups and even back ups for my back up - BUT....what do you end up doing when you have to choose the restaurant that you want, but for a different day than you planned? I know a lot of people on here plan around the park hours, EMH or not EMH, Ridemax or Touring Plans best touring days, etc.....so the hours come out, you choose what days you want to be in what parks AND THEN......your ADR's just can't seem to coordinate

So what do you do? Do you book the ADR's and then change your plans for what days you are visiting what parks? Do you say 'forget it' and pick somewhere else to dine since you need to be in that park that day? Oh, I'm going to drive myself crazy with the possibilities...I just need my ADR date to get here already.

There aren't many restaurants I'd change park days over, and they tend to be resort restaurants that I can be a bit more flexible with.

I want to do a Princess meal, but it doesn't have to be CRT. If I can't get CRT breakfast/lunch, I'll go with Liberty Tree Tavern or the Plaza for lunch on our MK day and add an Akershus breakfast/lunch to one of our Epcot days.

If I don't get Le Cellier, I'll book any of a number of very good World Showcase alternatives for our Epcot day, rather than change around park days to get LeC.

Chef Mickey's is the only one that is kind of make-or-break for DD's first trip, but since it is a resort restaurant, I can fit it into the plans for dinner on an MK day, or for breakfast or dinner on either of our waterpark days or our resort/rest day. Lots of flexibility there.

The bottom line, for me, is that dining is important but park time is important too. No one restaurant is such a must-do experience that it is worth missing an evening EMH that we want to attend or spending a load of time traveling to/from a meal in an inconvenient location. If I can't get something I want this trip, I'll just catch it on the next one.

 

[robinb]

Ok, so I have back ups and even back ups for my back up - BUT....what do you end up doing when you have to choose the restaurant that you want, but for a different day than you planned? I know a lot of people on here plan around the park hours, EMH or not EMH, Ridemax or Touring Plans best touring days, etc.....so the hours come out, you choose what days you want to be in what parks AND THEN......your ADR's just can't seem to coordinate

So what do you do? Do you book the ADR's and then change your plans for what days you are visiting what parks? Do you say 'forget it' and pick somewhere else to dine since you need to be in that park that day? Oh, I'm going to drive myself crazy with the possibilities...I just need my ADR date to get here already.

First of all ... chill! Things will be fine.

I always do WDW with a plan since I go during the busiest time of year (Christmas/NYE) but I am also always ready to "go with the flow" and "punt" even on the DDP.

If it makes you feel better the park schedules are pretty much set at 90-120 days in advance so there should be no reason for you to change your plans once you have them set. And even if you do change plans and something doesn't work out perfectly ... if your ADR "goes wrong" it's really not the end of the world. Please don't expect "perfection" because if you do you are bound to be disappointed.

If you're interested in really planning your meals to the nth degree, you will enjoy this spreadsheet:

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW%20Dining/MYM-Dining-Planner.xls

 

[budbeerlady]

We are park hoppers. Going in August its so hot that we are at the park for rope drop, go until we cannot around 1 or 2pm. Then we head back to the room to relax, swim, nap, whatever... Dinner is usually around 5 or 6 for us so we head off the where ever that is that night, maybe ride a few things afterward if there is time before the park closes. I dont really let park hours effect my decisions.

If I cannot get something I really, really want I keep trying from time to time until we leave for Disney.

 

[robinb]

One more thing ... if you don't get exactly what you wanted as soon as you call you can do two things (1) call back and (2) check the "ADR Wanted/Trade/Exchange/Canceled" thread for your month. I have picked up more than one ADR due to that kind of thread. Remember to pay it forward though! If you cancel a reservation post on the thread so someone can snag it .

 

[lanasboys]

I've been wondering the same thing -- how best to plan my alternatives. However, I'm hoping we'll be okay. We're going during free dining, but we have park hoppers, our own cars, and we'll be there for nine days. So I hope that's going to give me enough flexibility. Plus, most of our ressies will be resort restaurants, and not inside parks.