What Happens If You Make No ADR's...?

[AKL_Megs]

And it's an Off-Peak time?

My husband and I are trying to plan a VERY relaxing four-day vacation for EARLY February... WELL BEFORE Valentine's Day. We are planning on sleeping, relaxing, eating, and relaxing some more. Basically... we don't want to have a PLAN.

We WILL be at Epcot one day for a VERY relaxing day. We plan on eating SOMEWHERE in WS, perhaps Le Cellier....

... Can you come without an ADR to Le Cellier? We wouldn't mind standing around. What about the other resturants?

How about at the resorts? California Grill? Jiko?

Do they ALL give you those vibrating/light-up "things" like they do at, say, Boma?

 

[jcriket]

We have walked up to Le Cellier, in the past, but I wouldn't count on it. We used be able to walk up to most places with no problem, not so much anymore, especially if there's free Dining Plan. If you don't get ADR's and find yourself not finding tables, try resorts that are close by. Kona's at Poly is good, the wave at CR. Boardwalk has good choices, we walked up to ESPN a few weeks ago.

 

[neodymm]

What Happens If You Make No ADR's...?

You don't eat!

Just kidding, obviously. I think it is very possible to get into TS restaurants without ADRs on low crowd days. But, I'd bet that places like Le Cellier and Cinderella's Royal Table are already booked. I'd probably just check it out online now to see if there are spots open. I just did a quick search for Le Cellier on 2/4 for 2 at Dinner and the system said there were no times available. Cali Grill & Jiko did have openings though. Personally, I'd feel better knowing I had one ADR per day, especially for restaurants that are "must-dos" or high on the priority list. But, if you have several that you could try and you aren't set on any one restaurant, chances are you could probably get one of them as a walk-up.

There are lots of CS restaurants in Epcot, too...several of which are quite good.

Good Luck and I have to say I totally admire you for being about to go without a plan! Have fun!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

DH and I went over Labor Day weekend without a major plan... and we did just fine. We ended up eating at the new Italy place... Via Napoli and loved it. We were faced with a 2 hour wait though, and chose to skip it on Saturday and came back the following day around 4:00 to only a 15 minute wait.

Choose off times to eat and I think you'll be OK. You may not get your first choice, I doubt Cali Grill and Le Cellier will take you, but somewhere will.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Hootch]

always call Disney Dining while you're there. They can identify restaurants that have opening. I would guess that in early Feb you could find something the day of in Epcot - just maybe not Le Cellier.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Holidays,weekends,busy season..... enjoy your turkey leg
We have walked up twice this year... Kouzzina and Derby
We have also watched countless families turned away or told of 1-2 hour waits.
We go during the time you mentioned and the crowds are light enough you should be able to find something available.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I think you'll be able to walk up to Jiko, and you may have luck with Cali Grill if you go at an off hour and aren't hoping to see Wishes while you dine. As for Le Cellier- due to the unwarranted hype (IMO) and the small size of the restaurant- it's very doubtful you'd get in as a walk up.

As for other restaurants...I think there will be plenty of places for you to try. You could always go onto the WDW website and see what's available for your dates. For example, on 2/5- if you wanted to dine at Epcot- Le Cellier is the only restaurant that has no dinner slots available. So, that makes it pretty certain that you have LOTS of options.

If there is free dining during your trip- you may want to secure a few ressies you know you'll want just so they don't slip away. And if you really want some of the hard to get spots that require 180 day booking- you can stalk the website and the cancelations thread before your trip and try calling Disney dining and working with the concierge (as well as trying walk up) during your trip...although, that wouldn't be very relaxing.

And if you're looking for new things to try...you brought up Cali Grill- if you can't get in and you want an excellent signature- you might consider Citrico's. If you wan't something near MK that's an easy walk up and gets good reviews- try The Wave. If you want something different in Epcot- maybe try Teppan Edo.

 

[staceycrouton]

You should go online and check what ADR's are currently available for your trip. If there are restaurants on days/times that you are interested in, you should book them immediately. Remember that you can always cancel ADR's if you decide, closer to your trip, that you no longer want them but, you can't make ressies appear if there is no longer availability.

 

[gilsan]

I am going around the same time as you and we are booking ADR's, I have been making lots of changes so I have an idea of the availability at that time. I have had very little trouble booking reservations at restaurants we want for the times we want.

Le Cellier for dinner does seem to be booked up, but there seems to be lots of reservations still for lunch. California Grill also still has lots of availability including times that you can see the fireworks. I think you will be fine as long as you are flexible with times and places.

 

[snykymom]

I'd book ADRs anyway, just as a precaution. Since you're not on the dining plan, if you decide not to keep an ADR, you can just cancel it without worry. And if you can't find anywhere else you'd rather eat, you can keep the ADR.

No one says you have to keep to a plan just because you have one!

 

[sjs314]

You may find yourself eating at a lot of CS places-

Spring Break of 2009 we went with no ADR's other than HDDR and were disappointed many times not being able to eat at restaurants of choice. Things have changed from years ago when you could walk up to most places and be able to get a seat.

We ended up eating at places that do not accept ADR's such as ESPN, Biergarten at an off time, Olivias at our resort and good ole Mickey D's as a last resort in DTD.

I would make ADR's for places you really want to eat at like Le Cellier.

 

[disneychic2]

It's great to have freedom to relax and "do your own thing". I know you'll have fun! Since it's just the two of you, you may have an easier time getting seated than say a family of four or five. It's worth a try. Sending you pixie dust.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you're not on the dining plan try the Swan and Dolphin...I'm of the opinion their restaurants are better than Disney's, and they're not on the plan so they're not packed like Disney's are. And they're a short distance from Epcot and Studios.

The only wrench in this plan would be if the Swolphin resorts happen to be hosting a large convention.

you may have luck with Cali Grill if you go at an off hour and aren't hoping to see Wishes while you dine.

If you are so inclined I have found it relatively easy to get a table in the lounge (full menu is served), especially if you go up early.

If you want to eat inside a theme park I'd make reservations. I don't think you can count on Le Cellier. Try showing up right when they open for lunch or dinner.

 

[allshookup]

Something we've done in the past is walk up to guest services at whatever park we're in & ask what TS has availability & they will make an ADR right there for you even if it's within the hour. Also even if the dining system & guest services says no ADRs available, try a walk up. We've been told that Ohana was "overbooked" and not taking anymore ADRs, but when we went & asked at the podium, we were seated in about an hour. It never hurts to ask & like others have suggested, there is almost always less popular choices available. Nine Dragons gets mixed reviews & I think they were even taking walk ups on NYE when we were there, but it's a family favorite. I think "winging it" is fun & as long as you don't have your heart set on a place go for it!

 

[DonaldTDuck]

To me it is far more relaxing to know that I have a place to eat of my choice than to run all over WS hoping someone has availability. ADRs relieve my stress, not the other way around. YMMV.

 

[sharadoc]

You'll have NO problem at all. That's a very slow time of year, and even though there's a lot of tour groups, they don't eat at TS restaurants. You can call the dining line from your room in the morning if you know where you'll be, you can call from your cell in front of the restaurant, and you can walk up. I have found that calling from your cell gets you in quicker than a walk-up.

Have a great time - it's our favorite time of year to go and the best way to take a vacation - relax and enjoy it!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Definitely no harm in trying! And as others have suggested, there are several restaurants just outside the International Gateway (Yachtsman Steakhouse, Flying Fish, Il Mulino, Bluezoo, Shula's etc.) that may be easier to get a walk up if you can't find one in Epcot.

And always check at the podium at the restaurant - sometimes the Disney Dining phone # will tell you there is no availability but the restaurant is empty!

Have a great trip!!

 

[micheleq]

The best advice I got from a CM on our trip was to show up at the restaurants between 5-5:45; that's when there are the most no-shows for ADRs.

We were at WDW from 10/24-30. We got into the Yachtsman on short notice, got an earlier ADR for Cape May, and walked in to both Tokyo Dining and Tutto Italia.

I'd say go early or go later on (after 8pm) for dinner and you'll be fine. Like the PP said, don't always rely on the Dining Res. Line. They told our concierge that there was no availablity at all for the entire night for Tokyo Dining. We arrived there to a half full restaurant.

Also, utilize the concierge even if you aren't staying on a club level. They are there to help you and can call the restaurants directly.

Have a great trip! We recently moved to SE Michigan (Grosse Pointe) and I'm thinking a February trip isn't such a bad idea!

 

[JessicaFaye508]

I know it seems more relaxing to not have a plan, but it's also nice to have the security of knowing you WILL have a meal. I would say maybe just make even one ADR for your day at Epcot. I don't think you're going to get Le Cellier by walking up to it. Usually you can't even get ADR's for that place.

But I guess if you really don't want to make any, then you need to eat at TS restaurants at very off times. Because prime lunch and dinner crowds are a nightmare.

 

[leebee]

You'll be fine! As long as you don't have any "must-do" restaurants and truly don't care where you eat, or at what time, you'll find a good meal somewhere. Heck, we were in WDW in August 2010, for the 1st week of free dining and the parks were packed, and had no trouble changing our ADR's each day when we realized that 5:30 or 6pm really IS too early for dinner for us. And by all means, try for that walk-up at Le Cellier, if your heart is set on it. I'm always reading that folks have been able to get a table there without ADR's, even during free dining last summer. It's just a question of eating at off-times or being willing to wait. GO FOR IT!!