Which do you like less: FP+ or ADR?

[SmithSmith]

I like both. Heres why:

1. Every restaurant I want to dine at does not have to be booked 180 days out.
(FWIW, I just checked MDE and I could get into every restaurant for dinner at 30/60 days out besides BoG, CRT, CM, Akershus, CP. The new Boardwalk Italian restaurant was available, V&A was available, Cali Grill, Sci Fi, Brown Derby, et al all available)

2. I eat at the same time every day, it's no different on vacation.

3. Every menu has a wide variety of tastes. I've never had to settle for a burger when I'm craving something else.

4. There's always new places I want to try, and old favorites I want to revisit. Between those two, I can easily fill dinner slots and I look forward to each and every ADR.

5. I know my and DH's tastes and preferences when it comes to meals. Typically, we have a piece of fruit for breakfast, a light lunch, and big dinner. We also don't do buffets, are underwhelmed by signature dining, and won't do character meals. So that means at Disney I'll never be scheduling a breakfast ADR or 2 TS in a day or a signature or a hard to get character buffet. Therefore it's pretty easy to narrow it down.

6. When it comes to park days I don't let crowd calendars mandate my schedule. I will always want Magic Kingdom as my first and last day. Hollywood Studios is my next favorite so I'm going to schedule that as my second and second to last day. On a 7 day trip, that just leaves 3 more days, so naturally Animal Kingdom and EPCOT are divided amongst those. Since I like symmetry, I'm not going to want back to back EPCOT days. So naturally, my 7 day trip would look like this: Day 1 Magic Kingdom, Day 2 Hollywood Studios, Day 3 EPCOT, Day 4 Animal Kingdom, Day 5 EPCOT, Day 6 Hollywood Studios, Day 7 Magic Kingdom.

7. I checked MDE on a regular basis during my last trip and every single restaurant I had booked had availability the night before, including BoG. Knowing that last minute changes were possible (something that is considered an impossibility by some) has made it so much less stressful for our next trip.

So with all the above information it's incredibly easy to figure out when and where to book ADRs.

Concerning FP, I only find it useful to schedule FP in the evening, which makes it really easy to schedule those as well. Just pick the most popular rides around your ADR time, and "Voila!" All done! It doesn't matter to me if I'm scheduling these things 180, 90, 60, or 30 days out, the results would still be the same.

I will say that I DEFINITELY don't want ADR & FP windows opening at the same time. If for some strange reason I was going after a coveted ADR and FP than I wouldn't want to stay awake till 11pm to book the FP just to be back up at 5am to book the ADR! That'd be nuts! I much prefer what is going on now. People have to remember these are "booking windows" not "booking mandates".

I also DEFINITELY wouldn't want the FP booking window opened up at 7 days! I'm far too busy preparing for our trip, I do not want to still be in the planning stages at that time. Honestly, I'm not even sure why that'd be suggested because most attractions are all still bookable at 7 days out.

I think that covers everything. Hope that helped!

 

[Laketravis]

For some reason some posts are showing up more than once.

 

[Networth]

ADR I remember before the DDP and the 30 60 180 days+10 when you could book reservations in the WS for dinner that morning as you entered the park.

 

[maxiesmom]

ADR I remember before the DDP and the 30 60 180 days+10 when you could book reservations in the WS for dinner that morning as you entered the park.

That was many many years ago. Way before the advent of the current ADR with a fee system.

 

[Aurora0427]

I don't hate needing an ADR, I hate the 180 day window. My friend lives in Reno and goes to Disneyland all the time, and she told me that their ADR window is 60 days. I really wish WDW had the ADR window that close to your trip. Or even 90 days would be preferable to 180.

We've had several trips that we planned 4 months in advance and really struggled to get dining times at places like CM, CRT etc etc

I wouldn't call planning a trip 4 months in advance last minute either. On our trip in February 2014 we booked 12/31. We happened to get lucky and scored a late lunch ressie at CRT and a 7pm dinner at CM, so it can work out. I just think 180 days plus is a bit excessive because it puts loyal visitors who want to come to WDW, but book trips less than 180 days out, at a disadvantage for a lot of the big name restaurants that are particularly popular for kids.

 

[Aurora0427]

That was many many years ago. Way before the advent of the current ADR with a fee system.

Yeah, and it was AWESOME. We went in 2000 and the only two restaurants we had an ADR for were CRT and CM. Everything else was walk up or day of ressies. It was great.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't know if it was all that great. I remember having to set my alarm, just for a chance of getting any seating at CRT. And having to do that multiple days in a row. The rest of the vacation was built around that one reservation.

I also remember having to take time out of touring to walk to Communicore in order to find out what restaurants had opening for that day. And not every restaurant was available.

I'm a huge fan of the MDE app, and being able to check for ADRs that way.

 

[Susiequsie60]

OK - I definitely get it. For most people, the current ADR system works great. And because, as I said earlier, at this point it's just 2 adults when we're traveling and we're able to go at a low-crowd time of year, it's not a very big deal to me. More of a personal pet peeve I guess.

We have no constraints at all on us while we're there - no kids, no set time we need to eat, no commitments at all. While I might find it a little annoying to have to wait at the SciFi Cafe for an hour when it's 2:30 in the afternoon, the park's not crowded, and there are empty tables - so be it. I'm on vacation.

However, I will stick by my opinion that WDW (at least) helps to create a bit of the frenzy to get these ADR's at such a long distance out. They work the system to their advantage. That's all I'm saying . . .

 

[mickeyluv'r]

That was many many years ago. Way before the advent of the current ADR with a fee system.

The fee system is only about a year old, though some were charging two years ago.

The dining plan was introduced in 2005 but could not be added to any discounted rooms. Buying a 'package' deal back then cost more than buying items individually. So it didn't take off right away. It was a lesser discount than other options.

We went to WDW in 2005 and 2006. The DDP came out days before we went in 2005, and we could not add it. By mid-2006, some folks were using it, but many DISers were not- because the room discounts offered were a better deal than WDW packages. DDP had some impact, but the number of guests adopting it was gradual.

Back then, I pretty much only came to the DIS for discounts. I was a lurker long before I joined the DIS. We first tried DDP September 2007.

Spring 2006 was the first time I bothered making ADR's and that was during EASTER week. It wasn't until 2007 that DDP really took off and reservations became closer to required.

 

[cigar95]

I just think they could still do that while also making the system a little more user friendly.

I find the process quite user friendly. When my window opens and I pick the places I'm interested in, I usually have a wide selection of times available.

you might ask "how do you know what you're going to want to eat six months from now?" Well, six months has nothing to do with my decision. I think in terms of "which places to I want to go to my next WDW trip"? It doesn't matter *when* the trip is. I know that the next time I go, I want to eat at the San Angel Inn, because I haven't eaten there in quite a while. Even if I don't go back for three years, if the place is still there and has not changed dramatically for the worse, it will likely be on my list.

I normally reserve sometime in the first few days not because I have to, but because once the window opens I just want to jump in and get started. And I'm always tinkering. Just today I switched the time on a reservations in three weeks at Boatwrights so that we can see the Yee Ha Bob show the same night.

Similarly, how do I know what time I'm going to want to eat? Well, I just pick a meal - usually lunch - and then choose a time when I often have lunch. Once the time is set, I just arrange my activities so that I'm near whee I need to be.

What if they change the menu? I'm sure I'll find something worthwhile. It's not like they're switching from BBQ to sushi, after all.

I just find the common objections to be non-issues, at least for me. And thankfully, they don't close the window at 179 days for those who prefer to reserve closer to their trip.

 

[Angel Ariel]

However, I will stick by my opinion that WDW (at least) helps to create a bit of the frenzy to get these ADR's at such a long distance out. They work the system to their advantage. That's all I'm saying . . .

Oh, I definitely agree that Disney helps create the frenzy! While I do schedule ADRs, one of the things I love about DLR is the lack of needing to. I do so at WDW because the restaurants we want and the times we want are popular times, but I'd definitely prefer not doing so overall.

 

[SplashMo]

FP+

No contest...

 

[SmithSmith]

Sorry for the double post earlier. I have no idea how that happened. This website has been so glitchy for me today.

 

[Aurora0427]

I don't know if it was all that great. I remember having to set my alarm, just for a chance of getting any seating at CRT. And having to do that multiple days in a row. The rest of the vacation was built around that one reservation.

I also remember having to take time out of touring to walk to Communicore in order to find out what restaurants had opening for that day. And not every restaurant was available.

I'm a huge fan of the MDE app, and being able to check for ADRs that way.

Back when we went you could make a reservation at CRT in advance. Never been when you had to do what you're describing. That does sound like a pain!!!!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

OK - I definitely get it. For most people, the current ADR system works great. . .

I think maybe the current ADR system works for the DISers who respond here.
They are a group who, shall we say, has spent some time considering how to work with the system and have had time to accept it.

I know for certain, many conference folks at WDW complain about the experience afterwards. That a considerable segment that can't possibly make dining plans in advance, and is quickly turned off if they can't find a place to eat.

Most of the time, when non-DISers hear about making all sit down meal reservations before they go, and maybe at 180 days- they think the idea is absurd. Especially those who have to get vacation time approved by their boss.

I'm confident it ultimately hurts Disney.

 

[JimmyV]

I don't know if it was all that great. I remember having to set my alarm, just for a chance of getting any seating at CRT. And having to do that multiple days in a row. The rest of the vacation was built around that one reservation.

Not all that different now if you want BoG or CRT breakfast. With the Internet ADRs going live at 6:00 and phone lines opening at 7:00, alarms are still being set. Especially if you are staying at the Swan, Dolphin or off site.

As for the Communicore reservations, while that was a cool way of doing it, it wasn't the only way. One could call the DINE line from their resort phone and accomplish the same thing.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't know if it was all that great. I remember having to set my alarm, just for a chance of getting any seating at CRT. And having to do that multiple days in a row. The rest of the vacation was built around that one reservation.

I also remember having to take time out of touring to walk to Communicore in order to find out what restaurants had opening for that day. And not every restaurant was available.

I'm a huge fan of the MDE app, and being able to check for ADRs that way.

I distinctly recall getting a day of lunch at CRT in like 2003. That was the first time I ever called ahead for any dining.

Sometime after that, I read that we had to call ahead to dine at LeCellier, and that we should make some reservations during free dining if we wanted the really popular places. Even still, some of my family joined us at the last minute, and was able to get quite a few great choices- including 'Ohana! (2006)

In the early 2000's we went Easter week. With a group of 8-12, I could call same day and get almost anything a few hours ahead. (Easter 2006 was the change as I said.)

 

[yeheyprincex2]

It is definitely the ADR system for me. I think 180 days is ridiculous, but I do it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Our first visit to CRT was in 04. It really was a mess trying to get an ADR. Reservations were 90 days out. The guide books suggested synchronizing your clock with the one at the naval observatory. And even if you called right on the dot, you likely would not get in. I only got through that day because our 90 day reservation day hit on Labor Day and I guess fewer people got up early to call.

Want to know what solved that problem? ADDED CAPACITY. Not a newfangled reservation system...... just increased capacity. Back then it was a character meal for only breakfast. Once they added princesses to lunch, then dinner, then started running times all day without stopping between meals, they finally reached a point that most people who want an ADR can find one.