Why Should You ALWAYS Make Dining Reservations

[disnut8]

At the Grass Roots concert on Saturday, April 12th. At least two guys behind us and one who claimed to have been to Epcot for these concerts several times. Fine. A bit grating since they sang every single 60s song they knew (not during the concert but before). At one break (in their "concert"), one guy said he wasn't going to come back anymore because it was too crowded. He was totally ticked because "I thought this was at the end of spring break and it was value season and the crowds would be gone". And "It *does a bodily function*es me off that we wouldn't get into that steakhouse tonight".

Translation - they couldn't get into LeCellier that night as a walk up. DUH!!! My husband is not the Disney planner at all. He just looked at me with that knowing smile.

If you don't make a dining reservation and you are turned away, the only person the blame is yourself.

 

[Snork]

I have a secret. My wife and I enjoy watching people fly off the handle at Disney dining establishments when they cannot just walk up.

A few years ago we were at LeCellier and we watched a middle age woman act like a crazy person because she couldn't get in. She even gave a long speach about how many times and how much money blah blah. It was my absolute favorite because I am a retail manager and I get that speach at least once a week...

I am glad Disney managers stick to thier guns on thier sop's. Let's be honest, you gotta plan out your vacation these days, and that is no secret. The information is out there in podcasts, the web, the guidebooks, travel agents, ect.

I apologize, sincerly, if this upsets anyone.

 

[MickeyNicki]

DH and I really feel bad for people that are turned away and did not realize how long in advance some people have planned their trip. Alot of first time WDW travellers are unaware of the ADR necessity!

We were at the Poly going to dinner at Ohana last month, there was this couple and their kids that had just arrived and they saw the pic of Ohana in the elevator...they said lets go their tonight. We followed them to Ohana and listened as they were turned away for the entire week, all sold out. They were po'ed to say the least.

I guess I can understand because in other vacations (not WDW) we have seen restaurant signs in elevators and they looks so good we just go and eat, no problems getting in...that is not the way WDW is anymore.

In this day and age of the internet where we dont make a move without searching online you would think people would figure it out.

 

[keylimepie]

My hubby would have been one fo thsoe people if someone on another board (non disney related)hadnt pointed me to this website. I had absolutely no idea how important adr's were!!!Or what an adr was!

 

[mefordis]

I feel bad for people who don't get into restaurants when they walk up. I think most people just make their hotel reservations/buy their package and don't really think about the food until they get there and it's time to eat.

I think people on these boards are a bit more preoccupied with food than the average person is (myself included - I admit it).

 

[buckirj1]

Well, to be fair, it's only been in the last several years where ADR's have become a necessity, and it's mostly because of the DDP and those types who have nothing better to do than plan obsessively. Apologies for speaking bluntly, but all you have to do is read these boards to know what I'm talking about. The other problem is that people tend to travel in herds. Now that the DDP is less of a value for famblees, maybe some sanity will return to dining at Disney.

 

[LAS321]

It was only 4-5 summers ago that we only had one or tow ADRs for our entire trip...we made them the day we wanted to go to a particular restaurant or in the afternoon when we figured out what we wanted to do that night...it's kind of sad now because your whole vacation had to pretty much planned months before you even get there....my daughter and I have been going almost every August the past 5 years and decided this year to get back to our old time Disney vacation we're making a few ADRs and doing lots of counter service to make the vacation less about food and more about Disney World.

 

[mefordis]

I am thinking the restaurants should stop taking ADRs and do walk ups only. I'm sure they will be able to fill the restaurants -- people will be in the parks and they will want to eat.

 

[princessjilly]

in the real world there arent many restaurants where people have to book months in advance for reservations!

not everyone does extensive research and planning before they go on holiday... I know when we first went to florida on holiday we didnt, although that was probably before the internet was as huge as it is now. But still, once you have your flights and hotel booked, you would think its just a matter of buying your park tickets and ur all set, maybe doing a bit of research into the attractions, best places to shop, things like that.

Non planning people would be in shock to find out that some people plan what they will do each and every day of their holiday, let alone decide that far in advance where they want to eat each day. I know i was surprised when i first came across any forums like this!

I certainly wouldnt find any entertainment value in people being turned away from dinner, and possibly flying off the handle...just because they werent aware of the whole ADR system

 

[Gymbomom]

I am thinking the restaurants should stop taking ADRs and do walk ups only. I'm sure they will be able to fill the restaurants -- people will be in the parks and they will want to eat.

They would lose my money. I wouldn't spend my touring time waiting for an hour at my favorite place.

 

[bellajen]

I am thinking the restaurants should stop taking ADRs and do walk ups only. I'm sure they will be able to fill the restaurants -- people will be in the parks and they will want to eat.

Think how inconvenient that would be at some of the resort restaurants. If I travelled all the way from Port Orleans to AKL only to find out Boma and Jiko were both booked I'd be pretty mad I wasted so much time.

I do think they should make the ADR window less than 180 days, maybe more like 60. I feel that's too early to plan what parks and ADRs you want. We don't even book our trips 180 days in advance let alone dinner reservations.

 

[CapeMayMommy]

I got in trouble with this topic once.

Having come from New York, I don't whine about making ADR's. People who live in large urban areas understand this better than people from less populous areas.

At one point, the broadway musical "The Producers" was sold out more than two years. New Yorkers still purchased tickets knowing that two years would pass soon enough. You have to plan ahead if you want to see the best shows on broadway.

And a restaurant is deemed "hot" in New York if it is booked out months in advance. You don't complain---you call in your reservation and wait your turn. If you insist on Saturday night, well, you'll wait longer.

But in many parts of the country, people don't have to make a reservation. They pick out a restaurant and show up.

At WDW, I just make my reservations 5 or 6 months ahead. It's fine with me.

 

[ghost1000]

It can be entertaining to watch but I can understand how it would be frustrating for a first timer. When booking reservations Disney should mention that dining reservations are strongly encouraged and then give out the number.

 

[septbaby]

Think how inconvenient that would be at some of the resort restaurants. If I travelled all the way from Port Orleans to AKL only to find out Boma and Jiko were both booked I'd be pretty mad I wasted so much time.

I do think they should make the ADR window less than 180 days, maybe more like 60. I feel that's too early to plan what parks and ADRs you want. We don't even book our trips 180 days in advance let alone dinner reservations.

Those of us on these boards are in the minority of those making ADRs. I'd think most people do indeed book with less than 180 days. Honestly, most don't even plan a Disney vacation 6 months out.

Now your example should be a rare case. It is not uncommon to make a reservation for a hotel restaurant, especially if you are not staying there. Unless I just wanted to see AKL, I'd probably call for info or ressies before heading over. Five years ago we went to Orlando and wanted to take the Princess with us to meet Cinderella for dinner. We were staying off site and even then I knew to call and make an ADR. I had never heard of DIS or experienced an onsite stay, but I still made my first Disney reservation. I never made another ADR until my Free Dining trip last year.

If you make your trip reservations direct with Disney, you get a lot of messages about making ADRs. If you use AAA or a Travel agent that may be less consistent.

 

[LaurenMic]

I have a secret. My wife and I enjoy watching people fly off the handle at Disney dining establishments when they cannot just walk up.

A few years ago we were at LeCellier and we watched a middle age woman act like a crazy person because she couldn't get in. She even gave a long speach about how many times and how much money blah blah. It was my absolute favorite because I am a retail manager and I get that speach at least once a week...

I am glad Disney managers stick to thier guns on thier sop's. Let's be honest, you gotta plan out your vacation these days, and that is no secret. The information is out there in podcasts, the web, the guidebooks, travel agents, ect.

I apologize, sincerly, if this upsets anyone.

You are not alone in this feeling. I really find it interesting when people go off on the poor host/hostess. If you do your research properly, which you should do for any vacation, you would probably figure out that you should book your ADRs well in advance. The last three times I've called to book my Disney hotel, they've asked if they could make any ADRs for me. That should at least be a clue to people staying on property that it is important to book those in advance. As far as doing away with ADRs altogether, I agree that this would create problems if you traveled a long way only to find the restaurant couldn't take you, and it would also screw up the Dining Plan. Imagine pre-paying and then not getting in to any TS meals?

 

[aubriee]

You think it's bad during this time of year, go during the free dining period. I've been the last three years during the free dining period. That first year, we saw so many people literally screaming at the CMs that Disney had 'sold' them this free dining, then wouldn't let them into any of the restaurants to eat. I swear we almost saw a riot several times. We just sat there quietly and watched the fireworks (and I'm not talking about Illuminations ). We saw a lady at Le Cellier that was not going to take no for an answer, a manager had to be called, and when he also told her no, she finally walked away, but screamed all the way up the path that she was going to Guest Relations, and something "WOULD BE DONE!!!" and she "WOULD BE BACK!!". A guy standing next to us called her the 'Terminator'.

We saw the same thing the second year also. At Mama Melrose, a manager had to be called, because a couple was refusing to take no for an answer and wouldn't move out of line. They finally said they would just order take out then. You should have seen the man's face about to explode when the manager informed him they did not do take out. He finally waved his hand over toward us and said, "Are you telling me all these people made reservations here months ago?" It was really funny, because at almost the same time, we all yelled, 'yes, now get out of the way'. It was in almost perfect unison. They finally slinked out of there, with the husband fussing at the wife, "Why didn't you tell me we had to make reservations, if we wanted to eat anywhere?"

It wasn't quite so bad last year, though we did still see alot of angry walkups turned away. What was sad all three trips was seeing alot of very sad, hungry kids. We had a couple in front of us in line to check in at Crystal Palace, telling her husband she 'BET SHE DID GET THEM IN'. She had the cutest little red headed boy about four years old, that was gazing into the window at the characters and asked, "Mom are we really going to get to eat here, everywhere else has told us no the last few days?". The mom assured him that yes they would be eating here. When they got to the CM checking everyone in, she tried her best to get them in, but of course couldn't. She finally pushed that little boy in front of her and told the CM she had promised her son he was going to eat with Eyeore and Pooh, and by God she was not breaking her promise. Of course, the answer was still no. That little boy just looked so accepting, as if that was the answer he was expecting. She then snapped and started around into the door dragging the little boy with her saying if she couldn't eat with the characters then she was going to at least get some pictures with them. A manager again had to be called as CM's blocked her way into the restaurant. That was the absolute worst situation we saw. You could just see how angry and frustrated that woman was.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Aubriee, what you just wrote upset me so much this morning. I feel so bad for that little boy whose Mom attempted to use him as a pawn to get them into Crystal Palace.....it sounded like the attempt of a desperate Mom.

I am a bottom line person, if you choose to eat somewhere particular and at a particular time, then you need to make reservations. If you prefer to take what is left over, maybe at an odd time, then you can wait till you get there and try for whatever you can get. I have never gone during free dining time and I think if Disney announced free dining when I was going, I would change my vacation time. I would not want to see any of the things that you wrote in your post.....as stupid me, I would feel sorry for those people who maybe did not know....it could be, or did not have the time, last minute trip, or just did not take the time to make reservations.

If you do not want to be the person turned away as a walk up during a busy time at WDW, then by all means, take the time and make a reservation.

 

[tiggerlady]

We have been many times (10th visit soon) and apart from last year we have never made ADRs in advance, usually wait until we are on holiday if we dont get the place of choice its no biggy, we just eat elsewhere or just go off site to eat (we have a car).
Last year we called from UK and made a few resort ADRs and also Crystal Palace for May1st ( my birthday).
We only managed 1 ADR as the friends we were travelling with got major food poisoning and we ended up on my birthday taking him to hospital, so missed the Crystal Palace, also missed other ADRs because it took him a while to get his appetite back, so we ate in offsite cheaper places so that we did not waste money.
Although it was a shame, we did not starve or worry about missing these experiences it just shows that the best laid plans can go wrong!!
I also cannot understand the people who buy all their tickets before they go, what do they do if their plans have to change??
We always buy whilst there,that way we know we will be using them.( We go visit Maple leaf on the 192)
I can understand with the free DP that you would need to do some ADRs but if I could not get what I wanted it would not be a problem as long as I could eat somewhere IMHO

 

[stemikger]

Man, you have to feel bad for the CMs during this time. I saw a couple of these things myself. I only did free dining once, but made reservations 6 months in advance.

I'm not sure if they do, but (for people who don't know much about Disney), when Disney offers the free dining they should stress that reservations are mandatory. Again, I'm not sure if they do or not.

It will save the poor CMs a lot of headaches. I know how some people can behave on a Disney vacation (it really is shameful).

I am going this August, but not getting free dining. I am going to wing it and eat mostly counter service. Believe it or not, I enjoy counter service meals just as much.

 

[septbaby]

Aubriee, what you just wrote upset me so much this morning. I feel so bad for that little boy whose Mom attempted to use him as a pawn to get them into Crystal Palace.....it sounded like the attempt of a desperate Mom.

MM I reacted just like you. I'm thinking did this woman ever go to Guest services and try to get some kind of ADRs? Her 4yo seemed more logical than she did. I'm also the type that at that point might have given up my ADR so they could eat. Unless my nephew would have been broken hearted he's a very good natured kid and shares really well. We've got CM's booked and PHD so its not like he wouldn't have any character meals. He is such a sweetie it wouldn't shock me if he suggested it. If my nephew really wanted to go to this meal we'd probably just be sad for them, but enjoy our time there.