Will I eat? No ADRS

[barbarabini]

Dear Friends:

Going to wdw and have been on hold on two separate occassions for ADRS -- dont have the dining plan. Wanted to make reservations but its really taking a long time on hold...so if i dont make them...the question is will we eat or will it be Counter service for the whole trip -- 4/28 - 5/4/07? Is this dining plan going to shut us out?


We usually have sit down dinners and sometimes breakfast.

 

[Momof2princess]

Have you tried calling after 1pm or later in the evening? I have not been on hold more than 4 min when I have called. That was today around 2:30 and then again around 8 last night.

If you don't make ADR's I do not think you will only eat CS but your choice of Resturants and times may be more difficult.


Good Luck

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

We are going the same time. I have only 1 ADR made. We are not doing the dining plan. I did however try to make ADR's at Chef Mickey's on various days and they are booked until 9pm.
You might get stuck with only CS if you don't make any ADR's...if you want to eat at a decent time.

Sarah

 

[Mousemom]

We don't like to make ADR's because we never know what we will feel like eating on a given day or what/where we will be, so we usually try to make ADR's when we are there, sometimes the morning of the day we eat at a restaurant. We have never had problems getting in anywhere as long as we are a bit flexible. With the free dining on our next trip we did make ADR's. I hope that it will work out. I think it also depends on the time of year you go and how crowded it is.

 

[Marthasor]

I would definitely try to call again if you have specific restaurants and times you really want, but if you don't get through and are willing to play it by ear day to day, I wouldn't sweat it. Last time we went (last October) I made 1 ADR at Marrakesh (which I would not recommend) and then we winged for the rest of our stay. In the mornings, we would typically call to see where we could get in for breakfast and then depending on where we ended up during the day, I would do the same in the afternoon for dinner. We ended up getting in at Spoodles, Cape May Character Breakfast, Boma, the restaurant in Japan, Sci-Fi Drive Inn this way - as a matter of fact Spoodles, Japan and Sci-Fi were walk-ins. (We were not able to get into Akershus for our entire stay - so for the very popular places like this restaurant and CRT and most likely Le Cellier, an ADR most likely a must) So if you are willing to be flexible I wouldn't worry, but if your heart is set on certain places and times I would stay on hold!!!

If you have trouble getting into WDW Park or Resort restaurants, you may want to think about heading over to the Swan and Dolphin when you are in the EPCOT/MGM vicinity - many of their restaurants have been very highly reviewed.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I never purchase the DDP because we don't like to want to make ADR's 180 days away from our arrival date, however we never go hungry. While in WDW we like to eat at the Rainforest Cafe, (Downtown Disney location) Earl of Sandwich and other nights we are happy with eating counter service food at the Food & Fun Center at the Contemporary which is where we stay, or at Gasparillas Grill & Games at the Grand Floridian. Plus there are some restaurants offsite such as Golden Corral (location on Lake Buena Vista) Shells, Olive Garden and the Cheese Cake Factory in the Mall at the Millenia, so with the DDP we would be forced to have all our meals in WDW. If we ever need to make ADR's we have always made it onsite at the last minute, usually for a lunch in the park if we want to try some place and not have counter service. Plus we dont pick places that are hard to get ADR's for. Finally I think because we always stay Concierge they make it easier when doing last minute ADR's, despite others saying that is not true.

 

[ANNABETH]

Looks like I'm going the same time as you 4/29 - 5/5. I just called today for ADRs and got all my 1st choices and at the times I wanted too. Of course mine are mostly lunches (lunches: Kona, LeCellier, Chefs de France, HBD and dinners Concourse & Spoodles).

 

[Mkrop]

we will be there too and this is good to hear. I was able to convine DH to book at least the character meals, two breakfast and two lunches and he refuses to have us book anything else. He wants to wing it. I hoping that is not a big mistake. We did this last time but that was 5 years ago in March and it was empty.

 

[Flagondry]

Dear barbarabini,

If you have very specific places you'd like to try it would seem prudent to make the ADR's.

Signed,

Flagondry

 

[CoolPool]

Dear Flagondry,

That was brilliantly stated and I am humbled by your most reasonable expression of it.

Most sincerely,
CoolPool

 

[Flagondry]

Dearest CoolPool,

Thank you so very much for amiable comment. It warms my heart that I am held in such high esteem. I am not worthy.

Your pal,

Flagondry

 

[MaeDaisy]

Dear Flagondry,

I was going to ask about your name, but it suddenly came to me.

Good one!

Sincerely,
MaeDaisy

 

[dlpcarden]

I'm sure you will be able to eat at places other than counter services...

If you don't make the ADR's before your trip you can always try and call while you are down there. You can also try guest services at the parks. There might be some cancellations for certain restaurants.....

However, some of the popular restaurants might be booked SOLID

Good luck .......

 

[Christine]

I think that during the timeframe you are going, you will be fine. But don't be surprised if you call on the days you are there that Disney Dining tells you that there is nothing available until 9:00 p.m.

We went over Easter and, for one of the nights, I did not have an ADR. That day, I started calling dining and the CM was very thorough in checking all places for ADRs. There was nothing ANYWHERE earlier than 8:40 p.m. I asked her what my chances were of getting in somewhere by just showing up. She said "probably not good." Well, I ended up driving over to 1900 Park Fair at the Grand Floridian (it was 5:00 p.m.) and asked if they were seating walk-ups. She said "no problem" and I got a table for 5 right away. This was Easter Monday.

Sooooo, some places WILL take walk-ups--the key is figuring out which ones will and not wasting too much time. My guess is that you will not be able to easily walk into Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree Tavern, Crystal Palace, Le Cellier, etc. (you know, all the really "popular" ones), but I'm sure that during your time frame in late April, early-May you will be able to go somewhere.

 

[gharrer]

Last Easter we went down with only 1 ADR. When we got down there we just went up to the concierge and they set us up. Some of the places we really wouldn't have thought of, but we loved every one. On night we just walked up to House of Blues and were seated within 40 minutes without a reservation. Easter week. So don't worry. Nancy

 

[Luv4Disney]

We'll see you all there! We'll be there 4/29 - 5/6, but alas, I am planner and have thus made all of our ADR's months ago. I'll be sporting my LGMH so say hi (I"m a little shy..).

 

[kelscross]

When we went with my husband (ex now..ha!) he refused to let me make ADR. "How do I know what I want to eat 6 months from now!" Ha!. He also refuses to eat fast food. So I was expecting the worst.

We went the week between Christmas and New Year's (super crowded time). Did we get the restaurants that we really wanted? NO. We did score a walk up to Ohana which is RARE these days.

The positive, because we didn't get the ressies that we usually like, we ended up eating at places we normally wouldn't pick and were pretty good. We had to eat in Germany on Christmas Day. Although that would not be a pick of mine, the food was good and they even have a little show that I had no idea they had.

Be flexible if you're not going to make them and eat at odd times.