Would you cancel a WDW vacation if you could not get the ADR's you wanted?

[susan1]

Heck no. I would eat granola bars and peanut butter sandwiches for a week if it came down to it. But I am (obviously) not a big foodie. Everyone's priorities are different.

me too
i'd probably go to cici's, ponderosa and golden corral in turn till the end of the holiday

 

[Kaycee]

The question is not at straightforward as it sounds.

If we're talking about a family that goes to WDW yearly, or even less often, for a vacation that will include visits to the parks and staying for a week or so, then most people would not cancel just because they can't get the restaurants they want.

But if we're talking about someone who visits multiple times each year and is planning just a quick couple of days at WDW to celebrate a special occasion (as in the case of Jasminetigger) then it is an entirely different matter. In that case, you are not going for the purpose of visiting the WDW parks, but rather for the specific purpose of celebrating in a few of your favorite restaurants and staying in a favorite resort. Take away your favorite restaurants, and you've taken away one of the major reasons for that particular trip.

I have several WDW trips planned. In October, we are taking a family vacation. We will be attending MNSSHP and the Food and Wine Festival while we're there. If either of those events were cancelled, we would still go to WDW because the main purpose is our family vacation and there are many other things we'll be doing while we're there. I also have a December trip planned for Mousefest and a January trip planned for the marathon. If I could not participate in either Mousefest or the marathon, then I would cancel the trip that I am taking for that particular purpose.

It all comes down to the reason for your trip.

 

[Jasminetigger]

The question is not at straightforward as it sounds.

If we're talking about a family that goes to WDW yearly, or even less often, for a vacation that will include visits to the parks and staying for a week or so, then most people would not cancel just because they can't get the restaurants they want.

But if we're talking about someone who visits multiple times each year and is planning just a quick couple of days at WDW to celebrate a special occasion (as in the case of Jasminetigger) then it is an entirely different matter. In that case, you are not going for the purpose of visiting the WDW parks, but rather for the specific purpose of celebrating in a few of your favorite restaurants and staying in a favorite resort. Take away your favorite restaurants, and you've taken away one of the major reasons for that particular trip.


It all comes down to the reason for your trip.

Hi all. Jasminetigger here. Just wanted to explain something to set the record straight so I don't seem so selfish in everyone's eyes. This was a spur of the moment idea. Two days without the kids at WDW for our anniversary. I think when everyone is saying vacation it takes on a little different meaning. On our vacations to WDW we go for longer periods of time, 8-10 days, so I can be more flexible with my ADR's. But we only had two nights, for two dinners. Until Kelly helped me, I could not get anything. I, of course, tried my favorites at first. But then I also tried several, several different others, and still could not get anything. The point of this whole weekend was for the restaurants, so not getting something I knew we would enjoy, did make a difference. But now because of the kindness of Kelly, things are back on and I am happy again. But if things had not worked out for WDW, we would have enjoyed a nice restaurant here in town and have been just as happy.

 

[patsal]

No, I would be flexible with my eating times or with my restaurant choices. Even if I could only have CS a few days away at Disney would be better than staying home!

 

[lawyergirl]

Hi all. Jasminetigger here. Just wanted to explain something to set the record straight so I don't seem so selfish in everyone's eyes. This was a spur of the moment idea. Two days without the kids at WDW for our anniversary. I think when everyone is saying vacation it takes on a little different meaning. On our vacations to WDW we go for longer periods of time, 8-10 days, so I can be more flexible with my ADR's. But we only had two nights, for two dinners. Until Kelly helped me, I could not get anything. I, of course, tried my favorites at first. But then I also tried several, several different others, and still could not get anything. The point of this whole weekend was for the restaurants, so not getting something I knew we would enjoy, did make a difference. But now because of the kindness of Kelly, things are back on and I am happy again. But if things had not worked out for WDW, we would have enjoyed a nice restaurant here in town and have been just as happy.

I totally get it Jasminetigger, and FWIW I don't think you're being selfish at all! But, seeing as I usually head to WDW from Canada, and so I have really expensive and usually nonrefundable air tickets to consider, I wouldn't cancel it if my ADRs didn't work out.

That being said, I would never be so foolish as to book my air tickets before my ADRs!! I know where my priorities lie!!! Food is a HUGE part of my trip to WDW, so if I couldn't get in on the dates that I wanted, I would simply see whether I could adjust my dates... and then decide, if all else fails, whether or not DH and I still want to bother!!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I completely understand why Jasminetigger wanted to cancel (and I don't think you were selfish at all); however, I would not cancel because I couldn't get the ADR's I wanted.

I have only been twice so far, so there are tons of places I could try. I usually don't care what people say about the restaurants, as everyone has different opinions. I love 'Ohana, others hate it. I love trying the restaurants at WDW, but even if all I could eat was CS I still wouldn't mind. Of course, I am planner by nature, so I doubt that I will ever do a spur of the moment trip to WDW (at least until I move to FL).

 

[Christine]

If I were booking the same type of trip as jasminetigger, I would have cancelled too.

When I go there for an extended trip with my kids, our main focus is the parks and the dining is secondary to that.

However, if I were going with my spouse for a quick, romantic getaway, dining would be a huge issue. If I could not get into my favorites, and then not get into my second favorites, I would not go. I've been several times and have tried most places, so, say if I was stuck with an ADR at only the Liberty Tree Tavern, that would suck.

 

[Scot-n-Michelle]

no i would not cancel my family could really care less what we eat, as long as we are eating. But I do understand why they would cancel their trip.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

No, I wouldn't. There are so many fabulous restaurants all over Orlando. If anything, the fact that now the menus are being changed at WDW and the service at WDW restaurants appears to be going downhill, this makes it extremely easy for us to hop in the car after a day at the parks for a nice dinner off site.

Ten years ago, I had so many must-do WDW restaurants, but a few years ago, we had such a headache trying to make impossible ADRs (I think it was the first year the DDP was offered), we headed off site for dinners. Best move we ever made! I believe it goes to healthy competition in the marketplace, which on site WDW restaurants don't really have to worry about.

I am a foodie and good meals are a big part of my vacation -- since I don't have to cook -- but I can honestly say I'm so glad I didn't cancel that vacation a few years ago. It really opened our eyes to how wonderful a vacation can be testing out other waters where healthy competition for our business exists.

I'm happy for the lady who was able to get her ADRs, but I honestly had to do a double-take and re-read when I saw she was cancelling her vacation over that.

 

[cjnix29]

I am amazed about how much focus people put on dining into their trip!! Until this upcoming trip with free dining, I had never considered where we were going to eat for any of our other trips (well, with the exception of CRT for the kids). Previously my one disappointment with WDW was how much you paid for lousy food!! With the free dining, I have lots of places planned, but becuase it seems it was a necessity to be able to eat at all! But dining is definitely only for necessity, and not for enjoyment on our trips.

 

[safetymom]

It would depend on why I was making the trip. If canceling the trip felt right to them more power to them for making that decision.

 

[Mickey1122]

Ummm, no. We go in off season and can realistically walk up to most restaurants and be seated almost immeadiately.

 

[jenjersnap]

I would have cancelled this particular trip coming up if I hadn't gotten into our wishlist of restaurants and gone during DS's fall break in late October instead. In fact, I made the ADRs as soon as the idea came up and didn't book the package until three weeks later.

It depends on the circumstances. Normally, I think my answer would be no.

 

[antree]

That would be a GREAT BIG FAT NO! I would just eat somewhere else, or just try to get a walk-in while I was there. I have been to Disney and not get to eat where I wanted too, so all that meant was I had to plan another trip so I can eat

 

[goodeats]

Absolutely!

As you can see from my signature I don't get to go to WDW very often. But when I do I like to go all out, Deluxe resort, signature dining, etc. If I couldn't get any ADRs (or the ADRs I wanted) that would lead me to believe that the resort is just too crowded for my tastes anyway. I don't go often enough to eat CS all week and wait for seating at restaurants.

 

[grinningghost]

No, I would eat counter food for every meal if it meant still being able to go to WDW.

 

[SandrainNC]

Nope. There is no way. I might be a little disappointed that I didn't get the ADRs I wanted, but I would not cancel my trip because of it.

Sandra

 

[dizfanz]

I would never cancel because of that, then again I never make ADRs. I have always been lucky enough to get into the restaurants I want without calling ahead. BTW, if you call to make a priority seating or an ADR, don't be discouraged if you can't get it. CAll the restaurant directly that day and see if you can get in. Disney does not book 100%, the manager at the restaurant, who wants to sell as much as possible that night, will be more likely to take extra reservations than someone who just looks at a computer screen and does not work at the restaurant itself.

 

[crisi]

Under her circumstances, yep, cancel.

Before my kids were born, I envisioned a weekend trip (we ended up doing this differently - my kids came differently than expected, and life was different than expected, but this is what we planned while we were in the conception stage). We'd fly in. We'd do a character meal. We'd spend two days at the MK. We'd fly out. The purpose of this trip was all about photos and reactions - it wasn't about seeing our favorite stuff. Had we followed through, and been unable to dine with Mickey, there would have been no purpose in the trip.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I wouldn't but for different reasons than you.

We do make many ARs but there are so many good restaurants at WDW that if I couldn't get one I wanted, I'd go to another. There are still quite a few we haven't tried despite many trips.

I completely agree. We go to many TS meals but if we couldn't get any (or ones we really wanted) we'd go to other TS places or CS places. Even the CS places have great atmospheres and food (better than Busch Gardens ). TS restaurants are 40% of the reason I go to WDW but I would be just as happy eating at CS places at Disney.