would you still have a good time?

[eliza61]

I sorta understand the difficulty with ADR's but I do want to ask,
Would not getting a particular dinner make or break your trip?

I ask because there seems to be a lot of serious frustration about not knowing park hours and planning on the boards lately. While I am a quasi planner, in the back of my mind a little voice is always telling me to keep things in perspective, I'm not negotiating a middle Eastern peace treaty simply making dinner reservations.

Would my family not have a good time if we didn't eat at Le Cellier or Sci Fi? Nope, life would continue and the world would still be magical and who knows we may find a new "favorite".

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

As a general rule, nope ... we are in Disney World after all! That said, the food is a huge part of the trip for us. We tried the dxddp last year & will have it again this year. So a certain restaurant will not make or break our trip but not getting any ADRs (which is highly unlikely) may. Getting an ADR at Cali Grille for Wishes may enhance our trip or that early morning CP breakfast but these are bonuses for sure.

I will say that DS13 was so looking forward to Jiko last trip and came down with a stomach flu that afternoon so he never got to enjoy it. I have promised him that that will be our first full day dinner this year. If the restaurant were to close for renovations or something during our trip, I think it would disappoint us a bit but definitely wouldn't ruin our trip.

 

[arielmomma]

I love to plan - I admit it, but not getting an ADR would not ruin my trip. I am not one to fight for CRT or the dinner shows. I do like to take my children to the character meals, however. My son says, "if we don't get to see the characters, what's the point in eating at Disneyworld?" However, I have never had trouble getting several character meals during our trip. I think that most people on this sight are mega-planners like myself. Its fun and exciting to us and it keeps us excited about our upcoming trip, however, I seriously doubt that most people would be overly devastated if they didn't get very specific ADR's.

 

[roxazul]

For me it would certainly ruin the trip.

Of course I am happy that I am able to take DD to the world (as a single mom), but she really has her heart set on eating at the castle. That's the whole point of the trip, so she could be in the princess's castle for her birthday (following a BBB session).

I would be so disappointed, to see her disappointed. Let's hope some magic will go our way

 

[lrauers]

I, too, am a big planner and I always book ADR for dinner every day . First of all, we've been at very crowded times when we went from restaurant to restaurant trying to find one with an available table, but with no luck. More importantly, at the end of an active day at the parks, in my opinion, it's really relaxing to know that you have a table waiting for you where you can sit down and be waited on.

 

[skellingtonfreak]

Never. I plan so many months in advance, and yeah...I get pretty perturbed when I don't get the reservations I want, but we have (and more than likely still will) cancel ADR's the day of just because we didn't feel like dealing with it and wanted to go somewhere else instead. DisneyWorld is supposed to be happy...not angry, frustrated, or even angsty (it is a word...I promise.)

It is still the ONLY place in the entire world I can be there, not have to drive, cook, clean, or look at any world events going on the entire time I am there. How can not getting to eat where I wanted to 3 months ago ruin my perfect escape?

 

[Faldred]

In general, it wouldn't mean I couldn't have a good time.

If I wanted a specific venue for a special occasion, then it could make a difference.

 

[Colleen27]

For me there's about 3 days of serious concern about it, from 92 days out to 90 out. Once everything is set, I pretty much forget all about my ADRs unless I'm revisiting other aspects of my park plans and need to tweak something to make it all flow. I really don't care much about getting any one specific restaurant, with a couple of exceptions related to specific trips (I *had* to get a princess meal for DD's birthday on one trip, I *had* to get Chef Mickey's for the baby's first trip in May).

Would it ruin a trip not to get them? It hasn't happened yet so I can't say for sure, but I doubt it. Getting those ADRs certainly adds to the enjoyment, though. There's nothing quite as magical as Cinderella and the mice gathering to make a fuss over a 7yo princess's birthday cake or seeing baby meet Mickey for the very first time at a time when she's happy and relaxed rather than after a long, hot wait in line.

 

[Disneyof3]

As much as I plan for our trips. If I didn't get a ADR that I wanted, it would not break or ruin our trip. I would just be thankful for being able to afford the vacation and time with my kids and DH. Anyway.... were at the the happiest place on earth how could you not be happy

 

[MickeyNicki]

No, if I could not get into a particular restaurant it would not ruin my trip....I would just make sure that I book another trip so I could get into my restaurant

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

If my DH called and said we were going to Disney tomorrow, I'd go and have a great time and enjoy CS. BUT, we have gone to Chef Mickey's on every single one of our trips, we love it and it is tradition. I would miss it, and don't want to stop the tradition, but I wouldn't let it ruin my trip.

As of now the only place we have not eaten that we want to is our oldest DD wants to eat at Teppan Edo. She didn't mention it till it was too late for our last trip, so we plan it for our next trip. There are places we love, like WCC, LeCellier and CRT, but if we couldn't go we'd still have a great trip.

So, while they would be missed, "ruin" is a harsh word!

 

[RMulieri]

It doesn't bother me at all. But I always get a park hopper and have no issues just eating where I want and going there. I am finding that the new park schedule release dates interfere more with people who do not get hopper passes because they have to plan a park day and stick with it and eat either at that park ,or at a resort .I generally start my day at one park, and end at Epcot so most of my meals center around Epcot and the BW ( we stay at the Bcv )

 

[AustinTink]

We've been going for years, and have tried all the crowd "favorites" both CS and TS. Hosnetly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. So, no, missing ADRs don't affect our trip. It's just fuel. Please don't flame me.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

This is a good thread. I, too, tend to plot and plan in detail, and I mull and brood over menus and try for that perfect spot on a perfect day.

Because WDW is such a magical place for most of us, we want every part of our vacation to be magical. That can certainly include getting into a favorite restaurant, or to dine with Cinderella in the castle, or celebrating that special occasion at a signature spot. I also know it can be very self-revealing when we observe impartially how we ourselves respond to disappointment.

Like a previous poster said, "ruin" is a harsh and extreme word. Disappointed I may be, but ruined? Naaah. In the grand cosmic scheme of things, I'd consider a vacation ruined if I totaled my car on the way to WDW, of if I got a call that my favorite aunt had died, or that my house was destroyed by a tornado while I was in Florida. Missing a meal I wanted would then assume it's rightful place in my life.

I'm always aware, when strolling down Main Street USA, that I am surrounded by people who have saved and sacrificed significantly for that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney. And there are a handful of others like me (and perhaps you) who go routinely on an annual basis. Well, I would wish for those in the first camp the very best possible experience, and I would be more disappointed for them not getting to eat in a dream restaurant than if I missed out. For me, there's always next year.

I got all the ADRs I wanted, at the times I wanted, for our May trip. If I hadn't been able to get one or two of them, I'd be bummed, but I sure wouldn't be distraught. I won't starve. It's not the Apocalypse, after all.

 

[5boyz]

It would NEVER ruin my vacation.....to me food is something we need to survive

 

[ROEDISNEY]

No it wouldn't bother me I move on to another place. I'm just way to happy to just be in Disney.

 

[jx3smom]

I have favorites and might be a little disappointed but it would never ruin my vacation.