ADR Question

[Kristia]

My husband, my sister, my brother-in-law and I will be going to WDW in August. I was wondering if we can make ADRs before we actually book the trip. I want to wait to book to see if by some miracle they will offer free dining in August. We wanted to do a Fantasmic dinner package with Mama Melrose. We went last May and tried to book this in March, but they were booked up already.

 

[Hakunamatata]

My husband, my sister, my brother-in-law and I will be going to WDW in August. I was wondering if we can make ADRs before we actually book the trip. I want to wait to book to see if by some miracle they will offer free dining in August. We wanted to do a Fantasmic dinner package with Mama Melrose. We went last May and tried to book this in March, but they were booked up already.

Booking ADRs and the dining plan are mutually exclusive. On our last trip we did not use the dining plan, but were asked by each server if we were using it, therefor leading me to believe that you would not need to know if you were going to be using the plan when you make your ressies...

 

[Monty]

You can book ADRs 180 days before the day of the meal.

If you have a reservation, you can book ADRs for your whole stay [up to ten days] 180 days before your check-in date. A very slight advantage to having a reservation, but not significant.

If you find out they offer free dining for the time frame you've arranged ADRs, all the better.

If you want to book ahead, you can always book through Kingdom Konsultants and give them instruction to change your reservation to include free dining if and when it's offered...

 

[CleveRocks]

ADRs, in and of themselves, have NOTHING to do with booking a WDW vacation. People who are staying at off-site hotels can make ADRs. Orlando locals looking for a good meal can book ADRs. People passing through the area as they drive from the Everglades going back home to San Antonio can book ADRs. It has nothing to do with resort reservations, vacation packages, or anything like that.

 

[Kristia]

Thanks for your replies! I thought that ADRs were mutually exclusive of a trip reservation, but wasn't positive. Thanks again!

 

[Rob562]

Thanks for your replies! I thought that ADRs were mutually exclusive of a trip reservation, but wasn't positive. Thanks again!

As someone said above, having a Disney hotel reservation gives you the benefit of up to an extra 10 days of booking window. (So that at the 180 day mark you can make ADRs for your entire trip in one call).

The other benefit to having a hotel reservation and giving them your reservation number is at your hotel's front desk, you can ask them for a printout of all of your ADRs, and because they're linked it's easy to do this. I believe they can also look them up by a phone number.

-Rob