we are going in late sept to oct. & using the dinning plan. i know this time of the year is pretty slow. so far we only have one reservation booked. i hesitate to make anymore because i just don't know the parks we will be in each day. should i really worry about places being booked up at that time of the year?
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dinning reservations?
- Thread starter bears163
- Start date
IneedaWDWfix
Member
We are going at the same time. I am unable to get reservations at some of the places we would like to eat. Le Cellier is totally booked. Chef Mickeys is totally booked for breakfast for the whole week.
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Now that free dinning is in the picture and park attendance is back up forget every thing you have done in the past 5 years in regards to dinning reservations. Book them ASAP or you might find yourself eating many of your meals at Quick service or waiting an hour for a table.
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i am thinking if places are booked we might just use our table service for lunch & hit DTD for out counter service. i would think if places are booked it will mostly be in the evening. as for the above post about chef mickey's those places always get booked with or without the plan.
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Restaurants are getting booked up for both lunch and dinner right now. We typically do weekend trips and will make our ADRs on the drive down. We have been finding in increasingly difficult to get ADRs regardless of where or when we try to eat.
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jchriscandy
New Member
I would say that if you want to eat table service for the evening meals then you better try to make PS reservations now. We are going to be there the second week in October and had difficulties getting exactly what we wanted.
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I have found it is best time wise to eat in the park you are at, or at most a connecting resort. If you are using Disney transportation you will have to go from MK to a resort and then to DTD. That trip alone will take about 1 hour. If you have your own car that will be cut down to maybe 30 minuets not including the time it takes to get to your car.
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swimmom
Well-Known Member
I don't think I would go all the way DTD for dinner from MK. If you do, plan on at least an hour for transportation.
I have never eaten at Tony's. The only places we have eaten a sit down meal in the MK are Crystal Palace, which was o.k. and Cinderella's Royal Table, which I doubt you would be able to get an ADR at this time. Our next trip we are going to try Liberty Tree Tavern. I've seen good reviews, we'll see how it is. Otherwise as Master Yoda suggested, you could try a restaurant at a MK resort.
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SANDKRUSER
Member
Tony's is good (Italian) and we really like Liberty Tree Tavern too. We tend to like it better at lunch (the Pilgrim Feast - turkey, etc. is great!) rather than dinner as dinner is a Character meal. It was good both times we did it but our son is 18 now so past the character thing.
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tink81
New Member
Master Yoda, in your expert opinion, do you think this free dining plan thing is going to beef up attendance to the point of crowds and long lines during the last week of Sept? I am getting closer to my trip and am really kinda anxious about the crowd levels. I took advantage of the free dining just like everyone else, but how big is "everyone else"? I am hearing that Pop is completely booked for the whole month of Sept and now all the stories about poor service, etc at the restaraunts. I won't cancel our trip or anything, but I just need to mentally prepare myself for crowds and a complaining BF.
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IneedaWDWfix
Member
We have gone the first week in October for the past 5 years. We took advantage of the free dining last year and we are going to this year as well. I thought it was much more crowded last year than it had been in the past. I am expecting the same this year. I have never had as much of a problem getting ADR's as I am this year, even at the more popular places.
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The short answer...Yes.
The long answer....Crowds are steadily growing all over property. I do believe that free dining is one of many factors that is causing this rise in attendance. IMHO MYW tickets and DME have played their role as well. The biggest con to the free dinning promotion is that families that were eating mainly counter service or off property are now staying on property to eat and eating at table service restaurants. This is resulting in packed restaurants and stressed out cast members.
But do not fret young padawan there is hope.
The key is to plan ahead.
For dinning get your ADR's early, arrive at the restaurant on time or a little early. Be polite to your server. I have found little comments like "We are on the dinning plan and is says tips are included. Are we allowed to tip extra?" go a long way. I would follow through with it is well if you get the typical excellent Disney service. If at all possible try to do your table service before the usual lunch or dinner time. That way you are not getting a server that is on the back end of a stressful 8 hour shift.
For the parks get there early. I have found being at the turnstiles about 1/2 an hour before opening really maximizes the time you have in the parks with light crowds. Use early EMH avoid late EMH. Follow the attendance patterns like on Touringplans.com. Use fast pass and don't try to do too much.
I wouldn't worry too much. It will be busy but not crazy busy.
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tink81
New Member
Thank you, Master. I have planned ahead and secured my ADRs 180 days in advance (to the day). BF's tee times are booked and we have received our documents, but I am concerend about the crowd levels. We have gone in January in years past and according to everything I have read, Set/Oct sees similar crowd levels. But that thinking is probably blown to bits considering the free dining. Oh well, maybe it won't be THAT bad considering it is the last week of the promo and most kids are back in school (crosses fingers). Here's hoping! Thanks for the tips!
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polynesiangirl
Well-Known Member
I just wanted to throw my real-life experience in here cos I just got off the phone with WDW-DINE less than a minute ago to make a couple of ADR's for late October. I wasn't really planning on making any but I figured better safe than sorry...well, I don't know if the restaurants will be crowded when we get there but all I know is that I've made several ADRs at this point, all for "peak" dining times (fireworks time @ California Grill, dinner or lunch times at others,) and I have yet to be turned down for the time of my choosing. Every one I've made I've had multiple dining time options. We are a small party (3) though, so perhaps that has something to do with it. We also aren't doing any high-traffic stuff like character breakfasts or dinner shows or anything too so that helps.
Maybe it's just me! Either way I guess now I can rest assured we'll have a table if we want it.
Maybe it's just me! Either way I guess now I can rest assured we'll have a table if we want it.
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