Do you ever go without ADRs?

[bethram]

My husband isn't big on mapping out our trips to WDW, he likes to just go with the flow. This is the first time we've done the DDP and I have booked 5 of our 7 table service meals which pushed him just a bit on the go with the flow idea. I really want to use all of the meals we've paid for, do you think we will have any trouble finding 2 spur of the moment sit-down meals?

BTW, we've got reservations at Yachtsman, Donald's Breakfast Safari, Akershaus, and Whispering Canyon (our resort.)

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Your luck at finding a "spur of the moment" table service restaurant depends on a few factors:

1) when you're going
2) what time you want to eat this meal
3) what places you want to eat it at

If you're ok with eating at a less popular place like Restaurant Marrakesh or Shutters, then you'll probably be fine, regardless of the time of year. However, don't ever expect to stroll up to the podium at 'Ohana at 7 PM and expect to be seated that night, no matter what time of year you go.

 

[disney magic 06]

Last year was the first time we had used the Dining Plan, and previous years we only booked one or two meals. This worked well for us as we really didn't mind where we ate, and whether it was table or counter service. Often there would be signs at the customer service office saying there were no restaurants with vacancies but on checking with the individual places we could eat immediately.

Last year was different, as, like you I didn't want to end up wasting the dining credits. We only left two nights free, but had no problem finding somewhere to eat. Of course, it depends when you are travelling, we went in May. Peak season may well be much more difficult.

 

[real mad hatter]

Heres my last min choices.

Well In last visit in 2010 in July we had five ADRS booked.One was for H.O.B. At downtown,but when we arrived at our time of 8.00pm that night there was a sign on the window that their tills/computerised would not accept the key of the world card,so we cancelled and booked two nights later at the same time with no problems,unlike T- Rex which was fully booked for that two week period.The last minute table restaurants you could try would be Rainforest at d/town,Via Napoli at Epcot,Jikos at AKL. What you could do is ask at your resort hotel on these nights what was available?:wave:

 

[MadMax11]

I resist the dining plans generally because I don't like being tied down to ADR's. I don't want to feel compelled to go have a sit down meal because I already paid for it.

I make ADR's for nearly everyday I'm there...but I don't sweat passing on them if we decide we'd rather just grab something quick to see more attractions. Like your husband, I like to go with the flow on a vacation and not feel like I'm living to a schedule...I do enough of that when I'm NOT on vacation.

 

[BalooChicago]

We've NEVER done ADRs and never had an issue (When we go we go in January). This last trip though was an exception, we couldn't get in ANYWHERE. It irked us more than anything has irked us at WDW in the past.

 

[rsoxguy]

We have gone for a day's visit with an ADR, changed our minds, and altered the reservation that morning at a customer service location. To our surprise, there has never really been a problem in getting a table at a nice place to eat.

 

[vcstr]

I think you'll be fine as long as you're willing to be flexible. We went last year during the busy Easter week and decided rather last minute that we'd like to eat at Ohana. We had a couple back-up plans in case this wasn't possible. We ended up getting a table after about an hour and a bit wait which was fine by us.

So have a couple ideas in mind and be prepared for a bit of a wait if needed and I think you'll be fine!

 

[JIMINYCR]

We are planners so we never go without making ADRs because we want to make sure we get what we want. We have been standing around after checking in waiting to be called for our table and hear lots of walk ups turned away because theres nothing available for seating. A lot of mad, frustrated, hungry people walk away, grumbling about how hard it is to find a table available. Thats why we do ADR's so we won't be the ones turned away and the rest of our night is pleasant.

 

[princessmelinda]

Last year me and my boyfriend went the last week in August. It was a spur of the moment trip because we were supposed to go to Aruba but Hurricane Irene cancelled our flights! Anyways we booked the restaurants which I knew would be tough like Crystal Palace and Chefs de France. We couldn't get a Le Cellier reservation and went on two separate days and they were fully booked, which I knew would happen! But overall, it definitely depends when you go and where you wanna go! :wave: Have a great trip!

 

[WDW 3]

My husband is the same way. I might make 2 reservations for a week long trip but no more. We still manage to eat and have a great vacation

 

[jlevis]

We rarely do ADR's in advance usually deciding the day of and making them the night before or the morning of. I've never had a problem. You just need to be flexible.

 

[ThinkTink721]

I wish we could go without ADRs, but we don't want to wait for hours on a table either.
ADRs are a must these days at WDW.
We have to do more planning around the ADRs, but it is worth it to know that you have a table reserved for a meal.

 

[mickeysshoes]

I always book all our ADR's at the 180 days mark. But once in the world there is always a night or 2 that what is planned does not seem to work for one reason or another. We have always been able to call and get in somewhere else. Might not be or first choice...but always find something. We also dont mind eating later so I am sure that plays a HUGE role in being able to move things around. And I always cancel what we are not going to use. So if your flexable with places to eat and times you should be ok for a couple of meals!!

 

[wm49rs]

We never go without them, but at the same time we may not always keep the ones we make.....

 

[bethram]

Thanks, everyone!

We're going in early June before peak starts so hopefully we won't have much of an issue finding something that day. We've got reservations for the ones we really want, where we eat the rest doesn't really matter at this point.

 

[Crush Dude!]

Have to have our ADR's!!

And for a number of reasons;

A few years back we started going to WDW previously I had been once but that time we had no ADR's and we could get in very few spots, then the following year we made 7 for a 3 week trip and loved them!
So in 2010 we had Free Dining and same again this year some have at least 1 ADR for everyday of a 3 week trip!

We consider character meals and the fine dining a HUGE part of Our trip!
Love Dining in WDW and ADR's are now must do!

Currently in the middle of booking ADR's for August :sohappy:
We have 17 booked right now with another 6 or 7 to go as wel as The Wishes Dessert Party :sohappy::slurp::sohappy: