Is it hard to get adrs?

[eliza61nyc]

We would like BOG because we have a Belle fan with us & she’s also a first timer to DW. We booked towards the end of July. I had no idea that adrs are so hard to get now. As stated in my original post... back when I went last (2012 apparently) I was able to get absolutely all the adrs I wanted. I’m not complaining. Just unpleasantly surprised & wondered if it was the norm now.

There are definitely more people in the parks now so it maybe a bit more difficult but even before the "hot" restaurants were always hard to get. Anyone remember before Le Cellier went to two dining credits? that was always hard to get, along with Cinderellas castle.

Now in my opinion, I do go to the restaurants for food. I don't get this "go for the experience" line of thought. why would you drop that kind of money on a mediocre meal. but that's me. That's why I was one and done with CRT. I'm simply not spending 100's of bucks to have a lousy meal.

You can always Take your Belle lover to the French Pavilion in Epcot , Belle is always there signing autographs. and usually they have a sign out front telling you what time the meet and greets are.

 

[analise]

There are definitely more people in the parks now so it maybe a bit more difficult but even before the "hot" restaurants were always hard to get. Anyone remember before Le Cellier went to two dining credits? that was always hard to get, along with Cinderellas castle.

Now in my opinion, I do go to the restaurants for food. I don't get this "go for the experience" line of thought. why would you drop that kind of money on a mediocre meal. but that's me. That's why I was one and done with CRT. I'm simply not spending 100's of bucks to have a lousy meal.

You can always Take your Belle lover to the French Pavilion in Epcot , Belle is always there signing autographs. and usually they have a sign out front telling you what time the meet and greets are.

I’ve never had a meal at DW worth the money I paid for so in my opinion you drop money on mediocre meals no matter what.

 

[Weather_Lady]

My experience with recent trips has been: if we're NOT traveling during a dining promotion, we have no trouble getting whatever we want at 180+ (we stay onsite, so we're booking for the duration of the trip at 180) days, although some of the most popular times/places (e.g., Be Our Guest anytime, 'Ohana at 6pm...) might be taken for the first day or two of our trip, so we stack those at the end. If we're traveling during a "free dining" period, it's a bit more difficult, with availability cut at least in half for the times and places on our list -- we can still get them, but it may require scheduling a less-desirable mealtime, or using the touringplans reservation finder tool for a few weeks...

 

[Rasstuss]

My experience with recent trips has been: if we're NOT traveling during a dining promotion, we have no trouble getting whatever we want at 180+ (we stay onsite, so we're booking for the duration of the trip at 180) days, although some of the most popular times/places (e.g., Be Our Guest anytime, 'Ohana at 6pm...) might be taken for the first day or two of our trip, so we stack those at the end. If we're traveling during a "free dining" period, it's a bit more difficult, with availability cut at least in half for the times and places on our list -- we can still get them, but it may require scheduling a less-desirable mealtime, or using the touringplans reservation finder tool for a few weeks...

Were planning a first time trip so I don't really have anything else to compare it to but we have definitely had some difficulty booking during a free dining promotion. Even at 180 we were unable to get Ohana at anytime for our last night and also had to settle for Be Our Guest at Breakfast when we wanted Lunch and Akershus for Lunch when we wanted Dinner. I found out about Touring Plans a few days after that and put those 3 searches in but it has been 7 weeks now and I have only gotten one notification for Be Our Guest and it must have gone within minutes. I am interested to see if things open up a little bit when we hit the fast pass window.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Were planning a first time trip so I don't really have anything else to compare it to but we have definitely had some difficulty booking during a free dining promotion. Even at 180 we were unable to get Ohana at anytime for our last night and also had to settle for Be Our Guest at Breakfast when we wanted Lunch and Akershus for Lunch when we wanted Dinner. I found out about Touring Plans a few days after that and put those 3 searches in but it has been 7 weeks now and I have only gotten one notification for Be Our Guest and it must have gone within minutes. I am interested to see if things open up a little bit when we hit the fast pass window.

Don't give up! There are sometimes last-minute cancellations the day before (for folks trying to avoid the penalty for cancelling less than 24 hours ahead), so that's also a good time to check.

 

[Figgy1]

Don't give up! There are sometimes last-minute cancellations the day before (for folks trying to avoid the penalty for cancelling less than 24 hours ahead), so that's also a good time to check.

^^^^This. I swear it's easier to get ADRs at somewhat busy times than during free dining. Also check when the last package payment is due because sometimes people cancel trips then

 

[eliza61nyc]

I’ve never had a meal at DW worth the money I paid for so in my opinion you drop money on mediocre meals no matter what.

Probably one of the reasons I steer clear of park restaurants, the resorts places are way better. Boma in AKL is definitely excellent and we also enjoy Olivia's at OKW which is not only good but less expensive.
Trails end buffet at Ft. Wilderness is consistently good.
Leave the parks. Lol nothing worse then having bad food on vacation.
As someone else mentioned upstream, BOG is not good, why eat there? Just to see Belle?

 

[Weather_Lady]

A random tip to add: if you want some TS meals at WDW (at Disney Springs and/or Animal Kingdom) and don't have the time/inclination/ability to make ADRs ahead of time, the Landry's-owned restaurants on property (T-REX and Rainforest Cafe at DS, and Rainforest Cafe #2 and Yak & Yeti at AK) offer "priority seating" for members of Landry's Select rewards club. A few weeks or months before your visit, you can join the Landry's Select program online and they'll send you a membership card (cost is $25, but you get a $25 welcome credit on your account which you can use the first time you dine at a Landry's restaurant, so it costs nothing in the aggregate). Bring your Landry's Select card with you, waltz into any Landry's restaurant whenever you like, and you'll be seated within minutes, just as if you had a reservation.

We particularly love being able to do this at AK. Yak & Yeti is one of our new favorite TS places -- while Rainforest Cafe and T-REX are giving you Applebee's-type food with a cool theme, Yak & Yeti's food is a cut above. Because there's so much to see at AK, and the park layout sort of invites one to meander, it's tough to keep to a schedule and get to ADRs on time. With Landry's Select, we don't have to.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don’t think anyone goes to these table services for the food. It’s the experience. We want BOG because we have a Belle fan with us.

Well then we’re all screwed...

The entree range is $30-55 dollars...and the majority of places don’t have characters.

It better be about the food...or what’s the point?

And honestly...be our guest is really just a cafeteria...some cool scenery but very skippable.

If you have a fan...I get it...as long as they’re aren’t 15 or older

 

[jaklgreen]

Except for the few super busy restaurants that you need and ADR for, most of them you could probably walk up to when they first open for dinner, or even at lunch time. I don't make ADRs anymore and I go every year in October. I have been able to walk up and get in to almost all of the Epcot restaurants(except Akershus). They don't post this but most restaurants save open some spots for walk ups. So it could say that there are no more ADRs available but they do keep some tables open. I am definitely ALL about the food and not the experience and I have had many good meals at WDW. There are many underrated restaurants like restaurant Marrakesh that for some reason people refuse to try. My kids love Biergarten and Teppan. And my all time favorite is Boma, all of which take walk ups.

 

[analise]

Were planning a first time trip so I don't really have anything else to compare it to but we have definitely had some difficulty booking during a free dining promotion. Even at 180 we were unable to get Ohana at anytime for our last night and also had to settle for Be Our Guest at Breakfast when we wanted Lunch and Akershus for Lunch when we wanted Dinner. I found out about Touring Plans a few days after that and put those 3 searches in but it has been 7 weeks now and I have only gotten one notification for Be Our Guest and it must have gone within minutes. I am interested to see if things open up a little bit when we hit the fast pass wind

Probably one of the reasons I steer clear of park restaurants, the resorts places are way better. Boma in AKL is definitely excellent and we also enjoy Olivia's at OKW which is not only good but less expensive.
Trails end buffet at Ft. Wilderness is consistently good.
Leave the parks. Lol nothing worse then having bad food on vacation.
As someone else mentioned upstream, BOG is not good, why eat there? Just to see Belle?

we’re on a short trip. 5 days with 2 being travel days. We don’t have the time nor the desire to go resort hopping. Everyone does DW differently & prioritizes differently. We go to DW for the parks, the parades, the rides, the character greetings etc. We do not go for fine dining. I’m sure we’ll be able to find decent quick service food in the parks & im hopeful that we can get the adrs we want since that’s what we want to experience.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Except for the few super busy restaurants that you need and ADR for, most of them you could probably walk up to when they first open for dinner, or even at lunch time. I don't make ADRs anymore and I go every year in October. I have been able to walk up and get in to almost all of the Epcot restaurants(except Akershus). They don't post this but most restaurants save open some spots for walk ups. So it could say that there are no more ADRs available but they do keep some tables open. I am definitely ALL about the food and not the experience and I have had many good meals at WDW. There are many underrated restaurants like restaurant Marrakesh that for some reason people refuse to try. My kids love Biergarten and Teppan. And my all time favorite is Boma, all of which take walk ups.

They haven’t saved any spots for walk ups since they dumped the priority seating system circa 2004/2005. That system was designed for that.

They do hard bookings...the reason you have success now is I believe sitdown patronage has fallen significantly. Thats about price...nothing more.

 

[analise]

Well then were all screwed...

The entree range is $30-55 dollars...and the majority of places don’t have characters.

It better be about the food...or what’s the point?

And honestly...be our guest is really just a cafeteria...some cool scenery but very skippable.

If you have a fan...I get it...as long as they’re aren’t 15 or older

She’ll be 22. It’s her bday & it’s what she wants. Hopeful that it’ll happen.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

we’re on a short trip. 5 days with 2 being travel days. We don’t have the time nor the desire to go resort hopping. Everyone does DW differently & prioritizes differently. We go to DW for the parks, the parades, the rides, the character greetings etc. We do not go for fine dining. I’m sure we’ll be able to find decent quick service food in the parks & im hopeful that we can get the adrs we want since that’s what we want to experience.

If you need any recommendations...feel free to ask

 

[analise]

Except for the few super busy restaurants that you need and ADR for, most of them you could probably walk up to when they first open for dinner, or even at lunch time. I don't make ADRs anymore and I go every year in October. I have been able to walk up and get in to almost all of the Epcot restaurants(except Akershus). They don't post this but most restaurants save open some spots for walk ups. So it could say that there are no more ADRs available but they do keep some tables open. I am definitely ALL about the food and not the experience and I have had many good meals at WDW. There are many underrated restaurants like restaurant Marrakesh that for some reason people refuse to try. My kids love Biergarten and Teppan. And my all time favorite is Boma, all of which take walk ups.

I’ve never been able to do a walk up.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

She’ll be 22. It’s her bday & it’s what she wants. Hopeful that it’ll happen.

Birthdays are an acceptable exception...

 

[jaklgreen]

They haven’t saved any spots for walk ups since they dumped the priority seating system circa 2004/2005. That system was designed for that.

They do hard bookings...the reason you have success now is I believe sitdown patronage has fallen significantly. Thats about price...nothing more.

I go every year and sometimes twice a year. I do walk up every trip. The cast members have even told me that they do this. Again, it is not for the whole night or peak times but if you go early, then they will have spots open as a first come first serve basis.

 

[jaklgreen]

I’ve never been able to do a walk up.

Huh, that is pretty much all I do. I must have a nice face.

 

[eliza61nyc]

we’re on a short trip. 5 days with 2 being travel days. We don’t have the time nor the desire to go resort hopping. Everyone does DW differently & prioritizes differently. We go to DW for the parks, the parades, the rides, the character greetings etc. We do not go for fine dining. I’m sure we’ll be able to find decent quick service food in the parks & im hopeful that we can get the adrs we want since that’s what we want to experience.

It's all cool, we were just trying to give you alternatives that will give you good food.

Good luck

 

[analise]

Huh, that is pretty much all I do. I must have a nice face.

Lol maybe. Ive been told I got rbf & also 5 people in my party.