Necessary ADRs?

[nicb88]

Hi everyone

We're starting to plan our upcoming vacation to the World and I'm needing some advice regarding ADRs. We're traveling there in September and staying at the Boardwalk for 14 nights. (We're from the UK so a longer vacation is better for us).

Anyway... My dad isn't one to enjoy being 'tied down', and therefore wants to make as few ADRs as possible. We have the dining plan included so we'll be using that when eating in Disney, but we've discussed it, and even making reservations on the morning we want them would be better than 180 days out.

Obviously there are certain restaurants that we will have to make ADRs for, such as California Grill, et cetera, however I was wondering what your advice would be regarding other restaurants that maybe wouldn't fill up so quickly at a generally less busy time of year. Would you still recommend making reservations? What tactic would you use in our situation?

Thanks a lot!! :wave:

 

[GoochDSA]

Unfortunately, I do not have much advise for you since I am the type that lets my ADRs dictate where I am going on a given day. However, historically speaking, September tends to be a "free dining" time of year, so I could only imagine that it can be on the tough side to get a morning of reservation.

 

[Monty]

During free dining ADRs in the parks are almost impossible day-of.

Some resort restaurants will have openings, but there's no certainty.

Without ADRs in place, you may have TS credits that don't get used. Although during free dining, they usually provide a method of down-grading to CS and getting coupons for other stuff.

 

[JillC LI]

If there are any places you REALLY don't want to miss, I'd urge you to make one reservation at each. You can always cancel them as you get closer. But with the dining plan these days, most park restaurants and many of the popular resort restaurants do fill up, at least at prime times. If you don't mind eating at off times, that will help you if you wait until the last minute.

 

[RiversideBunny]

You could always just eat at Morocco a lot.

:animwink:

 

[Master Yoda]

During free dining ADR's are a necessity even for the most out of the way unpopular places. Day of reservations are as rare as hen's teeth during free dining. If you have a member of your party that is hell bent on not planning and not making reservations I would look at booking with a room discount vs free dining and paying for meals out of pocket. Otherwise it is quite possible that you will be heading home with quite a few unused TS credits.

 

[nicb88]

Unfortunately living in the UK we don't get room discounts/pins/etc, we only get rack rates and the associated offers. We were going anyway, and free dining was the offer at the time we've booked for, so really it is a bonus for us.

We have certain restaurants we want to eat in, for which we will definitely make ADRs, and personally I would happily make them for each day, however the father does not like this idea and wants to just play it day by day, which I've said isn't really ideal.

We won't really eat in the parks, except for a few locations, mainly at the resorts, and we will be going off property too, but we just wondered if anyone has any experience of this time of year getting the ADRs closer to the time we want them?

No complaints, however, just curious, so we can plan accordingly! Thanks again.

 

[Master Yoda]

Unfortunately living in the UK we don't get room discounts/pins/etc, we only get rack rates and the associated offers. We were going anyway, and free dining was the offer at the time we're booking for, so really it is a bonus for us.

We have certain restaurants we want to eat in, for which we will definitely make ADRs, and personally I would happily make them for each day, however the father does not like this idea and wants to just play it day by day, which I've said isn't really ideal.

We won't really eat in the parks, except for a few locations, mainly at the resorts, and we will be going off property too, but we just wondered if anyone has any experience of this time of year getting the ADRs closer to the time we want them?

No complaints, however, just curious, so we can plan accordingly! Thanks again.

It will be quite difficult especially if a free dining promotion is released to the general public. This promotion has been hugely popular and will pack all the restaurants as the majority of WDW guests will have the DDP with credits they feel that they must use.

 

[nicb88]

Thanks It's a nightmare for us over here, as we'd far prefer a room discount to free dining. But hey, it is what it is.

Seems I'll be making the ADRs I know we want and work for the best with others. We're not too determined to eat at specific places each mealtime.

I appreciate all the responses!

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks It's a nightmare for us over here, as we'd far prefer a room discount to free dining. But hey, it is what it is.

Seems I'll be making the ADRs I know we want and work for the best with others. We're not too determined to eat at specific places each mealtime.

I appreciate all the responses!

I do not see why you can't. Once rates are released for the general public you should be able to. The only difference is they release the UK promotions months ahead of the US promotions.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I do not see why you can't. Once rates are released for the general public you should be able to. The only difference is they release the UK promotions months ahead of the US promotions.

You can if you use US based agents or DIY, however I have been able to get better deals via UK offers the last two years, plus it removes the risk of currency fluctuation.

 

[GoochDSA]

We have certain restaurants we want to eat in, for which we will definitely make ADRs, and personally I would happily make them for each day, however the father does not like this idea and wants to just play it day by day, which I've said isn't really ideal.
QUOTE]


You could always make all of your ADRs, and just not tell your father. And then when the day comes make him think it was his idea. It could work :shrug:. You could always cancel the ADR that morning if you needed to (except when you need to give notice of canceling earlier).

 

[Cendure]

I won't comment on whether or not you should make ADRs, because for us that's a given, but we have had occasion to change reservations at the last minute. These are some we have had success with.

For the Magic Kingdom try The Wave at the Contemporary, serves B,L,D. It's a 10 minute walk or monorail ride away. The Grand Floridian Cafe at GF also serves B,L,D or Trails End at Fort Wilderness (B,L,D). We also got a last minute reservation at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge. It's signature dining, so will cost 2 dining credits each.

For Epcot, Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco or Nine Dragons in China. At surrounding hotels, Kouzzina at the Boardwalk (B,L,D), Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club (B,L,D). Exit through the International Gateway.

Don't overlook restaurants at Downtown Disney. Raglan Road for instance takes the DDP, but you can also call the restaurant directly for reservations.

Be prepared to be flexible with your times. Consider late lunches or early/late dinners.

Call the Dine Line and see what's available. That tends to work better than straight walkups. If you don't have a cell phone with you, any pay phone (they're located outside washrooms), has a free connection to the Disney Dine Line.

Good Luck

 

[ClemsonTigger]

I will echo the sentiment that you should go ahead and make ADR's for your sitdown meals.

If your dad is adamant about not going on a given night, you can always cancel. I feel strongly about cancelling as it frees up the space for another to use rather than sitting vacant.

Another thing to consider is to book a few signature dining meals. They would use up two dining credits and would free you up for some nights "winging it". Hopefully your Dad won't get upset if he feels he can stop in somewhere on a whim and then be disappointed that they have no openings.

Signatures:
Jiko
Cali Grill
Narcoossee's
Citrico's
Flying Fish
Artist Point
Yachtsman
Brown Derby
Hoop de Do
Spirit of Aloha

 

[cdunbar]

During free dining ADRs in the parks are almost impossible day-of.

Some resort restaurants will have openings, but there's no certainty.

Without ADRs in place, you may have TS credits that don't get used. Although during free dining, they usually provide a method of down-grading to CS and getting coupons for other stuff.

Monty is right we went for a few days in September, and made the decision to go maybe 2 weeks before and could find NO ADR's we tried walk up on some of the less popular places like San Angel Inn and they turned us away, but we were staying at the yacht club and were tired of Burgers and Fries one night and tried the yachtsman steak house and they did seat us but they said it was because we were resort guests which I've NEVER heard of them doing that before so maybe it was just a fluke. But overall unfortunately if you don't make ADR's in September you're SOL....:shrug:

 

[LeafsFanNL]

I hate to sound a little crass, but I'd be making my ADR's anyway, seeing which ones he wanted to avail of, then leaving him to his own devices (read c.s.m) on days he wants to wing it. Don't let him dictate the kind of holiday you have.

HB