Should I bother?

[polynesiangirl]

Hi everyone, as you may already know we're heading down in late October. From all indictors I've seen, the days we are there are supposed to be some of the quietest in the park all year. However, I know there's the dining plan, and the fact that October is a bit busier than it used to be, so I'm wondering...do I really have to make a whole bunch of ADRs?

I usually enjoy this part of the trip planning, but we're only going for a few days and I'm not sure if we're even going to be up for eating at sit down restaurants very often from both a time and cost perspective. I *did* make an ADR for the Cali Grill, only because I really wanted a specific time and I know reservations are important there and that is going to be our "big nice dinner". But other than that, I haven't booked anything.

We're not big buffet people, or dinner show people, so we probably won't go to any of those. Also, with the Food and Wine Festival, there are going to be lots of booths with food to buy, right? So can we just "graze" there? I know that for most places you can reserve and then cancel or just not show, but it seems so impolite to make a bunch of ADRs knowing that I probably won't go, and that I'm cutting someone else out of that time slot.

At the same time, if getting a day-of table at one of the sit downs in, say, Epcot is going to be an impossibility, then I suppose I would be best off making a reservation so that we don't get left high and dry.

Any thoughts? Thanks! :wave:

 

[Senderella]

We're going down in October also. Personally, I would make the ADRs and if you don't feel like it that day, you can use your room phone to call & cancel. We've done that a couple of times for early morning ADRs where we felt like sleeping in. I've woken up just enough to call..cancel.. and go back to bed. Better to make the ADRs and have them just in case instead of getting there and not being able to get in at all. The cancellation call will take less than 5 minutes. That's just my 2 cents on it.

 

[figment1985]

My thought is to still make a few.. that way you wont stress about taking a chance. My bf and I JUST made ADR for our trip in 3 weeks- and luckly we were able to get everything we wanted- even a dinner show.

My suggestion is to make a list of all the places you want to eat. Then narrow it down (unless it's really short) and call and make reservations for those few places. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but be sure to make reservations correlate with where you normally go during your week or weekend at WDW... that way you aren't in a rush.

 

[Senderella]

I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but be sure to make reservations correlate with where you normally go during your week or weekend at WDW... that way you aren't in a rush.

That's what we do... First I manage to figure out what parks for what days and when we're going to be eating "in park", I make sure to assign it to the appropriate day. That method works for us because 1- we're not in a rush going from park to park just for ADRs and 2- there's no arguing or wasting time trying to decide WHERE to go that day.

 

[KnK]

I only made four for our upcoming trip in Sept (second week). One for California Grill, Citricos, Fantasmic Package, and Rose n Crown. This was actually more than I made last year. We've never had a problem getting same day ressies, but then again it is next to dead when we go.

They had free dining last year at this same time as well, and still did not cause a problem.

 

[shoppingnut]

The only place in Epcot that I would recommend ressie's is Le Cellier as that restaurant is much smaller than others and books up quickly.

BTW, grazing can be very costly, almost as much as a sit down meal, those $3-$4 items add up quickly.

What I'd overall recommend is make any ressie at places you "really" want to eat at, like you did with Cali Grill, so you won't be disappointed and wing the rest. I like winging it sometimes, it makes the trip fun.

 

[dox]

I just posted a thread that touched on your issue. This is my second trip over Labor Day. Last time was in 2002 and crowds were incredibly manageable. That trip was great and we ate at so many great restaurants (Narcosees, Artist Point, Kona Cafe, Cali Grill to name a few) with same day ressies. The only ressie I made was Cali and we ended up cancelling during the trip and re-booking for next day at a prime time. I hoped the same would apply for this trip. Well due to the dining plan seating is so limited everywhere right now. I could not get any seating at Ohana's earlier than 9 p.m. and I tried on multiple days. Luckily I'm a late eater. But not that late.

I also use to think that October was a slow month. But I've been in October twice during the past few years and it can get pretty busy especially on weekends. Things got so bad in MK one day we booked it on out of there and had to do the same following day.

If you are like me, in that I don't want to be tied down too much and want some flexibility, then make a few ressies. In my case i've made two so far for this trip and plan on making one more. But you don't want to miss out on your favorite places to eat.

 

[dznygrl]

Yes, Yes, Yes to ADR's

Better safe than sorry. As you can tell from my signature, October is usually our WDW month. The last couple of years, however, October has become much more crowded than it used to be. The DDP and F&W Festival are at least partially to blame. We've now moved our trip back to late September both for the lesser crowds and so we can enjoy the first weekend of F&W just before we go back home.

Make some ADR's and if you need to cancel, that's fine. At least you have a backup and won't be left peering hungrily through the window of your favorite eatery because they were booked.

Have a great time!

 

[wedoada]

Oct trip

We just made our ADR's and got the Ohana Character Breakfast, Dinner at the Wilderness Lodge (forget the name) and lunch at the Prime Time Cafe.

We know we're running late and didn't expect to get much but we're pretty happy and the kid are thrilled about Ohana and Prime Time.

This is out first time at Disney and the plans are going well but we seem to be behind the schedule that everyone recommends. Hopefully we'll get going quicker for our next trip.

 

[mmssbrg2]

I'm considering a trip in early December. What is the demand like at that time, in regard to ADRs? I'm not one to plan out my entire eating schedule months in advance. Anyone have any advice? Thinking about doing the dining plan and I don't want to get shafted on the table service meals.