Your views on getting ADR's About This Page:

[chezp]

I noticed there have been quite a few questions in the past few months about whether ADR's are needed or not - and whether you really need to book at 180 days out or not. What's your experience been? Are there certain restaurants you'd definitely recommend getting ADR's for or certain times of the year that you should definitely make sure you make ADR's? It would be good to have a definitive list of people's experiences in one thread! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

[chezp]

For us, we do usually make ADR's - usually one or two a day, as we love the table service places at Disney. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] In truth, there have probably been some that we could've walked into, as there are only two of us, so long as we weren't bothered about a bit of a wait and we went at slower times of the day.

However, the ones we always find that you need to make ADR's for are any character meals, Boma, Le Cellier and the California Gril. We've heard people being turned away from these or told that there's a wait of two to three hours. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif[/img]

We know that Disney restaurants get really busy at the times when the parks are busy - such as Christmas and New Year and those are definitely times of the year when you need to book as far out as you can to get what you want. Having said that though, I've also now seen signs up in Epcot in early December, saying that there are no spaces for that night at any of the table service restaurants, which did really surprise me.

The other thing we've noticed is that generally a lot more people are eating at table service restaurants at Disney since the introduction of the Dining Plan. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] That makes ADR's even more essential than previously.

[Jennifer2003]

December 2003 - Got a walk up at Le Cellier for lunch on our last day. Walked right into Boma and Sci Fi with a 5 minute wait.

May 2004 - Couldn't get into Le Cellier at all, but got a walk up at 50's Prime Time with a wait of only 20 minutes. Also called the morning before we wanted Donald's Breakfastosarus and got a very early seating.

September 2004 - Made an ADR before we left for Le Cellier as we missed it in May. Got a walk up with a 5 minute wait at Mama Melrose for lunch.

April 2005 - Made an ADR before we left for 'Ohana for dinner. Tried changing the ressie to an earlier time the day we wanted to eat and they told us no over the phone. Showed up an hour early anyway and we were seated in 15 minutes. We left the restaurant at our original ADR time.

I never know when I'm going to be hungry, so we usually just wing it. If I can't get into a resturant because it's full, at least I'm in WDW and there are so many other choices I can just walk to. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[LoveWL]

We have always made ADR's, with the exception of one trip in September of 2005. Our kitchen was being renovated and I just got too caught up in the process and forgot to do the ADR's. We had a devil of a time getting into places for dinner. Lesson learned! I've been sure to make those ADR's ever since.

[Happymommy]

We always make ADR's, but I tend to make some changes here and there from my cell once we're in Disney. Unfortunately our plans don't always go as expected.

[wendybell]

For us, it just seems easier to make all of our ADR's in advance and then schedule our day's events. Some like to "play it by ear" more but if you want to eat in specific places like Boma, LeCellier, CRT or the like; you'll NEED those ADR's. The dining plan has made these restaurants fill up quickly - we saw several guests turned away at LeCellier last May. I made mine for our May trip in December and had no problem getting what I wanted.

[WDWJAMBA]

We usually make ADR's for our trips for all table service restaurants. I'm an addicted Disney planner [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img], so I'm constantly pouring over menus, times, etc. to enhance our experience. That said, some people like to be spontaneous and just decide the day of what they feel like eating and doing for the day. I understand that philosophy, but still prefer to make the reservations ahead of time. That way, I'm assured of getting into the places I want to go to. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Pamajama]

Last year was the first time I had ever made ADR's. Before that I would just "wing it"

Last year I made a "Park Plan" figured out which park we would be in on which day and made and ADR for the park of the day.

This worked out great. We did make some small changes when we could. Example: We had lunch ADR's for CP but when we got there in the morning we really felt like breakfast. We got lucky and got in after a 2 minute wait. We canceled our lunch ADR at the same time.

I think it is important to make all your ADR's if you are on the DDP. I wouldn't want to spend the money for the DDP and not be able to get TS meals.

[Colexis Mom]

We've always made ADRs. It's a way for us to plan our day/trip, and with two hungry children, I don't want to walk up and have to wait an hour or more which can happen without an ADR. I've made them out as far as 180 days, but also have had luck getting what we wanted just a few weeks before the trip! We mainly travel in the off-season though, so if I was going during Easter or Christmas, I wouldn't leave home without them [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[waycoolmom]

I always decide what park(s) we're going to each day and then plan our meals accordingly. We usually do a seated meal once a day. I do like to leave with my confirmation numbers listed in my Passporter, but I'm always willing to make changes if I can get them at the last minute. So far, I haven't had any trouble making changes once we are there, but I can't imagine going without having ADR's scheduled every day.

[MAria R]

In June 04 I made ADRs based on what I had read about needing them. This was my first big trip so I didn't know what to expect. I am so glad I did, at several of the restaurants people were being turned away (Sci-Fi and Crystal Palace being two that I remember clearly) So it is a definite for the next trip.

[goofy4goofy]

I work concierge at WDW and I can safely say that it's getting harder and harder to get into restaurants without ADR's. Because of the dining plan, seats are really limited..even during slow times it seems. The other day, I went to book an ADR for myself in April. It was for Narcoosee's...and there were only a few tables left (for the entire dinner time). That's ridiculous. A year ago, Narcoosee's did not fill up like that! A lot of the Epcot restaurants also fill up extremely quick these days.

In my opinion, if you are excited about trying a restaurant, definately book an ADR. If you are on the dining plan, book as many table services as you can. If you don't end up going to them, no big deal..just cancel that day. But otherwise, it may be difficult to get into them.

Kelly

[mrsmac2001]

This June is my first trip using the ADR's and I am on the DDP. Before I have always winged it. But before I always went in April and alwaysaround Easter and only had one restauraunt I couldn't get into in a short amount of time. We made our ADR's last Sunday (152 days out) and while I am pleased I got them done I don't think I like the "tie me to one place at one specific time" idea but I won't judge until I do this during the trip. I never knew what park I would be in or at what time because we hopped a lot. Now I have to be more rigid in my scheduling.

PS to Kelly: I loved CBR and would be going back again this time but my sister loves AKL so I am trying it. Maybe for nostalgia I will take a bus there just to walk around again this trip.

[Cam22]

I can't imagine not having ADRs when we go in June as the wait line at all the restaurants where we have ADRs are always very long.

[JediGamer]

I'm big on ADR's and usually will plan my day around them. I've had some success getting ADR's day of, but they were usually for off the beaten path places (like Marakesh or the Plaza).

My best advice is to make an ADR if you really want to eat at a place. If you could care less where you eat each day, then you can probably find somewhere to eat.