Ian's No ADR Trip - A Summary

[Ian]

Just thought I'd post this little review of our recent trip, since there's so much discussion these days about the need to have ADR's for every meal, over-schedule, etc.

This last trip that we just finished we decided we weren't going to make a single ADR for our entire stay. Not one. We decided that we were just going to wing it and hope for the best. We're tired of being slaves to our dining reservations and having to say things like, "Sorry kids. You don't have time to meet Mickey, because we just have to get to Epcot or we'll miss our ADR." Ridiculous.

So how did it work out? Quite well, actually. We were able to get in at every place we tried without exception. We ate breakfast at Ohana, Hollywood & Vine, and 1900 Park Fare, dinner at Teppan Edo, Le Cellier and Chefs De France, lunch at Rainforest Cafe and The Plaza. We even had ice cream and snacks at Beaches & Cream. No ADR's, no problems.

And boy was it really great not having to worry about being in a certain place at a certain time. We ate when we got hungry and picked a place close by and were never turned away. Not once.

Now admittedly January is pretty slow. I don't think I would try it during the summer or over Christmas. But from now on when we go during a down time we are definitely passing on the ADR's and playing it by .

[jillluvsdisney]

Good for you. I'm glad it worked out. January is a great time to try that.

We used to make ADRs for every day. The last few trips we left a day or 2 open and that plan worked well for us.

[mouseketeer mom]

That is fantastic, and you got into some wonderful places!

[faline]

A few years back, we did just fine on a last minute June weekend trip. Because it was last minute, we decided we'd just wing it with dining so didn't even attempt to make dining reservations before we left. We figured we'd just be prepared to be turned away from some places. Despite the lack of dining reservations, we were able to have lunch at Le Cellier and Liberty Tree Tavern. I don't remember any other places we dined but we were pleasantly surprised with our experience.

[Madame Leona]

We usually don't do the dining plan (with the exception of free dining) and we don't make adrs. I've always had decent luck but I would never wing it during free dining. I had a hard time getting adrs and when we got there, I couldn't change any of our times.

[buzznwoodysmom]

I would definitely love to try that if we go back during a slower period. Our last two trips were in the summer and then Thanksgiving day week so ADRs were necessary. But we feel much the same, kind of tired of having to tell the kids to get out of the pool because we've gotta be ready to be back in the park for an ADR. We cancelled a few ADRs this past Nov. because we were just having too much fun to go get ready for dinner. Glad it worked out for you and your family.

[Hammer]

Glad this worked out for you and you got to eat at some nice places. While you note that this was feasible due to the time of year, I also wonder if the time of day mattered as well. For dinner, what time did you try for a walk-up? As I like eating dinner at around 7:30 (as does the rest of my family), I would think it would be harder to obtain a walk-up table than say 5:00-5:30.

[Patricia]

I know I'm not the norm.. but I still never make ADR's. I never have a clue where I'm going to be and have no desire to switch parks if I'm having fun. We always eat what we want.

[Tink#64]

Thanks Ian! Always enjoy learning from your experiences! We only make a couple of adr's - only for the 1 or 2 places that are a must do for that trip, the rest we wing! I can't imagine having those restraints on our day - everyday!

We always enjoy our dining experiences in WDW, but we aren't there for the food, so for us dining is second fiddle to our time doing everything else we want to do whenever we want to do it!

Thanks for reminding us that it's ok "wing it" sometimes!

[Ian]

Glad this worked out for you and you got to eat at some nice places. While you note that this was feasible due to the time of year, I also wonder if the time of day mattered as well. For dinner, what time did you try for a walk-up? As I like eating dinner at around 7:30 (as does the rest of my family), I would think it would be harder to obtain a walk-up table than say 5:00-5:30.

It varied. We definitely ate dinner most times between 5 and 6, but I think our Teppan Edo meal was more like 7 or so.

I agree with you, though, that a willingness to be flexible with when you eat is critical if you want to go with no ADR's. If you're picky about what time you eat, I wouldn't try it.

Thanks Ian! Always enjoy learning from your experiences! We only make a couple of adr's - only for the 1 or 2 places that are a must do for that trip, the rest we wing! I can't imagine having those restraints on our day - everyday!

I think we may do this next time. Just make one or two "important" ADR's and then wing it the rest of the way.

[SBETigg]

I think it's really cool that you were able to do all this without ADRs. Good to know what's really possible. In a quieter season, of course, but it's still inspiring. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Joannelet]

I was wondering where your trip reports were!!
I'm so happy that you reported on this! When we did the dining plan in December not only are we never doing the dining plan again but it made me realize how ridiculous all the ADR's were. I dont' like planning my vacation around eating, it drives me nuts because we miss out on so many other things. Plus we don't get to do the order of the parks the way I want because it depends on where we are eating that day and that too drives me nuts!
For future trips I am only planning on making 1 or 2 ADR's and that is it...I'm tired of stressing out over where we have to be and how long its going to take me to get there.
Now that I have a child its even more difficult because half the times I made an ADR it wasn't a time that the baby ate and ended up having to feed him before or after our ADR anyways. This way if I don't have an ADR and he needs to eat at a certain time I will just get any counter service for him if need be. This just allows for more flexibility and less to be running around for. Thanks Ian for posting this! I really appreciate it!

[MegaDisney]

My last two trips to WDW I felt like a "slave to ADR's" and it was one of the reasons I didn't enjoy my trips as much as I would have liked.

I felt like we were running here and there just to eat and didn't have time to relax and enjoy the trip.

Thanks for posting this, on my next WDW trip I am gonna try and do it ADR free!

[JPL]

I don't mind having a few ADRs but never like being tied down on vacation so I often go ADR free. I can always find some place to eat and if I can't get a TS I can survive on CS since there is still enough variety. Glad to hear it worked out for you. After travelling with my cousin and her twins last year I realized how silly it is for families to be a slave to the ADR.

[Jeff]

That's good to hear.
I'm looking forward to being able to go at a non super busy time someday. I would love to not have to have o make ADRs.

[sndral]

I sometimes wondered this last trip just what good ADRs where - we waited several times well past our ADR time and watched what were clearly walkups be seated before us. The only place we saw a walkup turned away was La Cellier.

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

I'm glad to hear everything worked out for you. ADRs do take a lot of itme out of your day. We found that the ADRs at resort restaurants were especially time consuming but other than Epcot, that's where the best places seem to be.

[TheVBs]

Great news! So glad to hear this worked out for you.

We've done the everyday ADRs and the dining plan and won't be doing either again. I would much rather make just one or two ADRs, have more freedom and take our chances on walk-ins, or just get CS.

[Kim Possible]

that's awesome that it worked out so well! for my trip i always have to make reservations because the places i love are usually the popular ones

[Ian]

I sometimes wondered this last trip just what good ADRs where - we waited several times well past our ADR time and watched what were clearly walkups be seated before us. The only place we saw a walkup turned away was La Cellier.

Yeah, it's funny you mention this, because when we ate at Le Cellier we walked up to the reservations kiosk out front (the one that's set up actually outside the gate there, not the one inside the restaurant) and stood in line behind a couple who had ADR's and were checking in.

When it was our turn, we almost jokingly asked, "I don't suppose there's any chance you have a table available?" and the CM was like, "Oh well we could seat you right now if you'd like?"

So when we went inside, the couple that had been ahead of us was speaking to the hostess and I heard her telling them, "The wait could be up to 30 minutes." Not wanting to wait that long, I checked in with her and was told, "Oh you're next to be seated!" and we literally had a table inside of 2 or 3 minutes.

I watched and it took close to 20 minutes before the couple with the ADR's were seated.