Ian's No ADR Trip - A Summary

[caryrae]

We also never make ADR's except once we did one for T-Rex just in case but it ended up not being needed, there was a whole big section not being used. We just never know what we will be in the mood for or where we will be or even if we will be hungry at that time. Like you said we are on vacation and don't want to be at a certain place at a certain time throughout the trip, I have enough of that at work.

[javamama]

good for you guys I hate having to stress about this stuff 180 days out, what park has EMH, all that stuff c'mon we're on vacation and we're worrying about eating? I do it like the majority, but I'm not a fan at all. I like the old way of walking up putting your name on a list, or calling ahead when your down there-kwim? I'm glad it worked out for you guys, and you ate at some great places too that's even better! I wish May was like this still, but I don't think so anymore. Thanks for the update!

[Hammer]

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.

Sorry, if I had been that couple, I would have been absolutely livid that anyone without an ADR was seated before me. Sorry Ian, but your family should have been made to wait. I know if your family had been the ones with the ADR and some walk-up was seated before you, you would have been fuming.

[CaptSmee]

I'm going to do the same thing on an upcoming trip for the same reason. Let's hurry! We have to get to so and so! Sheesh! Is it the end of the world if we miss an ADR? Unless maybe it's Ohana?

[Belster]

Wow!!! I am impressed at your leap of faith!!

I have been thinking of doing this myself...I don't if I can muster up the courage.

[Melanie]

Being local now, we've tried out the no ADR thing quite often recently, and have had pretty good luck.

Regarding your seating at LeCellier, did it have anything to do with the couple having reserved a two top and you guys needing a four? I can somewhat understand that, but they should have still been seated first.

[TinksDH]

Family size can also make a difference in being able to obtain last-minute seating. We are a family of 5, and as such, seating flexibility is greatly reduced for us. If you are a family of 4 or less, your table options are much greater. Granted, some restaurants have the ability to push two 4-seat tables together to make a 6-seat table, but you need for both of them to be side-by-side and open up at the same time. I often watch smaller groups who arrive later than us at a check in station get taken before us due to the group size. So for us, we tend to like to make ADR's just to ensure we get to eat when we want to. We also find that we get immersed in the day and by the time we realize we are hungry, it is late enough that getting a walk-up seating would be much more difficult.

[Ian]

Sorry, if I had been that couple, I would have been absolutely livid that anyone without an ADR was seated before me. Sorry Ian, but your family should have been made to wait. I know if your family had been the ones with the ADR and some walk-up was seated before you, you would have been fuming.

Oh Christine, I totally agree with you. The only thing is, that couple had no idea that we didn't have ADR's, I'm sure.

Also, as will be discussed shortly, there are far fewer 2-top tables in Le Cellier than there are 4-top, so that probably contributed to it.

Regarding your seating at LeCellier, did it have anything to do with the couple having reserved a two top and you guys needing a four? I can somewhat understand that, but they should have still been seated first.

I'm quite certain it did, Mel. We immediately took notice that the number of two person tables was a lot less than four person tables. I'm sure that made a huge difference.

Family size can also make a difference in being able to obtain last-minute seating. We are a family of 5, and as such, seating flexibility is greatly reduced for us. If you are a family of 4 or less, your table options are much greater.

Just for the record, we were a 5 person party for most of the trip as one of our friends traveled with us. She happened to be visiting her Mom down in Tampa when we ate at Le Cellier, which is why we were only a party of 4 at that point.

[forever a child]

Glad to hear that walk-ins can still enjoy sit down meals. I was beginning to wonder about ADR controlling my trip.

I plan on doing walk-ins for our next trip. We eat when we are hungry and not on any set schedule. Being that there are just two of us I don't think we will have a difficult time.

Thanks for great post!

[Hammer]

Oh Christine, I totally agree with you. The only thing is, that couple had no idea that we didn't have ADR's, I'm sure.

Also, as will be discussed shortly, there are far fewer 2-top tables in Le Cellier than there are 4-top, so that probably contributed to it.

I'm quite certain it did, Mel. We immediately took notice that the number of two person tables was a lot less than four person tables. I'm sure that made a huge difference.

Except whenever I make ADRs for Le Cellier, it is always a party of 2. We are usually seated within 5 minutes and almost always at 4 top. I think that is the issue I have with that host/hostess. Most Le Cellier hosts/hostesses put parties of 2 at a 4 top. I just think the person who was working messed up (though you did benefit ).

[Ian]

I would guess it depends on how busy they are, Christine. If Disney can put four paying guests at a four-top table in front of 2 paying guests I'd be shocked if they didn't take that opportunity most times.

Not saying that it's right at all, but just knowing how they operate that's what I would expect them to do.

[Hammer]

Ian, what you're saying can be true, but that could also backfire. I know that my sister and I spend more at a meal than some families of four as we always have alcohol (usually more than 1) with our meals and order all 3 courses. You know how big of a moneymaker alcohol is for a restaurant. We can't be that unique !

[Ian]

Ian, what you're saying can be true, but that could also backfire. I know that my sister and I spend more at a meal than some families of four as we always have alcohol (usually more than 1) with our meals and order all 3 courses. You know how big of a moneymaker alcohol is for a restaurant. We can't be that unique !

Ha ha ha ...

Trust me, there is no one who consumes more alcohol on a trip to Disney World than parents with two kids in tow.

[Granny Jill A]

I'm glad to see this thread pop up. I don't like to schedule my vacation around eating, so I just say No to ADRs.

The "free" dining offers have really disrupted the spontaneity of a vacation. I'm sad that I can't just pop in to sample a restaurant like the old days.

[rubato]

Hearing this makes me VERY happy! I absolutely hated having to stop what we were doing every single day to make it somewhere else on time. And, with Disney transportation, we would be struggling to make it or be an hour early! So, I will just try this next time. We always travel in the very off season, so shouldn't be a problem. Last month, there were empty tables everywhere we went, except Le Cellier. But, since it wasn't that good, I don't need to go back there!

[Septbride2002]

That's awesome but I doubt it would work as well in the fall.

[Ian]

That's awesome but I doubt it would work as well in the fall.

Nope. The only time I might try it in fall would be early September.

Once it gets to be MNSSHP time and the DVCers show up, I think you'd be out of luck.

[Septbride2002]

Nope. The only time I might try it in fall would be early September.

Once it gets to be MNSSHP time and the DVCers show up, I think you'd be out of luck.

Not to mention the free dining crowd

~Amanda

[eandrsmom]

Thanks for posting your report. I hate being a slave to ADR's. On our next trip, we won't be using the dining plan, so I probably won't need to worry too much about ADR's. Whenever I pay for the dining plan, I feel like we have to make ADR's, so that we get our money's worth. I think that not purchasing the dining plan is going to make things a lot less stressful.

[biodtl]

Our last trip was the first time we made more than 1 or 2 special (can't miss) ADRs and to be honest, our experience wasn't much different than when we didn't - either way we have been lucky enough to get in where we wanted.

So next time, we'll probably go back to the old way - making ADRs only for the can't miss stuff and playing it by ear for the rest. I'm sure it helps a lot that we are VERY flexible - we will eat lunch at 2:00 and eat dinner at 8:30pm. If we have to , we'll pick up snacks (or leftover DDP desserts) to hold us over until meal time.

We usually end up calling the dining line in the morning before we head out and just ask what is available for the park (or nearby resorts) we are visiting. We don't care if it's lunch or dinner and we're not picky on times or type of food.

Even if we don't get our first choice, we still end up happy and satisfied and it's a great way to end up trying new and different restaurants.