304...ADRs

ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) are an important part of your WDW vacation.  When you are 180 days away from checking into your Disney Resort you can begin contacting Disney to make your dining reservations.  The reservation system is very easy to use.  You can either call them at (407) WDW-DINE or you can also use their online system.

If you are planning to experience some of the nice, sit down restaurants that Disney has to offer, you really need to plan ahead.  I would recommend making a list of all the restaurants you and your family want to visit.  Also try to anticipate which parks you will be visiting on a particular day.  Match up the restaurants with the park or parks you are planning on visiting each day.  I know that is difficult and could change, but plan anyway!  Once you have done that, contact Disney and begin making your reservations.  

So what do you do if you missed the 180 day mark and are a month or two away?  You still need to make a list of the restaurants you want to visit.  With that information contact Disney Dining and see if there are tables available.  You may have to be a little more flexible on the times that you eat, but there is still a chance that you can get to the restaurants of your choice.  If you have been using the online system you may want to call and talk to a Disney representative and just see all options they have available.  

If all else fails and there is a place that you really have to eat, continue to call and check.  People cancel their reservations all the time and you need to be persistant.  Once at the parks, you can also walk up to the podiums and see if there have been any cancellations.  Good luck!

Want more information on ADRs? Try these sites:

Everything Walt Disney World - Great article  

AllEars.net - General info