ADRs as good gauge for park attendance?

[sunnydays28]

I am also using easyWDW and Touring Plans, but if I can't pull up any ADRs for a breakfast, is that a good indication that maybe I should pick another park that day?

Alternately, if I wasn't planning on hitting a certain park but there are several ADRs for a known difficult time/restaurant, should I grab it anyway?

[mesaboy2]

Originally Posted by sunnydays28

I am also using easyWDW and Touring Plans, but if I can't pull up any ADRs for a breakfast, is that a good indication that maybe I should pick another park that day?

Alternately, if I wasn't planning on hitting a certain park but there are several ADRs for a known difficult time/restaurant, should I grab it anyway?

Not in my opinion.

[Colleen27]

ADRs son't seem to have much relationship to overall crowd levels. Too many other things factor in, not the least of which is free or discounted dining plan offers. For years now the hardest times of year to find ADRs have been among the slowest, because that's when Disney offers free dining to fill rooms.

Also, the difficult ADRs seem to be a moving target. Between the CC policy and the natural rise and fall of popularity based on menu changes and reviews, some of the restaurants that were once extremely popular are now pretty easy to get (Le Cellier, CRT for any time after the park opens).

[luvdisney77]

We're going during Easter week, and I am getting every single ADR that we have wanted and desperately have tried to get all of our other trips on this one (and we went at times where attendance was low)!!! I know Easter is very busy, so not sure that it mirrors park attendance at all. That said, I can't believe my luck with ADRs!!

[lsenquiz]

Originally Posted by Colleen27

Also, the difficult ADRs seem to be a moving target. Between the CC policy and the natural rise and fall of popularity based on menu changes and reviews, some of the restaurants that were once extremely popular are now pretty easy to get (Le Cellier, CRT for any time after the park opens).

I agree. I think the CC policy and the changes to the reservation system that prevents people from having multiple ARDs at the same time has really helped.

I also think the lack of ADRs is a good indication of is whether or not people expect Disney to offer free dining. We go in the third week of September every year. This is typically a week when free dining is offered. It is almost impossible to get an ADR at less than 3 months out but the park attendance is always extremely low during our trips.