Advanced Reservations

[Bellhop97]

Ok.. we are going in Sept and I already made a couple of reservations.. but is it possible to chance it and not make a reservation.. and take a chance that a certain restaurant will be open..? I just hate to plan where I'm going to eat everyday.. I don't like being on a schedule while I'm on vaca..

 

[clayj41]

Depends on the restaurant. There are some you almost never need an advanced reservation for, and there are some that will already be completely unavailable for a September trip.

Are there certain restaurants you're more interested in?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Of course it's possible to chance it. However, if you really want to eat at a Table Service restaurant, your best chance of being able to do that at a time acceptable to you is to have an ADR. Most do not accept walk-ups; walk-ups at peak dining hours are also rare, especially at popular venues.

If you are okay with eating Quick Service, it's fine to skip ADRs.

You can also try to book ADRs the night before. Again, it's chancy, but it often works.

 

[Bellhop97]

Of course it's possible to chance it. However, if you really want to eat at a Table Service restaurant, your best chance of being able to do that at a time acceptable to you is to have an ADR. Most do not accept walk-ups; walk-ups at peak dining hours are also rare, especially at popular venues.

If you are okay with eating Quick Service, it's fine to skip ADRs.

You can also try to book ADRs the night before. Again, it's chancy, but it often works.

Thanks for the tip... we have the free dining included.. I just hate to be on a set schedule.. I just like going with the flow

 

[mocame]

Ditto what everyone else said. This trip we had ADRs for dinner at 50s Prime Time and when we got to the restaurant it was packed and we were told to wait until we were called. Right then a gentleman went up to the lady at check-in and asked if they had a table for a family of 3 and that they didn't have an ADR. She said yes and they were taken to a table before us and others who had been waiting there and had ADRs. So yes, it is possible.

 

[minnie mum]

Just be aware than when you go during a free dining period, many, if not most, restaurants get booked up by guests on the DDP who don't want to risk wasting their TS credits. No one wants a regimented vacation, but booking your ADRs in advance means you are guaranteed a table at the restaurant (and time) of your choosing. Betting on a walkup at a restaurant in the parks (except Epcot) during free dining is very risky. At the very least, consider checking for same day ADR availability in the morning. It would be a shame to waste TS credits on CS meals.

 

[Bellhop97]

Depends on the restaurant. There are some you almost never need an advanced reservation for, and there are some that will already be completely unavailable for a September trip.

Are there certain restaurants you're more interested in?

I did ADR for a couple.. but the one I really want to try is the coral reef restaurant, but don't want to commit to specific day..

 

[clayj41]

I did ADR for a couple.. but the one I really want to try is the coral reef restaurant, but don't want to commit to specific day..

I was actually thinking about trying the Coral Reef Restaurant for the first time my next trip. I've read different things though about the need for ADR with some guests claiming to have had success with walk-ups. As others have said though, you have to be careful with the free dining period.

If you're labeling a restaurant as one you'd "really want to try" then I'd bite the bullet and make the ADR. But I'm really regimented when it comes to my WDW vacations. There's always room for improvising, but I'd make the reservation and build everything else around it that day if it's something my heart was really set on.

 

[rwdavis2]

One good strategy I've read about is start checking 1-2 days before you actually want to eat there. People cancel to avoid the no-show charge.

 

[AngiTN]

It's actually fairly easy to just follow this advice
If you have a restaurant that you want to eat at for certain, book an ADR
If you just want to eat somewhere on a given day, wait and find something the day before or day of. There is lots of options to choose from, just maybe not prime choices or even not prime choices at prime times.
There are tons of things out there but there is no way to guarantee it will be that must have restaurant.
So book those in advance. Always.
Never count on a walk up unless it's one of the Landry properties. You can most always walk up to them. And I understand maybe Via Napoli takes walk ups at most all times

 

[addiln]

My brother was there this past April and he chanced it. He did not do so well when he did and found it hard to get into any restaurant. They did a few qs and also had dinner at the resort since that seemed to have availability. In the parks he had no luck. In the end if you want something specific you are better booking it and having it locked in. If you want to wing it go for it but don't expect places like BOG to have openings. Good luck with it.

 

[GreatLakes]

I rarely make ADRs and almost never make them on park days. I have so far not been forced to not eat on any trip. I may have to go for a second or third choice and usually eat at non-standard times but yes, you can just wing it without ADRs and not starve.

 

[maxiesmom]

I rarely make ADRs and almost never make them on park days. I have so far not been forced to not eat on any trip. I may have to go for a second or third choice and usually eat at non-standard times but yes, you can just wing it without ADRs and not starve.

This is the catch. As long as you are very flexible with time and location winging it is ok. If you want to eat at noon right where you end up, you may not have any luck. Don't be in the Magic Kingdom at noon and think you are going to walk up to the Castle for lunch. Or at 6 pm walk into Be our Guest. Odds are it won't work.

 

[AngiTN]

I rarely make ADRs and almost never make them on park days. I have so far not been forced to not eat on any trip. I may have to go for a second or third choice and usually eat at non-standard times but yes, you can just wing it without ADRs and not starve.

Not starving and eating at specific locations are 2 different things.
Sure there is plenty of places you can book same day
And there are some where it's impossible to get in without an ADR
If you want one of those you are SOL
If you are willing to take whatever is available then yeah, you can do just fine.
And if you are booking for 10 you are going to find it way more difficult to even walk up vs. someone in a party of 2 or 4.