Any Chances more dining reservations open up

[OHIOVACATIONER]

Hello....I am booking dining at my 60 day window and finding most are not available. We are not doing parks so looking at monorail resort dining. Do they hold some times open for walk-ins? Only a party of 2. I will definitely keep checking. Looking for reviews on the best for steak/ribs in the monorail resorts please. Any recommendations on the best dinner buffets?
Steakhouse 71
Citricos
Captain Cook's

 

[EACarlson]

They don't necessarily hold for walk ups but if you keep checking you may find an opening as people's plans solidify and they cancel the reservation. I'd highly recommend looking for tables of 3 or 4 also. I've had issues where I wasn't able to get a table for 2, but a table for 4 was available.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

Hmm that's odd.
I can only see 60 days out since my trip isn't until next year but looking at December 8th I saw TONS of ADR's at pretty much all the resorts including GF, Poly, and CR...

If you want steak then Steakhouse 71 is great!

You mention Capt. Cook's you do realize that is QS correct so you can just go walk in and eat. Love the pork sandwich there.

Also consider Trader Sams either inside or outside at Poly. Great drinks and the flatbread is to die for IMO.

 

[sdk1231]

I visit 3-4 times per year (my daughter is a CM). I usually stay at the Grand Floridian. I never book ADR's. I always just book dining as I go. Everything is always available. Well, maybe not everything, but nearly everything. Just back from a weekend trip this past weekend, Friday-Monday. Every day, every meal, I checked dining availability and had almost every restaurant available including "hard to get" locations like Cinderella's Royal Table, Space 220, O'hana etc. You will have no trouble getting reservations at the monorail resort restaurants. Do not sweat the ADR's.

Steak - I love Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary. Narcoossee's, Grand Floridian Cafe and Citricos at the GF are great and have good steak.
Ribs - I'd have to look at menus, but I think the only spot with ribs is Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge? I'm not sure.
Buffet - Best dinner buffet hands down is 1900 Park Fare at the GF. It's Grand Floridian culinary food. The Prime Rib, Salmon, mashed potatoes and other sides and desserts are are high quality and awesome. Characters are good. Other buffet option is Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary which I dislike, finding it loud and obnoxious and the food not that great. Ohana is not a buffet but an all-you-can-eat. I don't personally like the dinner food at Ohana, but many do.

So every day whenever I start getting hungry, I check dining availability. Tons of choices. There's a spot on the MDE app where you can check Walk Up. I often saw Steakhouse 71, GF Cafe and Citrico's available for walk-up.

Side note - don't forget the bars. You can eat from the regular menu at the bars at Steakhouse 71, Narcoosee's and Citricos, no reservation needed. Every trip, I eat dinner at the bar at Narcoossee's. I just stroll in when I get hungry. I hate being locked in to reservation times. The Narcoossee's bar is beautiful, view is great, staff is great.

You mentioned Captain Cooks at the Polynesian. That's a quick-service restaurant. I do like their meatballs, but if doing quick service, I personally prefer Gasparilla Grill at the Grand Floridian. I also like the Tambu Lounge bar snacks upstairs at the Poly (next to O'hana).

Sorry for the long note!

 

[OHIOVACATIONER]

I visit 3-4 times per year (my daughter is a CM). I usually stay at the Grand Floridian. I never book ADR's. I always just book dining as I go. Everything is always available. Well, maybe not everything, but nearly everything. Just back from a weekend trip this past weekend, Friday-Monday. Every day, every meal, I checked dining availability and had almost every restaurant available including "hard to get" locations like Cinderella's Royal Table, Space 220, O'hana etc. You will have no trouble getting reservations at the monorail resort restaurants. Do not sweat the ADR's.

Steak - I love Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary. Narcoossee's, Grand Floridian Cafe and Citricos at the GF are great and have good steak.
Ribs - I'd have to look at menus, but I think the only spot with ribs is Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge? I'm not sure.
Buffet - Best dinner buffet hands down is 1900 Park Fare at the GF. It's Grand Floridian culinary food. The Prime Rib, Salmon, mashed potatoes and other sides and desserts are are high quality and awesome. Characters are good. Other buffet option is Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary which I dislike, finding it loud and obnoxious and the food not that great. Ohana is not a buffet but an all-you-can-eat. I don't personally like the dinner food at Ohana, but many do.

So every day whenever I start getting hungry, I check dining availability. Tons of choices. There's a spot on the MDE app where you can check Walk Up. I often saw Steakhouse 71, GF Cafe and Citrico's available for walk-up.

Side note - don't forget the bars. You can eat from the regular menu at the bars at Steakhouse 71, Narcoosee's and Citricos, no reservation needed. Every trip, I eat dinner at the bar at Narcoossee's. I just stroll in when I get hungry. I hate being locked in to reservation times. The Narcoossee's bar is beautiful, view is great, staff is great.

You mentioned Captain Cooks at the Polynesian. That's a quick-service restaurant. I do like their meatballs, but if doing quick service, I personally prefer Gasparilla Grill at the Grand Floridian. I also like the Tambu Lounge bar snacks upstairs at the Poly (next to O'hana).

Sorry for the long note!

Great review. Thank you so much for all of the information.

 

[Mikey15]

Any recommendations on the best dinner buffets?

We do a Boma dinner every trip, and there’s usually plenty of availability. It truly is delicious, and the Animal Kingdom Lodge is worth the trip alone (lobby & Savannah).