Any luck "winging it" during Free Dining?

[rebekahsd]

We'll be at WDW November 15-20. We have our "must do" ADRs all set but we're thinking of "winging" a few meals (just walking up) since we're traveling with with our twins who are 13 mos and don't want to be too strict with our scheduling. Any thoughts on walking up for early dinners at Sanaa and Kona Cafe? We've never been to either so aren't sure what crowds are typically like or how many people they can accommodate. Thanks!

 

[jazz0007]

Kona Café you can definitely get away with.....we do it quite often for breakfast and lunch. Sanaa I can't answer but when we were there for dinner last year there were quite a few empty tables. Great food btw....but it is a quieter atmosphere.

 

[nkereina]

Thats a relatively slow week so you likely shouldnt have a problem, as long as you're flexible with times and locations. As an alternative, you can also check ADRs on the MDE app and just book one for 30 mins or an hour for them, so you have more options.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm not sure you can get away with it at the Kona Cafe. I've been stalking an ADR there for quite a while, and can't find one that works for me.

 

[wdw&sonny]

It's free dining durnig that time. Based on the limited availability on the dining website during those dates, I think you are much more likely to be turned away than to walk right in...maybe you would wait for an hour or more.

 

[kastoney]

As an alternative, you can also check ADRs on the MDE app and just book one for 30 mins or an hour for them, so you have more options.

This is the method we used last month and it worked out perfect. As long as you are flexible on where you eat, the "world" of dining is your oyster.

 

[OasterP]

I would say based on my experience from my September trip during free dining - I think it would be a lot easier than I had expected based on what I read on here.

I'd definitely personally not wing it and do walk ups. But I looked through ADR's on MDE late at night each night and there were a lot of places open for all meals. And many of the places were ones that were super hard to get when I was booking.

We aren't doing many sit downs at our next trip, but I think if we do the regular dining plan again I'd book a couple definitely want to do and I'd do the rest as my trip progressed.

 

[mare1203]

Based on the restaurants you mention, yes! However, I would echo the sentiment to use MDE to book it, since you can do so just 20 minutes prior to showing up.

We booked a Sanaa reservation about an hour before we wanted to go on our trip a couple of weeks ago. It was wonderful! The same could be doable for Kona, though that particular one did not have any availability on MDE when I did a check on our arrival morning. The resort eateries will be your best bet, but it's definitely possible.

 

[POOHsie]

When we went to Sanaa, I'm not sure if it was officially "late lunch" or "early dinner." But it was pretty empty in there, and it was still daylight. This is important because you'll get to see the giraffes and other wildlife from the windows, and probably get a pretty good table for viewing. Any later and it's dark outside and the animals have been called in. I would try to book an ADR, even if you book earlier on the same day or the day before.

One time we went to Kona, maybe 1:30 or 2pm, and it was pretty empty in there. The trick to walk-in or short notice is to compromise (settle) on less-busy times of the day and be flexible. Perhaps calling the Disney Dining number and speaking to a CM would be helpful for finding some place enjoyable for your family. Or even the assistance of your resort Concierge might be worthwhile.

 

[rlovew]

We'll be at WDW November 15-20. We have our "must do" ADRs all set but we're thinking of "winging" a few meals (just walking up) since we're traveling with with our twins who are 13 mos and don't want to be too strict with our scheduling. Any thoughts on walking up for early dinners at Sanaa and Kona Cafe? We've never been to either so aren't sure what crowds are typically like or how many people they can accommodate. Thanks!

You will have a much easier time getting walk ups for lunch than dinner- if you plan on sitting down midday and then do CS in the evening you may get better options.

 

[David42301]

MDE and calling the dining reservation number worked for me day of reservation needed twice for kona and kouzzina in sept.

 

[SouthJersey]

We'll be at WDW November 15-20. We have our "must do" ADRs all set but we're thinking of "winging" a few meals (just walking up) since we're traveling with with our twins who are 13 mos and don't want to be too strict with our scheduling. Any thoughts on walking up for early dinners at Sanaa and Kona Cafe? We've never been to either so aren't sure what crowds are typically like or how many people they can accommodate. Thanks!

Kona will be fine.
Sanaa should take walk ups with a modest wait time.

We love this week and the week before Halloween, there's generally walk-up availability with a 30-45 min wait everywhere (excluding Le Cellier, BoG, Chef Mickey's, CRT, etc.)

 

[dpswift]

Thats a relatively slow week so you likely shouldnt have a problem, as long as you're flexible with times and locations. As an alternative, you can also check ADRs on the MDE app and just book one for 30 mins or an hour for them, so you have more options.

Insted of walking up I would make a last minute ADR. My kids went during FD in Sept and the last night was rainy. At 5:30pm they decided to go to dinner. I was shocked at what was available. Lots of choices.

I would make an ADR as some have reported being turned away at the door and then seeing ADRs available. Then going back inside with their ADR and getting in no problem.

 

[rebekahsd]

My problem is this: we currently have ADRs for both Sanaa and Kona Cafe but both times are lunch (1:00ish). I booked them right at my 90 day window and took those times without much thought. I'm realizing now that those times are pretty terrible for us (right in the middle of touring plans and will mean leaving the park to eat), but since we're a party of seven (4 adults, a 10 yo, and twin 13mo olds) ADRS on MDE are nonexistent. Early dinners (5:00) are ideal as they'll either be at the end of our day or the beginning of our evening after resting at our resort. I'm kicking myself for not having thought this through earlier!

 

[rebekahsd]

Insted of walking up I would make a last minute ADR. My kids went during FD in Sept and the last night was rainy. At 5:30pm they decided to go to dinner. I was shocked at what was available. Lots of choices. I would make an ADR as some have reported being turned away at the door and then seeing ADRs available. Then going back inside with their ADR and getting in no problem.

Think we'll be able to get a last minute ADR even with a party of 7?

 

[rebekahsd]

When we went to Sanaa, I'm not sure if it was officially "late lunch" or "early dinner." But it was pretty empty in there, and it was still daylight. This is important because you'll get to see the giraffes and other wildlife from the windows, and probably get a pretty good table for viewing. Any later and it's dark outside and the animals have been called in. I would try to book an ADR, even if you book earlier on the same day or the day before. One time we went to Kona, maybe 1:30 or 2pm, and it was pretty empty in there. The trick to walk-in or short notice is to compromise (settle) on less-busy times of the day and be flexible. Perhaps calling the Disney Dining number and speaking to a CM would be helpful for finding some place enjoyable for your family. Or even the assistance of your resort Concierge might be worthwhile.

What time of the year was this?

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We've had luck getting a table during free dining, but it's just the two of us. We plan a lot of last minute, long weekend trips so a lot of the available ADR's are at 2-3 p.m. for lunch or 8-10 p.m. for dinner. Sci-Fi is almost always able to accommodate us if we show up right when they open (11-11:30 a.m.). That seems to be key at possibly getting a table is to show up right when they open or come at off-times (2-3 p.m. for lunch or 8-10 p.m. for dinner). Good luck!

 

[rlovew]

My problem is this: we currently have ADRs for both Sanaa and Kona Cafe but both times are lunch (1:00ish). I booked them right at my 90 day window and took those times without much thought. I'm realizing now that those times are pretty terrible for us (right in the middle of touring plans and will mean leaving the park to eat), but since we're a party of seven (4 adults, a 10 yo, and twin 13mo olds) ADRS on MDE are nonexistent. Early dinners (5:00) are ideal as they'll either be at the end of our day or the beginning of our evening after resting at our resort. I'm kicking myself for not having thought this through earlier!

If ADRs are not-existent then walk-ups will be unavailable. If you want to wing it with a party of this size you need to be ready to eat at the unpopular places. Kona has very few tables for parties of that size. I have been able to walk up once with a party of 2 but those with parties larger than that were told they had no room available. Also if you are looking at walking up plan on waiting.

If you want to wait and see what time you want to eat and then sit down to eat you need to know what is most likely to be available. In the MK area you should be ready to try the buffet at Fort Wilderness, possibly the Wave although we were turned away as a party of 2 at opening last time we were there for free dining. In the AK area you should be trying for Rain Forest Cafe. In Epcot 9 Dragons and Marakesh will likely be your choices. At DHS you should be trying to dine at the Swan and Dolphin as they will have the most availability.

 

[rebekahsd]

If ADRs are not-existent then walk-ups will be unavailable. If you want to wing it with a party of this size you need to be ready to eat at the unpopular places. Kona has very few tables for parties of that size. I have been able to walk up once with a party of 2 but those with parties larger than that were told they had no room available. Also if you are looking at walking up plan on waiting. If you want to wait and see what time you want to eat and then sit down to eat you need to know what is most likely to be available. In the MK area you should be ready to try the buffet at Fort Wilderness, possibly the Wave although we were turned away as a party of 2 at opening last time we were there for free dining. In the AK area you should be trying for Rain Forest Cafe. In Epcot 9 Dragons and Marakesh will likely be your choices. At DHS you should be trying to dine at the Swan and Dolphin as they will have the most availability.

This is what I was afraid of!

 

[happymommy]

Are you only looking at table service meals (what I mean is, are you on the dining plan)? If you are open to counter service, it may relieve some stress for your group!

We've had good luck in the past calling to get last minute dining reservations, but that was way back when, and only the 4 of us. And we were SUPER open to whatever we could get (like at noon we were sitting by the pool and decided we wanted to eat someplace in Epcot - ended up with a 5:00pm at the place that is now Monsieur Paul.

We now totally wing it - we've been so many times that we prefer to not be tied down to reservations. We like lots of counter service places, and just go with the flow more.