Anyone just return from Disney??? Table Service?

[Nora94]

oh, forgot to mention, we were there April 22 - May 1. And another night we had PS at Narcossees (had made the PS the day before through our front desk), saw the menu for real and left w/o eating there. We walked over to GRand Floridian Cafe and asked if we could get in and they sat us instantly with no ps at all.

So, you can do it.

 

[psupple]

I was able to made AR's for Monday, May 23rd - lunch at Le Cellier for 12:50 and dinner at Artist Pointe for Saturday, May 21st - 6:45pm. These were both my first choices; I can't believe they were available!

 

[disneytraveler]

Looks like i should figure in 2 more AR for my September trip.

 

[Fla Gator]

I was able to made AR's for Monday, May 23rd - lunch at Le Cellier for 12:50 and dinner at Artist Pointe for Saturday, May 21st - 6:45pm. These were both my first choices; I can't believe they were available!

We'll be at LeCellier at 11:30 that same day! We are a party of 11, though, so I made my PS/AR arrangements in March and still had trouble getting the times I wanted for various meals. I'm sure parties of 1-4 have it much easier as far as getting the times they want or even just walking up. We made the mistake of waiting until we arrived at MGM this January (MLK weekend) to try to make a PS for our party of 9 and the only tables they had available were for 2 (we don't mind splitting into two tables but 5 tables, no way!).

 

[marriedmarylander]

Is this because many people made advanced reservations or arrangements whatever they are called or because as soon as the restaurant opened a lot of people just walked up? When I called they would usually tell me no availability for party of 2, but they had openings for parties of 3,4,5, etc. I'm wondering if on that day if they haven't filled the ressies for larger parties they open them up for walk ins. I haven't been but I would imaging most tables for larger parties are just smaller tables put together so they can separate them and accomodate walk ins.

 

[Stacey2grls]

Unfortunately its all true! We were there last week, and even though I had already made alot of ps's I left a couple open for counter service or if we saw a place that struck our fancy. Well we were turned away everytime but one. My friend is down there now and she just called me today traumatized because she decided to just wing this trip and not commit herself to ps's, and guess what? She has been eating counter service for 5 days!

 

[shafke]

The last week of April we were able to make a PS for 6 in Germany at about 2pm for 4:30 and had no problem checking in at about 5:15 (DS and I got "stuck" on Soarin' which had just opened at 4:30 and DW and DD got held up by rain in France). Walk up probably would have been tougher but if you are fkexible, except for the most popular places you should be able to make same day PS's

 

[dsneygirl]

We were there the week of May 1-8 and were able to make several same day PS's since we were flexible and our plans were always chaging. But I didn't notice if walk ups were being turned away.

 

[weregoingtodw]

We saw walk-ins routinely turned away. When we ate at Trails End, they were telling the walk-ins a 2-3 hour wait - and that was told to a party of 2. I'd definitely recommend PSs for ANY meal.

 

[golfgal]

I would make them just in case. I would make extras if you aren't sure where you will be or where you want to eat and then cancel the ones you don't use. Not worth taking the chance of eating CS meals for a week straight.

 

[sotoalf]

Is this happening most often at the parks or are the resort restaurants experiencing similar crowds?

 

[psupple]

We'll be at LeCellier at 11:30 that same day! We are a party of 11, though, so I made my PS/AR arrangements in March and still had trouble getting the times I wanted for various meals. I'm sure parties of 1-4 have it much easier as far as getting the times they want or even just walking up. We made the mistake of waiting until we arrived at MGM this January (MLK weekend) to try to make a PS for our party of 9 and the only tables they had available were for 2 (we don't mind splitting into two tables but 5 tables, no way!).

Have a great time on your upcoming vacation! And enjoy Le Cellier

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I would make them just in case. I would make extras if you aren't sure where you will be or where you want to eat and then cancel the ones you don't use. Not worth taking the chance of eating CS meals for a week straight.

I second that! Counter service all week would have me piling the kids into the rental car and heading for City Walk. EVen my kids wouldn't eat counter service all week. As it is, we will be looking at places that serve sandwiches and noodles instead of burgers to make the best of our counter service.

 

[sk!mom]

We were there 4/29 - 5/4. The parks were not busy but I heard walk-ups being turned away or told that it would be a long wait at Ohana, Sci Fi, CM, and CRT of course. I had made PS's for all meals so we did not try any walk-ups.

I would suggest making PS's in advance and then making changes at WDW if your plans change. I was able to change several of my PS's during our stay as our plans changed.

 

[mattr555]

I was there 4/22 to 6/5 and we walked into the Brown Derby at MGM, Tony's at MK, and Le Cellier and Biergarten at Epcot.

 

[DVC Owner in MA]

Just got back... walk-ups were no problem at Biergarten on 5/13, however, the weren't taking any walk-ups at Sci-Fi on 5/15. This was at 11:30 AM and they were telling people they were completely booked until 8:45 that night. I figured that meant that the restaurant would be packed, but it was never completely full during our entire meal (we were there from 12:15 to about 1:15). Some tables sat dirty and then cleaned but unused for 20 minutes or more at a time, which I thought was kind of strange given they were turning people away.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Just got back... walk-ups were no problem at Biergarten on 5/13, however, the weren't taking any walk-ups at Sci-Fi on 5/15. This was at 11:30 AM and they were telling people they were completely booked until 8:45 that night. I figured that meant that the restaurant would be packed, but it was never completely full during our entire meal (we were there from 12:15 to about 1:15). Some tables sat dirty and then cleaned but unused for 20 minutes or more at a time, which I thought was kind of strange given they were turning people away.

We saw that happen at Brown Derby last week, too. They were so shortstaffed that tables sat waiting to be bused, and people were being turned away in the foyer and long waits.

We did not walkup to any table service places last week, but we did make a last minute PS for Sci Fi from our hotel (guest services there at WL did it) just 2 hours before and she had lots of openings available.

Kona was taking walkups at 10am for breakfast, and Yachtsman was taking walkups for dinner. Regardless, we always make PS so we don't get stuck =)

They're easily made and easily changed! Why not?

 

[widget]

So, do you strongly suggest that if im going 17th December for 5 nights that it would be in my best interest to choose where I want to eat in the evenings and get it booked before I leave England? Wow, I knew it got busy but!!!! And what about during lunch times - is it just as bad? Hope someone can offer advise! Gosh, planning is such sweet sorrow!!!!!

 

[LibertyLover]

Reading this thread makes me a bit concerned. I'm going to WDW for a quick trip this weekend - very impromtu and didn't make any PS. I can't decide if I should try now or just wing it. I think I'll call and see if I can get 9 Dragons for dinner Sunday or Monday evening. At least I know she'll eat a good meal there.

 

[LisaS]

Just got back this past weekend from a trip from 5/8 to 5/14. I can only comment on dinner since we don't typically do lunch. It seemed that if a restaurant was taking walk-ins, the wait was always over an hour and usually much longer. For example, when we checked in for our 7pm PS at Mexico's San Angel Inn, walk-ins were being told the earliest they could be seated was 8:45. However, the couple in front of us in line were able to make a PS/ADR for a reasonable time for the following evening. So it seemed that at some places you could still get a PS/ADR 24 hours ahead but couldn't just walk up and expect to eat at a reasonable time.

I didn't make my PSs 90 days in advance other than for California Grill. I think I did most of them starting about 2 months ahead and I remember I made the last 2 PSs 29 days out. But then the parks didn't seem that crowded while we were there, so if you're going at a busier time then you may find things are booking up more quickly. It's also not clear if PSs will be available 24 hours ahead during busier times either.

I really don't like having to make my dining plans weeks/months in advance. But since I DO like getting to eat at our first choice places and getting to eat when we want to, I force myself to come up with a plan and then make a dinner PS for every night of our trip. I really enjoy myself once we get there because all the planning is done and I don't spend any more of my time on the phone making last-minute arrangements. I guess that's the price we pay when we choose to go to such a popular vacation destination with such fun and great restaurants!