Appetizers and Drinks only with ADR?

[amee]

Does anyone ever just do drinks and appetizers at TS places? We normally do the full meal, but because it's so hard to get ADR's and some were very late, I am not sure I really want to eat a full meal at 9pm, but i would still like the experience. Would this be frowned upon?

thank you.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Nope

 

[kastoney]

Certainly would not be frowned upon. We've done just drinks and apps (and usually dessert) before and have had no issue at all. Though we usually tip a bit higher since the server would have likely had a more lucrative table if we ordered more traditionally.

 

[Louis morrell]

We do it. I typically book a mid afternoon res for drinks and a small bite. I also do not book those whem my booking window opens, I wait a week or so later.

I don't know if it is "frowned upon" but if they wanted it to stop they would do something to stop it. I have asked waiters if it was a problem on several ocassions and they appeared sincere when they said no problem at all.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Certainly would not be frowned upon. We've done just drinks and apps (and usually dessert) before and have had no issue at all. Though we usually tip a bit higher since the server would have likely had a more lucrative table if we ordered more traditionally.

Agreed. This is also our approach, and it's worked well. We like the idea of throwing a bit extra in for a tip, assuming the service is good.

 

[The WDW 3]

Have you thought about just going to one of the lounges?

 

[loves to dive]

I almost always do it since I don't eat large meals. I rarely order an entre, sometimes I do order two appetizers as my meal. I usually tip by looking at the price of something that I would have eaten had I ordered an entre. For example: I rarely eat beef, not for any dietary or allergy reason, just not a huge fan. I tend to eat a lot of chicken and lamb and pork. The portion sizes are just usually too large for me so I only eat half of what's on my plate if I order an entre and leave the rest, which is a waste and I don't usually carry a bag so there is no way to carry (or heat up later for that matter) left overs around the park. So I look at what the price would be for a dish I would have eaten had the portions not been to large and tip according to that (sometimes the two appetizers are actually more expensive, in that case I tip based on those).

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Have you thought about just going to one of the lounges?

The problem with this idea, is that one can’t make reservations for lounges. If only one could.

 

[sethschroeder]

I wouldn't as there isn't anything that amazing about the "experience" most places that I would worry about making a reservation for an app and drinks which are going to be pretty much the same everywhere.

Its also why Disney is going more and more fixed price to avoid people doing this.

If dinner was too late then I would simply cancel and see if something comes up earlier or hit up one of the variety of other places to eat.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I almost always do it since I don't eat large meals. I rarely order an entre, sometimes I do order two appetizers as my meal. I usually tip by looking at the price of something that I would have eaten had I ordered an entre. For example: I rarely eat beef, not for any dietary or allergy reason, just not a huge fan. I tend to eat a lot of chicken and lamb and pork. The portion sizes are just usually too large for me so I only eat half of what's on my plate if I order an entre and leave the rest, which is a waste and I don't usually carry a bag so there is no way to carry (or heat up later for that matter) left overs around the park. So I look at what the price would be for a dish I would have eaten had the portions not been to large and tip according to that (sometimes the two appetizers are actually more expensive, in that case I tip based on those).

Same here.

 

[HopperFan]

Yes, often appetizers are more appealing and we can get several. Never had an issue. We are careful not to tie up a table too long if we stopped ordering drinks.

 

[HopperFan]

.

 

[amee]

Have you thought about just going to one of the lounges?

Hi HopperFan… I probably would just go to a lounge, but my understanding is you can’t access some resorts without having an ADR. That’s what we’ve done in past. We arrive the Sunday after Thanksgiving, for 10 days. If accessing the resorts/lounges is easy, then i probably will cancel some reservations or move them to better times, if there is availability.

 

[amee]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I appreciate it very much!

 

[sethschroeder]

Hi HopperFan… I probably would just go to a lounge, but my understanding is you can’t access some resorts without having an ADR. That’s what we’ve done in past. We arrive the Sunday after Thanksgiving, for 10 days. If accessing the resorts/lounges is easy, then i probably will cancel some reservations or move them to better times, if there is availability.

Just take the bus or walk there. Any resturant you likely want to get to (other than AKL) can easily be accessed from the parks themselves.

I would never make dinner plans simply to explore resorts.