Are Walk-ups Nearly Impossible At Ts?

[Coconuts]

If you spontaneously plan a trip or don't do the DDP, how hard is it to eat at TS? How long do you usually have to wait on a walk-up? Do they take DDP people before others? If you don't make ADR's, are you resigned to eating CS or TS at 11pm?

 

[dbk1029]

Make the reservations as soon as you are able prior to your trip. I ahve seen many turn aways at the TS places at dinner time.

 

[Brian Noble]

There are zero tables reserved for walk-ups, DDP or not. Zero.

If you are an on-the-fly sort of person, you'd do well to carry your cell phone. Rather than walk up to the podium, call WDW-DINE, and see if they can get you an ADR for a restaurant near where you are for the next 15-30 minutes. People cancel all the time.

If you can't get a last-minute ADR, chances are good that you'll have a long wait as a walk-up (if you can walk-up at all). You can ask, but be prepared to be told no.

 

[HelenParr]

We often go without pre-departure ADRs and have pretty good luck, but there are only two of us, and we are flexible on where and when.

Not walk-up, but less planned: Front desk/reservation concierge can help, even same day, for finding open ADRs.

Walk-up: For the very popular restaurants (e.g., Le Cellier, Cali Grill), walk up may be impossible, even for off hours. For other places, if there are only two of you, you can often be seated in a reasonable amount of time (15-20 minutes). It helps if you are willing to sit at a bar (if there is one, including at Cali Grill), and not going at the dinner rush makes it easier. If there are more than two of you, it gets more difficult.

 

[annnewjerz]

Last trip we went without any ADRs. There were four adults in our group and we still managed to eat at some TS restuarants. We had San Angel at lunch, Flying Fish Cafe for a late dinner (8:30pm I believe), Sci-Fi Dine In Theather for late lunch (2:00pm); Tony's for normal dinner time; CP for late breakfast (more like brunch) at 10:30am, Rainforest Cafe outside of AK for lunch and Fulton's Crab House for a late dinner at DTD and the Concourse Grill in the Comtemporary for dinner with a wait of 35 minutes.

That being said, we were also turned away at a lot of places. We tried Coral Reef and Le Cellier and Tutto Italia and they had nothing all day. We also tried LTT, Chef Mickey's and Yak & Yeti and were unable to get in and Mama Melrose's and 50's Prime Time as well. Luckily, we were calling instead of hopping from park to park to try to get ressies. I would definitely recommend doing that if you can. No sense in wasting precious park time trying to find a good TS location.

 

[Coconuts]

Thanks for the great input.

 

[FSUSammy]

On our last trip we got a last minute ADR for CP before we left. When we were in Epcot one night we decided we wanted to eat at Biergarten and walked up and had to wait about 45 minutes to get in. Didn't get to see the show but that's ok, we were there for the awesome food. I'm not counting on getting that lucky on our trip in a few weeks.

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

I suppose it also depends on when you go and how busy it is?

Until our trip in summer (and when I found DISBOARDS!) we had NO idea that ADRs were the best idea.

But then we spent many meals at our villa (we tended to stay off-site) and generally only ever had CS meals. In 2004, we walked up to Tony's and got seated within 35-mins; we were a party of 6, it was a busy time (July) so I think that was good.

My Mum and Dad went in January 2006 and ate at many TS restaurants (including some at the GF and the Sci Fi Dine In, I can't remember the others) as walk-ups, they didn't have a problem at all.

In summer this year, we made a few ADRs but we also were walk-ups to Jiko and Kona Cafe and got seated very quickly!

Good luck!
xxx

 

[crisi]

I suppose it also depends on when you go and how busy it is?

Kind of. But if Disney isn't expecting full restaurants, they don't staff for full restaurants - so its possible to show up at a slow time, have plenty of tables available, and be turned away - because there isn't sufficient waitstaff. We once had a long wait for Beirgarten to get seated in a nearly empty restaurant - with only a few waiters on staff.

In general:

Small parties are easier to seat than large parties.
Lunch is easier than dinner
Off times are easier than prime eating times (2pm lunches, 4:30 dinners)
Signature restaurants are easier than one credit restaurants (with exceptions like California Grill for fireworks)
Resort restaurants are easier than park restaurants

One thing to keep in mind is that the restaurants are often not really close to one another - so looking for a restaurant that can seat you when you are hungry can be an exhausting exercise.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Anything is possible. We have done a few walk ups right when the places open but after that we usually are turned away

 

[disnut8]

My advice is to use your cell phone while in the parks. Call the dining number and see if anything is available. If not, you don't have to waste your time. But if there is, you now have a reservation and won't be considered a walk-up.

For a party of two, I am often able to do this once we decide on the park we are going to that day. You never know but a phone call is much easier than going to the restaurant, possibly waiting in a line only to find out you can't eat there.

 

[Eventer98]

We wanted to eat at Ohanas for a 2nd time during our trip last Aug. We walked up and was told it would be 90m. We waited and it turned out to be an hour. It was just DH and I so it was reasonable. I guess it depends how badly you want to eat somewhere!

 

[caroline1851]

We were able to just walk up to the Plaza at MK for lunch around 1:30

 

[buckirj1]

It depends. If you're solo or a couple, and are flexible and willing to wait, you'll probably do okay as a walkup. I did it a lot on my last trip, and just ate at the resort food court if nothing worked out. Expecting a restaurant to seat any more than two people as a walkup might not meet with a great deal of success. Good luck, whatever you decide.

My motto: he who travels fastest travels alone...and that goes double for she!

 

[Nohal]

We were there in Sept during free dining and were able to walk in to Yak & Yeti. I called the Dining line while I was in AK and was told there were no openings. I walked over to the restaurant at 10:45, it wasn't opened yet but there were 2 people standing outside with a clip board and I was able to get in for lunch at 11:15. I was also talking to someone and they got into Coral Reef for dinner at 4:15 and while they were waiting they heard a CM tell someone else to check the next day at 3:45 (they open for dinner at 4) to see if there is an opening. I am wondering if you get there before the restaurant opens they can get you in. I don't know if we were lucky or not with Yak & Yeti but it is worth a try.

 

[mom2grace]

We were just at WDW. I would say the crowds were at a moderate level.

You could get a walk in lunch at Tusker House & Yak & Yeti at AK, and all TS at Studios, there was also some lunch availability at MK.

We were at the bar at Ohana at 5, I overheard the CM checking people in tell someone that they usually have a 20% no show rate and he was going to allow them to stay and wait. So, it never hurts to try if it's somewhere you really want to eat and you don't mind showing up 30 minutes before the seating starts, and you don't mind waiting!

 

[mmmears]

Another thing to consider is trying to go to places that dont accept the DDP, like the Rainforest Cafe. People on the plan tend to avoid these places, so it's sometimes easier to get in on a same-day reservation or as a walk-up.

 

[Uno Mas]

I've had lots of luck as a walk-in with a family of four. It's all about timing and luck. The CMs are very helpful at certain places - the CM at Le Cellier told me exactly when to come back and ask again and I did - and ate dinner there at a reasonable hour no problem. I've also always had luck walking into the Biergarten and Nine Dragons. It's really not stressful for us at all -we hate being tied down to eating at a certain time. If we don't find anything, we just grab a snack at a CS or head over to the Boardwalk - we can always find seating at any of those restaurants.

 

[Cee]

We often go without pre-departure ADRs and have pretty good luck, but there are only two of us, and we are flexible on where and when.

Not walk-up, but less planned: Front desk/reservation concierge can help, even same day, for finding open ADRs.

Walk-up: For the very popular restaurants (e.g., Le Cellier, Cali Grill), walk up may be impossible, even for off hours. For other places, if there are only two of you, you can often be seated in a reasonable amount of time (15-20 minutes). It helps if you are willing to sit at a bar (if there is one, including at Cali Grill), and not going at the dinner rush makes it easier. If there are more than two of you, it gets more difficult.

This is exactly what we do. I love it. It's exciting!

 

[alan_renfroe]

My comment would be that ADRs would be highly recommended. Some restaurants, like Le Cellier, Ohana, California Grill, Chef Mickeys, are just about impossible.

If you do not like making ADRs and want to be more spontaneous, my advice is to call the Disney Dining number (407) WDW-DINE a few hours ahead of time. It is easier to get a reservation one hour before arrival than it is to walk up.