Are we going to be out of luck and hungry???

[coontzy]

We will be there 10/18 until 10/24, staying at POR, we have the dining plan, but we have made no reservations, the trip was booked by CM daughter in Aug. Since we have made no reservations, as we haven't really even decided which days we are doing what, (two families) are we going to be totally out of luck with TS meals? I don't see how anyone can be so organized to make all of their plans so far in advance? Has anyone else had success with just winging it and being flexible???

 

[tzeitel]

I would like to say you wont have a problem (which was usually the case when going during Oct) but I have not been down to WDW in a few years. I have heard that with all the Disney promotions going on the parks are not as empty as usual.

It would also depend on how big your party is - you say 2 families, that might be more difficult to acommodate last minute in some restaurants. My advice is to try to get some ADRs - just call everyday, maybe try to book restaurants in your resort (you know you will be there for breakfast ) . My experience has been that if you go when the restaurant opens you will be sat - I used to work at a WDW restaurant and we would take walk-ins until all the tables were full (or it was a holiday, then it was ADR only).

 

[webray]

You won't know if you will be out of luck until you get there. Be open to where you eat, probably won't get your first choice. Hopefully your dining plan won't be a waste of money for you if you can't get into a TS restaurant.

 

[Mrs. Pookie]

We will be there 10/18 until 10/24, staying at POR, we have the dining plan, but we have made no reservations, the trip was booked by CM daughter in Aug. Since we have made no reservations, as we haven't really even decided which days we are doing what, (two families) are we going to be totally out of luck with TS meals? I don't see how anyone can be so organized to make all of their plans so far in advance? Has anyone else had success with just winging it and being flexible???

I totally agree with you. It's ridiculous to be forced to make reservations so far in advance. They really should change their policies. Not everyone obsessively plans every moment of their trip meals, and it's not fair to spend all that money to come there, and be turned away from most restaurants. Ugh, that's such a pet peeve of mine.

Anyway, last year we did not make any reservations prior to the trip. We were able to walk into The Plaza in Magic Kingdom, and most of the restaurants in Downtown Disney. Rainforest would likely be a problem though. We were also able to walk right in the Morrocan restaurant in Epcot.

My suggestion would be to pick a few places that you really want to try, and call as soon as possible. Sometimes they still have available seating at odd times. For example, we got a 2:45 one for Liberty Tree Tavern for our December trip. Good luck! I hope you find something!

 

[coontzy]

I don't even care where we eat, as long as we can eat a meal, at the park at a reasonable time!!!!! I can eat at fancy restaurants anytime here in Kansas City, but how can anyone know 180 days in advance where they will want to eat? I see us as having a downtime and saying "anyone hungry? let's eat!" We are 4 adults and 2 teens, that will eat anything. I would be crazy if the whole day revolved around, we have to make it to our next meal in whatever time, so get out of line and run to the menu. It does bug me that Disney has done all of this advance reservation stuff, what is wrong with first come first serve? I wonder how many reservations are made and cancelled or no one shows up or people make multiple reservations at multiple restaurants then just blow off what turns out to be inconvenient. And what's with 43 pages of people changing there minds and wanting to trade the reservations they made months ago, thus shutting out anyone else, this system is really strange to me. Oh well it could be popcorn for us!

 

[yooperfan]

We are going 1/20-1/27. Just made a ressie for 12:30pm for lunch at Le celleir without any problems. We actually had choices for times. This place is usually very hard to get into. I think the economy is affecting attendance therefore I think walk ups may be doable this year. That's just my guess though, you never can tell.

 

[eva]

We will be there 10/18 until 10/24, staying at POR, we have the dining plan, but we have made no reservations, the trip was booked by CM daughter in Aug. Since we have made no reservations, as we haven't really even decided which days we are doing what, (two families) are we going to be totally out of luck with TS meals? I don't see how anyone can be so organized to make all of their plans so far in advance? Has anyone else had success with just winging it and being flexible???

Well, you really won't know anything until you call and ask. It will be tough. Maybe if you are open about where and when, you will make out ok. People complain about the 180 day reservation window all the time. But thousands of us do it every year with no problem. I'm sure you will find places to eat, either ahead of time with ADR's or by waiting at some of the less popular restuarants the day of. It really pays to research WDW (or any other vacation destination) well before the trip to see what the processes and expecations are for that destination. Try calling each day of the trip too. We did get a couple last minute ADR's on our last trip in April by doing that.

 

[vascubaguy]

I usually plan out the meals and get the ADRs but I've had to make last minute changes before and even made changes while walking around in the parks. What I can say is that if you have a larger party and you want everyone to be at the same place, you might have some problems.

I tried to get a table for 10 last October after we arrived. My cousin's family (4 of them) decided to visit us while we were at WDW and I called that afternoon and basically asked the CM to check a few different places that I liked. However, I ended up having to just have them check everything. Took about 15 minutes, but she finally found something at Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club.

I imagine if you don't care where you eat, you won't have that big of a problem, but you might find that most of your options will be at resorts. Places at DTD and in the parks are likely to be full and hard to get in.

If don't make any ADRs before you leave, I'd call the night before or the morning of to try and get something rather than just trying to walk-up. Walk-ups might work at some places, but I've seen people turned away.

Good luck!

 

[buckirj1]

If you're willing to split up and not all eat together, you might be able to pull off TS dining, provided you're flexible and not bent on getting the absolute most from your money. Good luck.

 

[hmontgomry]

Well I think you may have some problems. They offered free dining and I think there are a lot of people booked now through Dec for that reason. I booked as soon as the offer posted and booked my adrs right away. I've called to change some and can't find anything available. I actually like planning as we have 7 days there and have plenty of time to see the parks. It's a nice break to go to a resort to eat and then go back out to the parks again. I planned meals and then did the park planning-makes it easier for us I also like going to disney for the food-have lots of ressies in Epcot. You'll find lots of people that love to plan here and call at the 180 days ahead to book.

 

[ctseaton]

We were there last week. We called repeatedly the week before and finally got an Ohana's breakfast ressie. We were able to walk-up for Tony's in MK (although we didn't eat there). We also got a ressie for The Wave at the Contemporary for 45 minutes after we called. I think if you are willing to be flexible you will be fine. You may not get your top choices, but you'll eat.

 

[n2mm]

I don't even care where we eat, as long as we can eat a meal, at the park at a reasonable time!!!!! I can eat at fancy restaurants anytime here in Kansas City, but how can anyone know 180 days in advance where they will want to eat? I see us as having a downtime and saying "anyone hungry? let's eat!" We are 4 adults and 2 teens, that will eat anything. I would be crazy if the whole day revolved around, we have to make it to our next meal in whatever time, so get out of line and run to the menu. It does bug me that Disney has done all of this advance reservation stuff, what is wrong with first come first serve? I wonder how many reservations are made and cancelled or no one shows up or people make multiple reservations at multiple restaurants then just blow off what turns out to be inconvenient. And what's with 43 pages of people changing there minds and wanting to trade the reservations they made months ago, thus shutting out anyone else, this system is really strange to me. Oh well it could be popcorn for us!

I thought you might be OK, until this post. Both a reasonable Time and in the park. That will be tough. Your best bet is to try to make an ADR the day before you head to the park. This way you'll know what your odds are. I think asking for both a reasonable time and a place at the park and wanting it to be TS, is asking for too much. Flexibility and the ability to eat at the resort restraurants will better work for you. Also, late lunches might work. We are part of the 180 group. Whether we are 2 or 10 we always make our ADRs prior to our trip. Eating at our favorite places is very important to us as we are regulars. Good luck....and Please post back how you do! We'll be there the same times, but we have our ADRs. Maybe you'll try some new places.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You might try Marrakesh or Nine Dragons (if it is open, it may be closed for renovations) at Epcot. You might find an opening there. Possibly Boatwrights at your resort. You might be able to get some lunch reservations, but for dinner, if you are lucky you might get a very late seating.

You may want to consider cancelling the dining plan at this point. I don't see you being successful getting your TS dining and using up your credits.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would

A. Get on the phone and make ressies asap

B. Call the Dining Line while in WDW and take whatever is open

Seriously, we are going the 17th to the 26th and are still messing with my ressies. Most breakfast and lunch places are still very easy, not the big character meals and such but others like Kona, GFC, Tony's, 50's PT and such are easy for lunch.

The F&W is going on so you can snack alot and there are always awesome CS options

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) As long as you can get pb&j, you won't be hungry.
2) But, count pb&j as a main meal.
3) Without ADR's you may looking at them a lot.

 

[coontzy]

How do you know what your "favorite places" are if you don't go to Disney all of the time? I went the 1st time in 1992 with "give kids the world" my child had leukemia, she is now a cast member, the 2nd time was with my sister on a business trip in 1997 and meals were with the company. Now since DD is a CM she wanted us to come and see her so we thought ok, not knowing disney vacations required an all out commando attack of planning, reserving, and re-reserving. We just want to see our kid and have a vacation. Maybe we will lose weight if we can't count on eating at the parks. Sorry, just venting.

 

[Karlzmom]

We will be there 10/18 until 10/24, staying at POR, we have the dining plan, but we have made no reservations, the trip was booked by CM daughter in Aug. Since we have made no reservations, as we haven't really even decided which days we are doing what, (two families) are we going to be totally out of luck with TS meals? I don't see how anyone can be so organized to make all of their plans so far in advance? Has anyone else had success with just winging it and being flexible???

Flexibility is the key for you. On our 1st trip we were clueless and only called right before we left. The CM was able to find a meal for us each day, and frankly it really didn't work out 1/2 bad. Really, so much of the food at WDW has become homogenized that one meal is pretty much like another. Who knows, you may find a place that you love and would not have considered because its not a place that is mentioned every other thread! Good luck!!

 

[Disney_Freak56]

As others have stated, you need to get on the phone and try for any ADRs ASAP! With a party of your size, you may find it difficult to be seated together at this late date. If you're looking for popular spots like LeCellier, 'Ohana, Chef Mickey's, Liberty Tree Inn, etc., I think you're going to be out of luck. Of course, there are considerate people who cancel all the time -- me being one of them.

But then again, I'm one of those who has been planning this trip since January and made all my ADRs at 180 days out and I also happen to be from Kansas City.

 

[Sandy321]

It can be so overwhelming!!!

so many restaurants, so little time!!

I have read many many reports of people calling Disney Dining from their rooms when they get there - from home the week before they leave, and from their cell phones when they are at the park -

so dont be discouraged!! Your DD is a CM, I'm sure she can help you navigate thru this jungle!! Just go with a great attitude, and enjoy!! dont overplan, and dont worry - you're at DISNEY!!

When you call tomorrow ask what is available - you can go to www.allears.net and click on dining - then on the far left side is more links to click on parks or resorts!!

For Magic Kingdom, not a whole lot of great reviews for sit down dinners - BUT you can go to a fabulous California Grill or a new The Wave at Contemporary - go to Grand Floridian the Cafe, 1900 Park Fare has a great buffet (they have others as well!) Polynesian has Kona Cafe, which is fantastic, as well as the buffet all you can eat Ohana's

Epcot - you cant go wrong with any of their sit down dinners - for lunch walk around the World Showcase - or go to the Land PAvillion, across from Soarin is one of the best Counter Service places according to me (and other reviewers!! Its all so highly subjective and opionated!!)

you could also walk over to the Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin REsort - etc lots of places -

just be flexible!!

Take what the CM has to offer, then talk to your dd then when you go - have those numbers handy and make changes!!

Its ALL good - you are at DISNEY!!

 

[Uno Mas]

I never make ADRs anymore - maybe one per trip if that. We like being flexible too and have found that when we have ADRs, we are rushing to leave a park to get to a meal and we are never happy about it. We've had great success as walk-ins at nearly every Epcot restaurant we like, particularly if you go for a very late lunch (that counts as dinner for us) or right when the dinner service opens. Never had a problem getting a table at the Biergarten at any time. I know this year the crowds may be heavier, though. We've had lots of success just eating in the bar of a restaurant when available - such as Rain Forest Cafe in AK or DTD. Most of the DTD locations have bar areas and they will serve you lunch or dinner right there, kids and all, without any wait. Like you said, it could be popcorn for dinner but you'll be having too much fun to care! You can grab a snack in the lounge back at POR late night when you get back and enjoy the entertainment.