Ariel's Grotto Question :)

[LocalDisneyYokel]

Hello!

This is my first post- what a wonderful and informative board!

Even though we live in Socal and we've been to Disney "bajillions" of times, I have a question and I would SO appreciate your wise advice and experience!

We are going to DL tomorrow and we were hoping to have lunch at Ariel's Grotto. I'd been meaning to call and try to get a priority seating reservation for a couple of weeks but I just plum forgot. Of course, I called today, waited on hold for nearly 20 minutes only to find out that A.G. is booked until November.

I asked the phone agent about walk-ins and she told me that walk-ins are NOT allowed unless there is a cancellation. CRIKEY! What do we do?

We've never eaten there because we don't normally spend a lot of time at DCA- but we've asked before and were always told that it would be a 30 minute wait or so (and we usually opted to get corndogs or something faster, lol). I've never asked and been told that they were not taking any walk-in diners...

Is that new? I was really surprised when she told me that.

Anyway, I know it's my own fault for not being as orgainzed as all of the kind folks who are currently holding Priority Seating Res. but I was just wondering what you all think my chances are of getting seated if we just walk up and ask?

We weren't planning on going to DCA and we'd have to make a special trip over there to try to get in...and I have a 3 1/2 year old girl who is ARIEL CRAZY who would probably be heartbroken if we went over there and couldn't get in. If we never went, she'd never know the diff. kwim?

Anyway, I'm rambling, I know- I just wanted opinions and anyone's IRL experience- if you get turned away or if it's just a wait (we don't mind waiting). I'm thinking it's a Wednesday in mid-October, we should be Okay...but I don't want to lose 45 minutes of our day in switching parks and see her disappointed face if we get turned away, ya know?

Thanks for reading and I appreciate any input anyone may have!

 

[SamIAm21]

Could you possibly just get the AG telephone number (is there a direct number for AG??) and then call them the morning you're going to be there and ask nicely if they could accomodate walk-ins that day for lunch. The hostess ought to have a pretty good idea about how many people will be showing up that day.

I know how it is when you have a little one's heart in your hands. If worse comes to worse, just don't tell her and maybe try to get there on your next visit. Ignorance is Bliss!!

 

[dizzyami]

I don't know if you can walk into the restaurant, but there are a couple of other things there that your princess will love. You can meet Ariel at her non restaurant Grotto in DL - times will be listed on the daily show sheet - and there will be a line, but you will get to see her. Also check out Princess Fantasy Faire - she can go on stage and learn her princess manners, and then there is a line (about a 30 minute wait when we were there - I usually waited and she joined me when I got close) and you get to see 3 princesses (each individually), talk to them, get their autographs and take pictures.

Hopefully you can get your dining straightened out - but if not, there are definitely excellent spots for any little princess!!!

 

[Albort]

First off, Welcome to the boards!

Second off...

Same Day
Any Guest may visit one of these locations to make a Priority Seating request:

City Hall
Guest Relations
The restaurant at which they wish to dine
Additionally, Resort Hotel Guests can make their requests at:

Hotel Concierge
Resort Hotel Guest Services

Phone Number: (714) 781-DINE (3463)

 

[got2travel]

I've only tried to eat there a few times. It has never really appealed to me, but sometimes we're in the area and check in to see what the wait is like. Once I've been told 45 minutes, two other times I've been told that they have nothing left. They did take a wait list for walk-ins but weren't allowing any more. Each time we've asked we have seen empty tables. I don't think that the restaurant was necesarrily full, but that due to the availability of servers, they couldn't accomodate any more guests.

I'd say don't make a special trip over there. Try calling that morning from City Hall (the phone is opposite the desk, you don't have to wait for a CM).

 

[LocalDisneyYokel]

Just wanted to thank you all for your replies and give a little update in case anyone else was wondering about the same thing.

As it turned out, I was able to call a close relative who is a CM in upper management at DL who was able to pull some strings and get us a res after all (phew!). I am lucky that this happened because while we were waiting for our table, they did turn quite a few walk-ups away (and this was at a total non-peak eating time...NOT a time you'd expect a lot of crowds at a restaurant). We would have totally been turned away and/or called and not gotten a reservation.

It was a fantastic experience- the food was kind of gross, but I thought a great value for the price (compared to what you get at other casual disney park restaurants) and the experience was absolutely priceless- my daughter was in sheer HEAVEN!

It was a great time, wonderful day- and thank you all for your helpful advice and ideas. Hope this helps anyone else who may have been wondering about the possibility of walk-in reservations even on a VERY uncrowded day at an off-peak time.

 

[albianne]

With regard to the food, did you see anybody order anything that looked good. I would like to take my daughter to this but my DH would not be happy to spend over 60.00 if the food is really horrible, also would the characters spend any time with a 15 yr old girl, I would like to get some pics for our scrapbook, or would she just look too old and would they ignore her.

 

[LocalDisneyYokel]

Hi Albianne-

Let me say- the food wasn't AWFUL, it just wasn't great. For $20.99 you get a starter (homemade-like chicken noodle soup, cheesy onion soup or a garden salad), an entree- several choices, many of them seafood which we are not big eaters of. I ordered the chicken & biscuit pot pie and it was okay...just kind of bland and the chicken tasted "canned chickeny". It was FAR from inedible...it was just not delicious. My husband ordered the meatloaf and it was "okay" according to him. They serve large portions. The lady next to me had the chicken caesar salad, that looked good. I didn't really notice other stuff people were ordering- but I'm telling you that the food is just kind of bland and "okay"...it's not horrendous or anything.

For the price you also get a dessert choice and there were lots of yummy choices. I had the peach cobbler and it was good, husband had the apple caramel crisp- there were chocolate cake, brownie, ice cream sundae options, too.

You also get a basket of good rolls and butter, too.

As far as the "face time" with the princesses- they were all very VERY professional and polite and they definitely did not skip over ANY tables. They had a very organized system for each visit and every single table saw every single princess, period. It wasn't just random roaming- it was very efficient and organized so I am certain you would get pictures! We got some great ones! The table next to us was a mom and her daughter that I would guess was maybe 12 or 13 and she definitely had as much of the princesses' time and attention as the four year olds did!

Though we weren't excited about the food, for the price I definitely felt like it was a value- considering you pay like $15 for a sandwich at the cafes around New Orleans square! $20 for a hot meal, drink, soup and dessert wasn't too bad!

Hope you have as much fun as we did if you decide to go! And don't forget to call and get those reservations

 

[albianne]

Where do you call to get reservations to AG, does anyone have the number?

 

[wendypooh22]

I believe you can call their reservation line (714) 781-3463 for AG

 

[shellyof4]

So are they open for breakfast or just lunch and dinner? What time would the earliest lunch seating be? And lastly, which princesses were there? Thanks!

Sorry to jump in on your thread!

Shelly

 

[dizzyami]

I am pretty positive that it is lunch and dinner only - last time we were there we saw Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Ariel (as a human)

 

[shellyof4]

Awesome! Thank you so much! DD will be THRILLED!! I'm taking just her. The boys and baby will fend for themselves some where I'm sure!