Can you get a same-day reservation?

[kadesha]

I have one day and I'm not sure which park I want to go to. (base tickets, no PH) If I wait until I get there and decide will I be able to get a table service reservation somewhere in the park if I call early in the morning? I always book my reservations waaay in advance, so this makes me very nervous. I just want to be sure that I'll get to eat somewhere if I wait.

 

[BriarRosie]

If it's a character meal, probably not. And depending on the park, you might be limited to restaurants you don't really want to try. On the bright side, if you're at the Magic Kingdom, you might be able to go to one of the MK resorts for a meal, or Epcot resorts if you're at Epcot or the Studios. I don't think Animal Kingdom restaurants would be that crowded, but I know Sanaa at AKL Kidani Village is a great choice for a last-minute or same day meal.

 

[Vickis3js]

We've been able to get same day reservations for the last 2 Christmas trips. We were able to get a lunch adr for Les Chefs, dinner at Olivia's and breakfast at Cape May. There should always be somethign somewhere it just may not be your first choice.

 

[Nadjalu]

To be honest you may not be able to eat where you want.
Or even in the park you are at. You may have to leave and go to a resort. That will cost park time.

So if you only have one day at one park, I would choose and make an adr for where I wanted. Why wait?

Also a lot will depend on what time of year it is, if it is more crowded. If free dining is in affect...again practically everything will be already booked.

There is no guarantee you will be able to get a sit down meal. That is why they are encouraging making adrs.

 

[kadesha]

To be honest you may not be able to eat where you want.
Or even in the park you are at. You may have to leave and go to a resort. That will cost park time.

So if you only have one day at one park, I would choose and make an adr for where I wanted. Why wait?

Also a lot will depend on what time of year it is, if it is more crowded. If free dining is in affect...again practically everything will be already booked.

There is no guarantee you will be able to get a sit down meal. That is why they are encouraging making adrs.

I have 6 days. I have planned 5 but one day I just can't decide which park I want to go to. I thought I'd wait until I actually got there and used that day to go where I felt like it at the time. I'm not concerned with getting my first choice. I'm just wanting to make sure I can get an ADR somewhere within the park or a resort.

 

[figment_jii]

I would guess that you could probably get somewhere in Epcot for most days because there are so many options. I would think that the others parks might be harder to get something because there aren't as many TS places.

You're best bet is to be willing to eat at an off time (mid-afternoon).

As others have said, some of the resorts are usually easier to get reservations. There is a little transportation/travel time involved, but depending on which park and resort it might not be too bad. So keep in mind the resorts that are near to the park you're at. (MK has the monorail resorts and DHS/Epcot has the Boardwalk/Yacht/Beach area.)

 

[Nadjalu]

I have 6 days. I have planned 5 but one day I just can't decide which park I want to go to. I thought I'd wait until I actually got there and used that day to go where I felt like it at the time. I'm not concerned with getting my first choice. I'm just wanting to make sure I can get an ADR somewhere within the park or a resort.

Ok, you MAY be able to get into a TS somewhere, but it may not be within the park. And it may not be by the park you are at. But if you are ok with that, cool. Then take that day as a "roll with it" day and hang loose.

I am sure there are a few places that they would be able to find something at.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[kadesha]

Ok, you MAY be able to get into a TS somewhere, but it may not be within the park. And it may not be by the park you are at. But if you are ok with that, cool. Then take that day as a "roll with it" day and hang loose.

I am sure there are a few places that they would be able to find something at.

Have a wonderful trip!

lol, I am super nervous about attempting a "roll with it" day. I just can't decide between Epcot and MK for this last day. Normally I know I'd choose MK but with all of the construction and Mickey's Toontown fair being closed I just might rather go to Epcot. I just need to see what is up first. I would hate to not get an ADR and waste a TS credit though.

 

[Bell30012]

Chances aren't great but it never hurts to call 407-WDW-DINE. We and got Jikos for that night. Boma for that morning. Crystal Palace on a walk up with only about 15 minute wait. Coral Reef with no wait. Now we were only a party of two but it was Christmas week.

 

[kadesha]

Chances aren't great but it never hurts to call 407-WDW-DINE. We and got Jikos for that night. Boma for that morning. Crystal Palace on a walk up with only about 15 minute wait. Coral Reef with no wait. Now we were only a party of two but it was Christmas week.

Thanks so much!

Looks like we're neighbors...

 

[Pakey]

I've spent 5 weeks at WDW in the last 23 months (including back to back years in May when you are going) and we've done tons of same day reservations. As long as you aren't looking for a character meal and don't have your mind set on a specific place, I would imagine you'd be able to get in. The only park where I think it's a real problem is AK because of the limited options there. We do walk ups at Brown Derby at DHS every vacation. You could probably zip over to the Wave from MK even if MK is booked. Epcot always has something, even if it's San Angel Inn (or you could walk over to Boardwalk area or Swan/Dolphin where it's easy to get in).

Just go in to Guest Services when you enter the park in the morning and they can check and book for you then.

 

[Bell30012]

Thanks so much!

Looks like we're neighbors...

That we are... Go Dawgs!!!

It's a Georgia thing the rest of you just won't get it.

 

[kadesha]

Well I made my reservations and just didn't make one at all for that day. I decided I'd eat at TRex. I just used that credit to book 2 TS on our DHS day. Thanks everyone!

 

[Luv2Roam]

It all just depends on many things.

A few times I have even called the res number for an ADR within an hour or two and told No.
Just for the heck of it we went to one of the restaurants and had no issue at all being seated.
However it has not been at restaurants I would expect to be turned away for certain.

 

[catne]

for the time period you're going (mid-May) I would guess you'll have multiple same-day choices, especially if you're flexible with times (early dinner times, like between 5 & 6:00 PM as well as late dinner times -- 8:30 & after-- will probably get you many choices.) Except on a Saturday night (because locals hit the restaurants on the weekend.)

 

[dunbarfamily]

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get in somewhere at sometime during the day. It might not be where or when you want, but from your post it sounds like you'd be pretty flexible. Keep in mind you can always ask at the podiums if something tickles your fancy as you walk by.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

We altered our plans several times last week (very busy week) and had no problem getting same-day reservations at some really good restaurants. I will add that we had no luck getting same-day at Magic Kingdom, but it was easy to catch the monorail over to the Contemporary for The Wave which ended up being one of our best meals during our 2 weeks.