Current Safety Protocols for Dining? [Feb '22]

[Alex336]

Hi folks! I'm taking my first ever solo trip early next week. I'm fully vaccinated and boosted, but I'm wary about indoor dining right now

I haven't been to WDW since before the pandemic. Are indoor restaurants basically back to normal? Or are tables still spread out, limited capacity, etc, etc?

Also, for restaurants that have outdoor seating, will they oblige a request to sit outside?

Thanks!

 

[lockets]

Back to normal.

Outdoor seating - yes. But of course you might have to wait longer. One tip is there are some Disney property restaurants on OpenTable and you can sleect or include your preference to eat outdoors. As far as I know the other Disney restaurants booked through Disney system doesn’t allow this option so you might have to show up and wait.

 

[CarolynFH]

Indoor restaurants are pretty much back to normal in terms of table placement and capacity. Most guests remove their masks as soon as they sit down. CMs keep theirs on at all times.

Sorry, I can't answer about outdoor seating -

 

[SteveH]

A member here, @TexanInTheMidwest shared this earlier, a great resource about outdoor dining.
The best restaurants for outdoor dining at Disney World

 

[Her Dotness]

Indoor restaurants are pretty much back to normal in terms of table placement and capacity. Most guests remove their masks as soon as they sit down. CMs keep theirs on at all times.

We were there in November.

I'd say as full as pre-covid.

Virtually all guests removed masks when seated, replacing them only if leaving the table.

We were somewhat discomfited by how crowded together tables were and substantially limited menus.

 

[Alex336]

Thanks, all!

 

[Uncleromulus]

We were there in November.

I'd say as full as pre-covid.

Virtually all guests removed masks when seated, replacing them only if leaving the table.

We were somewhat discomfited by how crowded together tables were and substantially limited menus.

I wonder why they would limit menus???

 

[mom2rtk]

I wonder why they would limit menus???

Supply and staffing shortages I would imagine.

 

[Figmentv]

I wonder why they would limit menus???

I suspect limited menus are due to lack of enough kitchen help and limited supplies.

Ooops “mom2rtk” took the words right out of my mouth

 

[Her Dotness]

Supply and staffing shortages I would imagine.

That was our conclusion as most restaurants seemed shortstaffed to us. Also, very limited menus do make sense if supply restocking is unpredictable, and there are staff shortages besides.

We were told several places that almost everything on menus was previously prepared (and I guess reheated) so couldn't be altered for our allergies.

Given the rise in pay-more-for-less that we've all noticed lately, we suspect that somebody referred to as Cheapek may be trying out money-saving restaurant schemes. Stands to reason you'll have less waste if you don't actually make most menu items to order. Fewer perishables spoiling before they can be used, for instance.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We were there late January, and I agree with most of the posters here - very little reduced capacity for tables/chairs, and most guests wore masks to and from tables. Depending on the restaurant and the weather, outdoor dining could be available. You can always ask - we ate outside a few times, even though most of the week was on the chilly side. Including a trip in December, we ate outside at Via Napoli, Morimoto's, Olivia's, and Spice Road (Epcot). There are other places around WDW that offer it. You'll need to ask when you check in.

 

[karmacats]

If you're near the restaurant, if you stop at the host stand 30-60 minutes before your reservation to tell them you'll want an outside table, they can usually accomodate you and still seat you at your reservation time. If you don't tell them til check-in you may have to wait a bit extra.

We use open table to reserve at Disney Springs because you can request an outdoor table in the app.

Indoor seating is as crowded as pre-covid. Servers seem very good about masking, but other diners usually take off masks immediately when seated. Some restaurants still have plastic dividers between tables, but most do not. (We had them at beaches and cream.)

 

[HopperFan]

I wonder why they would limit menus???

They can not hire enough kitchen help. It is the main reason some reservations are hard to get. They are currently offering $3000-6000 bonuses for culinary jobs. It is way more profitable to offer a limited menu than to reduce number of guests further.

 

[Jennasis]

Eat at off times. We found the restaurants much less crowded if dining right at the start or end of service. We had Whispering Canyon almost to ourselves in December. Biergarten too. Other places we ate at outdoor seating.

 

[Uncleromulus]

They can not hire enough kitchen help. It is the main reason some reservations are hard to get. They are currently offering $3000-6000 bonuses for culinary jobs. It is way more profitable to offer a limited menu than to reduce number of guests further.

But--with a limited menu, that might make folks--like me--not et at Disney restaurants at all.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

But--with a limited menu, that might make folks--like me--not et at Disney restaurants at all.

If you don't want limited services (all kinds of services, not just restaurant-related) at higher prices than you ever paid before now is most definitely not the time for a WDW trip.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

There aren't any. Except at CS and Disney Springs, outdoor seating is very limited. I wouldn't count on getting it without a long wait anywhere but there.

 

[Anna131517]

That was our conclusion as most restaurants seemed shortstaffed to us. Also, very limited menus do make sense if supply restocking is unpredictable, and there are staff shortages besides.

We were told several places that almost everything on menus was previously prepared (and I guess reheated) so couldn't be altered for our allergies.

Given the rise in pay-more-for-less that we've all noticed lately, we suspect that somebody referred to as Cheapek may be trying out money-saving restaurant schemes. Stands to reason you'll have less waste if you don't actually make most menu items to order. Fewer perishables spoiling before they can be used, for instance.

This really concerns me. One of our children is allergic to milk and eggs. In the past I loved going to Disney because they were so accommodating of allergies. Did you have trouble finding food that worked?

 

[Boomatt]

Hi folks! I'm taking my first ever solo trip early next week. I'm fully vaccinated and boosted, but I'm wary about indoor dining right now

I haven't been to WDW since before the pandemic. Are indoor restaurants basically back to normal? Or are tables still spread out, limited capacity, etc, etc?

Also, for restaurants that have outdoor seating, will they oblige a request to sit outside?

Thanks!

indoor dining is packed as ever. People wear masks on the way to and from the table but take them off immediately upon being seated. If you’re worried about that I would recommend cancelling your trip. The lines in the parks aren’t socially distanced and almost no one wears a mask in those unless the line goes indoors and it is required, even then many do not wear them. Forget about shows, they are elbow to elbow. Forget about shopping, stores are packed and there is no more one way traffic. Forget about just walking around the parks, big crowds no masks. Forget about Disney transportation, packed like sardines. Forget about just walking around Disney Springs, again, big crowds no masks. Basically you will only feel safe staying in your room. Probably not a good idea to spend the money on a trip for someone like you for now as I think you will just be afraid the whole time and upset that others are walking around, living their lives and not concerning themselves with your comfort.

 

[Uncleromulus]

If you don't want limited services (all kinds of services, not just restaurant-related) at higher prices than you ever paid before now is most definitely not the time for a WDW trip.

MY thoughts exactly!!