Dessert/appetizer only? Need ADRs?

[Mickey&Donald]

DH and I will be on the Free Dining Plan when we head to the World in three weeks, and we've already made all of our ADRs for dinner. Unfortunately there are just not enough days in our trip to eat at ALL of the places we've wanted to try, and DH is most disappointed about the Brown Derby. Is it possible to head in there between meal times (I know it'd be hard to get a seat at lunch or dinner times) to just have a little snack (obviously, we'd pay OOP for this)?? If so, is this something I need to make an ADR for?

Thanks!

 

[disnut1149]

Hi
We're going to Coral Reef and Sci-Fi just for dessert. We have an ADR at 2:00 for these restaurants. I've done this in the past and have never had a problem with it. I guess it would be the same way with Brown Derby. I even had just dessert at Cinderellas castle in 2004. I think you should make the ADRs. Have fun!!

 

[Mickey&Donald]

Thanks! Hopefully we can get in at this late date!

 

[2nd childhood]

We are going to try this at 50's Prime Time. I hope it works out. I didn't get ADR's though. We were planning on trying at an off time of day it there is such a thing as that at WDW.

 

[chanty]

Anyone else? I'm thinking of surprising DH for a dessert only.
I would love to have more info on those who tried this before.

Thanks.

 

[Lewisc]

If the restaurant is so crowded that an ADR is required at the time you want go then you're probably taking a table that would otherwise be going to a family that wants to have a meal at that restaurant.

Many posters don't have a problem with what you're doing but I think it's polite to just ask when you get to the restaurant. If they have a table I'm sure they'll accomodate you. BTW a few poster were refused dinner/dessert service at a few restaurants, I think Chefs de France was one of them.

There is a bakery next to Brown Derby that sells many of the dessert items. You might even be able to use a snack credit.

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

Coming from a food service background, I cannot believe anyone was refused service cause they wanted only App/Desserts! That is ridiculous and so rude...wow! I worked at the Blue Bayou at DL and we had TONS of people make PS' and only get dessert, or soup and dessert. No one ever had a problem. I do not think it is rude to make an ADR, but I do think you should let the server know so they don't go into their who "special of the day" spiels. I also think you should tip a higher than normal percentage! I will most likely be doing this at either San Angel Inn or Coral Reef during my upcoming trip!

 

[Ms.Mouse]

Great idea!!! I wanted my kids (grown) to experience Prime Time and never thought of getting ADR's for dessert only!!! Thanks.

 

[DiszyDean]

Well, I would think that even if it is only for desert/appetizer, you would need an ADR. You will still be taking up a table and taking up the time of the wait/kitchen staff to prepare the food. You might be able to get a walk-in seat at an off time but that might apply whether you were having a full meal or just appetizer and desert.

It could also open up a can of worms if they let people walk in for this kind of service and I can understand it from the resteraunts point of view if they didn't allow it. What if people decided after they got their table that they did want to order a full meal ( intentional or not ). At that point, the resteraunt would almost be obliged to service them as they had already been seated and the people would have effectively skirted around the whole ADR issue.

 

[DiszyDean]

Once exception to this is if the resteraunt had a "to go" policy where you could order your desert and appetizer and they would box it up for you and you could eat it elsewhere in the park.

 

[Ltl Mermaid]

I always make ADRs, even if I am only planning on having dessert/salad. I think refusing service due to the guest spending less money is abhorrent, and really a sort of discrimination. Now, I would never yell, scream, sue, or make a big stink over it, but I would be ticked off! I personally have never worked in a restaurant that would treat customers in such a fashion and cannot believe WDW would allow it. I usually pick 1 restaurant each trip to do this and have never had a problem. I have done it at Coral Reef many times, Tony's Town Square, WCC, Kona, and Beaches and Cream. No problems any time! Just go for it and I would say the majority of the time you will not encounter any problems!

 

[poohtink]

I would let your DH worry about missing the Brown Derby its not that wonderful of an experience. We went and that was our worst experience on Disney property. The Wait Staff were miserable and the food was over priced and it was only OK. I would much rather for that type of money to go Fulton's . We haven't had a bad experience there in the 10 years we have been going.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

Just an update...

Once we got to the Brown Derby, we decided to just have lunch (OOP) and it was wonderful! We absolutely loved the experience and I'm so glad I ended up making an ADR for it!

Thanks for the input, everyone.