Dining Plan Plus WITHOUT Reservations...

[Mr Mannn]

I may not have 45 days advance to give for my ADRs.
Is it possible to get table service without a reservation? Say by visiting at an odd time like 3PM for dinner.

Or has the plan ruined any hope of casual dining and every stop must be planned months in advance?

I will be traveling solo. and I like to take things as they come. One or Two reservations for something special like Ohanas or the Sci Fi Diner. I certainly will be going at an off season time in January of February. I just don't want a convenient plan tying me to a strict itinerary.

 

[fairy8i8]

You might not be able to get into Ohana because it is so popular, even in the off season. It doesn't hurt to try, but don't be surprised if you get turned away. You might get into Sci-Fi without a reservation. If it's more than an hour before, I think you can call for a reservation, or at least the day before you can call or look online for an opening. We walked up to Boma for breakfast and had no problem getting in the beginning of June last summer. Just depends on the restaurant, the CMs working there, and the availability. I've read of people on the forums say they got walk up to Be Our Guest, so it doesn't hurt to try. Just don't be mad if you get turned away.

 

[POOHsie]

Some restaurants serve lunch until 2 or 2:30, then dinner service starts at (approx) 4 or 5 pm. It would be best to reserve as many of your TS as possible. One thing I learned, if ordering a table for one, that is sometimes next to impossible, especially at a place like 'Ohana. If a table for 1 doesn't work, you might try to reserve a table for 2 and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Mr Mannn]

Wah. Y'all make good points.
Gone are the days when you could just "wing it."

 

[TennesseeGirl]

You can still wing it if you aren't picky but you are going to have very limited choices. If you have a smart phone or other device you can go on the disney web site to see what is available. Most of the restaurants we had reservations for were completely packed except Tusker House - we went there at park closing and it was almost empty and the hostess said it was always like that at dinner. I think most people dine there for the characters at breakfast and lunch. I have read that The Wave is pretty good and is usually easy to get into last minute. Some of the table service restaurants in the hotels seemed to always have availability too.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can filter the online reservations booking page so that it shows you everything that is available. Then you can pick from those. I wouldn't count on getting into the super popular places like 'Ohana, although it is not impossible. Also, look for tables for two. There seems to be an extremely small inventory of spots for 1 guest and you may open up a lot more availability if you look for 2. (It is apparently irrelevant that the table is generally the same size for one guest as it is for two.)

You could also consider dining in restaurant lounges and bars, which do not require a reservation and often serve the full restaurant menu. This may not work in a lot of lounges which do not accept the dining plan. Some of them do, I know Yak & Yeti does.

 

[aubriee]

During our last two trips we have walked in as a party of 1-3 at Biergarten, Mama Melrose, Brown Derby, Boma, Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch), Tony's, GF Cafe, House of Blues,Yak & Yeti (twice), and Raglan Road. This was this past May and Sept, so not real busy times.