Dining reservations

[funntheson]

We are visiting for 10 days at the end of July - the beginning of August. We have only made reservations for a couple of dinner shows. Are we going to be able to find any places for sit down meals without reservations?

Is it just as much trouble at lunchtime as at dinner?

We are staying at the Swan and the Polynesian, will we be able to find places to eat at our hotels without reservations?

I'm just curious if we should try to make more reservations. We don't want to be slaves to our dining reservations. We prefer some flexibility.

 

[mickeynut1]

I, personally, won't go to Disney without ADR's, but that's just me. Some go and just "wing" it and do just fine with TS, while others get turned away and don't get in anywhere . If it were me, I'd atleast make a couple more, but I wouldn't go with nothing......July/August is a busy time with everyone trying to get their vacation in before kids go back to school. We always make ADR's for dinner time, but others have posted if you're flexible on time, lunch is sometimes easier to get than dinner. We've never stayed at the Swan, but the Poly has Ohana and Kona and both are pretty hard to get into without an ADR . So if either of those interest you at the Poly, I'd suggest trying to get ADR's (BTW, both are EXCELLENT meals and I would highly recommend them ). Good luck and I hope you have a magical trip .

 

[DISNEY1975]

We are visiting for 10 days at the end of July - the beginning of August. We have only made reservations for a couple of dinner shows. Are we going to be able to find any places for sit down meals without reservations?

Is it just as much trouble at lunchtime as at dinner?

We are staying at the Swan and the Polynesian, will we be able to find places to eat at our hotels without reservations?

I'm just curious if we should try to make more reservations. We don't want to be slaves to our dining reservations. We prefer some flexibility.

I would suggest making reservations and keeping the Disney Dining Res. # in your cell phone. You can always cancel if you dont feel like going, but it would be nice to know you have a place to eat without waiting.

I dont think you will have any problems eating at the Swan. You may have problems eating at the Poly..unless its at Captain Cooks Counter Service.

Konas is very popular for breakfast..not so much for lunch and dinner, but still quite busy. OHanas is very popular for breakfast..its a character breakfast. Would be very very hard to get it without a ressie. Lunch and Dinner are also very entertaining and again, extremely hard to walk up to.

 

[mmmears]

I agree with the earlier posters -- I recommend that you make more ADRs. I dont want to be a slave to dining reservations as well, so we decide what to do each day, and if it doesn't work out with our ADRs, we call asap and cancel them. It's nice to have them there as a back-up at least. And most times we are SOOOO glad that we have them!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

If you have somewhere you really want to eat at, you'd be better off making ADRs now (if you can) -- however, if it was mainly the dinner shows that you've already taken care of, don't worry as there's plenty of counter service locations to eat at.

 

[B-Ride]

I'm just curious if we should try to make more reservations. We don't want to be slaves to our dining reservations. We prefer some flexibility.

It is always a trade off between being "slaves to your reservations" and actually being able to eat dinner at a time other than two in the afternoon.

If this is your first trip then it is sometimes easier to just wing it and eat counter service if you can't get into a TS restaurant. If you are on the Dining Plan then not having ADRs for all of your meals is just tossing away money as you may end up wasting your TS credits.

Some restaurants like Le Cellier require ADRs at least 5 months in advance. Others might accept walk ins if you are lucky. You might have more luck calling WDW Dining when you are there rather than just showing up at the restaurant.

 

[tiggermei]

Here's my take based on my own experience in different times. If you honestly don't care where you eat, you can find something if you call that day most times. You might have to leave the parks and go to a resort but you can usually find something. I have found same day dining in August in MK but not in DHS so that's something to consider. So, I guess the decision is how flexible do you want to be and how flexible CAN you be -- if you want to be but can't be flexible enough best to find what you can and then cancel if you decide against.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

We are visiting for 10 days at the end of July - the beginning of August. We have only made reservations for a couple of dinner shows. Are we going to be able to find any places for sit down meals without reservations?

Is it just as much trouble at lunchtime as at dinner?

We are staying at the Swan and the Polynesian, will we be able to find places to eat at our hotels without reservations?

I'm just curious if we should try to make more reservations. We don't want to be slaves to our dining reservations. We prefer some flexibility.

In my opinion it's always better to have ress. This way you eat where you really want to eat. Lunch is hard to for the more popular resturants.

 

[ParkPrincess]

I always make ADRs before going to WDW. I want to eat where I want to eat. You'll be going a busy time of year, so I would recommend it. You can always cancel the ADR if you change your mind.

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree with the earlier posters -- I recommend that you make more ADRs. I dont want to be a slave to dining reservations as well, so we decide what to do each day, and if it doesn't work out with our ADRs, we call asap and cancel them. It's nice to have them there as a back-up at least. And most times we are SOOOO glad that we have them!

I agree with this. Also you can call to cancel an existing reservation and try to book somewhere else that's more convenient for you that day too.

 

[Hopefully]

Since a nice sit down evening meal is important to us, I always make ADR's in advance. We first decide which park on which day and then decide on a restaurant in or nearby. That is the extent of the planning I do, I do not plan every minute and every ride etc. But I do have a dinner reservation.
If you are satisfied with Counter Service for your food, you will definitley be able to eat. But if you are interested in park restauarants or the restaurant at the Poly, you will need ADR's in July and August.
I think you will find more availablity at the Swan since their restaruarants are not on the DDP. Some there are very expensive (Shula's and Bluezoo for example>)
Have a Great Trip

 

[funntheson]

Thanks for all of the great advice. I will take it all into consideration as I make our final plans.

 

[Pumbaa_]

keep in mind there are also some great CS locations in case a TS doesn't work out.

Seasons in the Land at Epcot has some excellant choices
Flame Tree Barbeque at AK is one of our favorites
B&C does not take reservations and is an easy walk through the International Gateway at Epcot or a boat ride from DHS.
ESPN and Big River Grille at the BW also do not accept reservations

Remember DTD too. Lots of great choices, some easier to get in than others

Here is a link to the DIS Menus

Let us know how it works out for you, have fun!