Dinner without an ADR

[pear86]

I am arriving on 8/18 and didn't make many ADRs. Has anybody tried going to a restaurant without an ADR hoping someone didn't bother cancelling their ADR and getting an open table?

Thanks for any information and tips.

 

[alacazander]

I actually think it will be really hard to do. I think you'll be waiting an awful long time for a possible table. Sounds like with free dinning the table service restaurants are packed. I still haven't been able to get into chef mickey's on two days I want to try. Also i've heard they are calling people at home to ask them if they have adr's.

I wouldn't just chance it. I'd make some to be safe!

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

If I were you, I'd pick up the phone and see what you can get. That will give you some idea how hard it's going to be to walk up.

FYI .. They turn people away if they are full. They won't know people are no shows until after the fact and you will already have been turned away.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would not be surprised to see signage in the parks stating what is and is not available. Most likely the signage will state nothing is available.
We were in Epcot NYE and there was a LONG, continuous line of guests waitingto ask Guest Services about dinner seating --- despite a sign stating there was none, and CMs going down the line and explaining there was none.
I don't expect the near future to be that bad. But seating will be hard to come by. Depending on your party size, you may be eating at third and fourth choices places, or odd times. (Mid afternoon, late evening)

 

[hercamore]

We leave on a last minute trip the 8/26. Dreams U. just make two Adr's for us this past week.

I'd call and check. If not, then I'd stop at guest services the morning you enter park to check on availibility.

herc.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I would not be surprised to see signage in the parks stating what is and is not available. Most likely the signage will state nothing is available.
We were in Epcot NYE and there was a LONG, continuous line of guests waitingto ask Guest Services about dinner seating --- despite a sign stating there was none, and CMs going down the line and explaining there was none.
I don't expect the near future to be that bad. But seating will be hard to come by. Depending on your party size, you may be eating at third and fourth choices places, or odd times. (Mid afternoon, late evening)

I remember seeing signs like this on previous trips - very helpful.

I just called yesterday to try adding an extra dinner for our trip 8/16-8/22, and had no luck. I took a late lunch instead. You may want to consider calling and seeing what you can get, staying open to the idea of lunch rather than dinner. Failing that, look for the signs indicating restaurant availability.

 

[Antonia]

I tried changing some of my ADR's and had a hard time getting what I wanted - even including WCC at WL - which is where we're staying! I wouldn't chance it.

 

[pezheadmeg]

I NEVER do ADRs. Granted it's usually an off-season trip. You just have to be open with dining preferences. If you can't get Sci-Fi, you might be able to get 50's prime time. Can't get the Crystal Palace, go to Tony's. We've never had a problem in EPCOT, simply because there's massive abundance and variety.

 

[Bunchkin]

We have decided at the last minute a few times to eat somewhere we didn't have an ADR for. It was at MGM, and we just went to the info booth in the morning and asked what they had available for dinner at the restaurant we wanted to eat at and got an ADR for a good time.

You could do it that way or call dining from your room if you are going to de deciding what to do & where to eat at the last minute.

 

[pear86]

Thanks everyone. I made 2 reservations months ago (Chef Mickey and Hoop-Dee-Doo Review). This is our third trip at the same time in August and we never had trouble getting in for dinner before, so I didn't book anything else. Well, I guess with the free dining ADRs are a must! I called this week and 9:30 reservations were available at a few places. My 3 kids are not going to sit still at a dinner table at 9:30. So I learned my lesson, make the ADRs, you can always cancel.

 

[kimbo73]

We just booked our vacation yesterday for oct 10th for 5days and just yesterday I called and got one for CRT!!! I've heard how you have to jump through hoops 180days out to get a spot there ...but we got one for ocotober !! While I was on the phone, the lady asked if she could make me another one, and we got Chef mickeys for the next day!
I would just keep trying for the ones you want, and be very flexible with your time/dates...obviously people cancel.

Also, we went last year.....We had no idea about the craziness of the ADR. (this was nov). Around 12p Walked right up to the princess storybook lunch in epcot and asked if we could get in ...they gave us a funny look when we said we didn't have ADR . But guess what??? They said come back in 45min. We did, and got in!

 

[ACDSNY]

We were there the end of July for a conference and since I didn't know the conference schedule so I didn't make any ADRs for just the two of us. Big mistake. We couldn't get into any table service restaurants at the parks.

 

[n2mm]

I just read a post this AM where CMs were advising guest not to try to show up and hope to get a table without an ADR. Yes we have done this in the past, but the CMs are warning against it during the free DDP. I always laugh at some of the post where people tell someone they had no problem walking up to a restraurant. Of course, most don't tell you they are a table for 2, compared to a family looking for a table for 4 or even 6. When we travel with just the two of us, we can usually get an ADR on shorter notice (not during fee ddp though), but when the family comes and we need a table for 6 or 8, I can barely get a good seating time calling 180 days out, and we never travel during the busy times (Only Feb/May/Aug/Oct). I would keep trying to get in, and keep an eye on the resort restraurants, which are some of my favorite places to eat. We arrive this week too 8/17 and I got a phone call from Disney yesterday warning me to have all of my ADRs.

 

[misslissa]

I would try Wolfgang Puck in DTD.

Our first trip, we only made 1 ADR and ate CS the whole time but did get into Wolfgang Puck one night, it is a truly good restaurant.

Also, we were walking around the world and asking if there were any seats available at each country (only 2 of us) and a lot of them did have seats only at 10 pm. Just thought I'd add that.

 

[Leota]

I'd call 407-wdw-dine ASAP & make yourselves some ADRs if you want to sit down to eat. Depending on your party size & where you want to eat, you may already be facing impossiblities. If you wait til you get there, you'll really have a tough time getting in anywhere.

 

[micksterlee]

We were at WDW the week before Christmas 2005 and saw many people turned away from ts restaurants.Counter service places were busy at peak dining times like lunch and dinner but doable. I was amazed at some of the people I heard arguing with the hostess about how they had the dining plan and couldnt find any place to eat dinner. Amazing how many people do not plan.

 

[PortieOwner]

Keep your cell phone with you and call WDW-DINE as needed while you are in the parks. It will not surprise me if some people cancel their WDW vacation for various reasons, freeing up ADR slots, and there will be quite a few restaurant no-shows.

Portie