Do I still ned to make ressies even if I am not going during DDP?

[minijeanie]

I meant during free Dining

Going on Aug 19th thru 24th with 5 other adults. We are basically not making a "plan" for food and kinda want to wing it so to speak.

We are renting a van so we would have the option of eating out of the parks. I am figuring we will probably eat dinner outside the parks 3 of the nights but not really sure. This trip we are just in the mood not to make any plans for dining.

So my question is what do you think the availability will be to get into either a Le Celliers or California Grill for dinner or lunch? We have no problem waiting for table while we go for a cocktail.

This trip is so different from all my others. I always go commando style and for once just wanted to try something different and see how it pans out

Am I crazy???

 

[DisFanJen]

Honest answer? Yes you're totally nutso!

Seriously, I can't see you getting into any remotely popular restaurant without an ADR at that time of year unless you get really lucky or got at an unpopular time.

E.G: A WS restaurant where you can't see outside during Illuminations.

Whatever you decide to do though, good luck!

 

[PoohsFan1]

That's great that you want to go with the flow this time around. However, during FD, be aware that you will probably not get into any of the popular restaurants without waiting at least an hour or more, if that. Le Cellier is VERY popular for lunch which you will more than likely get turned away and as for California Grill, they open at 5:30pm so no lunch there, and if you go at opening, you may be able to get a seat for your party but of course you also may have to wait awhile too. If you don't want to make ADRs for your trip, which is fine, then you will probably have to limit yourself to places like Kona Cafe, MM, Biergarten, San Angel Inn, and places that aren't as popular, but don't get me wrong these places are still good too . Good luck and have a wonderful trip

 

[eliza61]

Honest answer? Yes you're totally nutso!

Seriously, I can't see you getting into any remotely popular restaurant without an ADR at that time of year unless you get really lucky or got at an unpopular time.

E.G: A WS restaurant where you can't see outside during Illuminations.

Whatever you decide to do though, good luck!

Ok, we go every year (or we use to) generally the last week in August.

RARELY do we do ADR's. Now OP, there are some limitations you must be careful of.
Going with adults and winging it are the absolute best trips we've ever taken. We have never not eaten a ts meal when we wanted too.

So here are my tips.

1) Be flexible. I have gotten day of reservations at Cinderelllas castle simply be waking up and immediately calling disney dining and pushing our dining time back 1 hour.

2) Now of course as above poster mention Le Cellier is probably harder but you know what? Walk 1mile through epcot ws and you will definitely get into Yachtsman steakhouse. which imo is waaaaay better than overhyped le Cellier. Heck Le chefs de France makes a better steak and you won't have any issues getting into there.

3) If you adjust you eating hours from the main grazing times you have incredible luck.

4) be adventerous! Park restaurants are the worse on disney property. We have found some hidden gems by calling disney dining in the morning. Olivia's makes the best breakfast hands down, IL muliano at the Swan will make you never, ever eat at Tony's or mama melrose again in life.

Lastly,
We generally go for 7-10 days and I have never, ever not gotten into a wdw ts. EVER!! In the last 10 years the only time we make adr's is if we are traveling with guest.

I don't know about traveling during high holiday but the myth that you have to have adr's to eat a ts is so totally false.

disclaimer: THIS IS NOT WALK UP. when we wake up, I simply hit the disney dining button on my phone and the wonderful cm comes up with great meal suggestions. In fact last august I took my laptop and was able to do it myself. Almost every day I had at least 40 choices.

But as others have said, if you must have a specific restuarant it always helps to have the ADR. But try truly "winging" it, we were amazed by how much we did not miss the popular ones. We still don't do advance planning.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If you were a party of 2, I'd say chance it. With a party of 6, it's going to be a lot harder to get a table.....free dining or not....especially at LC and CG.

 

[eliza61]

Also remember Op, that the nice thing we found with going with Adults and winging it, is that meals are more of a social atmosphere so sure it maybe hard to get into California grill for drinks and dinner but you know some thing go over to Wilderness Lodge.
Artist Point has a superb martini menu (lol) and great meals and much easier to get into.

The whole "essence" of "winging" it is to enjoy the time without the "must have".
Sure Le Cellier takes months of planning but you and you're friends can easily score at Bongos Cuban Cafe. Once again, the drink menu is nice and talk about some seriously adult fun!! hot music, hot food.

 

[minijeanie]

Ok, we go every year (or we use to) generally the last week in August.

RARELY do we do ADR's. Now OP, there are some limitations you must be careful of.
Going with adults and winging it are the absolute best trips we've ever taken. We have never not eaten a ts meal when we wanted too.

So here are my tips.

1) Be flexible. I have gotten day of reservations at Cinderelllas castle simply be waking up and immediately calling disney dining and pushing our dining time back 1 hour.

2) Now of course as above poster mention Le Cellier is probably harder but you know what? Walk 1mile through epcot ws and you will definitely get into Yachtsman steakhouse. which imo is waaaaay better than overhyped le Cellier. Heck Le chefs de France makes a better steak and you won't have any issues getting into there.

3) If you adjust you eating hours from the main grazing times you have incredible luck.

4) be adventerous! Park restaurants are the worse on disney property. We have found some hidden gems by calling disney dining in the morning. Olivia's makes the best breakfast hands down, IL muliano at the Swan will make you never, ever eat at Tony's or mama melrose again in life.

Lastly,
We generally go for 7-10 days and I have never, ever not gotten into a wdw ts. EVER!! In the last 10 years the only time we make adr's is if we are traveling with guest.

I don't know about traveling during high holiday but the myth that you have to have adr's to eat a ts is so totally false.

disclaimer: THIS IS NOT WALK UP. when we wake up, I simply hit the disney dining button on my phone and the wonderful cm comes up with great meal suggestions. In fact last august I took my laptop and was able to do it myself. Almost every day I had at least 40 choices.

But as others have said, if you must have a specific restuarant it always helps to have the ADR. But try truly "winging" it, we were amazed by how much we did not miss the popular ones. We still don't do advance planning.

Thanks for all your tips and Eliza yes I would never step a foot into Tony's. But thanks for yachtsman tip. I was there in the bar and I forgot how much I like it and that general area. Even though there are 6 of us, 3 of them are twenty year olds and I am quite sure they will not want to eat with us all the time. So technically a nice dinner will be for a party of 3 which is a good thing because paying for those kids adds up

I am staying at shades of green so I won't be able to hit the dining button but I will program it into my phone and try that for the 4 days we are there. Great TIP!

I thought I might try a dinner or two at shades but from what I'm hearing the food is quite bad.. Oh well... the price is right