Does Disney Hold a Number of Tables for Walk-Ups???

[wdwphile]

Lets admit it - we're all Disney planning junkies! We'd never even think of going to The World without ADRs. But there must be thousands of guests who go each week without making a single reservation, and they eat somwhere!

When us DISers can't get an ADR on a given day at at particular restaurant, we assume it must be booked solid. But given the number of first-timers, last minute vacationers, and Disney Wild World of Sports teams, business, and meeting/convention travelers, I can't believe Disney doesn't set aside a good number of tables for walk-ups.

I'm going to test the theory when I'm there. Before I check in with my ADR, I'm going to ask how long the wait will be for a party of 4. I'm sure there will be a wait, but I can't imagine I'll be told there are no tables available for the evening.

If others are willing to do the same, please post your results on this thread.

 

[Kae]

Form what I understand, No. I have seen people turned away at quite a few places.

kae

 

[Shagley]

They don't hold any tables back for walk ups, but if they have some cancellations they may be able to slip in a few people.

When I was there last week I saw quite a few people being turned away (Tutto Italia, Ohana, Sci Fi), but I also heard the CM at the podium giving the people some suggestions of where there were reservations available.

 

[snykymom]

Both in January and last week, there were signs up at the more popular places saying "No availability." They wouldn't even talk to guests about walk ups. MK had a sign up at Guest Relations saying "There is no more availability today for table service restaurants. Try these counter service restaurants" and listed them.

However, I was able to get a couple of walk ups for less popular places last week, like San Angel Inn and Teppan Edo, or at less popular times.

It depends on where and when you are looking to eat.

 

[TillyMarigold]

In general, they do not hold tables for walk-ups. An exception is Sci-Fi--they do not reserve the picnic tables in the back (if you have a reservation, you are guaranteed a car) so in that sense, those are for walk-ups.

When we were there, the MK had signs saying there was no TS available in the park, as someone mentioned. However, Epcot had availability at nearly every restaurant (except Le Cellier and Akershus) for lunch every time we were there, and at some even for dinner. And the resort restaurants were empty, particularly Jiko and Kouzzina.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Saturday night at Lecelleir a man tried to walk up and was told they were full. He asked for any time and was turned away.

Tonight at Whispering Canyon a man asked for a table and was given a pager and told it could be up to 30 minutes. The restaurant was about half full, so I don't think his wait could have been that long.

I found it interesting that both nights as I checked in the person ahead was trying to get a last minute ressie.

 

[Condorman]

Disney does not hold tables for walk-ups.

Think about it, why would they? What do they care if a restaurant with 50 tables gets reserved three months in advance or three days in advance so long as all 50 tables get reserved and are spoken for. They are not about to hold back 10 tables or 3 on the off chance somebody who didn't want to plan ahead instead decided to walk up at the last moment. They want every table reserved, now.

Disney's F&B outlets have to plan months in advance, make schedules for their CMs weeks in advance, and knowing ahead of time how busy they will be is to their bottom-line advantage. If you happen to find availability at a TS, it is not because they withheld tables for walk-ups. It is either because that TS is unpopular, there was a last-minute cancelation, or it is a slow time of the week/month/year.

 

[oybolshoi]

We've seen people turned away in October during the last three trips we've taken ... from places like The Plaza at the MK to Rose and Crown at Epcot to Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

I feel bad for people when that happens but I'm an anal overplanner ... whether it's WDW or anywhere else. If I know there is something that we want to do or experience I never leave it to chance.

 

[daisyduck123]

One time (it was is May) when we were waiting at the podium of Le Cellier for our table to be ready, I watched as a family walked up & asked the cm if they were taking any walk-ups for dinner.

The cm told him "no" & that they were booked until July.

 

[Lehuaann]

I dont think so. We noted several couples/groups being turned away during our last trips.

Back in 95 it was so nice to easily get a walk-up @ Blue Bayou/Disneyland...one of my all-time favorites. Sadly that is not the case anymore...I'm sure due to the DP. While I enjoy the conveniences of the DP, I would love to go back to the old days. Days when:
#1) I was thin
#2) Hubby was thin
#3) I was thin (ok, you get the point)
#4) The main focus was going for the pure enjoyment/rides/atmosphere of Disney
#5) Eating CS alone was considered a treat...but MAYBE an expensive sit down restaurant such as Blue Bayou for a special occasion.

In other words: walkups were readily available any/everywhere...and we didn't plan our trip around a DP or pigging out.

 

[SunniKC]

My last trip to WDW I didn't know about ADR's and was not able to do a TS anyplace. The reservation agent who booked our DL trip also helped us book a character breakfast.

 

[Disneyaunt4]

Just thought I would let you know that last night at Ohana right at 5:00 they look a walk up. Don't know how long she had to wait,but she was getting in.

 

[michelle1]

We went in Aug during free dining and showed up an hour early to dinners at Sci Fi and Planet Hollywood just to see if there was a chance to be seated as our kids were really hungry...both places seated us within 5 minutes. I'm not sure if some of the restaurants have staffing issues because at both Sci Fi and Le Cellier we noticed the waiting rooms to be packed but empty tables during our meal.

 

[basketlacey]

We are headed down next week. We have ADRs for 3 meals during a 7 day trip. I know we will struggle to get in to sit down restaurants in the parks especially since there are 13 of us. The problem is, we have no idea how long the kids will last in the parks each day and if we are going to head out early, it will be easier (and cheaper) to eat offsite. So, we are winging it for the most part.

I am by far the foodie of the group so I know there are places I would go if it was just my party of 5. But, I don't see the point in trying to pick for everyone else or risk having my kids upset because we are splitting up.

I think we will be fine. Counter service in the parks will work if nothing else.

 

[Acklander]

Restaurants are always readjusting the availability as the day/night goes on. When I used to work in a restaurant when we blocked the reservation we'd assume that a 2 top would take about 90 minutes, 3 and above would take 2 hours and anything over 6 would take 2.5 hrs. Some groups would move faster, some slower, some would cancel and then of course you've got the groups (usually larger ones) that will book at several different restaurants for the same time so they would have a choice. This will change the availability as the night goes on.

 

[bytheblood]

They do not hold tables, but if somebody walks up after a cancellation or no-show, they will oblige.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

No they do not.

 

[wdwphile]

I don't know if they do or not. But it seems to me it would be a reasonable business decision to save some tables for walk-ups and "special guests". Here's a few reasons why ... Customer Service and getting people to come back for another visit.

Disney entices hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with the promise of an all inclusive vacation destination. You don't even need a car, because everything is right here on property. Getting there without ADRs (maybe because you didn't know they were required, or it was a last minute trip)) and finding that you cannot get into any of their most popular restaurants isn't going to make you too happy.

Also, I would think they hold a number of tables, particularly in their signature dining restaurants for concierge level guests. If Mr & Mrs Athlete/Actress/Politician staying in a suite at the Grand Floridian request a same day table at CG or LeCellier, I'd think they'd have a table for them, and it wouldn't be from a recent cancellation. Now that I think about it, maybe some people get walk-ups because the concierge level "holds" are released.

As I said, this is just my theory. But so many DISers state with absolute certainty that they do not, maybe I'm way off base.

But there's another recent thread where people are saying they spent hours planning and getting ADRs, only to see many people walk up and get seated without a problem. Luck .... mayby. I'll continue to make ADRs rather than take a chance I'll be shut out, but I still think that when the CM or on-line system says "there's nothing available in that restaurant at that time", it means there is nothing available at the tables allocated to ADRs.

Perhaps a CM who knows for sure could weigh in on this!

 

[Condorman]

I don't know if they do or not. But it seems to me it would be a reasonable business decision to save some tables for walk-ups and "special guests". Here's a few reasons why ... Customer Service and getting people to come back for another visit.

Disney entices hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with the promise of an all inclusive vacation destination. You don't even need a car, because everything is right here on property. Getting there without ADRs (maybe because you didn't know they were required, or it was a last minute trip)) and finding that you cannot get into any of their most popular restaurants isn't going to make you too happy.

Also, I would think they hold a number of tables, particularly in their signature dining restaurants for concierge level guests. If Mr & Mrs Athlete/Actress/Politician staying in a suite at the Grand Floridian request a same day table at CG or LeCellier, I'd think they'd have a table for them, and it wouldn't be from a recent cancellation. Now that I think about it, maybe some people get walk-ups because the concierge level "holds" are released.

As I said, this is just my theory. But so many DISers state with absolute certainty that they do not, maybe I'm way off base.

But there's another recent thread where people are saying they spent hours planning and getting ADRs, only to see many people walk up and get seated without a problem. Luck .... mayby. I'll continue to make ADRs rather than take a chance I'll be shut out, but I still think that when the CM or on-line system says "there's nothing available in that restaurant at that time", it means there is nothing available at the tables allocated to ADRs.

Perhaps a CM who knows for sure could weigh in on this!

Once again, they DO NOT hold tables for walk-ups, not at any restaurant, not at any time.

However, to answer your middle paragraph, yes, concierges and VIP managers do have the ability to "squeeze" celebrities et al. into a restaurant at the last minute. Getting a table for 2, 4, even 6 is no big deal and happens all the time by Disney management. It affects nobody by slipping one new ADR into a mealtime of 100 ADRs if that guest is important enough. The implication of Disney holding tables for walk-ups, however, signifies that they are keeping 10-15% of their total tables outside of the ADR system and that is not the case. Disney has no obligation to make sure people coming at the last minute can get a table at CRT, CM, LC or O. What about the people who were willing to book those tables as ADRs at 180 days? They might have been willing to put a CC# down and guarantee Disney money even if they didn't show. Do you honestly believe Disney would forgo that easy sell versus waiting and hoping that a walk-up would just happen to come in for that table? No.

Disney does not hold tables. Even the CMs know that. Latest rumor has it that on Sept 27, a new campaign begins that will require CCs on all ADRs. It's a rumor, and may not happen, but it's a rumor coming from the CMs themselves. It would mean fewer double-bookings and keep people honest with their ADR times. I hope they do it. It's about time.

 

[maxiesmom]

Latest rumor has it that on Sept 27, a new campaign begins that will require CCs on all ADRs. It's a rumor, and may not happen, but it's a rumor coming from the CMs themselves. It would mean fewer double-bookings and keep people honest with their ADR times. I hope they do it. It's about time.

I would love that! I can't help but think that all those empty tables at the popular restaurants are people that made multiple ADRs for the same time, or who were too lazy to cancel when they decided to eat elsewhere.

I can only hope Disney goes to cc guarantees for all restaurants.