Epcot Restaurants Pretty Empty

[Uno Mas]

Went the second week of August and the restaurants were pretty empty. I had only made one ADR (because I hate being restricted by ADRs) for lunch at Le Cellier for my DD's birthday. Originally made it for a party of four, then DD ended up inviting a friend and nothing was available through the system for a party of five - or a party of any size by that point. Went anyway and there was no trouble at all adding the fifth person when we got there. In fact, I counted ten empty tables during our entire lunch time meal. Yet the reservation system had it completely booked. Also called while we were there to see about getting into Via Napoli for a 6 pm dinner - no luck. Walked up to Via Napoli that night at 6 anyway and inquired about getting in and they said no problem, they always have room for walk ins. Biergarten had tons of empty tables at dinner as well. But they always seem to have tables available. Sign posted outside of guest services had a list of four or five restaurants that had availability on any given day. I had played with the ADR system in advance of the trip just to get a feel for how it might be, and most places were showing fully booked. Go figure - I was happy with our luck!

 

[KeroKero]

Our ADR's are booked (we leave this week), but I keep checking constantly to see if I can score the ones I really want (O'Hanas especially), there's always a ton of EPCOT restaurant times available each and everytime I check. Wish the same could be said for CTR, Chef Mickey's or O'hana's.

 

[afcgirl]

How was Le Cellier for lunch?

Can't believe they changed it to 2 credits for dinner under DDP. Why do people always have to ruin a good thing?!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yet the reservation system had it completely booked. Also called while we were there to see about getting into Via Napoli for a 6 pm dinner - no luck. Walked up to Via Napoli that night at 6 anyway and inquired about getting in and they said no problem, they always have room for walk ins. Biergarten had tons of empty tables at dinner as well. But they always seem to have tables available. Sign posted outside of guest services had a list of four or five restaurants that had availability on any given day. most places were showing fully booked. Go figure - I was happy with our luck!

I've had that happen to me several times also-where the ADR system beforehand shows a particular resturaunt having no availability, but I walk uo anyways and have no problem getting in. It appears to me that lots of people are making ADRs then just not showing up. I wonder if Disney's considering doing something about all the no shows. So many people figure, quite understandably, that if they can't get an ADR that they resturaunt is full, and they don't go there. Meanwhile the resturaunt sits with empty tables, losing money.

 

[npcougar]

Staff cut backs may also mean more empty tables.

 

[Uno Mas]

How was Le Cellier for lunch?

It was good. The do serve the signature mushroom filet, I believe in a smaller portion, but I can't eat a steak at lunchtime, so I opted for the chicken crepe. The filling was good - but it wasn't a traditional crepe - it wasn't rolled or folded, it was flat like a pancake with the filling lumped on top - so you lost the crepe effect. Came with a pasta salad as a side - $14.99. They offer a set three course menu for $28 that's a good deal if you can eat an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Couple options to choose from in each category. My DD did that and had the cheese soup (large bowl, not a cup), chicken caeser salad, and chocolate mousse, and loved all of it. They do have a steak sandwich on the menu that I've had in the past that is delicious, but I was so stuffed I felt ill for the rest of the day after eating it. They used to have a steak salad but that doesn't seem to be on the lunch menu any longer.

 

[Pugmalion1]

IIt appears to me that lots of people are making ADRs then just not showing up.

Staff cut backs may also mean more empty tables.

These two reasons combined would be why you would see open tables at a restaurant that is seemingly booked. The ease of the Disney Dining reservation system makes it easy to both make and break reservations. You couple that with a day where Disney knows that they will be short-staffed for any reason -- be it lay-offs, vacations, low season, what have you -- and you get a restaurant that is booked to virtual capacity that appears to still have available seating.

With the latter reason, you might find a restaurant that is only half full, but completely booked. It would be irresponsible for them to seat people that they don't have the staff in the kitchen or on the floor to support.

 

[afcgirl]

It was good. The do serve the signature mushroom filet, I believe in a smaller portion, but I can't eat a steak at lunchtime, so I opted for the chicken crepe. The filling was good - but it wasn't a traditional crepe - it wasn't rolled or folded, it was flat like a pancake with the filling lumped on top - so you lost the crepe effect. Came with a pasta salad as a side - $14.99. They offer a set three course menu for $28 that's a good deal if you can eat an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Couple options to choose from in each category. My DD did that and had the cheese soup (large bowl, not a cup), chicken caeser salad, and chocolate mousse, and loved all of it. They do have a steak sandwich on the menu that I've had in the past that is delicious, but I was so stuffed I felt ill for the rest of the day after eating it. They used to have a steak salad but that doesn't seem to be on the lunch menu any longer.

Thanks for the info!

 

[marivaid]

Just take a look at the "canceled reservations" threads here on the DIS. I've seen many people listing ADRs they were going to cancel and having at least one ADR in each park, plus DTD, for each day. At least these people were going to cancel the "extra" reservations but I bet most of those who do triple or quadruple bookings will not bother.

No wonder restaurants are hard to book yet half empty when you get there!

 

[GeorgeG]

The explanation that seems make the most sense came from a poster on another thread. Even though there is no real shortage of people who want to eat, Disney has been staffing down at some restaurants and limiting ADRs to the staffing so people will book the less popular restaurants. Top that off with people making multiple ADRs and not showing up and it messes everyone up. Also, with the dining plans, Disney already has their money so they really don't care if those people eat or not.

It's my understanding that Disney has taken measures to stop the multiple bookings, but haven't heard any comments on how that is working out.

We've found that with a little patience and flexibility it's not impossible to get a table in just about any of the restaurants without an ADR.

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

It doesn't make me popular here to say this, but I still think that people should be required to put down 10-20 dollars per reservation. If it's cancelled, then it comes back to your card. If you just don't show up, it goes to Make-A-Wish.

Details such as free dining plans could be dealt with in ways such as the money put down for a reservation goes back on your card after you dine or on a Disney gift card at that moment. If people can't afford to "front" the extra 10-20 per seating, which granted could be very expensive for a long vacation, perhaps they could just give their hotel confirmation number when making dining reservations and any they don't show up for without cancelling adds 20 dollars to their final bill at the hotel.

Not much that can be done for the restaurants playing staffing games and trying to exert downward pressure on consumers to dine at the less-popular destinations. All we can do for that is vote with our wallets and purses.

 

[ttstroker]

we were there the first/second week of august and noticed many restaurants were empty in the epcot and epcot resort area. one exception was tokyo dining/teppan edo one night. the place was packed and we waited over an hour and 15 minutes to be seated. it was a nice break from the sweltering heat though.

 

[AndyFL]

The last ADR I made was in 2006 and just about anytime we go we can get into any place we want to though we might have to wait a few minutes. Even CRT is no problem most of the time.