Experience in Resort Lounges/Bars

[Brittany Fata]

I'm wondering how availability at the lounges has been working. I will be at Disney next week and on Tuesday I wanted to spend the afternoon going to the different lounges on the monorail loop; however, I was interested in ending the night at Geyser Point and eating dinner. I don't believe they take reservations, how would I go about eating here? I'm just worried I might run into a really long wait or something...

I do have reservations for Kona Cafe that same night as a back up, however, I believe the cancellation policy is 24 hours before, so I will need to make decision on Monday whether I will keep my reservation.

Anyone have experience with dining at the lounges?

Thanks!

 

[hereforthechurros]

We’ve dined at Geyser Point quite a few times and have never had an issue getting a table... but with less capacity and a busy spring break there really is no guarantee. It’s such a great spot on the water, definitely worth a stop.

Enchanted Rose at Grand Floridian is another good lounge that’s never overly crowded. They have small plates and cocktails. Tambu lounge at Poly is open as well for appetizers and drinks.

Note that the monorail doesn’t run to WL nor does the boat from Contemporary, you’d have to boat or bus from MK.

 

[MomOTwins]

Make sure if going in the afternoon you visit when a lounge is open. Enchanted rose opens at 4 and Cali grill opens at 5, for example. If going in the coming spring break weeks, I would expect long-ish waits to build as the evening progresses and people without ADRs or early mobile order realize there is nowhere to eat. In normal times (eg last fall, we had no trouble being seated at the lounges, but all bets are off the next four weeks.
Poly monorail stop is closed but you can walk from TTC or GF. Geyser point you would need a boat from MK or an uber. Just remember that the boats to MK stop when the park closes so may be best to do that one at the start of your evening instead of at the end if relying on Disney transportation.

 

[Brittany Fata]

We’ve dined at Geyser Point quite a few times and have never had an issue getting a table... but with less capacity and a busy spring break there really is no guarantee. It’s such a great spot on the water, definitely worth a stop.

Enchanted Rose at Grand Floridian is another good lounge that’s never overly crowded. They have small plates and cocktails. Tambu lounge at Poly is open as well for appetizers and drinks.

Note that the monorail doesn’t run to WL nor does the boat from Contemporary, you’d have to boat or bus from MK.

Thank you for sharing your experience! Hopefully I have a similar experience; however, I will go in with the expectation that spring break crowds might result in a wait!

Make sure if going in the afternoon you visit when a lounge is open. Enchanted rose opens at 4 and Cali grill opens at 5, for example. If going in the coming spring break weeks, I would expect long-ish waits to build as the evening progresses and people without ADRs or early mobile order realize there is nowhere to eat. In normal times (eg last fall, we had no trouble being seated at the lounges, but all bets are off the next four weeks.
Poly monorail stop is closed but you can walk from TTC or GF. Geyser point you would need a boat from MK or an uber. Just remember that the boats to MK stop when the park closes so may be best to do that one at the start of your evening instead of at the end if relying on Disney transportation.

All good points! Thank you for giving me a few things to think about.

Do you get seated in the lounges just by walking up? Or do you have to join a "wait list" in MDE experience?

 

[hereforthechurros]

Thank you for sharing your experience! Hopefully I have a similar experience; however, I will go in with the expectation that spring break crowds might result in a wait!



All good points! Thank you for giving me a few things to think about.

Do you get seated in the lounges just by walking up? Or do you have to join a "wait list" in MDE experience?

The monorail lounges are all walk up as far as I know but good question! Hope someone can second this. Nomad lounge in AK has a wait list but I’m not sure what other lounges do.

Happy lounging!

 

[MomOTwins]

The monorail lounges are all walk up as far as I know but good question! Hope someone can second this. Nomad lounge in AK has a wait list but I’m not sure what other lounges do.

Happy lounging!

We just did walk up too. Not sure about app waitlist, sorry!

 

[Brittany Fata]

The monorail lounges are all walk up as far as I know but good question! Hope someone can second this. Nomad lounge in AK has a wait list but I’m not sure what other lounges do.

Happy lounging!

We just did walk up too. Not sure about app waitlist, sorry!

Thank you both!

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

Also you can keep you reservation for Kona Cafe until same day, I would say up to an hour before the reservation and if then you decide you do not need Kona Cafe just reschedule that reservation to a date a couple of days, weeks out. Once you have rescheduled the reservation that then you can just cancel it. I recently did this in November. We were still too full from our breakfast to eat a 12:30 lunch at 50's Primetime. I rescheduled that reservation out a few days or so. Once it was confirmed for the future date, I just went in and cancelled it. It also benefits those who were looking for a last minute TS at Primetime as I know I have searched for TS at the last minute myself.

 

[Brittany Fata]

Also you can keep you reservation for Kona Cafe until same day, I would say up to an hour before the reservation and if then you decide you do not need Kona Cafe just reschedule that reservation to a date a couple of days, weeks out. Once you have rescheduled the reservation that then you can just cancel it. I recently did this in November. We were still too full from our breakfast to eat a 12:30 lunch at 50's Primetime. I rescheduled that reservation out a few days or so. Once it was confirmed for the future date, I just went in and cancelled it. It also benefits those who were looking for a last minute TS at Primetime as I know I have searched for TS at the last minute myself.

Thank you! That might be a good idea - just in case.