finding restaurants without ADRs

[busykate]

We're going at the end of August and I've only made ADRs at 1900 Park Fare and Mama Melrose. I'm traveling with a disabled dd and my neice who's new to disney and need to be pretty flexible. If we are in a park and want to find a TS that's available is it better to go directly to that restaurant or should we call disney dining?

 

[ChrisKsAngel]

I would just go straight to the restaurant and see if they have anything or can work you in. We have done this twice before at Chef Mickey's in July without a problem. Our wait was only 30-45 as well. I don't know how it would be in August, especially with free dining, but it never hurts to try.

 

[epcot9]

That can be a tough call. I always have ADRs when I go to Disney and have seen many walk-ins without ADRs turned away. Some restaurants have told walk-ins that they are fully booked and will not accept any walk-ins for the night. While this is not the norm, it certainly does and can happen. I would recommend stopping at guest services at any park/hotel and have them look up restaurant availibilities through their computers ahead of time. My second choice would be to call the reservation number using your cell phone.

 

[aubriee]

You are going during the time of free dining, which is not a good thing for potential walk ups. Program the WDW dining number into your cell phone. Make whatever ADRs you can now, then if you need to change while you're down there go to guest services at your resort, or call the WDW dine#, or try walking up just as a restaurant opens to see what ADR time slot they may have.

One tip: a few years ago I tried to walk in at Sci Fi and the CM said they were not taking walk ups. I stepped around the corner, called, WDW dining, and was told that if I could get there in 15 minutes, I could have an ADR. I wrote the conf # down and walked back around the corner. As soon as the CM saw me, he again started to tell me no walk ups, but I wriggled my phone at him and told him I now had an ADR. He checked his screen, laughed, and said "neat trick".

 

[A Pair and A Spare]

You can also check at guest services at the front of each park as you enter in the morning. They usually know what TS restaurants still have availability for the day and can even make your reservation for you.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Last August outside Guest Relations at the Magic Kingdom they had a board which listed a few locations where guests could go as walk-ins for lunch and I remember seeing that LTT was one of the restaurants on there. I am sure they had no room for walk-ins at any location on there it would not be out, so it's something else to look into.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Last August outside Guest Relations at the Magic Kingdom they had a board which listed a few locations where guests could go as walk-ins for lunch and I remember seeing that LTT was one of the restaurants on there. I am sure they had no room for walk-ins at any location on there it would not be out, so it's something else to look into.

I saw the same type of board in the guest relations office in Epcot.
It listed all of the restaurants and if they had any availablity for the day, either at lunch or dinner.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Just wanted to say that they were turning people away at almost every restaurant I dined at last August during free dining. I saw people turned away from Sci-Fi, 'Ohana, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace and Cinderella's Gala Feast. Lots of disappointed people. I wouldn't even consider going the 1st week of free dining without ADR's based on what I saw. JMHO

 

[eyor44]

I have an entire list of ADRs for our next trip based on not being able to get into any restaurants the last couple of trips. I like being flexible, but want some sit downs this time. I have promised DH that if it is getting near an ADR, plans have changed and we can cancel without a surcharge, then we will. If you can estimate what park you will be at and about what time you normally eat, I would try for some ADRs.

 

[Lynne M]

Definitely, call Disney Dining, find out what's available, and make an ADR even if it's 15 minutes before you want to have dinner. The last thing you want to be doing with a disabled child is criss-crossing those enormous theme parks in August blast-furnace heat, trying to find a restaurant that will take you. Many theme park restaurants don't take walk-ups during busy times.

In fact, seeing as you're going during free dining, I'd STRONGLY recommend making ADRs, even if you're not sure you'll be able to keep them. If you're OK with eating CS for most meals, it's not a big deal. But if table service meals are important to your family, make the ADRs. And do it soon, as many restaurants are already booked up for the free dining period.

 

[planitdad]

We were there last of Aug. last year and again this year for free dining. I would do the calling as prvious posters mentioned, leaving time in your schedule to get to and from if you get lucky . You're best chance IMHO would be a resort restaurant if that is an option. I would also try walking up to enquire if and only if I was passing by the restaurant, would not go to far out of the way though. At several of our ADR's last Aug. we politely waited while they would turn away those w/out ADR's in front of us. Counter service restaurants can be jampacked as well during free dining, especially at popular mealtimes. At least if you leave time to leave the park for a meal, anything else will be a pleasant surprise and you won't be setting yourself up for disappointment. Definitely keep calling though as often as you can !!

 

[septbaby]

I'd make a few more ADRs and cancel them if you need to make alternate plans. Your question was inside the park. While Epcot has "a lot of options" the other parks really don't have that many TS options. MK has 3 Tony's, LTT and CP. That's not a lot for the size and popularity of the park and AK has even less.

I was also in the park at the end of August last year and was grateful that we had ADRs. I saw I lot of confused walk ups being turned away, esp. at Hollywood & Vine in DHS. Fortunately I didn't see any tantrums that have become all too common place during free dining.

You might also get in the habit of simply calling WDW-DINE or stopping by your concierge in the morning to make an ADR for that day. I think if you wait until you're hungry or ready to eat you either will have too long of a wait or get frustrated and not get anything. I'd rather you'd be in neither of those situations.

FWIW I have a trip planned for the same time period and we're on the DP. I've made the following ADRs: Lunches at CP and the H&V character meal. Breakfast at Boma before heading to AK and Dinner at Chef Mickey's at the end of the AK day. I'm travelling with a 6yo and I think the lunches, esp. character lunches will be a good break, yet still playtime for him. Boma is all for me, though he's a very good breakfast food eater so I know he'll get a good fill for a busy day at AK. Chef Mickey's is his favorite so I've saved that for last.

Finally, you may also want to put together a list of CS places you'd choose if you can't get an ADR/table. Better to have a plan C than be hungry and not have a clue.

 

[busykate]

Thanks for the advice - I ended up making ADR's for all but one day - I got everyone dd wanted but Yak and Yeti.

 

[Karnak]

If we are in a park and want to find a TS that's available is it better to go directly to that restaurant ...

I would go directly to that restaurant. And keep in mind that if there isn't any room at your first choice, the CMs at that first restaurant can check all of the restaurants in that park, and find one you can get into, if any are available. There is no need to walk around to each of them.

Hope y'all have a blast at WDW.

Karnak

 

[JoanneGreco]

Definitely, call Disney Dining, find out what's available, and make an ADR even if it's 15 minutes before you want to have dinner.

Does anybody have that phone number?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Does anybody have that phone number?

407-WDW-DINE.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Thanks for the advice - I ended up making ADR's for all but one day - I got everyone dd wanted but Yak and Yeti.

Glad to hear it.

 

[JoanneGreco]

407-WDW-DINE.

Thanks a lot.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks a lot.

You're welcome.

 

[cajunbaby1]

I few years ago when we were at Epcot the kids decided they wanted Italian. There was a guest service place towards the front of Epcot andthey were able to help us by looking in their computer system for availibility. So I'm sure its still there.