FYI re full restuarants during Free dining

[jetsetter90]

Hi,

We were just down at WDW 8/15-28. We had all of our ADR's except for 1 nite. We wanted to eat at Chef Mickey but couldn't get anytime available. So we decided we would head over there and worse came to worse find something else. We were told that all is full but if we willing to wait we could be seated. I asked how long and they said 1 hour. I figured no problem..we'll do some shopping, have a drink..no big deal since we had no other plans. 35 min later our pager was blinking.

On two other occasions (Kona and Spoodles) we got there about an hour earlier....we happened to be in the neighborhood . Both times we were seated within 10 min.

I think that if your flexible even though everything is full you still might get lucky. Remember there is a precentage of no shows that they take into account.

BTW they did cancel our later reservations.

TTFN
Jetsetter90

 

[bicker]

I remember needing to change things around in the past, being able to get accommodated at a restaurant, but being unable to cancel the priority seating arrangements, either through the restaurant or by calling CRO ourselfs (*55?) (the latter typically because of long hold times). Having the restaurant do it makes great sense, and is a major improvement.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We were early at Kona Cafe and Sci Fi (30 min. or so) and got in right away both times (8/25-8/30). We saw lots of empty tables, and Sci fi was taking walk ups. I'm not sure if these were no shows, or if they didn't overbook to keep up the food quality? Last year the restaurants were more crowded during this same week.

 

[bicker]

What time of day?

 

[JimMIA]

I would caution folks not to COUNT on being able to get in, though! We tried that at Le Cellier last December and they were so overbooked they were not even keeping a waitlist.

Some restaurants will be able to accommodate you, and others will not, so don't PLAN on being able to waitlist.

 

[jetsetter90]

What time of day?

Most of the times were around 6:30.

The message was meant more as "give it a try" then to plan on it.

Le Cellier and Les Chefs de France are definately 2 that weren't taking any walk ups. But if your walking by and have no other plans....try.

TTFN
Jetsetter90

 

[melomouse]

TY, jetsetter! Much appreciated as we count down the final weeks to our trip !!!

 

[paulh]

would find that they would be more accomadateing at buffets than sit down ts
Paulh

 

[maxaroni]

We saw walk ups at both Coral Reef and sci fi, about 5:30 last week.

 

[highsmith]

I am wondering if last week was not "the norm" due to the impending weather that they thought Florida might get. I just read a trip report that said it was "dead" all week.

 

[NEWEARS2006]

We were there from Aug 26 to Sep 02. I had all of my TS booked in advance. Unfortunately, because of Ernesto, they were cancelling the show at Polynesian on Wednesday night. This meant that we had to change all of our plans for the week to accommodate the cancellation. Guest Services at All Star sports was great. She rebooked us for Thursday night and was able to change all of our reservations for the rest of the week. We ate at a new restuarant at Saratoga Springs (The Turf) which opened last month and hasn't even been printed on the brochure yet (I would highly recommend it) overlooks the golf course. All restuarants were picked by her and were great.

 

[lklasing]

I'm glad to hear that you have a chance of getting in early if you get here early, but here's another question: What if you get there AFTER your ADR time? How late is too late? Will they turn you away, make you wait longer than you would have if you had been on time, or not care? TIA!