Getting a table

[miss_bell]

We will be in the World from 31st August until 11th September with the disney dining plan, we have not made any restaurant reservations and was wondering what the likelyhood is of getting a walk-up table service each evening, we do not intend to book tables as we are unsure which park we will be in each day and don't want to be clock watching constantly.

 

[beroh2253]

Me and DW have been to free dining the last 3 years (and have always had our ADR's) and when after checking in for our ADR and waiting have seen many walk-up people being tuned away. Most restaurants are probably booked during free dining and also don't forget you guys are not going to be the only walk-ups. If I were you I would try to make at least a few ADR's just to guarantee that you can get into some restaurants. But anyway good luck, we are going last week in October and have all of our ADR's made but we always get the hopper pass since most of our ADR's are in EPCOT we just hop over to EPCOT about an hour before our ADR annd for us this works.

 

[Hopefully]

The chances of getting walk up TS daily during a Free Dining period are slim to none. You could get lucky, but I would not expect it.
Your chances of success are greatest at off hours and out of park restaurants. Try arriving at a less popular restaurant right as it opens or just before it closes.
Theme park restaurants historically turn everyone away.
Disney does not "save" tables for walk ups. They fill them all with their ADR system
Good Luck

 

[TheRustyScupper]

the likelyhood is of getting a walk-up table service each evening, we do not intend to book tables as we are unsure which park we will be in each day and don't want to be clock watching constantly.

1) You can easily walk up to fast food.
2) Walking up to a sit down is gonna be awful tough.
3) You need to plan ahead for the daily park and watch the clock.

 

[madalex]

We will be in the World from 31st August until 11th September with the disney dining plan, we have not made any restaurant reservations and was wondering what the likelyhood is of getting a walk-up table service each evening, we do not intend to book tables as we are unsure which park we will be in each day and don't want to be clock watching constantly.

A little planning goes a long way. Making decisions about which park and what time to eat ahead of time so that you can make some ADRs sure sounds better than repeatedly walking up to TS restaurants to get a table and being told they are fully booked.

You are probably out of luck for the park TS restaurants. Your best bet is to try some of the less popular resort restaurants. Places like Yacht Club Galley, Boatwright's and Maya Grill might have availability on short notice.

 

[TaraPA]

Unfortunatley I have to agree with everyone else. Your chances are slim to none of getting TS walk-up seating. The last few years we've been turned away from every park TS that we've tried to do as a walk-up.

However, that being said, you could call Disney Dining when you get up every morning, and just ask what's available. Asking it that way is quicker than asking for specific restaraunts or times. People do cancel/change ADRs once they get there, or at the last minute, which in turn could free up an opening for you.

Good luck!

 

[RMulieri]

I agree with all the PP. I have gone the last few free dining periods.Almost all of the themepark restaurants and popular resort restaurants do not take ANY walk ups or standbys during free dining.Free dining simply floods the system with people that normally wouldn't be doing TS dining...I would call and make some dining adrs, or prepare for the fact of alot of CS meals

 

[vicki_c]

And just to add support to what the others said, there's a reason that Disney just added extended hours at restaurants for the free dining period (see the top of the DISboards in the little news box for details on that) -- because the restaurants are going to be packed! I wouldn't count on any table service meals if you don't make reservations.

You could get lucky, of course, but it will be that - luck - during free dining.

 

[Quacktatty]

You are setting yourself up for failure. Make guest relations your firt stop in every park and they might be able to find you table. Or you could just eat every meal at Nine Dragons!

 

[Neko]

We have walked into CRT in the castle twice. In June 2004 they were making announcements to the crowd they had tables open and in Dec 2008 we just walked up and asked, someone hadn't shown up for their resv. and we were seated in 10 min. Both times about 5p, we're a party of 4.

Having said that, we made ressies for character meals we wanted. We also were paying OOP, we didn't care where we ate, and it wasn't free dining.

 

[WriteDisney]

I think some might be available... (maybe Nine Dragons in China or Biergarten in Germany.. both in Epcot)... might be available...

I've been trying to switch some of my times around for my ADRs for mid-September and haven't had any luck (at least online.. might try again when we confirm)... we're just happy to get anything and be able to go to Disney

 

[MickeyNicki]

We were just there Aug 14-16 and just about every single place was booked solid but DH was not taking no for an answer...for example Teppan Edo was booked for lunch and dinner, I called for 3 days to check, I went online to check and at 11:30 am we went to the host desk and were turned away...DH was really wanting to eat there so at noon he went up and checked again and boom we got right in.

Same thing with the Plaza in MK...at 3pm we checked, no openings until 8:40 pm...at 5:30 DH checked again and we were seated right away.

Also Tonys in MK said they could seat us at 4pm no problem.

If you go right when a place opens up you may squeak in but during free dining I think you might have some trouble.

 

[Jenngoofys]

We will be in the World from 31st August until 11th September with the disney dining plan, we have not made any restaurant reservations and was wondering what the likelyhood is of getting a walk-up table service each evening, we do not intend to book tables as we are unsure which park we will be in each day and don't want to be clock watching constantly.

Hello if you choose to try this method head there when you are the least bit hungry and hope for the best. You may have waits of up to an hour if you do not get turned away. I dont risk it I book my ADRs. I know some people post they have had some luck with walk up but at the same time it is free dining and alot of reservations.
I guess my best advice to you would be to call disney dining and for each park ask them which is the least busy restaurant, and the second least busy. write them down and take them with you to the parks so you have them as a reference. Good Luck and Happy eating I will be at disney on the 10th of september we overlap some

 

[MHSweb79]

If you want the freedom to wing your Disney vacation (catch the 1st bus to any park, etc.) then you must be willing to eat counter-service meals all week. Nothing wrong with that.

I'm sure you realize that most DIS'ers aren't clamoring for park hours and ADR's because they WANT to be locked into a schedule 3-6 months ahead of time. It's simply the the price you pay for wanting to eat table-service meals while you are there.

You may get lucky and score a walk-up, but you'll probably be wasting a lot of park time trying to do it. I'd really recommend making some ADR's now, if you can. After all, you can always cancel them if you don't end up at that park on that day.

 

[miss_bell]

i've managed to book all 10 of my table service reservations, some are a bit late at night but in the past we haven't eaten until we are on our way back to the villa and this could be 11pm. i have a couple of buffets and a character buffet at crystal palace. couldn't get into yak and yeti but got everywhere else, we have planned our parks around our reservations.

thank you everyone for giving me a kick up the bum and getting me organised

 

[BriarRosie]

To give you even more perspective, Disney is creating dining locations that normally aren't open as dining locations just to accommodate the free dining crowd. Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station and the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland.

Table service locations are packed during free dining, so if you still intend to take your chances, you can't say we didn't warn you that you might find yourself frustrated by a lack of choices.

You could always use the concierge desk in the resort lobby (if you're staying at a Disney resort) to check availability. If you know you'll be in a certain park on a certain day, they'll at least be able to try to find you some dining options.

The worst case scenario is that you'd have to use your table service credits on counter service options.

 

[UK Princess]

i've managed to book all 10 of my table service reservations,
thank you everyone for giving me a kick up the bum and getting me organised

Glad you're all sorted

 

[beroh2253]

i've managed to book all 10 of my table service reservations, some are a bit late at night but in the past we haven't eaten until we are on our way back to the villa and this could be 11pm. i have a couple of buffets and a character buffet at crystal palace. couldn't get into yak and yeti but got everywhere else, we have planned our parks around our reservations.

thank you everyone for giving me a kick up the bum and getting me organised

Great, now you can watch and see people being turned away by not having their dinners planed. Keep trying for the Yak & Yetti, reservations are always opening up.