Going last minute!

[heathers4um]

Hi All -

We are heading out on a 6 am flight on Wednesday and we got the DDP since it makes sense for us but havent made any reservations anywhere. There are only 2 of us. It is ESPN weekend, and the beginning of the Flower and Garden Festival. Do you think it will be so busy we wont be able to get in anywhere? I was hoping to kind of go with the flow this trip.

Any thoughts would be so appreciated!

 

[Eventer98]

Since you are paying for the DDP I would hate for you to be shut out of TS and not be able to eat anywhere...or have to go to the same low-key place everyday. If you were paying OOP I would say wing it. Why don't you go online and see what is even available..I am sure you can still get great meals but the times might not be ideal. I just wouldn't play it by ear if you have already put the money out for the DDP. That's just my two cents! Have a great trip!

 

[Mom2micayla]

Touringplans is listing very high crowds this week. I'd personally make at least one TS ADR a day just in case. Better to have your bases covered that not be able to find anywhere to eat. But that's JMHO.

 

[Hootch]

for two people for Thursday and Saturday. If you're flexible you should be able to get ADRs without a problem. Flexible would involve timing and location. For example searching for 6:30 PM on Saturday you can currently find:

Restaurant Name Location Price Times available from 4:30pm-8:30pm on 3/5/11
50's Prime Time Café
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Hollywood Studios $$ 4:30 PM
Artist Point
Pacific Northwest
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Wilderness Lodge $$$ 6:15 PM 7:05 PM
Biergarten Restaurant
German
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 4:35 PM 8:10 PM
Bistro de Paris
French
Dining Plan Not Accepted Epcot $$$ 5:45 PM 7:45 PM
Boatwright's Dining Hall
American, Southern and American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Port Orleans Resort $$ 6:15 PM 6:40 PM
Bongos Cuban Café®
Cuban
Dining Plan Not Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 6:20 PM 6:35 PM
Cape May Café
American, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Beach Club Resort $$ 8:10 PM
Cap'n Jack's Restaurant
American, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 6:20 PM 7:10 PM
Captain's Grille
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Yacht Club Resort $$ 5:25 PM 6:40 PM
Citricos
Mediterranean, American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $$$ 5:50 PM 8:05 PM
The Crystal Palace
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Magic Kingdom Park $$$ 4:40 PM
Flying Fish Café
American, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's BoardWalk Resort $$$ 5:40 PM
Fulton's Crab House
American, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$$ 5:00 PM 8:00 PM
Garden View Tea Room
American, British
Dining Plan Not Accepted Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $$ 4:50 PM
Grand Floridian Café
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $$ 6:50 PM
Hollywood & Vine
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Hollywood Studios $$ 6:15 PM
The Hollywood Brown Derby
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Hollywood Studios $$ 5:35 PM
House of Blues® Restaurant in Downtown Disney West Side
Southern and American, Cajun/Creole
Dining Plan Not Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Italian
Dining Plan Not Accepted Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels $$$ 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Jiko – The Cooking Place
African, American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge $$$ 6:20 PM 7:10 PM
Kona Café
Asian, American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Polynesian Resort $$ 8:10 PM
Kouzzina by Cat Cora
Mediterranean, Greek
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's BoardWalk Resort $$ 5:20 PM 6:35 PM
La Hacienda de San Angel
Mexican
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 5:45 PM 6:45 PM
Liberty Tree Tavern
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Magic Kingdom Park $$ 4:30 PM 8:05 PM
Maya Grill
Steakhouse, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Coronado Springs Resort $$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Chinese
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Olivia's Cafe
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Old Key West Resort $$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Paradiso 37, Street Foods of the Americas
American
Dining Plan Not Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 5:20 PM 8:15 PM
Planet Hollywood®
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 4:30 PM
The Plaza Restaurant
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Magic Kingdom Park $$ 8:30 PM
Portobello
Italian
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
Irish
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 5:45 PM
Rainforest Café® Animal Kingdom
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Animal Kingdom Park $$ 5:30 PM
Restaurant Marrakesh
Moroccan, Mediterranean
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 5:30 PM 7:50 PM
San Angel Inn
Mexican
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 4:45 PM
Sanaa Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
African, International
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge $$ 6:30 PM 7:50 PM
Shula's Steak House
Steakhouse
Dining Plan Not Accepted Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels $$$ 5:45 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Shutter's at Old Port Royale
American, Caribbean
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort $$ 6:20 PM 6:35 PM
Todd English's bluezoo
Seafood
Dining Plan Not Accepted Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels $$$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Tokyo Dining
Japanese
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 6:10 PM 7:10 PM
Trail's End Restaurant
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground $$ 6:20 PM 6:35 PM
The Turf Club Bar and Grill
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa $$ 6:20 PM 6:40 PM
Tusker House Restaurant
African, American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Animal Kingdom Park $$ 5:40 PM
Victoria & Albert's
Modern American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $$$$ 5:00 PM
The Wave...of American Flavors
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Contemporary Resort $$ 6:25 PM 6:40 PM
Wolfgang Puck® Café
American, Californian
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$$ 5:45 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Steakhouse
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Yacht Club Resort $$$ 5:00 PM


I would try to book prior to leaving if possible. You may know this already but in case not - if you go to the Disney site and click on "Where to Eat" a drop menu will appear. If you choose "Make Dining Reservations" you get options of what location to search for (e.g. Epcot, Magic Kingdom, etc). Or you can put in no location and it will search every restaurant. The search is for a two hour period on either side of the time you enter.

Good luck.

 

[bluejasmine]

I agree I would try booking some online today, It would be ashame not to be able to get the most out of your DDP. When your there and you want to change something you can always call Disney Dining or ask the front desk of your resort for help.

 

[Beauty & the Best]

If you don't want to plan ahead, there are places where you can usually get a walk-up - not Ohana or Le Cellier, but plenty of good places.

You could do TS lunches instead of dinners (I think most ppl do dinners) and that would probably be easier to get into as well.

Also, if you want to make reservations in advance, you can always check at guest services in the park that you're in that day & they can make a reservation for you for that day.

 

[heathers4um]

Thanks Hootch!! That does make me feel loads better! My DBF is very easy to please in the way that if he ate at the ESPN Club all week, he wouldnt complain and since he likes to play things by ear and not feel tied down to anything or anytime, knowing I can bring up the availability that way will be a good thing. I have eaten all around the world so I wont mind trying a new place based on whats available. I wouldnt mind eating at the resorts more than in the parks if need be, and neither would he.

And thanks to all the rest of your input...it has all been very helpful!!

for two people for Thursday and Saturday. If you're flexible you should be able to get ADRs without a problem. Flexible would involve timing and location. For example searching for 6:30 PM on Saturday you can currently find:

Restaurant Name Location Price Times available from 4:30pm-8:30pm on 3/5/11
50's Prime Time Café
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Hollywood Studios $$ 4:30 PM
Artist Point
Pacific Northwest
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Wilderness Lodge $$$ 6:15 PM 7:05 PM
Biergarten Restaurant
German
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 4:35 PM 8:10 PM
Bistro de Paris
French
Dining Plan Not Accepted Epcot $$$ 5:45 PM 7:45 PM
Boatwright's Dining Hall
American, Southern and American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Port Orleans Resort $$ 6:15 PM 6:40 PM
Bongos Cuban Café®
Cuban
Dining Plan Not Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 6:20 PM 6:35 PM
Cape May Café
American, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Beach Club Resort $$ 8:10 PM
Cap'n Jack's Restaurant
American, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 6:20 PM 7:10 PM
Captain's Grille
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Yacht Club Resort $$ 5:25 PM 6:40 PM
Citricos
Mediterranean, American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $$$ 5:50 PM 8:05 PM
The Crystal Palace
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Magic Kingdom Park $$$ 4:40 PM
Flying Fish Café
American, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's BoardWalk Resort $$$ 5:40 PM
Fulton's Crab House
American, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$$ 5:00 PM 8:00 PM
Garden View Tea Room
American, British
Dining Plan Not Accepted Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $$ 4:50 PM
Grand Floridian Café
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $$ 6:50 PM
Hollywood & Vine
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Hollywood Studios $$ 6:15 PM
The Hollywood Brown Derby
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Hollywood Studios $$ 5:35 PM
House of Blues® Restaurant in Downtown Disney West Side
Southern and American, Cajun/Creole
Dining Plan Not Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Italian
Dining Plan Not Accepted Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels $$$ 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Jiko – The Cooking Place
African, American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge $$$ 6:20 PM 7:10 PM
Kona Café
Asian, American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Polynesian Resort $$ 8:10 PM
Kouzzina by Cat Cora
Mediterranean, Greek
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's BoardWalk Resort $$ 5:20 PM 6:35 PM
La Hacienda de San Angel
Mexican
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 5:45 PM 6:45 PM
Liberty Tree Tavern
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Magic Kingdom Park $$ 4:30 PM 8:05 PM
Maya Grill
Steakhouse, Seafood
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Coronado Springs Resort $$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Chinese
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Olivia's Cafe
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Old Key West Resort $$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Paradiso 37, Street Foods of the Americas
American
Dining Plan Not Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 5:20 PM 8:15 PM
Planet Hollywood®
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 4:30 PM
The Plaza Restaurant
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Magic Kingdom Park $$ 8:30 PM
Portobello
Italian
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
Irish
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$ 5:45 PM
Rainforest Café® Animal Kingdom
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Animal Kingdom Park $$ 5:30 PM
Restaurant Marrakesh
Moroccan, Mediterranean
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 5:30 PM 7:50 PM
San Angel Inn
Mexican
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 4:45 PM
Sanaa Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
African, International
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge $$ 6:30 PM 7:50 PM
Shula's Steak House
Steakhouse
Dining Plan Not Accepted Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels $$$ 5:45 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Shutter's at Old Port Royale
American, Caribbean
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort $$ 6:20 PM 6:35 PM
Todd English's bluezoo
Seafood
Dining Plan Not Accepted Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels $$$ 6:15 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Tokyo Dining
Japanese
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Epcot $$ 6:10 PM 7:10 PM
Trail's End Restaurant
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground $$ 6:20 PM 6:35 PM
The Turf Club Bar and Grill
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa $$ 6:20 PM 6:40 PM
Tusker House Restaurant
African, American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Animal Kingdom Park $$ 5:40 PM
Victoria & Albert's
Modern American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $$$$ 5:00 PM
The Wave...of American Flavors
American
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Contemporary Resort $$ 6:25 PM 6:40 PM
Wolfgang Puck® Café
American, Californian
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Downtown Disney Area $$$ 5:45 PM 6:30 PM 6:45 PM
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Steakhouse
Disney Dining Plan Accepted Disney's Yacht Club Resort $$$ 5:00 PM


I would try to book prior to leaving if possible. You may know this already but in case not - if you go to the Disney site and click on "Where to Eat" a drop menu will appear. If you choose "Make Dining Reservations" you get options of what location to search for (e.g. Epcot, Magic Kingdom, etc). Or you can put in no location and it will search every restaurant. The search is for a two hour period on either side of the time you enter.

Good luck.