Good places to eat not requiring reservation (typically)

[Jsmply]

We are taking a last minute Disney trip this weekend. We have been many times over the years with our APs and eaten at a lot of the "big places". We are in South Florida so it's only about 3 hours away or so.

What I'm wondering is, do you recommend any place in particular for last minute trips that do NOT typically need reservations? We are staying at the Dolphin so we are in the Epcot area Friday and Saturday night and hoping to find some cool places to eat in Epcot or around the area.

I usually made ADR's asap as we are big "eating out" people and enjoy a fun sit down meal. I know ESPN in Boardwalk doesn't usually require a reservation, we've walked in there a few times. I'm sure a lot of the counter service areas in Epcot don't, but I was hoping for some sit down meals.

Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[MomBoyd]

Try Boma (AKL) or Ohana (Poly). If you get there early you will be fine without a reservation and both are wonderful. In the parks you might do better to have a big lunch or eat dinner at the first dinner seating.

 

[Bete]

Pick places that you may enjoy and see if ressies are available, right now. It doesn't hurt to call and try. People do cancel reservations and you may snatch one.

I think the key point will be to go for lunch if the place is booked for dinner. See if later times are available for lunch wherever you want to dine if you want it to be more like doing dinner. I think the easiest times to get in as a walk-in would be at the very start of lunch or dinner. Check opening times, etc.

My favorites in WS in Epcot are Le Cellier, Teppan Edo and Chef de France. For FW Corral Reef is my favorite.

If you absolutely don't want to make ressies then I would go to Biergarten in WS. I think this is the easiest place to get into without a ressie.

 

[ahecht]

If you're not picky about times you might be surprised how many restaurants are available on short notice. I have been able to get reservations for SciFi Dine-In with two-days notice, but it was a late dinner (7:45). Similarly, I was once able to get Garden Grill character dining reservations in the morning for a 3:00 lunch that afternoon.

 

[disnut8]

Captain's Grille right there in the Yacht Club. Good food, reasonable prices and usually not that full.

But the previous poster is correct. You'd be surprised with what you can do on short notice. Over Labor Day weekend, I called on Saturday afternoon and got a lunch seating at Sci Fi the next day for two people. When we got there on Sunday, walk ups were being turned away and nothing was available for dinner either.

 

[srwarden1928]

At AK, eat at Flame Tree BBQ. Its only CS so there are no reservations for anyone. We found the food to be very good there.

 

[MareSINY]

On my families last trip we dined at Planet Hollywood in DTD for the first time. We were really pleasantly surprised with the restaurant. The food was excellent, our waitress was very helpful (urged us all to eat the most expensive stuff since we were on the dining plan LOL) and the themeing is really neat.

They were taking walk ups when we were there at lunch time and as big as the place is I'm sure you could walk in for dinner as well.

 

[BradyBz12]

If you don't mind eating late there are a lot more options for getting a 2 day or even same day ADR. Many restaurants serve until 10pm. We're usually there in early Dec and have even gotten same day ADRs for California Grille.

Only downside is you may be eating at 9 or 9:30.

 

[darlak]

Call the dining line or have the concierge call after you check-in and just see what’s available. There will be something available. Let it be a fun surprise!



We always enjoy Planet Hollywood in DTD and were able to walk-up even last September during free dining with immediate seating. They have great ribs.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Resorts restaurants are often much easier to get rather than park ones. Also, just call from wherever you are, I very often get an ADR for several people like 30 minutes from my call time.

 

[haleofafamily]

Do you want counter service ideas or only table service? If CS, then Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavillion has great variety and any counter service in the World Showcase is fun to try. Also, we walked into Flyin' Fish (6 ish) on the Boardwalk. We were seated right away and loved it. Spoodles had a walk-up window (I think it only serves pizza). It was great.

 

[dzorn]

Given it is free dining right now it could be difficult. Beaches and Cream may be an option. It never hurts to call and see if any ADR's are available.

Denise in MI

 

[WillCAD]

Trails End Buffeteria at Ft Wilderness campground is usually very easy to get into with no ressie. The food is good, though not fancy, and the price is the cheapest al-you-can-eat buffet on WDW property.

The Dolphin Fountain, on the lower lever of the Dolphin, is usually pretty easy to get into with no ressie as well. It is not Disney owned, so it can't accept Dining Plan, room charge, or Disney Dollars, but the food is excellent, service is terrific, and the atmosphere is casual and relaxed but calm and fairly quiet.

I haven't tried in a few years, but Restaurant Marakesh in Epcot's Morocco used to be pretty easy to get into without a ressie. Many people think Moroccan food is spicy and avoid the place, but in truth, Moroccan food is not spicy at all, and is delicious. The live belly dancers don't hurt the ambience, either.

Boatwright's, at POR, is pretty easy to get into for breakfast with no ressie (not sure about lunch and dinner). The breakfast menu is fairly mainstream, but they do have a banana stuffed french toast that is identical to Kona Cafe's famous Tonga Toast, and the quality of the food there is excellent. Service is also great, and the restaurant is rarely crowded (at least for breakfast), so it's usually pretty quiet and peaceful.

 

[holcomb-mania]

You should be able to get a last minute ADR at the Turf Club at SSR.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

There are several good options in the Swan and Dolphin. Since they aren't on the DDP, there's likely to be some openings. Off the top of my head, I think the sushi place inthe Swan doesn't take reservations, nor does the brewery works or ESPN on the BWK. Captain's Grille changed names since the last time I ate tehre, but it was good and walk up. Also, Beaches and CReam doesn't take reservations, but sometimes waits can be long, as I understand.

In Epcot, as others have said, try calling, or asking at the concierge desk just after check-in. I've gotten Marrakesh on short notice. We enjoyed it.

Your odds of getting a table will be greater if your party size is small.

Another place we dined at once during peak season was Olivia's, we had a reservation, but the place was not full during Thanksgiving week when all the parks were packed. Obviously the headliner dining options at the deluxe resorts will be full, but the TS places at the moderate and DVC resorts are often available.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this over to our dining board. You'll get lots of suggestions there.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Spoodles, Captian's Grill, Portbella Yact Club

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The last time we went it was the first week in March and I called that week and got Crystal Palace for lunch, Tusker House for BF and Garden Grill for lunch.

This was before me knowing all of the info about ADR's.

 

[tink713]

Try GF Cafe or Turf Club. We did those both about a week ago walk up and they had excellent food.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Your best bet for a nice sit down meals w/o reservations is in the Swan & Dolphin. Try this link: http://www.swandolphin.com/dining/