Good places to eat w/o reservations

[aottmers]

Our first trip and I would like to know if there are good places to eat that do not require reservations?

 

[robinb]

Are you on the Dining Plan?

 

[aottmers]

no, we are not on the dining plan.

 

[kat3668]

Well here are a few counter service that are good.

Columbia Harbor House in Magic Kingdom
Cosmic Rays in Magic Kingdom
Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney
Flame tree BBQ in Animal kingdom
Tusker House in Animal Kingdom

Good luck and have a magical trip!

 

[robinb]

Whew! I'm glad you're not on the DDP. That would be a nightmare!

I would recommend one of the Downtown Disney restaurants. My family ate at Raglan Road with just one day notice. Perhaps one the resort restaurants like the Maya Grill or Boatwrights. Places on the Boardwalk area such as the ESPN Club, Big River Grill and Beaches and Cream do not take reservations.

Good luck!

 

[NHWX]

FYI - I was at Boatwright's for breakfast on Sunday and they were pretty busy. I'd definitely recommend a ressie if you have your heart set on eating there.

As far as restaurants without reservations - maybe the Noodle Station at MK? I went past it several times last week and it seemed like it had good choices. The Flatbread Grill at MGM has a decent pulled pork sandwich and the chicken cesaer wrap was fine - plenty of chicken.

I'd also second the Earl of Sandwich recommendation. It's pretty yummy - I especially like the Earl Grey iced tea.

NHWX

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

Check this:
http://www.bookit.com/travel_guide-...taurants-Beaches_and_Cream_Soda_Shop-217.html


I LOVE Beaches and Cream

 

[Eeyore2003]

Although most do get busy during the peak meal times, you can usually get in we've found a little early or a little late at these table services---
Olivia's at OKW
The Plaza at Magic Kingdom
Yachtclub Galley at the Yachtclub
and these are getting a little more popular, but also Kona Cafe at the Polynesian, Concourse Steakhouse at the Contemporary and the Grand Floridian Cafe at the Grand Floridian.
We've also walked in to Spoodles on the Boardwalk for a semi-late breakfast.

As mentioned, the ESPN Club and Big River Grille on the Boardwalk do not take reservations but are also busy right during peak meal times.

Typically, even though we have just "walked into" most of these at some point, I do make reservations, they can always be canceled and we also prefer most of these to the big "signature" restaurants. Wonderful hidden gems with great food, excellent service and lovely atmospheres.

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

We like Beaches & Cream - great for a burger in a diner style setting. Also Wolfgang Pucks Cafe in DTD does great sandwiches - we got some to take out on our last trip

But you can normally get into quite a few of the 'ADR' restaurants by just walking in if you are outside the normal busy eating times. When we were there over Presidents Day we walked into Fultons Crab House at about 5pm without an ADR and got a table straight away

 

[Andy B]

The Big River Grill does take reservations but direct not ADRs on the DIsbey system it does mean they are more likely to take walk ups.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Can I just ask - I haven't been inside the parks for six or seven years - and we were always able to walk in to most places in the parks. WOuld it not be possible to just decide while you were there (say Crystal Palace or Sci-FI Diner) just to walk in and eat???

I realise that alot of people do make ADR's, but to be honest I only knew this through the DIS (and if a friend hadn't told me about DIS I still wouldn't know!!) - So what does the 'average' tourist (DIS ignorant!!! ) who arrives at Disney without a plan do - do they survive on burgers????

I plan to make a couple of ADRs but I very rarely know what I want to eat until I'm hungry, and hoped I would have some choice on the day!!!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

"Can I just ask - I haven't been inside the parks for six or seven years - and we were always able to walk in to most places in the parks. WOuld it not be possible to just decide while you were there (say Crystal Palace or Sci-FI Diner) just to walk in and eat???"

I have to tell you here it is very difficult and almost impossible these days to be a walk up at any of the popular restaurants.. I would say if you would like Crystal Palace or Sci-Fi, I would make an ADR. Even if you try to do it when you are get there, rather than 180 days out, do attempt to make an ADR for the popular restaurants..

I make my ADR's usually when I get to WDW.. and I get what I get. As I have been going for many years, I adapt to what is available for the time I am there. But I do eat in some of the sit down venues....maybe not LeCellier as it tends to be one of the very popular ones, but that is ok with me, I have done it before. I just would hate for you to be disappointed if you have some particular ones in mind, best to make ADR's and change them if you are not happy with your choices once you get there.

 

[tinkandpan]

With the DDP- i have noticed over time that you just can't wing it in the parks anymore. Walk in to places like CP or Sci FI, LTT etc are really hard to get if you can even do it. You are almost limited to CS or a wait.
Earl of Sandwich in DTD is great
Seasons food court in the Land at Epcot
The French Bakery has great sandwiches for lunch

 

[Princessbubblegum]

We tried this walk in method on our last trip because i didn't want to think about what I wanted to eat months ahead.....we were sorry because we ended up having burgers and fries etc for every meal. Yuck.

This time I have made ADRs and if it turns out we are too busy to go to dinner at least we have the choice. It is easy to cancel.

 

[lustergirl]

you can try the ESPN Club on the Boardwalk but usually friday and saturday nights there will be a line to wait in- good luck!! This is a must have every trip for us!!

 

[mrzrich]

Can I just ask - I haven't been inside the parks for six or seven years - and we were always able to walk in to most places in the parks. WOuld it not be possible to just decide while you were there (say Crystal Palace or Sci-FI Diner) just to walk in and eat???

I realise that alot of people do make ADR's, but to be honest I only knew this through the DIS (and if a friend hadn't told me about DIS I still wouldn't know!!) - So what does the 'average' tourist (DIS ignorant!!! ) who arrives at Disney without a plan do - do they survive on burgers????

I plan to make a couple of ADRs but I very rarely know what I want to eat until I'm hungry, and hoped I would have some choice on the day!!!

Lately, it is not possible to walk up to Crystal Palace or similar places. We were there on a very light crowd day in Feb (5 minute wait for Splash Mountain) we had a ressie for CP . While waiting we saw many walk ups turned away.

Saw the same on a light crowd day at Garden Grill on April 29 (20 minute Soarin wait)

Of course people can post stories of when they got lucky and were allowed right in, but these have become the exception.

Best bet, if there's someplace you really want to eat make a ressie!

We've also had some luck using lobby concierge the day of a desired ADR

Places I have have not needed ressies for are Trail's End and ESPN (ESPN Doesn't take them)

 

[mrzrich]

We tried this walk in method on our last trip because i didn't want to think about what I wanted to eats months ahead.....we were sorry because we ended up having burgers and fries etc for every meal. Yuck.

See this I don't get. Why burgers and fries every meal? WDW has some wonderful CS options. Chicken, Ribs, Wraps, Sandwiches, Salads, Fish and Chips, not to mention all the great CS at WS

 

[Laura]

Can I just ask - I haven't been inside the parks for six or seven years - and we were always able to walk in to most places in the parks. WOuld it not be possible to just decide while you were there (say Crystal Palace or Sci-FI Diner) just to walk in and eat???

Not necessarily. It may depend on the size of your group, how popular the restaurant is, whether you're visiting during a busier time of year, if there happens to be a cancellation just as you walk up, etc. I didn't have problems last year walking up to Raglan Road, getting an ADR for Biergarten just a couple of hours before dinnertime, and an ADR for Boma dinner a few days ahead (not to mention our Boatwright's breakfasts that were on short notice). But we were only two people, and went in late April/early May. I made only one ADR ahead of time. The rest were on the fly or as soon as we knew we'd want to eat there.

See this I don't get. Why burgers and fries every meal? WDW has some wonderful CS options. Chicken, Ribs, Wraps, Sandwiches, Salads, Fish and Chips, not to mention all the great CS at WS

No kidding. DH and I each had one burger all week (well, veggie burger for me) and it was at Rosie's in MGM. We stopped there because we were starving and it was the first CS I saw. If I walked a little farther, I could have had non-burger options at ABC Commissary or Backlot Express or DH could have had something else at the flatbread place.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thanks ever so much for all your advice - to be honest now that I've discovered DIS I will definitely be making ADR's for the few special meals I want to do (Being British we love eating off site - as we don't get the fabulous choices of restaurants that you have in the US - we are great Red Lobster fans!!)

I just feel sorry for the travellers that aren't aware of ADRs and DDP etc - after all we've been visiting Florida (and Disney) virtually every year since 1980 - but due to starting a family we haven't been recently (ie since the DDP has taken off) - and if I hadn't started looking on DIS, I might well have turned up expecting to walk into some places and had a few disappointments myself!!

Thanks again - ADR's for Crystal Palace, O'Hana and Chef Mickeys on the way!!

 

[allshookup]

I just made an ADR for the beginning of August for 12 people at Ohana & had a choice of times. Besides that, the only other ADR I made was for CG. That being said, it will just be 4 of us for the most part & there are no other places that I'm dying to get into. Last summer we were able to walk up to Guest Services in the parks & make an ADR for that afternoon or evening with no problem as long as we were flexible. One afternoon we walked up into MK & right into GS to see if we could get an ADR for LTT & they one available in 30 minutes. So we took it, strolled down Main Street & went to LTT & sat right down while it seemed a lot of walk-ups were standing around waiting.