Got in every restaurant with no ressies

[pooh6890]

Just returned on Monday night from 11/14 to 11/17 at DW. We got into every single restaurant we wanted with no reservations. Here is the list:

1. Friday - Rose and Crown - 12:30 - sat us outside with a water view. Had the fish/chips, great at first but as the fish cooled down the batter fell off and was a little mushy, but the chips were fantastic. Friend had the split pea soup and turkey/cheese melt thing....both were yummy.

2. Saturday - Sci Fi - made reservations at 10:00 for 11:35. Got right in. Best onion rings ever! Had the burger with swiss and so much bacon I couldn't eat it all......friend had the chicken/pasta/sun dried tomato dish.....great meal for both of us.

3. Sunday - Mama Melrose's - the most delicious rolls with butter...we couldn't get enough. I had the caesar salad appetizer.....definately had to ask for more dressing and the chicken flatbread.......friend had the tomato basil soup and argula appetizer salad......salad was awful....no dressing and wilted lettuce.

4. Monday - Grand Floridian Cafe - walked right up at 12:00 - got right in. Both of us had the French Onion soup.....yummy yummy yummy with 4 kinds of cheeses. We both had the caesar salad - mine with chicken and hers with grilled shrimp. So Good!!!!!

Also, it was Super Soap Weekend too. No waits for any restaurant was a little surprising, but was very very happy about that.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

That's great for you!! I've never heard of that happening. Our next planned trip is for next December and I know we won't be able to get away without reservations - especially with 5 of us.

I'm sure part of the reason you had an easy time was because it was just 2 of you. I know when DH and I went before kids, we made ressies only weeks before our trip and even got into the impossible Chef Mickey's for breakfast. Thanks for the mini-reviews too.

 

[longstangetrip]

Glad it worked out for you but...DO NOT depend on this poster's experiences. We have watched and watched and watched people get turned away without reservations. It can ruin your trip, especially if you have purchased the dining plan and can't use the ts credits.

 

[pooh6890]

Glad it worked out for you but...DO NOT depend on this poster's experiences. We have watched and watched and watched people get turned away without reservations. It can ruin your trip, especially if you have purchased the dining plan and can't use the ts credits.

That is absolutely true. I have gone at times and was not able to get into anything we wanted. Maybe because of the economy we were able to do this. I am not one to make ressies anyway until that morning when we arrive at a park. I can't plan that far in advance (weeks or months). By all means, if you are opposite me, definately make the ressies in advance.

 

[LadyOmega]

Glad to hear that. Seems like more people have been reporting this in the last few months. I think we are actually going to try the walk-up thing for one meal next year. We booked the QS DDP because we're only going for 4 days, so we'll just try to get an ADR for CRT and maybe Le Cellier at 180 days, and see if we can get maybe Crystal Palace as a walk-up.

 

[catne]

might be easier to walk up at lunch, too. Especially during special events.
I would at least call in the a.m. to try to get ADR's and not depend totally on luck.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I will also add that at all of those places, walk ups are more likely than at say, O'Hana or Chef Mickey's. Sci Fi is often easier to get into than other places in DHS since its not part of the Fantasmic Dining package. Its also easiest to get in there short notice for an early lunch vs trying to get in at dinner. I think the slower economy and the slow season it currently is at WDW very much helped.

I am so glad it worked out for you to get some nice meals in without six months of advance planning! This just goes to show, it can and does happen!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

A member posted on the November cancellation thread that they've gotten into several restaurants as a walk-up. It sounds like Nov is less crowded than Oct. was. When we were there last month, we saw 2 families turned away from Sci-fi, when were waiting to be seated. One family was gracious about it. The other was irate. Anyone who's going to behave badly, if they're turned down, needs to make ADRs. Noone wants to witness their poor behavior. Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox now. Back to the topic at hand.

 

[tortoni]

Good for you to get in without ADRs. We've also been lucky at the resorts at lunchtime, but I wouldn't risk it if I had the time to plan.

 

[katieam1]

wow! that is great! I know the last time we went we got right into Sci-Fi too with out reservations at lunch time.

 

[bonzarella]

We just returned yesterday & I have to support the OP. We walked into Tutto at noon on Sat, Crystal Palace @ 10:30 Sun morn and Coral Reef @ 1pm on Tuesday. I would still suggest getting an ADR but there is hope if you are w/o plans.

 

[BeckWhy]

We just returned 11/11 - 11/18 and did also notice many restaurants were taking walk ups with minimal waits (20 min or so). The only one was the one night we were supposed to have dinner at Ohana, supposedly they overbooked. But Kona was absolutely empty.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Disney is not packed like usual; the economy is affecting their crowds as much as other places.

We easily walked into several places on our trip a few weeks ago. Most places were taking walk ups without issues. We were a party of 3-4.

Still wise to get a reservation if you have the DDP or small children that be anxious to eat but you will not go hungry without one.

 

[mamalle]

thats great! Im thinking of cancelling two my adrs for next week and just wing it and see what happens- we may or may not even do sit down so we will see.. Im just not cancelling my adr for thanksgiving dinner..

 

[bonzarella]

I believe next week may be a whole different story. Hang on to those ressies until you make a definite decision. Have a great time

 

[laura74]

I think as long as you don't have specific destinations in mind it's possible to go to Disney without ADRs. Three years ago, when we had no idea about the system, we went to guest services and took whatever we could from what they had open. There was a good selection...maybe not Le Cellier or Rose and Crown during Illuminations...but there were quite a few to choose from...especially if you're willing to eat at off times.

 

[buckirj1]

...and I'll say it again...
the fewer of you there are, the less trouble you'll have getting into restaurants without ADR's.
because it bears repeating

 

[bonzarella]

 

[jonestavern]

We're just back from the parks 11/6 to 11/18. And we did make ADRs because we had very specific places we wanted to try.

We also had to cancel some & re-arrange (our DS19 had to return to school unexpectedly). All the character things are booked out. All the monorail restaurants are booked out--until at least 8:25 pm only--around the MVMCP.

Okay, the morning of, I was able to cancel our Akershus dinner & reschedule for an Akershuss lunch for the same day (they did not charge us the cancellation fee as we were going the same day). It did take me calling WDW-DINE every 20 minutes for 2 1/2 hrs to get the spot, but I have NO complaints whatsoever.

The time of year we went is a 'slower' WDW time & that in conjunction with the poor economy made many places easy to get into, which is far from always being the case. We also like eating at 'off' times & are pretty laid back & flexible.

I don't know if I would wing it for TS during the weekend before Thanksgiving & throughout that week, though

Jean

 

[autumnpalm]

After getting a walk up dinner at Le Cellier in the middle of July, I now fully believe that even without ADRs, dining miracles DO happen!