Have you tried to go to a table service restaurant without an ADR?

[scrappinginontario]

I know many people have opinions about this (I do too ) but I'm looking for people who have actually attempted this.

If you have gone to a table service restaurant without an ADR (in the past 2 years) can you please answer the following for me:

1. Were you ever turned away?
2. How long was your average wait?
3. Were you able to dine at the more 'popular' restaurants or the ones you wanted to or, did you need to make choice you wouldn't normally or, leave a park and go to a resort?

I have a friend who is traveling in early February who has purchased the DP but she does not want to be tied down to reservations. I want to be able to provide her with accurate information from those who have BTDT.

My personal opinion is that she'd be better off to make reservations but since I've never actually tried to go to a table service restaurant without and ADR I can't really share from personal experience with her.

Thanks!

 

[Hoopfamily]

Yup. Rose and crown @ 4:45pm asked for a table. They asked if I had an ADR, when I said no they said they were not taking anymore walk-ups that day.

 

[Indians24]

I think your friend should book ADR's for the majority of her meals. It is possible to get a walk-up at some restaurants, but they do turn people away quite a bit. I know this past year I tried a walk-up at Jiko and 'Ohana, and they weren't taking anyone the whole night without ADRs. However, when I was at Epcot this July I was able to get a table at Via Napoli within just ten minutes. If she doesn't mind wasting time looking for a table, she can chance it. However, I'd book several ADRs if I were her.

 

[Pakey]

I go all of the time without ADRs. 4th of July week this year I went for a last minute trip. July 5th was dinner at Citricos at 8:30pm. July 6th was lunch at Saana at 2:00 pm. Both walk ins.

I leave Saturday for our next vacation and the only ADR we have is the Afternoon Tea at GF; we are winging the rest.

Places in the last 12 months I have done walk ins: Brown Derby, bluezoo, Il Mulino, Le Cellier (lunch), Biergarten, The Wave, Turf Club. Last October we had an ADR for Tusker House breakfast but there was a party checking in right behind us that was a walk up and they were seated right behind us.

 

[dsneygirl]

Lunch is a lot easier usually but many feel it is not the best "value" when on the DP. Character meals are also pretty hard.

This past week (starting Sept 22) we got walk ins at Via Napoli (lunch), Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch) and the Wave (dinner) all with about a 10-15min wait.

 

[SLamott1973]

Last day of our trip was Good Friday Easter week we went yo Crystal palace without ADR and waited 1 hour 30 minutes, DS 5 and I we tired so we didnt mind waiting while DH and DS 15 rode thunder mt I make sure we have ADR for every sit down meal for upcoming trip in 23 days!

 

[klinlin]

If she really wants to wing it, she should not pay for the DDP. If you are going to pre pay for table services, you should make sure you are going to be able to get in to use them. Just my opinion of course, but we have seen many people turned away...

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

In January of 2011 my parents did a bunch of walk-ups: GF Cafe (twice, once for breakfast and once for dinner), Kona for dinner and Tutto Italia for dinner. It was the few days leading into MLK weekend. (we were with them on this trip but split up for a few meals)

In October of 2011 DH and I were able to walk-up to Sci-Fi. They told us it was a 15-20 wait but we got buzzed immediately, as did another couple that did a walk-in right ahead of us. That same morning, however, we tried to walk into Kouzzina for breakfast and were told it was a 30 minute wait and I was too hungry to wait.

 

[winthropf]

Tried walk up to Kona at about 6:30 on Monday May 7, turned away as full. But was pointed out that the sushi bar is walk-up only and serves the full restaurant menu. Worked great for solo diner.

 

[disprincessatheart]

We don't make many adrs any more, but we never use the dining plan and we are ok with getting turned away. The week of sept 8th we walked in to the following for dinner, all less than 10 min waits. Espn, beaches and cream, via Napoli (we walk up there for dinner every trip), Wolfgang puck and the plaza. We had a few things going for us - slow week, non- prime restaurnts (except the plaza), small party.

On the whole dtd restaurants are going to be pretty easy to get in to, as are resort restqurans, except character dining. If your friend is ok with that, then no adrs should be ok. In the past two years we have walked up to kona and gf cafe for breakfast, most everything at boardwalk and yacht and beach clubs, via Napoli a bunch of times, and even le cellier twice!

 

[Jennasis]

With the disney apps or a smartphone one could find available ADR's on the fly.

 

[Micca]

In my group when we get hungry things start to go downhill pretty quickly(mostly because of me )

If your friend is one of those folks who is starving for a steak, but popcorn will do, no ADR is necessary.

If your friend is one of those folks who gets hungry but says "No problem, I can wait another 2 1/2 -3 hours) no ADR is necessary.

I understand not wanting to be tied to an ADR time, but you can always modify or cancel(with a few exceptions where there is a penalty for cancelling less than 24 hours ahead of time). If you have children in the party (or me!)
better to have a fall-back plan in place.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

I'm a local, so we rarely have reservations. I would say it depends;
1) on the restaurant
2) on the time of year
3) on the time of day

You CAN get into Ohana, but you have to be there by 4:00 or 4:30 and then you have to wait, and wait, and wait. Le Cellier is a no, as far as I know, I've never heard of anyone getting in without an ADR. I think most other restaurants are hit or miss, from what I've been told they do keep a certain number of tables open for walk ups but if they get behind on ADR's they will stop accepting walk ups.

I would advise your friend that if she has any places that she really wants to go to, to make an ADR. But, she can still enjoy some wonderful meals without one.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

P.S. I don't think I've ever waited more than 20 minutes without an ADR

 

[heyitsmejosh]

ive never once made an ADR before the day of.. i just use the disney app pick the place earlier in the day and do it that way.. or if im hungry i just walk up and ask, ive never been turned away.

 

[Tanyabeth8]

Last week I got into Brown Derby without ADR and family of 5 in front of me at Kona walked up without ADR at 6:30 pm and were told about a 20 min wait. Couple in front of me at Coral Reef were turned away as was family in front of me at La Hacienda. I think it goes both ways depending on day, restaurant and time of the year.

 

[cmpeter]

In August of this year we went to Liberty Tree Tavern without an ADR. It was lunch...we got there around 11:30 and we seated right away, no problems or grief.

 

[smallworldnh]

We walked up to Sci-Fi on 9/25 to see if they could seat us and we were in within 10 minutes, no ADR.

 

[WDWaddictt]

I went in 2010 in Nov and didn't make any ADR. I did the walk up thing:
House of Blues - got in
Akershus - got turned away
Tusker House - got in
50's Prime - got turned away

There was only two of us. I guess it all depends...

 

[TDC Nala]

If your friend wants to be sure they get to eat table service in the parks anywhere close to regular mealtimes without a wait (or being turned away altogether), they need to make reservations.

If they want to try going to Downtown Disney or any of the outlying resorts (OKW, CBR, Saratoga Springs, maybe Sanaa at AKV) they might be OK. If they want to stay closer to the parks they can try Kouzzina at Boardwalk, the Wave at the Contemporary, or Captain's Grill at the Yacht Club.

They are likely going to have a tough time at the popular places.

Personally I think that if what you really want is to not be tied down to restaurant reservations, the prepaid dining plan with TS meals included is not the best idea. Also, ask them how much time they would be willing to spend walking around looking for a restaurant with openings.