Help no ADRs for upcoming trip

[metsjetsfan]

Hi all we didn't make any reservations for our upcoming trip to WDW during thanksgiving week. Are there any good restaurants that people usually score with walkup options or are we going to be eating at quick service.

Thanks

 

[Aliceacc]

Here's what I would do:

Go here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/

for each day that you'll be at WDW, plug in the particulars about your party, and a somewhat early time-- say 4:30. See what comes up, and make a decision.

You can always change your mind. But I would make those ADRs, at least as a backup, this morning.

 

[Havana]

Will you have access to the Disney mobile App? You can plug in the day and time when you are at the parks and ready to eat to see what is available.
I would at least make a few advance reservations. You could spend a lot of time walking around and getting turned away from restaurants.
Or I think you might be able to stop at Guest Relations at the parks to see what is open.

 

[SusieBea]

I agree with the two PPs, but there are good restaurants where you can frequently walk-up (except during the week between Christmas and NYs, and Spring Break! ) They include the Turf Club at SSR, Olivia's at OKW, Captain's Grill at the YC, The Wave at CR, the Grand Floridian Cafe, and several of the restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin. Good luck. My husband doesn't like to plan his vacation around ADRS either.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

We went in September, the only real ones we saw that were "walk-in" were the RFC at AK during lunch and the T-Rex Cafe, also at lunch. We were able to change/"walk in" to reservations at Rose and Crown, but everywhere we went for dinner (50's Prime, San Angel, Coral Reef, and Teppan Edo) all turned awal walk-ins. When we went in November a few years back, I remember the same thing... Walking by angry folks outside places who were complaining to their families about having nowhere to eat.

I would suggest what was suggested above... Assume you won't be able to walk up anywhere for food, especially during prime eating hours, unless you have reservations. Make some now and if you luck into some there, consider it a gift.

 

[lovin'fl]

I have a book on Disney Dining that has a list of the best places to walk up to. The book is from 2010. Here's the list:

Biergarten (Epcot) We walked up for a lunch here in july of 2008 with 10 people.
Big River Grill and Brewing Works (Boardwalk) We walked up for a dinner in Sept of 2006 with 6 people.
ESPN Club (Boardwalk)
Hollywood Brown Derby (HS) We walked up to a lunch here in July of 2008 with 6-7 people.
House of Blues (Downtown Disney)
Il Mulino NY Trattoria (Swan)
Portobello (Downtown Disney) We had friends who walked up to this in July 2011 for dinner with a large group...like 20-30 (softball team)
Raglan Road (Downtown Disney)
Yachtsman (Yacht Club)
**all the ones we walked up to...we were seated right away with no problem.
And Beaches and Cream at Beach Club does not take ADRs...only walk-ups.
We also walked up to a lunch at T-Rex with 5 people in July of 2009 and were seated fairly quickly.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I have a book on Disney Dining that has a list of the best places to walk up to. The book is from 2010. Here's the list:

Biergarten (Epcot) We walked up for a lunch here in july of 2008 with 10 people.
Big River Grill and Brewing Works (Boardwalk) We walked up for a dinner in Sept of 2006 with 6 people.
ESPN Club (Boardwalk)
Hollywood Brown Derby (HS) We walked up to a lunch here in July of 2008 with 6-7 people.
House of Blues (Downtown Disney)
Il Mulino NY Trattoria (Swan)
Portobello (Downtown Disney) We had friends who walked up to this in July 2011 for dinner with a large group...like 20-30 (softball team)
Raglan Road (Downtown Disney)
Yachtsman (Yacht Club)
**all the ones we walked up to...we were seated right away with no problem.
And Beaches and Cream at Beach Club does not take ADRs...only walk-ups.
We also walked up to a lunch at T-Rex with 5 people in July of 2009 and were seated fairly quickly.

I think there are a lot of factors that decide if these are, in fact, walk in places to eat. Time of day, what day of the week, how big the group is, what's going in the park, etc. For example, finding anything walk-in and sit-down at MGM was very hard since there were a ton of families there, and we were warned as much when we were making our ADRs in August for September. And we were told doing a walk-in at Epcot during F&W would also be rough.

When I went in September, the first two I bolded had absolutely no walk in space, save for maybe the German place at lunch. People just were turned away. When I went in '05, the Derby and Raglan Road were booked solid... We went as walk-ins to Raglan as a party of 6 and were turned away. When we went back as a smaller party long after the dinner rush, we could have gotten a table, but we didn't feel like eating.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Thanksgiving is a busy week. Make some ADR's today, now.

Even during Semi-busy weeks I have seen the signs up warning people there is nothing left in WS.

That said Grand Floridan Cafe, Captains Grill in the Yacht Club. Most places in the Swan and Dolphin for Dinnerand Big River Grill probably have openings.

Beaches and Cream isn't worth the wait IMHO.

Yes, I've seen people very unhappy to be unable to find a place to eat.

ETA standing in line at a CS place is a waste of vacation time during peak season

 

[Quin]

As others have said, Thanksgiving week is a pretty busy time. Go now and make ADRs for as many days/meals as you can. Keep checking the online system; if a restaurant or time you'd prefer opens up you can book that instead and cancel your original ADR, but at least you'll have something. I have not used it but many posters are recommending the app as well. I read on another thread that a Dis-er was able to get same-day ADRs in the park, while true walk-ups were being turned away.

Resort restaurants, especially non-monorail resorts, are more likely to have availability. Lunch is more likely to be available than dinner.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

ESPN Club (Boardwalk)

Just like Beaches & Cream the ESPN Club also doesn't accept ADR's so over there it's first come first serve. Plus if there is a major sporting event or marquis game of the week there will be a lot of people lined up outside so they can get a table to watch it. For example on September 3, 2011 when I was staying at the Boardwalk Inn there was a lot of people lined up to watch the LSU/Oregon College Football game.

 

[canopynut66]

Hi all we didn't make any reservations for our upcoming trip to WDW during thanksgiving week. Are there any good restaurants that people usually score with walkup options or are we going to be eating at quick service.

Thanks

Very Hard to just walk up for any TS anymore so to be safe would make ADR'S as your getting into a very busy time of year so will be crowded. we were there last year Thanksgiving week and it was packed.

 

[metsjetsfan]

Thanks all! Stayed at Swan/Dolph and was able to get into BlueZoo and Il mulino no problem. And even did Kouzzina at Boardwalk one evening but at 5pm. Everything worked out and it was good to not be committed to a rez at a certain time and just enjoy the time at the parks w/o rushing. Thanks again!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Glad it worked out for you!