If restaurants would allow walk-ins on a busy day what is a fair number to have?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If WDW restaurants were to allow walk-ins on busy days what do you think is a fair number of them to have without losing to many slots so guests can make ADR's? I personally think WDW should consider doing something like this in the future because this way they can't turn every family away. Plus not everyone reads Disboards and did not know they should have made ADR's, so let's try to keep comments like that out of this thread if it's possible.

 

[nbodyhome]

I'd love to see Disney hold 25% of the seats for walk-ins and same day reservations.

 

[Lewisc]

For popular restaurants like Chef Mickey's, Le Cellier and CRT the appropriate number is zero. Disney overbooks, even guests with ADR's have to wait. A few slots, kept open for walkups, would be grabbed so fast as to be of no value to the typical guest without an ADR. Chef Mickey's was a tough ADR to get, even before the current dining plan. It doesn't make much sense to hold back tables, particularly when the result will be a lot of unhappy guest who show up hoping to eat without an ADR.

I have a different answer for more casual restaurants that are patronized by resort guests. I'm thinking of restaurants like Kona. I think they should be have a reasonable number of tables available, at least for breakfast and lunch. I understand WCC holds back a number of tables for walkups.

 

[nbodyhome]

I remember when I could call on a Saturday and get Chef Mickeys for pretty much any time I wanted that day.

I miss those days.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For popular restaurants like Chef Mickey's, Le Cellier and CRT the appropriate number is zero. Disney overbooks, even guests with ADR's have to wait. A few slots, kept open for walkups, would be grabbed so fast as to be of no value to the typical guest without an ADR. Chef Mickey's was a tough ADR to get, even before the current dining plan. It doesn't make much sense to hold back tables, particularly when the result will be a lot of unhappy guest who show up hoping to eat without an ADR.

While you do make some very good points, I don't see the harm in holding 1 or 2 tables for walk-ins up to a certin time and if no one comes as walk-in after the allowed time, then they can turn those guests away who come later. That way those tables go back into the computer for guests with ADR's. Also to make it fair for guests with ADR's, maybe the guests who walk-in can only be seated much later and not around the busy peak hours.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm picturing a hundred guests waiting at Chef Mickey's for 1 or 2 tables that are probably needed to accomodate overbooking. Won't be a pretty scene. It might make sense to hold back some tables, maybe 25%, at the 180 day mark and release some tables at 30-60 days out. Accomodate guests who don't plan their Disney vacations 6 months to a year in advance. Mama Melrose is known to open up some tables 30-60 days in advance.

While you do make some very good points, I don't see the harm in holding 1 or 2 tables for walk-ins up to a certin time and if no one comes as walk-in after the allowed time, then they can turn those guests away who come later. That way those tables go back into the computer for guests with ADR's. Also to make it fair for guests with ADR's, maybe the guests who walk-in can only be seated much later and not around the busy peak hours.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'm picturing a hundred guests waiting at Chef Mickey's for 1 or 2 tables that are probably needed to accomodate overbooking. Won't be a pretty scene. It might make sense to hold back some tables, maybe 25%, at the 180 day mark and release some tables at 30-60 days out. Accomodate guests who don't plan their Disney vacations 6 months to a year in advance. Mama Melrose is known to open up some tables 30-60 days in advance.

My solution to not have a hundred guests waiting at Chef Mickey's is for WDW not to announce they will be holding back tables for guests wanting to come as a walk-in. I am sure by now there will always be guests wanting to come as walk-ins and 99.9% of the time the Cast Members will have to turn them away. So by not making this public WDW does not have to deal with a lot of angry guests and they can deal with the minimal numbers of guests wanting to come as walk-ins and arrange to seat them much later if they are willing to wait. So once they check in the 1 or 2 families who came as walk-ins, then they can turn away all other walk-in guests.

 

[Lewisc]

Thanks to the internet your proposed new policy won't have to be announced by Disney. CM already gets guests showing up, as soon as it was known that some of those people might be accommodated the numbers will grow. Holding back a couple of tables for non-concierge Contemporary resort guests might be possible, but even that is a reach.

There are many restaurants than can accommodate guests without an ADR, or are at least available for ADRs a day or two in advance. Spoodles, Concourse Steak House, Yaht Club Gallery etc.

My solution to not have a hundred guests waiting at Chef Mickey's is for WDW not to announce they will be holding back tables for guests wanting to come as a walk-in. I am sure by now there will always be guests wanting to come as walk-ins and 99.9% of the time the Cast Members will have to turn them away. So by not making this public WDW does not have to deal with a lot of angry guests and they can deal with the minimal numbers of guests wanting to come as walk-ins and arrange to seat them much later if they are willing to wait. So once they check in the 1 or 2 families who came as walk-ins, then they can turn away all other walk-in guests.

 

[pezpam]

While it may seem "fair" to the people who didn't want to or know to make ADRs, it doesn't make a lot of sense from Disney's perspective. When ADRs don't fill the restaurant, the question is moot since walkups will be taken. When ADRs do fill the restaurant, a plan to hold back tables takes Disney from guaranteeing a full restaurant to gambling on having enough walkups to fill the place. While the walkups may well fill the place 9 times out of 10, it's still an odd business choice.

Local restaurants that take reservations certainly don't hold tables for people who didn't make that phone call.

For me, it's not a matter of being on the DIS or not and I join you in hoping that there's no nastiness here. If you don't research your vacation, you are choosing to risk certain things. I've done major trips overseas that were almost totally unplanned and was fine with that - that was what I wanted. If there is something you know you will be unhappy if you miss, then you find out how not to miss it, whether it's meals at Disney or a particular museum show in Paris. This one would take all of 2 minutes on Google or on the phone with Disney to find out about. Catering to the people who either can't be bothered or just wish that WDW was as empty as they remember it isn't 'fair'.... it's just what those people wish would happen.

Maybe having a TS place that is *entirely* walk-up would be more fair. No reservations, no hold-backs. Just arrive and wait to be seated. My guess is that the line would be so nuts that I'd skip it, but at least it'd be a 'fair' option for people not wanting to plan out ADRs ahead of time. Perhaps figure out how many of these would seat as many non-planners as possible while still being economically efficient for Disney?

I dunno. This is just one of those questions that cannot be answered in a way that will please everyone.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Holding back a couple of tables for non-concierge Contemporary resort guests might be possible, but even that is a reach.

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought there is an un written rule or something that if your staying at a WDW Resort and want an ADR at the last minute at a restaurant in your Resort, chances are the Cast Members would get you the ADR and it does not matter if you were staying on a regular floor or a Concierge floor.

The only thing a guest can not say when eating at a restaurant in their Resort is I am staying here, so seat my family and I right now. I saw that a few years ago while waiting at Boma when a man and his family came without an ADR and asked to be seated right away because they were staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Thankfully the Cast Member said that can not happen because it is unfair to all the guests waiting with ADR's.

 

[pezpam]

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought there is an un written rule or something that if your staying at a WDW Resort and want an ADR at the last minute at a restaurant in your Resort, chances are the Cast Members would get you the ADR and it does not matter if you were staying on a regular floor or a Concierge floor.

I'm sure the CMs will do everything they can to get you that ADR, but it can't be guaranteed, even if unwritten. Certainly, they'd have info on whether there was a recent cancellation if they called the restaurant and when the restaurant isn't booked solid, they could come close to guaranteeing you a table. Picture 50 CR guests wanting a CM table tonight, though - even speaking to CMs, they aren't all going to get it, right?

With the CMs being as helpful as possible and the restaurants not always full in the past, it probably *looked* to many as if there was an unwritten rule as you describe.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'm sure the CMs will do everything they can to get you that ADR, but it can't be guaranteed, even if unwritten. Certainly, they'd have info on whether there was a recent cancellation if they called the restaurant and when the restaurant isn't booked solid, they could come close to guaranteeing you a table. Picture 50 CR guests wanting a CM table tonight, though - even speaking to CMs, they aren't all going to get it, right?

With the CMs being as helpful as possible and the restaurants not always full in the past, it probably *looked* to many as if there was an unwritten rule as you describe.

How I meant to say it is guests wanting a last minute ADR at a restaurant in their Resort would have a better chance of getting it by making it in the lobby Concierge, compared to someone who called WDW-Dinning. I also think 50 Contemporary guests wanting a last minute table at Chef Mickey's is to big of a number to use an example, but trying to accomodate 3 or 4 families might be a number which they can work around.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm pretty sure lobby concierge operates with the same restaurant ADR inventory as Disney dining. My guess is the CM at the podium might try to see what could be done to accommodate a resort guest. I also think guests will have better luck at restaurants like the Concourse Steakhouse then a restaurant like Chef Mickey's.

How I meant to say it is guests wanting a last minute ADR at a restaurant in their Resort would have a better chance of getting it by making it in the lobby Concierge, compared to someone who called WDW-Dinning. I also think 50 Contemporary guests wanting a last minute table at Chef Mickey's is to big of a number to use an example, but trying to accomodate 3 or 4 families might be a number which they can work around.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I also think guests will have better luck at restaurants like the Concourse Steakhouse then a restaurant like Chef Mickey's.

Your are right about the Concourse Steakhouse because in December 2004 my Dad and I had dinner there at the very last minute, so we did not make any ADR's and since we were staying at the Contemporary we would not care how long the wait would have been, obviously within a reasonable amount of time. Anyway we were told the wait would be 20-25 minutes, however the wait was less then 5 minutes which was a nice surprise.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Maybe having a TS place that is *entirely* walk-up would be more fair. No reservations, no hold-backs. Just arrive and wait to be seated. My guess is that the line would be so nuts that I'd skip it, but at least it'd be a 'fair' option for people not wanting to plan out ADRs ahead of time. Perhaps figure out how many of these would seat as many non-planners as possible while still being economically efficient for Disney

Beaches and Cream doesn't take ADRs and there's always a mob there.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I'd love to see Disney hold 25% of the seats for walk-ins and same day reservations.

1) This used to be the case - at 20% for walk-ins..
2) The park restaurants stopped this about 2000.
3) The resorts stopped this year.
4) Now, all tables are on the ressie system.
5) Once booked, they are booked.
6) Walk-ins are getting tougher, especially during busy days/times.
7) Never plan to be able to walk-in.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

1) This used to be the case - at 20% for walk-ins..
2) The park restaurants stopped this about 2000.
3) The resorts stopped this year.
4) Now, all tables are on the ressie system.
5) Once booked, they are booked.
6) Walk-ins are getting tougher, especially during busy days/times.
7) Never plan to be able to walk-in.

Using the example I gave earlier.

Your are right about the Concourse Steakhouse because in December 2004 my Dad and I had dinner there at the very last minute, so we did not make any ADR's and since we were staying at the Contemporary we would not care how long the wait would have been, obviously within a reasonable amount of time. Anyway we were told the wait would be 20-25 minutes, however the wait was less then 5 minutes which was a nice surprise.

What your basically saying is if my Dad and I decided to eat there for dinner during the month of December it would be impossible since the Resorts stopped doing that this year, plus the fact that we would only be 2 people would also not be a huge factor because isn't it easier to walk-in when your are less then 3 people in your party?

 

[nbodyhome]

Local restaurants that take reservations certainly don't hold tables for people who didn't make that phone call.

Yes, but I also don't need to call Sam Seltzers 6 months (or 3 months out) to get a table. I can generally call them a day ahead, or a few hours ahead, to make a reservation.

I am local. I don't plan my park days that far ahead in most cases. That said, I'm pretty aware of which restaurants I can get a walk-in for and what I can't. And really, I end up doing counter service much of the time, which is fine. It was nice when I could just call same-day for Chef Mickeys. But now I eat cheaper!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . What your basically saying is if my Dad and I decided to eat there for dinner during the month of December it would be impossible since the Resorts stopped doing that this year . . .

1) Not at all.
2) There are many times the ressies are not full.
3) Plus, there can be cancellations or non-shows.
4) I simply gave the answer to the question about walk-in current arrangements.
5) Most eateries at WDW discourage walk-ins.
6) But, it is always worth the effort to check.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

1) Not at all.
2) There are many times the ressies are not full.
3) Plus, there can be cancellations or non-shows.
4) I simply gave the answer to the question about walk-in current arrangements.
5) Most eateries at WDW discourage walk-ins.
6) But, it is always worth the effort to check.

Oh I see what you were trying to say earlier.