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

[TiggerStac]

We went back to MK on Saturday, after being rained out on Friday afternoon/evening. When we decided to go to MK (about 10am) I tried calling and getting Tony's for dinner, told nothing...tried other parks, told nothing. We went about 7pm, walked up to the desk and were told, no problem, but would be 45-1 hour wait, no problem..had to feed my 2 month old, etc. So we were able to walk up, after trying to make an ADR, we had to wait, but it was the same type of wait we would have at any restaurant on a saturday night...and MK was extremely busy that day!!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

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.

I agree with what I've bolded here. I think a few WDW restaurants should just be walk-ups. And not just for the "non-planners." I plan. I know how to travel. However, I think there are a lot of folks who simply don't know if they can take a vacation six months in advance. I know our family can't (we're self-employed). And the family we're traveling with at the end of this month aren't able to plan a vacation six months out, either (the husband's a builder, and he gets three months' notice at best if he'll be able to take time off the next quarter).

We decided to take a week-long trip to Orlando at the very end of February for an April 28th trip. The numbers were in, and we knew at that time we could all do it. Dining at WDW is becoming a nightmare for us. I've been able to secure one character meal at eight p.m. (with a five-year-old). The places where everyone wants to eat, at what time, at what park just aren't available. That's fine. We'll eat off site and head over to Citywalk for our dinners.

And one of the places we'll eat at is Bubba Gump's, a place that takes no reservations. It's only walk-up. And it's packed every night. But you know what? They have an awesome gift shop, they give you a beeper that goes really far, and we can walk around the shops of Citywalk, grab a drink and relax while we wait. I, too, thought I wouldn't want to eat at a place that accepted zero reservations, but our last trip, it wasn't bad at all. You get your beeper and go have fun for an hour. We enjoyed it so much, that we're absolutely going back this trip.

It can work.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . I think a few WDW restaurants should just be walk-ups. And not just for the "non-planners." . . .

1) Remember, WDW is still a business.
2) Table Service eateries make more money when they are fully booked.
3) Why, as a business, would you risk empty tables?
4) It is better to fill with ressies, then chance open table from no walk-ins.
5) In my restaurant, I love full ressie nights.

 

[Lewisc]

Some customers either don't take the time to make ADRs or may book a vacation a few weeks in advance. Some DIS take advantage of a SW DING fare and schedule a last minute trip.

Those guests won't be buying the dining plan if it's known that it's impossible to dine at a TS restaurant. Cruise ships and all inclusive resorts need enough restaurant capacity to handle their guests. Disney needs enough restaurant capacity so those guests can generally find a TS restaurant. During busy periods Disney sets up temporary restaurants to meet demand. During less busy periods CMs will tell guests which restaurants have openings. Chef Mickey's is booked in advance but Concourse Steakhouse may have openings.

It's not good business for Disney if all their restaurant are 100% booked. It means potential customers are eating somewhere else. You might want your restaurant to be 100% booked but Disney not only has multiple restaurants but also locations to quickly set up temporary restaurants. Disney may not care if a particular restaurant is 100% booked but not if all their restaurants in a given location are consistantly 100% booked.

1) Remember, WDW is still a business.
2) Table Service eateries make more money when they are fully booked.
3) Why, as a business, would you risk empty tables?
4) It is better to fill with ressies, then chance open table from no walk-ins.
5) In my restaurant, I love full ressie nights.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

1) Remember, WDW is still a business.
2) Table Service eateries make more money when they are fully booked.
3) Why, as a business, would you risk empty tables?
4) It is better to fill with ressies, then chance open table from no walk-ins.
5) In my restaurant, I love full ressie nights.

1) I never said or thought for an instant that WDW is something other than a business.

2) Yes, you're very much right. I never suggested that WDW restaurants go "empty."

3) Why, as a business, would you advertise yourself as a destination where you never have to leave -- oh, but unless you book your dining reservations six months in advance (or darn close to it), good luck finding a nice sit-down place to eat dinner? That's what WDW has done -- and it's pushed a lot of locals and FL residents right into the welcoming arms of the other parks of Orlando where this simply isn't required.

4) Based on WDW's occupancy, the ME, the DDP, plus all the local and FL resident business they might be able to win back, I don't think WDW is going to have to worry about empty tables for a long time.

5) I'm sure you do. I would, as well. But as a traveler, you must realize that not everyone who frequents your restaurant knows four or six months in advance they'll have the opportunity to enjoy your establishment on any given night. Add to that that WDW isn't just a food spot on the side of the road. I simply can't commit to WDW the way I used to (i.e., giving them my hotel dollars for several nights or a week) because it's a royal bummer being stuck onsite without decent meal options, i.e., CS every night or eating dinner at 4:15 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. And I do plan. I love to plan. I've been going to WDW since it opened. But I know I'm not the only WDW visitor who's not able to book vacations as long as six months out.

And it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Keep a few restaurants around DTD that just do walkups or something similar to Citywalk. I can book at Emeril's months in advance, but I can also enjoy Bubba Gumps or HRH without having to worry about ressies months in advance, too. There obviously can be a middle ground here. The competition across the street is succeeding at it.