Is it possible to walk in w/o an ADR?

[emileee]

What is the possibility of getting seated w/in a reasonable time frame w/o an ADR? Just curious...if I hopped because of crowds...thank you!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I'd think a bunch of factors come into play here ... time of day, popularity of restaurant, etc. Some restaurants won't even consider walkups if they're socked in with ressies.

So ... Le Cellier? Not likely. Olivia's at OKW? Perhaps.

 

[letthewookiewin]

I agree with Dreamfinder2, there are just too many other factors to give a blanket yes or no. On our last trip we were able to eat at two different restaurants without ADR's. Our trip was October 8-13, 2006, so it wasn't a busy time of the year. One was the Whispering Canyon Cafe, and the other was the Sci Fi Cafe. At both places we walked up right at opening to try and get seated. In each case we waited less than 15 minutes, and we even got to sit in one of the front row cars at Sci Fi.

 

[Uncleromulus]

And at other times on different nights at different restaurants they turn people away because they are booked for the evening.

 

[arielmomma]

A lot of it depends on when and where you go. When we went in January we had to ADR's, but we were able to walk up and eat a Princess lunch at Akershus, had lunch at Biergarten, and lunch at the Crystal Palace. We tried Chef Mickey's and that will always be a definite "no." Now if we were to try that during free dining in September we would be out of luck. We've also discovered it depends greatly on party size as well. In the past, when just my husband and I have gone, we were almost always able to find seating. I suppose that tables for 2 are not as hot of a commodity as the large tables. If you are willing to be flexible and you aren't going over a holiday, I'm fairly certain you could eat somewhere.

 

[crisi]

A trick is to call Disney Dining while you hop.

Walking around Epcot getting turned down at three restaurants before finding a place that can take you can be frustrating if you start when you are hungry. If you call Disney Dining, they might be able to find a spot for you day of (or they might give you a really good idea that you should keep your original reservation!)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This past December for lunch my friends and I walked in for lunch without an ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern and waited no more then 5 minutes for a table. Then later that same day for dinner we walked in without an ADR at 50's Prime Time Cafe, once again waiting no more then 5 minutes for a table. At both locations the waiting area looked very busy so I could not believe the good luck we had that day.

 

[rthutchens]

I'm hoping to get a walk-in during our may trip at 'Ohana for dinner. I know chances are slim to none, but I have called everyday without any luck, so, this is my last chance to eat our fav meal in WDW.

 

[mouseclick1]

We were able to get a table at Spoodles for 10 last year during Easter week. The entire Boardwalk was very crowded, and we did have to wait about 45 minutes, but it happened. I actually had a table booked at Crystal Palace for that night, but no one felt like going into MK, so we made a last minute change.

 

[Lynne M]

Walk-ups tend to be much more difficult in the theme parks. If they're fully booked, they'll just turn you away.

If you're feeling like you want to hop to another park, I'd recommend calling 407-WDW-DINE first, to see what's open and reserve a table. Wandering from restaurant to restaurant is no fun.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Anything is possible I guess...we went late Jan and early March and a ton of places were open for walkins for breakfast, lunch and dinner...and we had ressies but when we were in the places they seemed to be very very quiet...maybe with the economy more people are eating at CS places because they had huge lines.

That being said I am a firm believer in having the reservations, better safe than sorry.

 

[Todd&Copper]

Lunch is generally a better bet than dinner for walk-ups, and you will probably have better luck with either early or late meal times. We got a walk-up at Le Cellier in January at 8:50pm (we tried at 7 pm, and they said not at that time, but come back later). They hostess told another couple (around 7 pm) tables were available at Marrakesh, San Angel, Nine Dragons, Tokyo Dining, Biergarten and Il Tutto, I think.

 

[kmk1180]

What is the possibility of getting seated w/in a reasonable time frame w/o an ADR? Just curious...if I hopped because of crowds...thank you!

Absolutly!!!
We were in MK and walked up to Cyrstal Palace about 4pm wihtout a ADR.
They said about 15 minute wait. Ended up being only like 5.

I think the views here are a bit skewed. Most people here are Disney freaks. And plan everything.
(including myself) Including every meal, thus they have a hard time going without ADR's. Forgetting that's the way most people do it and still get to enjoy nice meals.

 

[Pumbaa_]

It truly depends on when you are going, crowd level and time of day

While we do tend to be a tad obsessive about our plans , people are turned away every day

It can be doable - go at off times, or right when the dining opens, try calling the night before or even that day, cancellations do happen, do not expect to get into the most popular places as a walk in - could happen, but doubtful

Have a backup plan - if you can't get a TS, what is your plan?

We often go without ADRs, or just 1 or 2. I don't want to plan out, but I also don't expect to eat at Le Cellier at 6pm on a saturday either We tend to go the less traveled road. We have also called when we were in the car seeing where out of our favorites had an opening. I think our best yet was 15 minutes to get to Boma :rofl:

Have a great time and let us know how it works out!

 

[Dreamfinder2]

It sounds like the key might be to go at an odd time, which probably will be painfully early or way too late.

And leaving the parks might work for you. But if you're hopping from park to park, then that might dash your expectations. You might find yourself having to go way off the beaten path, like eating at one of the moderates, and before you know it you've used up two or three hours on a meal.

I just like being assured of eating where I want, at a time of my choosing, y'know? I'd rather be frustrated by making plans at home 90 days out than be frustrated by not being able to eat what I want, when I want, while I'm on vacation.

Planning just seems to be the current nature of the Disney beast, and I'm grateful I'm OK with that.

 

[Hopefully]

As others have said, the key is the size of your party and when you are going. You didn't tell us about either of those.
My rule of thumb is if there is somewhere I want to eat on a certain day at a certain time I make an ADR in advance.
I am sure that you will be able to eat somewhere - but it is very unlikely that you will be able to walk up to a popular restaurant in a theme park during a busy season in peak meal times and get a table.
Have a Great Trip.

 

[connorlevismom]

We were there in November and walked up to Crystal Palace and had breakfast at about 10:30 or so. We only waited about 10 minutes for a table. I dont' like to make reservations so I risk not eating at the most popular places. But I am OK with that, I would rather be relaxed about it. We are going in about a month and will not have any ADR's. It will just be DH and I and we will be trying to do walk-ups. If we get in, great. If not, no big deal.

Kristine

 

[rthutchens]

What time does 'Ohana start serving dinner?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

what time does 'ohana start serving dinner?

5:00 pm.

 

[ReTiti]

We were there 3 weeks ago and walked in w/o an ADR to Yak & Yeti. It was probably around 2:30ish or so, so we missed the lunch crowd. The great thing was we caught the parade on our way out of the restaurant.