Is spontaneous dining a thing of the past?

[Pluto468]

I've been following the dining reservation threads and it seems like you need either an advance reservation or mobile ordering to eat anywhere in the parks. Is this correct? No more waltzing over to get a dole whip or pop into Plaza Inn on a whim?

It's possible I missed something about this so I wanted to double check.

I don't mind making reservations for some things, but I'm hoping there are still some walk up options that I don't need to plan ahead of time. On previous visits we would stop to eat when we felt like it and never planned ahead except for character dining, Fantasmic dinner or Blue Bayou.

Is there a list that I could have missed of restaurants that you don't need to reserve or use mobile ordering?

Thanks!

 

[Epicnemesis]

Nah there are still traditional order lines for most things (maybe all?) however it’s worth noting from what I’ve seen so far that a lot of space has been given for mobile orders, so the traditional lines move slower.

For instance at pacific Wharf what was once two lines is now 1 line funneling to 2 cashiers, the rest of the space is for mobile order.

 

[handyl03]

I've been following the dining reservation threads and it seems like you need either an advance reservation or mobile ordering to eat anywhere in the parks. Is this correct? No more waltzing over to get a dole whip or pop into Plaza Inn on a whim?

It's possible I missed something about this so I wanted to double check.

I don't mind making reservations for some things, but I'm hoping there are still some walk up options that I don't need to plan ahead of time. On previous visits we would stop to eat when we felt like it and never planned ahead except for character dining, Fantasmic dinner or Blue Bayou.

Is there a list that I could have missed of restaurants that you don't need to reserve or use mobile ordering?

Thanks!

We walked right into Plaza Inn and had fried chicken for dinner last Monday around 5pm. They aren’t doing mobile order at Plaza Inn anymore. It looks like they’re finally back to their full menu too. You can also join a walk up list on the app for some of the restaurants that take reservations - Cafe Orleans, Carthay Circle & Lounge, Storytellers Cafe, Magic Key Terrace, Riverbelle Terrace, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, & Lamplight Lounge. The app shows the approximate wait time and will also tell you if the walk up list is at capacity. Blue Bayou is still hard to get. Reservations aren’t released at 60 days out and then just randomly show up. Good luck!

 

[teamtreto]

I just bought our tickets today for Nov 5-7 and tried to book ANYTHING and nothing has availability. Is this because I am too early? I'm not sure I want to pay for an alert service.

 

[DLgal]

I just bought our tickets today for Nov 5-7 and tried to book ANYTHING and nothing has availability. Is this because I am too early? I'm not sure I want to pay for an alert service.

You're too early.

 

[amyg1975]

3 of or 4 meals this past weekend were spontaneous, even with mobile ordering. We mobile ordered at Flo's and Pizza Planet, and they had almost instant return times. Rancho de Zocalo was walk-up and super fast. Pym's on Sunday at lunch was the most ridiculous and we ended up not going there (2+ hour return time).

 

[teamtreto]

You're too early.

Thanks. I just figured 60 days like in the past. Oh the post-pandemic world...

 

[Pluto468]

Thanks for all the feedback! I was worried we wouldn't be able to find food if I didn't plan it ahead of time.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks. I just figured 60 days like in the past. Oh the post-pandemic world...

Disneyland has never truly been "60 days". Sometimes some restaurants were 60, sometimes 55, many usually closer to 45.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Thanks for all the feedback! I was worried we wouldn't be able to find food if I didn't plan it ahead of time.

You can find food, yes. But if there's something specific you want, it's not so easy. In DCA on Sunday, the waits for all the counter service places we wanted to try were 1-2 hours. Even snacks had a wait.

 

[Malcon10t]

You can find food, yes. But if there's something specific you want, it's not so easy. In DCA on Sunday, the waits for all the counter service places we wanted to try were 1-2 hours. Even snacks had a wait.

We were there Sunday. We got Corndogs at corndog castle at 5pm, with under a 5 min wait. And we got burritos at Paradise grill with no wait. And pretzels and beer at Brews all within 5 mins. We had no problem with ordering all day. (We ordered and scattered to pick up orders.)

On Sat, we looked for a lunch/dinner about 430, and picked Smokejumpers with only a 15 min wait. 1 of our party did Award Weiners at the same time and had no wait. At 815, we ordered at Stage Door, and was able to pick up in under 10 mins.

 

[Lillebelle]

I can't speak to the experience post-magic key release, but there was a huge difference in food availability from our first trip in early June to our more recent trip in mid August. First trip it was like literal Hunger Games -- mobile windows very far out, little to no walk-up availability, a lot of places straight up closed, and dining reservations gone the same day they were released. August was much better. We still like to mobile order but were often able to get an instant return window vs having to plan hours in advance.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I was able to go to Plaza Inn on a whim recently. I think that if you're a bit flexible with where you want to eat, it's not too difficult. But it is a bit difficult for some places like Pyms.

Dole whip always took a bit of a wait on hot days and I don't think it's any worse now.

 

[V.I.N.CENT.]

Thanks. I just figured 60 days like in the past. Oh the post-pandemic world...

Check your PM's

 

[DLgal]

I was able to go to Plaza Inn on a whim recently. I think that if you're a bit flexible with where you want to eat, it's not too difficult. But it is a bit difficult for some places like Pyms.

Dole whip always took a bit of a wait on hot days and I don't think it's any worse now.

On the topic of Dole Whip...the unsung hero of Dole Whip is the Tangaroa Terrace walk up bar at DLH. The dole whip they serve here is dispensed into a 16oz drink cup and they fill it ALL the way AND for an extra $6 they will put a shot of rum (spiced or coconut) in it. It's amazing, and no waiting!

 

[wildekatza]

I can't speak to the experience post-magic key release, but there was a huge difference in food availability from our first trip in early June to our more recent trip in mid August. First trip it was like literal Hunger Games -- mobile windows very far out, little to no walk-up availability, a lot of places straight up closed, and dining reservations gone the same day they were released. August was much better. We still like to mobile order but were often able to get an instant return window vs having to plan hours in advance.

Your Hunger Games comment has me rofl! this is the same thing I tell my family about this pandemic with the toilet paper shortage! LOL

 

[wildekatza]

On the topic of Dole Whip...the unsung hero of Dole Whip is the Tangaroa Terrace walk up bar at DLH. The dole whip they serve here is dispensed into a 16oz drink cup and they fill it ALL the way AND for an extra $6 they will put a shot of rum (spiced or coconut) in it. It's amazing, and no waiting!

Is the Tangaroa Terrace the one that is the patio to Trader Sam's? Or is it a different spot? I have heard about this forever and wanted to try the Dole Whip with a shot in it!!!

 

[DLgal]

Is the Tangaroa Terrace the one that is the patio to Trader Sam's? Or is it a different spot? I have heard about this forever and wanted to try the Dole Whip with a shot in it!!!

Yeah, so basically there is the quick service place on the left, Trader Sam's on the right, and in the middle is an open air walk up bar. That's where you get the Dole Whip.

 

[wildekatza]

I am soooo on it!

Yeah, so basically there is the quick service place on the left, Trader Sam's on the right, and in the middle is an open air walk up bar. That's where you get the Dole Whip.

 

[Pluto468]

I just bought our tickets today for Nov 5-7 and tried to book ANYTHING and nothing has availability. Is this because I am too early? I'm not sure I want to pay for an alert service.

I went on today and was able to get reservations at a few restaurants for November 6&7. There were alot of things available (PST 5 am)