Kona Cafe now Reservation Only

[AngiTN]

Never?

I loved the 90’s and 00’s.

We never had ADR and decided on the spur of the moment where we wanted to eat. We would even just walk up and eat at Chef Mickeys.

I didn't say they never allowed walk ups. I just said they have never operated them (the ones they own and operate at least) like restaurants in the real world.
Some will take walk ups, even now. The error is assuming all of them do or that all of them will build a wait list of whatever length. The risk is, you have no way of knowing prior to walking up, who will and who won't, say yes.
With the time it can take to get somewhere is that a risk worth taking

 

[fla4fun]

That’s why if I think I might like a TS meal, I look at availability the night before or morning of. I’m not big on TS dining because I like being more flexible with my time, but sometimes I will get a craving for something and most of the time I’ve been able to book it last minute. About the only place I try walk ups are the two already mentioned - DS and WS.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Never?

I loved the 90’s and 00’s.

We never had ADR and decided on the spur of the moment where we wanted to eat. We would even just walk up and eat at Chef Mickeys.

I miss those days too! Our first family trip was in 2005---we didn't plan ANYTHING. Got a hotel reservation at Shades of Green and just showed up! After we arrived, the clerk who sold us the tickets recommended we should make a reservation for a character meal, so we did that then--just a few days before the reservation.
During the rest of the trip, we walked right into Sci Fi, 50s prime time, whatever the Italian restaurant in Epcot was at the time, and many more.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Guess I'm just thinking about those times when I'm "winging it". I just want to roll by .. "eh, you wanna eat something? Hey, you got an opening? No? Cool."
But the thought that you shouldn't even waste your breath because they won't allow anyone in without a reservation just knocks the wind out of my sails.

You can definitely waste your breath! It's always worth a shot. We've gotten walk-ups at all sorts of places. Just this past year we walked up to Spice Road Table (twice), Garden Grill (literally walked into the Land pavilion and DS announced he wanted to eat with Mickey - dude, it's a little late to announce that, but, they let us in as a walk-up!), WCC (3 times), Skipper Canteen and BOG lunch (twice). We've also walked up to Biergarten before (so, yes, WS seems to be a good bet at certain restaurants), Kona (multiple times for breakfast and lunch) and always carry our Landry's Select Card if we want to go to Y&Y or RC. We've ALWAYS been turned away from Le Cellier and LTT. Definitely waste your breath, but be prepared to be turned away. The good news is, there's always QS around and I've never heard of anyone starving at WDW!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

OP - Just curious, what time were you at Kona?

 

[tobikaye]

What I typically do, is pull up the MDE app and see what is available when I start to get hungry. Usually, I can get an ADR within 30 minutes at a place I enjoy or that I have wanted to try. Sometimes I have the option of a hard to get ADR.

Heck, I was on the site earlier to see about something for my trip in January and I forgot to change the day so I was seeing things for about 5 PM today and there were all kinds of places I would have had a hard time picking.

I have been lucky and walked up to a few restaurants at WDW and been sat within 10-15 minutes, but usually I only do this if I just happen to be near a place that I might want to eat.

 

[cleopenn]

And don't count on "but it looks empty!" There may be staffing issues involved. If you have waitstaff and kitchen staff sufficient to cover 10 tables, you can't just toss 5 more in the mix and have anyone end up happy (and there's a union contract involved too).

Yep, we learned that the hard way, so to speak. It was frustrating as a first timer.

You'd have been incorrect in most all cases. Disney has never operated their restaurants like the ones do outside in the real world

So true!

Best exchange from my honeymoon while we were waiting to be seated @ Le Cellier

Guest walks in: How long is the wait?
CM: 180 days
Guest in flabbergasted tone: Seriously
CM: Seriously

That was our family but a Kona last year . Not the exact words but the same sentiment.

 

[tnolan]

OP - Just curious, what time were you at Kona?

We arrived around 9:30 or 9:45 am. It was crowded but we expected to be given one of those buzzer things like we have so many times before and be buzzed when they had a table ready. This is the very first time we were told by the CM at the podium that it was now Reservation only. Next year we will be prepared but this visit caught us completely by surprise. Last year and several years before was, walk up to podium and get buzzer.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We arrived around 9:30 or 9:45 am. It was crowded but we expected to be given one of those buzzer things like we have so many times before and be buzzed when they had a table ready. This is the very first time we were told by the CM at the podium that it was now Reservation only. Next year we will be prepared but this visit caught us completely by surprise. Last year and several years before was, walk up to podium and get buzzer.

Got it, thanks for the reply. Sorry things didn’t work out for you this time!

 

[HopperFan]

While I have no problem doing this, it seems like a ridiculous notion when the availability is there and someone has to get their phone out to "reserve" the spot. Isn't that what a walk-in is? The CM can look down and say "ah, there's a reservation open" and then tell the guest "yes, there is a table available"?

Quite common to happen like that. I walk up to podium, am told there are no walk ups that day, I walk away and open app, book table and return a short while later. Once my folks were at Epcot and getting very frustrated with no walk ups available. I got on my phone, and was able to secure them a table.

Am sure there is a rational, maybe to not allow the restaurants to determine space but leave it to computers .... or maybe with me ready to eat I am a captive customer but that person trying to book a table may be at a resort or heading out to eat. Don't know but it's been that way since the ability to book on your phone.

 

[Lynne M]

Moving this to the Restaurants board.

 

[Colleen27]

What? Are there are other restaurants like this? I thought everything was available for walk-ins if you were willing to wait forever.

A lot of them don't take walk-ups. Even, as someone else pointed out, if there are ADRs available just a few minutes later on the MDE app. My best guess is that it has to do with lack of space to wait without clogging up the area.

 

[TomorrowlandKD]

What? Are there are other restaurants like this?

Ohana.

 

[supersnoop]

We arrived around 9:30 or 9:45 am. It was crowded but we expected to be given one of those buzzer things like we have so many times before and be buzzed when they had a table ready. This is the very first time we were told by the CM at the podium that it was now Reservation only. Next year we will be prepared but this visit caught us completely by surprise. Last year and several years before was, walk up to podium and get buzzer.

It depends on the day. We were told they were only seating reservations two years ago. We had cancelled our reservation the night before thinking we would sleep in the next morning. But we woke up early and decided to see how long we’d have to wait. That wasn’t an option.

 

[TeresaWen]

I'm wondering if some do not take walk-ups because they do leave it to the computer. So many folks are booking on their phones as they walk up. Could make for double booking?

We had almost no adrs back in October. When we felt like a sit down experience, I opened the app, checked out who had availability, and booked it. I would never try walking up to a restaurant in Disney that did not show availability in the app. Since I am already in the app, I just tale he final step and book. Easy peasy.

 

[RyMickey]

And over at Epcot, some of them are not Disney owned and they are actually more prone to operate with different rules and take walk ups. DS too. So the 2 restaurant-centric places are actually the 2 you can probably try this and have some success.

Disney Springs is a totally different beast...especially for lunch. We’ve also had tremendous success just walking up to the Boathouse for dinner on multiple occasions I assume, in large part, because of their huge swath of outdoor seating which I imagine they don’t take reservations for in case it rains.

 

[GillianP1301]

I always work under the assumption of ADR required for any TS then it's not left up to chance. The good news with Kona is, it should be a relatively easy one to get last minute so you can book your ADR on your way to checking in, which is as close to walk-up as you can get without actually just walking up.

 

[DrunkJam]

I have always worked on the assumption that you need an ADR to eat at a TS location. This time, however, I am hoping to luck into a Citricos or Cali Grill or Narcoosees or something 2 credit within easy travel from GF on arrival night. We're due to land 4:15, but, don't want to book anything in case of flight delays, so, Fingers crossed for being able to get concierge to grab us a reservation (or possibly use the ap, if my phone will work for it on the free wifi in USA)

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Quite common to happen like that. I walk up to podium, am told there are no walk ups that day, I walk away and open app, book table and return a short while later. Once my folks were at Epcot and getting very frustrated with no walk ups available. I got on my phone, and was able to secure them a table.

Am sure there is a rational, maybe to not allow the restaurants to determine space but leave it to computers .... or maybe with me ready to eat I am a captive customer but that person trying to book a table may be at a resort or heading out to eat. Don't know but it's been that way since the ability to book on your phone.

I've actually had experiences (all in WS) where there is no availability in MDE and we've been able to walk up anyway - this has happened multiple times at Spice Road Table and once at Biergarten. Who KNOWS how this all works?!!!!

 

[HopperFan]

I've actually had experiences (all in WS) where there is no availability in MDE and we've been able to walk up anyway - this has happened multiple times at Spice Road Table and once at Biergarten. Who KNOWS how this all works?!!!!

Spice Road is not Disney (I do believe that impacts) and we’ve always been able to do walkup but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

We eat at Biergarten regularly and every time see folks turned away.

I think if you want something for sure book it. Otherwise be flexible on where you eat especially busier times.