Lunch without reservations - bad idea?

[Lglchick]

We've made dinner reservations for evening, but I didn't make lunch reservations because I thought that would bog us down too much in time limitations. I've reviewed our lunch options and none of them require ADRs, so I feel we'll be okay by simply choosing some place when everyone's hungry -but before noon. Was this a bad idea?

 

[TisBit]

Lunch is much easier than dinner without reservations, but if you are looking for a sit down restaurant, still expect a long wait.

 

[JDUCKY]

Sounds like you're planning on QS for lunch. I've been in situations where lines were loong and then had to wait to find a place to sit and a "Quick" Service lunch ended up being more time than a TS would have been.

If you go earlier, though, like before 11:30am, you should be ok.

 

[lilmissbehaved]

We've made dinner reservations for evening, but I didn't make lunch reservations because I thought that would bog us down too much in time limitations. I've reviewed our lunch options and none of them require ADRs, so I feel we'll be okay by simply choosing some place when everyone's hungry -but before noon. Was this a bad idea?

We usually go to the World in the summer w/ the crowds.. typically we get a snack at the resort, do lunch around 11- 11:30... (we walk up to a QS) and have early TS dinner (around 5).

this has worked great for us. Our first trip ever was in September and we had lunch with everyone else at noon. We found we were burnt by this time and had to face LONG waits for lunch.. considering there were LOW crowds that year (10 minute waits for all big rides) ALL the waiting we did was at lunch time. It was VERY frustrating... Our new dining stratedgy made us feel like it was much less crowded... ! If you hit it a little early you get in, quietly get a seat, and you are walking out watching the line hit the door.

 

[Lglchick]

lilmissbehaved, that is exactly what my plans are! I figured we would be up so early for breakfast that we would then eat lunch around 11-11:30 because all of our dinner ressies are for between 5 and 6. I believe this will work fine for us.

 

[Forever Fairy]

It will depend on QS vs TS and also how many people you have in your party. There shouldn't be an issue at all with QS - with the exception of possibly a line. However, if you have a party of 6 or 8, you may have a long wait for sit down.

My DH and I usually take a late lunch (1PM) because we're on CST and that's Noon for us. Since there are only 2 of us, we usually have no issue with TS for lunch.

It will also depend on where you go. For example, I would never think of going to the 50's Prime Time Cafe without a reservation, even for lunch. They are usually booked solid. The only exception is if you sit at the bar - but then you don't get the experience.

My recommendation - if there's somewhere you'd really like to try, make the reservation. If not, then you can always play it by ear for CS. Good luck!

 

[gillep]

I agree you will have no issue with CS for lunch if you want to go TS especially in the parks you may have issues. We went in January and had ADRs for all our TS park lunches and the waits for people without ADRs even for tables of two were well over an hour and a half and this was a very slow time. If you really want a TS and can't stand the waits in the parks you could always go to one of the resorts we never had a problem getting a table for lunch at a resort.

 

[lzbee]

If your planning on going to Quick Service locations, it shouldn't be a problem at all.

For signature dining locations... you may run into a few problems, depending on how popular the restaurant is.