Making spur-of-the-moment dining ressies

[crusoe2]

On our last trip we were leaving the Studios and discussing where to have lunch one day and decided on a whim to head over to WL to see if we could get in at Whispering Canyon. We got a table with no wait but I know we were just lucky that time. I seem to recall reading something about being able to call a dining number from phones in the park. Would this work for checking current availability/wait times at a restaurant outside that park? (Obviously if we want to go to a restaurant in the same park we'll just walk over and check at the podium.) If we're not in a park, is there a number I can call to see if we can get into a restaurant in the next little while or would we actually have to go all the way to the restaurant and check at the podium to see if we can get in?

 

[Imagination]

The dining number called on those phone is the 407 wdw-dine equivalent. i.e. it's like calling that number. So they will not know anything about what is happening that instant at any of the restuarants on property. But they can tell you if there are any ADR's available.


Before the advent of the current generation of dining plans.... you could find table restaurants on property to eat at. It was something I enjoyed...I would make a few key ADRs...and we would just have other times set to allow flexibility on when and where we dine by walking up....and perhaps waiting a bit. Nowadays ..without an ADR it seems almost impossible to walk-up. Even ADRs are hard to find if you are a Floridian and want to book only a week or two ahead.

 

[Dzny Nut]

We were at MGM. We were all hungry. We ended up going to 50's to see if we could get earlier reservations, since our reservation there was late. she said there was nothing than alter than when we were already had.

 

[Calliaz]

Last week we were able to get same-day reservations at all the places we wanted to eat; however, it was a very slow time at the parks. I would either go to Guest Services in the park or call the 407-wdw-dine number from my cell phone. So, it can be done. I just wouldn't count on it during a busy time and I wouldn't have a place I absolutely had to eat at.

 

[Baileymouse]

This past week I was able to get the following last-minute reservations with no trouble:

Tuesday night: Spoodles for dinner, table for 2. The place was empty!

Thursday afternoon: Chefs de France for lunch, table for 4.

Thursday night: Boatwrights for dinner, table for 6.

Friday afternoon - Crystal Palace character lunch, table for 2

 

[crusoe2]

Thanks for the responses. I wondered if the number from the park phones just put you through to the regular dining folks. Sounds like this will work okay for us. I'm making ADRs for the few restaurants that are on our must-do list and we'll just wing it with the others. Thanks again.

 

[Amypm]

We usually make our dining reservations either the day before or the day of, if at all. As long as you are flexible with times and locations (have a couple choices in mind and a general range of times rather than a specific time), it shouldn't be a problem. We never plan too far ahead at WDW - works for us, but not for everybody.

 

[sarose]

We leave this Tuesday and are playing it by ear (no pun intended) I realize we are at Disney at a slower time. In the middle of summer, I am sure it would be harder. We dont want to be locked in. We dont know where we will be when yet. We will most likely call the day of. I will let the board know how that goes for us

 

[shellybaxter]

In the Studios (former MGM) their is a kiosk where the times board is that will help to same day (or even future) reservations. We go at slower times and have had good luck at this location when chaning our dining plans. In Epcot you can go to the guest services location to side of space ship earth. When we were there during food and wine they had a board with which restaurants had opening and for which meal. I would imagine there is a location like this in the other parks as well