Need some advice

[cruisin' aunt]

DH and I will be taking a last-minute trip to the world next week. We need a relaxing trip with no set plans so ADRs are not really what we want to do. However, we do plan on eating!

Our question is: Without ADRs, what are our chances of eating at the following - LeCellier, Chefs de France, Prime-Time Cafe, Mama Melrose, Turf Club at Saratoga(we're staying there), Olivia's at Old Key West. Since we'll be on our own, timing is not important. We could eat lunch around 2:30 and consider it our dinner, too. Or, we could eat dinner early (4ish) and make sure that we've had something light early in the day.

Is it possible to just walk up to the place and see what is available? We're not willing to wait an hour - but a half hour is OK.

The big problem is we won't know what we want until that day at the earliest. Are we being unrealistic since it is probably Spring Break?

Please help!!!!

 

[RMulieri]

I would say slim to none at Le Cellier. Due to the popularity of the dining plan walk ups are becoming harder and harder to get, and you are goin in the peak of Spring Break too. If you really do not want to make adrs I would call Disney Dining each and every morning to see what is available and book it.Otherwise I would call and try to make adrs, if you decide you do not want them just cancel

 

[GPFirefly]

Since Disney created the dining plan, it is all but impossible to walk up and get seating at restaurants within the parks. However, we have never had a problem walking up to eat at resorts or in Downtown Disney.

 

[catne]

if you are very flexible, especially with times like late lunches or very early dinners, you might be able to get some of these. I know when we've had ADRs for early dinners (in the 5 or 5:30 time) we've seen people getting walk-ups, even at Le Cellier. Starting about 6:00, though (like when we'd be coming out) they'd be turning walk-ups away at the popular places.

I wouldn't count on it, though, if you're there during a busy spring-break week, so be ready with back-up counter service you'd like for every meal. You'd have a better shot at it if you were willing to call Disney Dining first thing in the morning & see what's available and go ahead and make the ADR then. Resort dining is probably easier to get into at the last minute, so you might want to try places like The Wave at the Contemporary, the Kona Cafe at the Polynesian, The Grand Floridian Cafe at the Grand Flor., Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club as well as your own resort.

 

[CruisingCamper]

I tried this the second week of December and had absolutely no luck at all! No where o walk-in and eat. I even called first and no luck!! It was so frustrating...to not be able to eat anything but counter service. We didn't have a car to go off-site!

Good Luck trying!!

 

[ancestry]

From what I have read on the boards, you are probably going to experience difficult in walking up especially is you only want to wait for 30 minutes or less. Personally I think you are going to be disappointed without ADRs especially is you really want to eat at all of those restuarants. You may luck out and get into one or two but the chances of getting all of them by walking up are probably pretty slim.

By the way next week isn't Spring Break for most people. Most University Spring Breaks occur at the end of March and regular school Spring Breaks are in April. Although it does vary around the country.

 

[catne]

From what I have read on the boards, you are probably going to experience difficult in walking up especially is you only want to wait for 30 minutes or less. Personally I think you are going to be disappointed without ADRs especially is you really want to eat at all of those restuarants. You may luck out and get into one or two but the chances of getting all of them by walking up are probably pretty slim.

By the way next week isn't Spring Break for most people. Most University Spring Breaks occur at the end of March and regular school Spring Breaks are in April. Although it does vary around the country.[/QUOTE]

"Most"? Don't think so, but maybe that's the schedule in your area...in Nebraska, some universities & colleges are having their break this week - DD's best friend is actually on the beach in Florida right now. But my daughter's college break is next week. Son's university is the last week of March -all three of these schools are in the same state. The public grade schools are all over the calendar with spring breaks - from the end of February until Easter week in April. School districts that end the school year before Memorial Day - a lot of "farm belt" states do this - generally take earlier Spring Breaks than the coastal states with school years ending in June.

I was talking to a CM who lives/works in Tampa last week, and asked her if she was fighting Spring Break traffic yet. Her reply was "Spring Break" time at the Florida beaches runs from the end of February until Mid-April, with Easter week being the worst, but busy every week during that time.

 

[RMulieri]

From what I have read on the boards, you are probably going to experience difficult in walking up especially is you only want to wait for 30 minutes or less. Personally I think you are going to be disappointed without ADRs especially is you really want to eat at all of those restuarants. You may luck out and get into one or two but the chances of getting all of them by walking up are probably pretty slim.

By the way next week isn't Spring Break for most people. Most University Spring Breaks occur at the end of March and regular school Spring Breaks are in April. Although it does vary around the country.

It does vary.Several of the universities here in Pa and NJ are on Spring Break next week .My friend and about 15 of his buddies are going to WDW next week and they are on Spring Break..