No ADRs, I walked up to...

[Southernswthrt1]

Just wondering how many of you have walked up to a TS restaurant and gotten a table lately. We'll be there from 12/10 - 12/13 and I'm really, really hoping for a little luck being able to walk up to a few places around lunch time or shortly thereafter.

This was a last minute trip, so we weren't able to make any ADRs - and yes I know they're a must these days. So I'm looking for replies from those of you who didn't have ADRs, but managed to get a seat. If so, when and where? How long did you wait?

TIA

 

[TigerKat]

Hi there fellow Tiger Fan!! We had all of our ADR's planned but one day we had some extra time early in the morning and decided to try and have breakfast. Since Spoodles was in our resort we went there and only had about a 10 minute wait. It was really good too!

 

[Mkrop]

Well we went in the beg of May, so I am not sure if this applicable. We walked up to SciFi for lunch. We walked up to Chef Mickey for breakfast so we then cancelled our ADR for later. We got at the last minute, that afternoon, an ADR for dinnr for Concourse Steakhouse.

I would keep trying to call and I would call while you are there as well as walking up.

Have fun

 

[eliza61]

Just wondering how many of you have walked up to a TS restaurant and gotten a table lately. We'll be there from 12/10 - 12/13 and I'm really, really hoping for a little luck being able to walk up to a few places around lunch time or shortly thereafter.

This was a last minute trip, so we weren't able to make any ADRs - and yes I know they're a must these days. So I'm looking for replies from those of you who didn't have ADRs, but managed to get a seat. If so, when and where? How long did you wait?

TIA

I just got back from a week at disney with no adrs. Here's the link.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1635547

Basically what I found worked best.

Avoid prime time eating hours like the plague. You will not have much success walking up at noon or 6:00 pm.

Make use of the resort hotels. When never were turned down at the resort hotels and we got to try a lot of hidden gems that we would never had tried any other time.

Mk seems to be the hardest park to get walk ups. Epcot, we had the most luck.

Check with disney dining in the morning, we found a lot of openings that way.

 

[dmslush]

Try calling disney dining from your room each morning or evening. When we were there this past sept/october, we were able to call one evening and get breakfast at whispering canyon for the next morning. They will be able to tell you exactly what they have available and book it for you.

 

[Southernswthrt1]

Hi there fellow Tiger Fan!!

Have a great trip, TigerKat! Nice to see a fellow Tiger on the boards here! We're off to the game in a few minutes...thanks for the info! It gives me a glimmer of hope!

 

[TiggerGuy67]

My favorite story about not having an adr and getting served: We were a party of 11 hanging out at DTD and were walking by the Rainforest. The line to leave your name at the counter had to be 25+ people deep so my friend walked to the front of the line just to ask the manager approximately how long the wait was. He asked how many of us there were. When she said 11, he looked down at his paper, looked up and said "Follow me". Boy were the people waiting in line upset.

Bottom line, never ever give up. And keep a smile on your face, it helps.

 

[tinkandpan]

Like someone mentioned- calling Disney Dining that morning, they can help you. We've been able to walk into Plaza Restaurant at the MK as well as CP breakfast (odd time). Japan and Morocco were two in Epcot we were able to get as well as Garden Grill. I think a lot just depends on when you are going and if you really care about what time you eat.

 

[hygienejean]

We were in WDW this October. The day we went to AK, we decided we might like to try Donald's breakfastsaurus. I called Disney Dining in the AM and they said there were no ADR's left. We arrived at the AK about 9:00, walked over to Donald's anyway and asked if they had any walk up tables. They said yes and it will be about 20 minutes. Well they called us in 5 minutes! When we got into the restaurant, the place was half EMPTY! Go figure!

The food was horrid but the kids liked the characters. No worries, it is closed in that location now. Now that it is at the Tusker House location, I would give it another try.


so! moral of my story? Even if Disney Dining says it is filled up, it is worth a try to get a walk up. You never know!

 

[gigi1313]

you're still two weeks out... why not call now and try to make a few ADRs?

 

[danny1649]

It has really changed the chance to be able to walk up and get a seat.Never hurts to try,good luck.

 

[NickieMouse MO]

We walked up to Le Cellier on Saturday Nov. 17th for lunch at noon. It was a 20 minute wait for a walk up table. Since August Disney Dining said nothing was available - I called quite frequently, too.

You never know what you might get by being a walk-up. Have a great trip and good luck!

p.s. I think your luck is also better if you are a party of 4 or under - larger than that is harder to seat...

 

[Southernswthrt1]

Walk up at LC and at noon! That's awesome. I was hoping that by waiting until 1:30 or 2 PM, we would have a better chance at walking up to some places. So I guess there is hope!

 

[jlovesee]

My husband just got back from Disney/Orlando and was able to walk up to the Brown Derby at MGM Studios about 7PM (this was week before last, during the IAAPA trade show) He was there with the trade show with another guy so it was just a party of two.

Last summer (2006), in June I was able to call the morning of and get an ADR at The Plaza at Magic Kingdom.

Last Thanksgiving Weekend (2007) on Sunday we called 11AM for a 12:30 PM ADR at Mexico in the World Showcase.

Usually when we are there in January we make one ADR for our anniversary dinner and everything else we do as walk ins, this way we have done lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern, Dinner at Whispering Canyon, and Lunch at several World Showcase Restaurants. (This is late January early February)

There ARE times and places that you need to make ADRS, case in point Thanksgiving Day, Food and Wine Festival, during Free Dining and popular restaurants (Le Cellier and Ohana are good examples) However if you are flexible, I think there are very few times during the year were you would be relegated to counter service only.

Jennifer

 

[Southernswthrt1]

Just wanted to follow up on our trip.

12-9 Sunday - We walked up to RFC at AK around 2 PM for a late lunch. We were seated in about 5 minutes. We had burgers and a turkey wrap. They were all good. I do enjoy this place for the theming, not so much the food.

12-10 Monday - We walked up and were immediately seated at the ESPN Club around 6 PM. It was empty! I couldn't believe it with Monday Night Football, but there were only about 10 tables with people during the radio show broadcast. It was fun, but the food left a lot to be desired. It actually made MIL sick. We had the hot dog, a burger, and a Caesar salad.

12-11 Tuesday - We didn't eat at MK, but we did have a Dole Whip float!!!

12-13 Wednesday - We walked up to LC at 11:25 and got a table. We got to experience their opening ceremony where they sing O'Canada. People were being turned away not even 10 minutes later. I had the Filet (but unfortunately there were no cream cheese mashed potatoes at lunch...bummer). The others in my party had burgers.

I just wanted to let others out there know that it is possible to get a table if you are there at the right time!!!

 

[Silly Girl]

I just wanted to second you on walking up. We were at WDW 12-20 to 12-26 and were able to walk up to Kona Cafe at 5:00pm on 12-20 and Yak and Yeti on the 23rd at 11:15am. There was hardly anyone there at 11:15 but we walked by there around 2:00pm and it was packed. So I think if you go right at the opening either for lunch or dinner you can get in as a walkup. I had ADR's for all our other days but had left a few open and am glad I did. Kona ended up being our favorite dinner and we were all happy with Yak and Yeti. There were four of us (2 adults and 2 kids).