No ADRs

renae3

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 11, 2008
Messages
268
Hello everyone. Just a quick question...is it possible to just walk into a restaurant and get a table or is it necessary to have dining reservations? Thanks!
 
Sure it is possible, if you don't care when or where you eat.

And it depends on when you are going too. So, if it is a peak travel season no. Off peak maybe.

You are always better off making ADR's if you think you want to eat some where. You can always cancel.

Sarah
 
Many of the restaurants, especially those in the theme parks, will simply turn you away if they're completely booked and you don't have an ADR. They won't even let you wait for a table.

You can always call that day and try to get a last-minute ADR, but you'll have a very limited choice of restaurants and dining times, and the restaurants that you can get into may not be in a convenient location. For instance, you're planning to be in the Magic Kingdom, but there's availability at Olivia's at OKW, or Spoodles at the Boardwalk.

You can always cancel an ADR. Far better to make the reservation and cancel it if your plans change, than to be wanting a table-service meal and not be able to get in anywhere.
 
I had my ADR's planned months in advance and was very glad I did. Saw many many people get turned away from almost every place we were.

Have had two friends go recently, one with ADR's one without. The one without did not get in anywhere, had the dining plan and ended up having to use her table service credits for counter service.

Better safe than sorry?
 

Hello everyone. Just a quick question...is it possible to just walk into a restaurant and get a table or is it necessary to have dining reservations? Thanks!

Sometimes you get lucky, if you go real early or real late. Don't expect to eat at 6:00 or any other prime time hour.... but if you're a late night guy... 9:30pm and later are sometimes open :confused3
 
some places you may hit the jackpot and get in and then there are those days when everything is taken .....
we went last minute this past September and we were able to get Crystal Palace at 3:40 pm and then Biergarten at five pm......we were fine with that ....and we ate at the food courts and counter service.......
 
when are you going?

last sept, we saw walk-up's being turned away at every TS place we ate. we, ourselves, tried to rearrange a few ressies to no avail. when they have free dining, or if it is peak travel time, i would say make adr's if you want to eat somewhere specific at a specific time - or prepare to eat CS.

when we vay-cay, my dh likes to have a nice sit-down family meal every night, so we plan...
 
Hey, sometimes you get lucky at 6:00 walking up to Le Cellier Easter week - but don't count on lucky.

If you want to go ADRless, your best bet:

Have a small party - parties bigger than four are harder to seat.

Eat early or late - early is better. Don't wait until 6:00pm and think you'll stroll in with no reservation.

Try your big meal for lunch, lunch tends to be a better shot

Call for ADRs from your cell phone while waiting in line - sometimes a restaurant won't be taking walkups - but Disney Dining will still be able to get you in.

Know which restaurants are better bets for walkups - and which ones are only worth asking on a lark. Le Cellier - if you are walking by, ask, but don't cross the park just to ask because it isn't likely. Marakesh - chances aren't bad you can walk in.

Hotel restaurants and signature places are often better bets for walk ups - particularly early in the evening. But don't try to walk into California Grill in time for fireworks, that isn't going to happen.

Know what counter service locations in the park are most appealing in case getting a table service restaurant doesn't pan out. There can be some great counter service restaurants - you don't HAVE to get stuck with cheeseburgers and fries every night if you know where to look.
 
Actually, I heard a CM say at Le Cellier that they no longer take walkups. I don't know if they were just saying that because they were sick of saying "no, we are filled for tonight, all the Epcot restaurants are filled for the evening, if you would like us to try to find you a reservation for one of the other restaurants for later in the week, we will call for you" I heard them say this countless times in the 10 minutes I waited outside at LeCellier for my table to be ready.

My advice...make ADRs.
 
Many of the restaurants, especially those in the theme parks, will simply turn you away if they're completely booked and you don't have an ADR. They won't even let you wait for a table.

You can always call that day and try to get a last-minute ADR, but you'll have a very limited choice of restaurants and dining times, and the restaurants that you can get into may not be in a convenient location. For instance, you're planning to be in the Magic Kingdom, but there's availability at Olivia's at OKW, or Spoodles at the Boardwalk.

You can always cancel an ADR. Far better to make the reservation and cancel it if your plans change, than to be wanting a table-service meal and not be able to get in anywhere.

This is very well said - I totally agree. You might have a better chance at slower times of the year, but probably not. Even during "slower" times, it's difficult to do a walk-up. You might end up having to have dinner (if you're lucky!) at 9:30 at night. You might be able to get in at restaurants that are not very popular (many for good reason!).

ADRS are, in my book, a "necessary evil." I wish I didn't have to plan so far in advance, but if I want to get a reservation at a specific restaurant, at a time that's convenient for me, I make an ADR. I've always, always been glad I made them well in advance.
 
As much as I'd love to just pick a place and eat....while in WDW it is pretty impossible. Especially at the really popular places. We have gone even during off season and had problems getting into a place last min.. It's much easier planning in advance and knowing you have your ADR in place.
 
And please, if you don't have ADR's and the restaurant tells you they are full- walk away. Don't pitch a fit and demand the manager. I've seen this too many times! Don't people know it only make them look foolish? A little planning goes a long way!
 
And please, if you don't have ADR's and the restaurant tells you they are full- walk away. Don't pitch a fit and demand the manager. I've seen this too many times! Don't people know it only make them look foolish? A little planning goes a long way!

I am with you...I saw a grown man throw a tantrum that would rival my 4 yr old....the whole restaurant went quiet...the guy was yelling that I paid good money to be here and I expect a table.Someone in the restaurant yelled out maybe you should have had the foresight to plan ahead then.Oh it was priceless.I almost peed my pants.:goodvibes
 


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