No availablity - Is it really possible?

Belleandtinker

DIS Veteran
Joined
Dec 27, 2006
Messages
2,176
We are currently at WDW and only made 50% of our dinner reservations prior to coming - BIG mistake. We can't get reservations anywhere now. Is it possible that EVERYONE here has priority seating reservations or plan to eat counter service or is there something we are missing. If ALL restaurants are full, why don't they have more restaurants then.

What are the chances of getting into Cape May or O'hana without priority seating?

Next time we go, we will have 100% of our reservations made prior to coming and suggest everyone else do the same.

Again, any suggestions for us for the next couple dinners.

Thanks,
 
I watched some people (we had reservations) at Crystal Palace call from their cell phone and ask them if they had any openings.......because people were walking up and they said no......so anyways....cell phone and ask for any openings ......sometimes it works.......call often to the places you want and be very flexible with your schedule.....
 
If you go to Guest Services at your hotel & ask them, they will take a look in their system to see what is available, where. Not every restaurant in DW is filled at every time of the day & than, in addition to that, there are a certain amount of people on any given day who call to cancel their reservations last minute. I'm sure they can find somewhere for you & your family to eat.
 
You could also try to have dinner at some of the Resort Restaurants. Did you try Spoodles at Boardwalk, Captian's Girlle at Yacht Club, Olivia's at OKW, Kona's at Poly, or Whispering Canyon at WL? Have you tried just calling dining and ask for reservations for dinner anywhere and see what they have available? Some of the counter service places in EPCOT are not too bad for an evening meal. We like Yorkshire Country Fish Shop, UK or Tangierine Cafe, Morocco and then top it off with something yummy for dessert at Norway.

I know, it stinks with having the DDP available. Gone are the days of just walking up or calling that morning for reservations.

Whatever you do, enjoy it.

Cyndi
 

Sometimes they'll tell you that they're full when you walk up, but if you call you can get a seat. 'Ohana is popular, so you might not get in there, but Kona (also in the Polynesian...just down the walkway from 'Ohana...is usually not booked and has even better food.)

At the MK, try seeing if there is availability at Liberty Tree Tavern.

In Epcot, Restaurant Marrakesh is never booked. If you're afraid of the more adventurous food, you can get Lemon Chicken. San Angel Inn in Mexico isn't usually too hard to get a reservation for. Germany isn't booked all that often, either. The Garden Grill is a toss-up, but worth a try.

DS - you can try 50's Prime Time - it is kind of a toss up, but worth a shot. Hollywood & Vine used to be a good bet, but I don't know about dinner and the character meal.

AK - you can almost ALWAYS get a set in the Rainforest Cafe. But that's because it pretty much sucks.

If you aren't too picky, you can usually find a seat somewhere. :) If you can't get into Cape May, perhaps the fact that every fish person I know gives it a BIG thumbs down will console you? Perhaps not. They prefer Olivia's at Old Key West and that's easy to get an ADR for, too!

Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge isn't too rough to get. Boma at the Animal Kingdom isn't too hard, either.

You might consider a dinner show - Hoop Dee Doo is a ton of fun and the later performance is almost never sold out.

Oh, and if you are two people and they turn you down, call back and tell them you're four people. It's a long story, but you might very well GET a table for four when they wouldn't give you one for two. If you get a table for four, just tell them when you check in that the other people got sick and had to leave.

Good luck. :)
 
Crystal Palace is the one place I noticed that was taking walk ups last Sept during free dining...

try the strategies suggested here - (esp pp - they just have more tables of 4 than they do for 2)

so for any lurkers its also good to note when making adr's its easer to get 2 tables of 4 than one table of 8!! :confused3
 
Ohana I think is out of the question for walk ups...as far as Cape May is concerned we were a walk in at 7:30 am breakfast once without a problem and in February 5:30 walk in right when they opened but that was a quieter time of year.
 
Try the Big River Grille at the Boardwalk. I don't think they take ADRs through Disney Dining, but we've been able to walk up and be seated within a few minutes.
 
Also try ESPN. They don't take ADR's either. They will feed ya. :thumbsup2
 
Maybe try doing some late lunches instead of dinners? You might have better luck then too.

You can also go to Guest Services in the parks and see what kind of ADRs they have available there. Try to stop by in the morning. I know at least at Epcot, MK, and DHS that I have seen them list what meals are full, partially full, or open in terms of ADRs. I have even seen where they say "only parties of 2 left" or "only lunch left" or something along those lines.

I have also called up dining reservations from my room and asked them to just give me a list of whatever they had available either at a certain park or in the resorts.

Some easier to get into places include: Captain's Grille (at the Yacht Club), Olivia's Cafe (Old Key West), Restaurant Marrakesh (Epcot), Grand Floridian Cafe (GF), Turf Club (Saratoga Springs- it is small though so get there early).

Good luck!
 
I think they must have different ways of filling tables. Our last trip, our flight was delayed and we missed our ADR. When we called, they said they had nothing available that night. When we went to the front desk, they were able to get us in and we took it, but we didn't like the time. So, when we got to the park, we asked at the restaurant if they could get us in, and they said yes, so we cancelled our later ADR. :confused3 :thumbsup2 So, just try all your options, you never know...
 
I have heard people say that calling in advance works better than a walk up. I have also heard that Cape May is sometimes possible on late notice.
 
We just got back from Downtown Disney and ate at Cap'nJacks without a wait (we were seated at 4:30). Please note we were told earlier "nothing available" even when we asked specifically about this place. We asked our server and he said that they are only booked with a certain % with priority seating reservation and the rest are open to walk in. I know Rainforest doesn't take priority seating, but they were open for walk ins at 4:30 pm also. I'll let you know how the rest of our trip goes. Thanks!
 
I think your initial post was more accurate: make as many ADRs as you can before arriving as getting a seat on site can be hard to do.

As for Captain Jack's being able to seat you: Bravo, glad you found something and hope you enjoyed it. Given that they are in Downtown Disney, essentially a mall they're a bit different than say a resort or park TS location so having greater availability for walkins makes sense. If I'm inside a park, I want to book every table, every meal, everyday if I could. Same at the resort as being a guest at the hotel is irrelevant to getting a seat. Besides a Deluxe hotel guest can always order room service.

Good luck making ADRs at other places. Try the Play 'n Dine meals at Hollywood & Vine at the Studios, seems they often have availability.
 
BTW if you are on the DDP and have been unable to use your TS credits, consider trying for a signature restaurant. They may have seating, and you won't waste any of your credits.:thumbsup2
 
Le Cellier accepted walk ups this evening.

I know of two parties of four being seated without ADRs at 7 and 7:10pm.
 
I know Rainforest doesn't take priority seating, but they were open for walk ins at 4:30 pm also.
Actually with the location in Downtown Disney Marketplace if you call them directly you can make a reservation. However speaking from personal experience if you go around or before 4:30 PM you should not wait for a table, if you don't make a reservation.
 
DisneyKevin- I am stunned! Happily stunned but nonetheless stunned. (Can I say that word more often?)

Dreams do come true for some people:rotfl2:
 


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