No planning...just go??

[scotty s]

Is it even possible to do this?
If we decided to wake up one morning, pack a suitcase, and drive to DW without a single resort Res, DDR, or FP...what are the chances we could find a room on property, eat in the parks or at a resort, or get a FP for a few of our fav rides?? No reservations...just show up!?

 

[cornflkgrl]

I don't know, but that sounds really fun! Hope it works out for you.

If there is any hitch in your plan, I'd think it would be in finding an on property hotel with availability.

 

[kniquy]

I guess it really depends upon the time of year. I have played around with the app and have noticed that this time of the year you can get same day reservations for something at the parks. If you know you are on your way or leaving to head there might make sense to call a hotel and secure a reservation if you need to stay over night. I would think you could find something. The only issue might be the hot ticket rides - there might not be and FP available but with using the app and touring plans you might be able to figure out the shortest wait time for those rides. I would love to just go, but we live too far away :-(

 

[Mr. Drauer]

totally doable - though as PP said, prime rides such as 7DMT and FEA will not have FP available and dining reservations will be harder, though you will still get something for each time and meal - just not BOG for dinner. You can get rooms at most resorts, though some like Deluxe will be hit or miss and still expensive. I just got FP for AK for tonight at 11:00 this morning, and FP for TT on Sunday morning. I wouldn't plan on doing it for the Holidays or on 3-day weekends or anything like that though.

 

[Karin1984]

I think it's possible, outside high season & holidays, especially when you have been before and don't care when you don't do everything.

I would check hotel options while driving or the night before, just to see which hotel to drive to. Not sure if hotels can see each other's availability, I think they can. But if not, imagine riding from hotel to hotel to find a room.

 

[gtpoohbear]

It might depend on when you go, but I would think the resort might be the hardest. I've tried several times to get a last-minute resort ressie when I found myself passing through Orlando, and have never been successful. Well, unless I wanted a $700 suite at a deluxe, those were usually available, lol! But of course, if you are willing to stay offsite there will always be something, somewhere.

Obviously popular rides and restaurants will be booked, but there are plenty of options that won't be. (And you can still use RD to ride things that you can't get FP for) The ADR cancellation policy has caused a LOT of last-minute availability, I would definitely use the app to try to snag something as opposed to walking up.

I think they key is managing expectations. Knowing that it won't be the same as a perfectly planned trip, but be willing to try some new and different things that you might not have otherwise thought of.

 

[Alesia]

I would book the hotel before leaving home. It would only take a few minutes and would make things much less stressful.

 

[tobikaye]

Is it even possible to do this?

Yes.

what are the chances we could find a room on property,...?

Probably pretty good, you just would need to not be too picky on what was available or pricing.

If possible, though, I would call along the way down to save yourself having to wait to find out once there. I did this once when I decided to drive straight through instead of stopping for the night along the way as I made way better time. I was solo and it was 2001 so cell service could be spotty in some places, so I asked my mom if she would call since I was driving. My resort was booked, but she was able to get me one night at CSR. It was great so that when I got there, I did not have to worry about going to my resort to ask and then move if there was nothing available.

what are the chances ... eat in the parks or at a resort...?

Again, very good, although if you just show up, you might have to go place to place to find. I have walked up at some places and gotten right in and others told no openings. I have called or gotten online and gotten an ADR for 20 minutes later at a hard to get place.

what are the chances ... get a FP for a few of our fav rides??

This I am not sure of as I have not been since FP+ went into affect. If your favorite rides are the ones with 60 minutes waits on average, your availability to get FP might be difficult. You can surely ride, you just might have to wait in the line or try to go during a less busy time, such as at opening.

I know that I could easily go to WDW on a spur of the moment trip and still have as good a time as if I planned it out months in advance.

 

[wajones2]

My daughter and I actually did this the week after Christmas 2015. We did want to stay on Disney property and the pickings were slim - Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club. With only 2 we also snagged a couple dining reservations at the last minute. We had an amazing trip - saw all the Christmas Decorations and the last year for the Osborne Lights. We are doing it again this year, but planning a little more this time. I would say if non-peak week, you should have no problems getting a room. Dining would be hit and miss depending on the number in your party. Good luck !

 

[ars0525]

If budget isn't an issue than I don't see any problem.

 

[rwdavis2]

Depends on what you want to accomplish. Enjoy the atmosphere, ride the attractions, or what? I detest waiting in lines so I can't imagine not doing some planning of some sort.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I would at least book a hotel room before you leave. The rest doesn't really matter until you get there.

ETA: I just looked for the heck of it and if you got there tomorrow there are lots of hotel choices.

 

[lovethattink]

You'd probably end up paying more for a room than you would booking in advance with some kind of discount. If you don't want to stay on property, you can always find inexpensive rooms in the area. You'd want to rope drop your favorite attractions. You might not get your favorite restaurants or the times you want, but often the night before you can find hard to get ADR's that people are cancelling. Walk up dining, for TS doesn't usually work. Although sometimes at restaurant opening they'll take walk ups.

If certain attractions aren't musts, and you are open to where you eat, you can definitely wing it. We do it all the time. I'll make our FP+ on the way to Disney. We are happy eating off property of CS.

 

[mister morrow]

with how disney is looking now (not that busy compared to previous years) i think it would be doable. of course the rooms will cost more upfront, but it would be cool to try something like that.

i really want to try that, but i would rather be safe than sorry

 

[mrzrich]

To book a same day resort reservation, you may have to call. I seem to remember the website not allowing same day reservations. I have also heard of some people getting great prices by showing up at the hotel's front desk. They may not get you in at the resort you show up to, but they will be able to tell you what is available and get you a room

 

[jtopp]

At the right time of year, totally possible. We actually booked a flight, room, and a few ADR's the day before we left. Surprisingly, we got discounts on the flight, the exact resort we wanted, and even some of the ADR we wanted. If you are already in the area, they seem to have some ADRs available last minute (cancellations?). One of the best trips we took, everything was spur of the moment. Good luck.

 

[tlmadden73]

Living within a day's drive .. I'd do it. (I've considered it often).

But just depends on your expectations and what you are hoping to "accomplish".

Personally, having visited twice recently, I'd be happy with just going and just going where the wind takes me. It could be freeing, relaxing and you may be able to see some things that you haven't before (because you were on too tight of a schedule).

It would be just like going to a Six Flags park ... I've never had a plan when I walk into one of those.

 

[AJA55]

In nine visits I have had one ADR. We eat early. Main meal at lunch as soon as a restaurant opens.

 

[china mom]

I do it quite often except I book the room before boarding my flight (literally, have done it on the jet way a couple of times). I need to do this to take advantage of Magical Express. Now, disclaimer, I don't do TS so no worries abut finding a table.

 

[Pigletpal40]

We've done this twice with AP's. Booked Coronado one year, and Yacht Club another, both while driving in the car from NH. Each trip was three nights, 4 days in the parks. The biggest problem was meals. We ate at the resorts and the former Downtown area quite a bit because you could not get a table for four for dinner anywhere.
We would do rope drop, ride the big wait attractions early, before the parks were busy, and use single rider where available. We would grab FP's
for only the attractions we wanted to ride multiple times. Had a great time enjoying the resorts in the afternoons. If the parks were super crowded in the evening, we would do COP, People Mover, explore the countries at Epcot, explore other resorts, or go downtown. Just Enjoy being there.