No reservation...can you still get in?

[mommytocalliesue]

I've been playing around with some ADR's for when we'll be there. But the times I want are gone. Does that mean if I go to the restaurant during those...I won't get in? Or will it not hurt to try?

 

[karebear1]

It never hurts to try- but don't be surprised if they can't squeeze you in. You should try calling while you're there and see what comes up- people cancel all the time. GOOD LUCK!

 

[vicki_c]

They don't keep tables for walk-ups, so if you get in, it would just be because they are not all booked or had no-shows.

The worst part, to me, would be scrambling to find a place while you have kids with you, especially hungry and cranky kids and parents.

But you can always eat counter service meals, they don't require reservations.

 

[purple figment]

According to your ticker you still have 3 months so keep checking on line frequently to see if the times you want have become available. People change their plans all the time so don't give up. You can also check the cancellation thread on the reservations board here to see if something comes up.

Good luck and hope you get what you want.

 

[iX.]

Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance. They fill up from that date.

If you can't get a time you want, you can do a walk up.

What an ADR actually is, is a spot in the "reservation queue". So, ADR's get served first. Walk ups go in the other queue. Which does get served, but at a slower rate which is unrelated to how long the queue has become.

So if you show up with an ADR you're usually looking at about 10-20 minute wait for a table. As a walkup, if you're in a very off time like 3:00 or something, you can get in 25-45 minutes, or faster if the ADR queue exhausted. However, if you're hoping to walk up during peak times (because you couldn't get a reservation at peak times as per your post) the walkup queue is going to be long, and the ADR queue will be running full capacity, and Mouse only knows how long you will wait. At least they give you a pager and you can go a short distance from the restaurant while you wait, but you'll basically shoot an hour or two of your day, plus dine time (1hr), just to eat.

Counter service anyone?

One thing, if you ask at the front how long the walkup queue is, they'll tell you, and they're usually pretty accurate with their guesses in my experience.

The previously given advice to keep trying your reservation is good advice. Spots open up.

NB my time are from visits during slower times of year... might be worse in peak times...

 

[David Brent]

i was thinking of doing that for ohana's with my gf because adr times are gone for our stay in march. but at the same time we don't want to mess about just to eat, but we do want to eat at a resort. so i found an adr for kona.

 

[RMulieri]

Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance. They fill up from that date.

If you can't get a time you want, you can do a walk up.

What an ADR actually is, is a spot in the "reservation queue". So, ADR's get served first. Walk ups go in the other queue. Which does get served, but at a slower rate which is unrelated to how long the queue has become.

So if you show up with an ADR you're usually looking at about 10-20 minute wait for a table. As a walkup, if you're in a very off time like 3:00 or something, you can get in 25-45 minutes, or faster if the ADR queue exhausted. However, if you're hoping to walk up during peak times (because you couldn't get a reservation at peak times as per your post) the walkup queue is going to be long, and the ADR queue will be running full capacity, and Mouse only knows how long you will wait. At least they give you a pager and you can go a short distance from the restaurant while you wait, but you'll basically shoot an hour or two of your day, plus dine time (1hr), just to eat.

Counter service anyone?

One thing, if you ask at the front how long the walkup queue is, they'll tell you, and they're usually pretty accurate with their guesses in my experience.

The previously given advice to keep trying your reservation is good advice. Spots open up.

NB my time are from visits during slower times of year... might be worse in peak times...

Not exactly how it works at Disney.They keep NO tables for walk ups.If they have no shows, or they are not booked, you MIGHT get in as a walk up.If it is busy and they are booked, they won't even let you wait as a walk up.IF free dining is going on, it is peak season, peak dining times, a large party, a popular restaurant , they may tell you they are not accepting walk ups at all.I have also seen them put out a large sign outside the restaurants that say "Dinner today is RESERVATIONS only " etc..

 

[Hopefully]

Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance. They fill up from that date.

If you can't get a time you want, you can do a walk up.

What an ADR actually is, is a spot in the "reservation queue". So, ADR's get served first. Walk ups go in the other queue. Which does get served, but at a slower rate which is unrelated to how long the queue has become.

So if you show up with an ADR you're usually looking at about 10-20 minute wait for a table. As a walkup, if you're in a very off time like 3:00 or something, you can get in 25-45 minutes, or faster if the ADR queue exhausted. However, if you're hoping to walk up during peak times (because you couldn't get a reservation at peak times as per your post) the walkup queue is going to be long, and the ADR queue will be running full capacity, and Mouse only knows how long you will wait. At least they give you a pager and you can go a short distance from the restaurant while you wait, but you'll basically shoot an hour or two of your day, plus dine time (1hr), just to eat.

Counter service anyone?

One thing, if you ask at the front how long the walkup queue is, they'll tell you, and they're usually pretty accurate with their guesses in my experience.

The previously given advice to keep trying your reservation is good advice. Spots open up.

NB my time are from visits during slower times of year... might be worse in peak times...

I agree with PP, this is not the case. They do not hold tables for walk ups. If this poster experienced the ability to get a table, it was, as they said at a slower time of year and most likely the restaurant was not fully booked to begin with.
Keep trying on line for a cancellation. Even call when you are there.
But the fact is, if there is an open table, you would be able to book it. If nothing opens, it is unlikely that you will have success walking up. If you decide to try, go at an odd time, or right at opening. And have a back up plan.
Good Luck

 

[Mamu]

It does depend on the time of year, and if FD is going on. I have seen many turned away. You can check at Guest Services when you walk in they will tell you what available and the times.

 

[FireDancer]

I usually go to WDW with few or even no ADRs. I have found that as long as you are flexible and don't try to get into the most popular places at the most popular times they are unnecessary. The reservation phone number is also often incorrect about available reservations. I've called before to be told there were no tables available but walked up and was seated in 15 or 20 minutes.

I think it is crazy to have your trip planned around meals or to try and determine when you'll be hungry 90 or 180 days out. Despite walking up to the majority of restaurants I have yet to starve to death on any WDW trips. The need for ADRs for most of the year has been greatly exaggerated IMO.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

We have gotten a few walk-ups and same day ADRs but it's not likely at popular places during busy seasons.

 

[mommytocalliesue]

Thank you everyone for your responses!

We do have several ADR's...there were just a couple I was playing around with I couldn't get! We plan on being pretty flexible...so we'll just see what we can do when we get there!!

 

[iX.]

To be clear: I'm not saying they keep tables for walkups. Only that, yes during non peak season (but free dining was on) even though there wasn't an empty table in the place before, during, or after our meal, we were seated as walkups. Just much slower than ADR people were being seated. They may well refuse walkups sometimes, but we had a 100% success rate so far in our walkup attempts and the wait times were 30-75 minutes. Versus 5-25 minutes with ADR. They aren't "holding" a table per say with an ADR anyway, just a slot in the queue.

I asked about it when I was waiting (both as an ADR and a walkup at different times) and the front desk staff were personable, and that's how they explained it to me. And that was my experience. YMMV.

 

[jking6]

On our first vacation in 2007 I did not realize I had to make all my res in advance so I only did a couple. Well lets just say NO WALK ups were available the whole week....
We came home with 8 unused sit down meals. total waste of money. I say book something anything and if your lucky enough to get the res you want cancel the others.
Better to be safe than nothing at all....

 

[MickeyNicki]

In my experience if you go right when they are opening you have the best chance

 

[CathieArms]

I've been playing around with some ADR's for when we'll be there. But the times I want are gone. Does that mean if I go to the restaurant during those...I won't get in? Or will it not hurt to try?

Do they have any times available? Here's what I'd do:

Let's say you want a 5:00 ADR but the only one you can get is, say, 6:00 or 6:15. Take the 6 or 6:15 opening and show up at 5:00 for your ADR. Tell them that you have an ADR, but you're quite a bit early and see what they say.

We were there last in July '09. We arrived very early for every one of our ADRs, sometimes as early as an hour, and we were seated within about 15 minutes every single time. I don't know if that was a fluke or what - and it certainly wasn't planned on our part - but that's the way it worked out. That doesn't mean it'll work out for you, but it's worth a shot. And, worst case scenario is that you still have an ADR, but for later than you might've preferred.

 

[River Country]

I think a lot has to due not only with the time of year but where youa re trying to eat. If you are trying to eat at CRT for breakfasat and do not have ADR you better be playing the part of a princess and be willing to walk to all the tables because that's the only way you are getting in.

 

[SweetSpot]

We tried to get into Le Cellier for anytime in December, starting at the door when they openned. They told us know way, it will be impossible we left and went to Rose and Crown. Rose and Crown also just openned for the day and said no way for the whole day so we went in and sat in the bar area. It took a while to get a table in that area and when we finally sat down we over heard someone saying they just asked and were able to get a reservation. I went back and asked and now 20 minutes after I first asked there was plenty of availability. Doesn't hurt to try more than once.

The ADR's drive me crazy. Everyone does not have the ability to plan 6 months out. We try to take weekend trips when we get any opportunity. They should follow DCL's lead, take advance reservations but leave some availability so everyone can at least be given a small chance at the last minute or when you are forced to change original dates when life gets in the way of vacation.

 

[1hero2princesses]

I have definitely seen both the signs saying reservations only, no walk ups and many people turned away, saying they are not accepting walk ups. Our first year I had a number of character meals and then discovered dd was afraid of characters. I begged our way into 50's prime time at dinner opening (CM was from Chicago too and took pity on our situation) and spent about 2 hours of our trip on the phone trying to get into other places. This was during free dining. All week basically no one was taking walk ups. Sorry but do not believe "oh you can always walk up". Simply not true. Depends on the time of year and how busy they are. It is safer to do the adr's and then cancel if you are not going to use them. Please don't make them and don't cancel because that takes up spots for other people!

 

[GeorgeG]

It really does depend on timing and it is easier for two to get a walk-in than a larger party. Le Cellier is one of the most difficult to get into, but my wife and I got in at opening today with no ADR.