No reservation...can you still get in?

[srferson]

As you've seen from varying posts, there's no way to know how lucky (or not lucky) you'll get.

I, personally, enjoy mealtime far too much to chance it. If there are certain restaurants I want to go to (and there are ) I stick it out with the ADR system.

In my case, I normally spend a lot of my time in front of a computer. So, last trip, when I really wanted Le Cellier, I just checked the system again and again and got a reservation for a kinda weird time but I took it. Still kept checking and found a better time. Snagged it and cancelled the first reservation immediately. (Always cancel if you aren't going to use a reservation. Someone else wants it.)

I ended up doing the same deal for a friend who was going at around the same time as me. Just checked and checked and finally snagged him a Le Cellier reservation too.

Anyway, that's just my strategy. I enjoy meals far too much to chance it.

Good luck. And have a wonderful time no matter where you eat!

 

[SweetSpot]

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.

Today? An insider! Is it still the same at lunch now that the menu changed?

 

[Cat0727]

My sister and I were able to get into Mama Melrose when we went the last week of March. I believe we checked in around 5:30 and it was a 40 minute wait, not so bad.

 

[GeorgeG]

Today? An insider! Is it still the same at lunch now that the menu changed?

It's probably been about a year since the last time we ate there so I don't know how recently things have changed. The potato cheddar soup was still great. I had a burger and that has changed considerable since the last time I had one. I was dissapointed. It's on a different bun and has a lot of fried onions piled on with spinach on the bottom. There was other stuff I didn't recognize. I'm sure some people will like it, but I'm just not into gourmet hamburgers. It was so sloppy I had to finish it with a fork and knife, and then only finished the actual burger. My wife had the chicken crepe and wasn't very impressed. Someone at the next table had what looked like an average NY strip steak that didn't look worth half the menu price. Sometime back, a poster mentioned that this restaurant should be memorable for something more than just the soup. That went through my mind during lunch today. The service was great, though. No hurry to go back.

 

[SweetSpot]

That's sad to hear, I was happy to finally get a lunch reservation only to find the menu could have possible changed. The burger you had today is not on the old menu so things have changed and apparently not for the better. i guess it will be easier to do a walk up there now if the changes are recieved well.

 

[GeorgeG]

That's sad to hear, I was happy to finally get a lunch reservation only to find the menu could have possible changed. The burger you had today is not on the old menu so things have changed and apparently not for the better. i guess it will be easier to do a walk up there now if the changes are recieved well.

The burger I remember was very different. I believe the price on the new one was around $15-$16. I got the "Adult Lunch" special that included a bowl of soup and dessert for $28.99. It was very overpriced for what I got. I'm a simple kind of eater, so maybe others would rave about this burger, but I would rather have a basic counter service burger and just add some ketchup.

 

[GeorgeG]

I just took a look at the lunch menu posted on this site (updated 3/11?) and it was nothing like what we saw yesterday. Our server said the burger I had was the same for the several months she's been there, although she had heard it had been different prior. Once I got down to eating the new burger with a fork with all the other crap set aside, it was just an average burger. I can get a much better burger at a number of restaurants around home for a whole lot less and just as much atmosphere.

 

[DaParkers]

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.

Agree! We do walk ups every trip and have never been turned away and never waited more than 15 minutes. We've walked up to Crystal Palace, Boma, Cape May Cafe, WolfGang Puck's, Planet Hollywood, 1900 Park Fare, and Rose and Crown. I need to add that the Crystal Palace walk up was different. We walked up at 8:30 and it was PACKED! We were told that they were accepting NO walkups. But, I have this thing about me that I don't like being told that I can't do something. Sooooooo, I called the reservation number from in front of the restaurant and was able to book a reservation for 15 minutes later. I know that's crazy, but that's Disney. I've also had it happen the opposite like Frank where I called and was told that they were booked solid, but showed up anyway and still got in.

 

[WheelCEO]

i've never made a reservation and have eaten at all of the popular places with ease

 

[Lizboo]

DH and I tried to a do walk up at Yak and Yeti on our Dec 2009 trip and they couldn't fit us in, but told us we could order from the bar. That was great for us and the bartender was awesome. I know this won't work for bigger families (there are only 4 bar stools there) but it was perfect for my family of 2.

 

[SweetSpot]

Agree! We do walk ups every trip and have never been turned away and never waited more than 15 minutes. We've walked up to Crystal Palace, Boma, Cape May Cafe, WolfGang Puck's, Planet Hollywood, 1900 Park Fare, and Rose and Crown. I need to add that the Crystal Palace walk up was different. We walked up at 8:30 and it was PACKED! We were told that they were accepting NO walkups. But, I have this thing about me that I don't like being told that I can't do something. Sooooooo, I called the reservation number from in front of the restaurant and was able to book a reservation for 15 minutes later. I know that's crazy, but that's Disney. I've also had it happen the opposite like Frank where I called and was told that they were booked solid, but showed up anyway and still got in.

I tried calling reservations too when I was turned away at Le Cellier but it was still a no, sometimes it just is impossible to get in at some places. I think at most places if you are a bit flexible and willing to wait a bit you will get in eventually.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In December 2008 one of my friends who was from Orlando asked me if I could try to get a lunch ADR at any of the table service restaurants at the Magic Kingdom because I was meeting him and two other people. Well I was told that all their table service locations were not available during the lunch hours for 4 people, even when I said the first available time slot. However we tried going to the Liberty Tree Tavern without an ADR and when we walked in I remember it was very busy. However they had room for us and we got seated 5 minutes later.

Later that day we then went over to Hollywood Studios and for dinner we even walked into 50's Prime Time Cafe without an ADR and once again only waited 5 minutes for our table.

 

[ccgirl]

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.

There is no separate queue. It is by order of check in so if you had a bunch of people with ADR's check in before you they will be seated. If they told you there was availability then a person with an ADR checked in after you (with the same # of people in the party) you will be seated ahead of them.

You can always go to guest services at the park and they will tell you what is available as well. Good luck.

 

[ZoZo]

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!!

Since your trip is a couple of months out, keep trying. People cancel/change ADRs all the time - I've had pretty good luck with this.

But don't count on being able to walk up, as others have said. You can sure try, but I think your chances might be kind of small.