Nomad Lounge and Walk Up List

[TinkBink]

We are headed back to Disney after a 2 year break and we have always loved going to the Nomad lounge. I was reading a blog review recently and it said you now had to join the walk up list to get in? Not exactly sure what this means, is it just a normal wait list as in if they have a table right then you can get it or else they will take your name and you'll wait? It says you can join from the My Disney Experience app but I went into the app and I couldn't seem to find that option anywhere? When we used to go we would just show up and they always had a table. I thought the walk up list was only for people hoping for an open spot at restaurants where they take reservations? Any help would be greatly appreciated so we can plan accordingly to get into our favorite spot!!

 

[lovin'fl]

You go to Nomad door and CM on tablet takes your cell number. They tell you approximate wait time and say they will text you when table is ready. When you get text you have 10 mins to return. You can also decline it. Sometimes a table will be available though. We have done this 3 times in the past few months. One time they had a table right away. Other 2 times they told us like 70 or 90 min wait but our table was ready after 25-30 mins. I have heard many others say the wait was way less than what they were told so don't go do something that takes long. You don't want to be stuck in line at FOP, for example (we were one of the times so we had to decline). You definitely don't want to miss out because Nomad is awesome.

 

[TinkBink]

You go to Nomad door and CM on tablet takes your cell number. They tell you approximate wait time and say they will text you when table is ready. When you get text you have 10 mins to return. You can also decline it. Sometimes a table will be available though. We have done this 3 times in the past few months. One time they had a table right away. Other 2 times they told us like 70 or 90 min wait but our table was ready after 25-30 mins. I have heard many others say the wait was way less than what they were told so don't go do something that takes long. You don't want to be stuck in line at FOP, for example (we were one of the times so we had to decline). You definitely don't want to miss out because Nomad is awesome.

Thank you so much for that information! Wow, we have been there many many times and never had a wait. But we usually like to get there right at opening time so that's probably it. Sounds like we'll stick with that strategy! Thanks again!

 

[Cabius]

If you're close enough, you can also join the walk-up-list from the MyDisneyExperience app by adding a dining reservation and selecting "NOW" as the time. If the wait time is more than an hour or so, they won't let you join the list from the App, though.

 

[Moliphino]

I never saw the walk up wait list in the app active for Nomad. We went to the Nomad both times and got on the list that way. Once was a little after opening and they took our phone number, the wait was shorter than they told us. I had been on the app right at opening to try to get on the waitlist that way (we were on the safari at the time), but it never opened so we decided to try in person. The second time we waited in the line pre-opening and were able to get right in.

 

[Cabius]

I never saw the walk up wait list in the app active for Nomad. We went to the Nomad both times and got on the list that way. Once was a little after opening and they took our phone number, the wait was shorter than they told us. I had been on the app right at opening to try to get on the waitlist that way (we were on the safari at the time), but it never opened so we decided to try in person. The second time we waited in the line pre-opening and were able to get right in.

We didn't try in-person, sadly. I saw it pop up on the app twice, but both times was a 50-minute wait (I think they close it when it is over 1 hour).

 

[Moliphino]

In the app just go to the Nomad Lounge page and there's an option for the walk up list. It may or may not be active.




ETA: When I tried this way it would tell me it was full, but I knew that couldn't be true because I had been on it literally right when the lounge opened. That's what I meant by "not active", not that the button wasn't there or didn't work. I think they hadn't actually opened the online list yet, probably because they had to process the line at the lounge first.

 

[Beer Me]

Thank you so much for that information! Wow, we have been there many many times and never had a wait. But we usually like to get there right at opening time so that's probably it. Sounds like we'll stick with that strategy! Thanks again!

I’ve only been once in 2018 but I guess it’s become more popular since then or else we were very lucky. At that time we just walked in on a whim and there were several open places to sit.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Thank you so much for that information! Wow, we have been there many many times and never had a wait. But we usually like to get there right at opening time so that's probably it. Sounds like we'll stick with that strategy! Thanks again!

If you plan to go when they open - 11 am - know the line begins forming between 10:30 and 10:45. They take those waiting in line 1st before starting the wait list as the wait list will not open until the lounge officially opens.

 

[TinkBink]

If you plan to go when they open - 11 am - know the line begins forming between 10:30 and 10:45. They take those waiting in line 1st before starting the wait list as the wait list will not open until the lounge officially opens.

Noted! Thank you! Certainly different than the times we've been before but we will adjust! We have two little ones with us so maybe our best bet is to join the waiting list when they open.

On another note, the Brown Derby Lounge is also one of our favorites and back in 2019, again would walk up with no problem. But is this a similar situation now as well that we should be prepared for?

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Noted! Thank you! Certainly different than the times we've been before but we will adjust! We have two little ones with us so maybe our best bet is to join the waiting list when they open.

On another note, the Brown Derby Lounge is also one of our favorites and back in 2019, again would walk up with no problem. But is this a similar situation now as well that we should be prepared for?

I would recommend at least one parent getting in line early if you want the Nomad Lounge - from the outside tables you can see all the floats with characters go by which is fun for the kids. Not everyone has to be there when they seat you. And they have some nice items on their kids menu.

The Brown Derby lounge can be similar situation in my experience. And you can now also eat off the main menu from the Brown Derby.

 

[TinkBink]

So if I'm looking at the app from home, just to get an idea of walk up availability, will it show me availability right now or do I need to be in the park for it to be active? (As of right now, everything is showing me "no tables available" for the walk up list).

 

[Moliphino]

So if I'm looking at the app from home, just to get an idea of walk up availability, will it show me availability right now or do I need to be in the park for it to be active? (As of right now, everything is showing me "no tables available" for the walk up list).

It should show the estimated wait, if the walk up list is open. The screenshot above was taken from my app this morning in CT.

 

[TinkBink]

It should show the estimated wait, if the walk up list is open. The screenshot above was taken from my app this morning in CT.

Okay thank you! I did check right at lunch time so maybe all of the wait lists really were full!

 

[msteddom]

If you are a smaller party, the bar top is open seating. You might be able to get right in!

 

[Marthasor]

We did Nomad as a walk-up, party of 2, late in the afternoon in early October (around 3 pm or so). We did it through the app and had a 5 minute wait. Of course, YMMV, but if you try at an off-peak time, you may have less of a wait.

 

[TinkBink]

Thank you everyone so much for all the info! I checked this morning and it looked like right at 11 am there was walk up list availability with a 10 minute wait. Brown Derby Lounge was similar so I have hope!! Thanks again everyone!!

 

[berti13]

We used the walk up list last week for Nomad, Kona Cafe and Spice Road Table. Each time we received a text within 20 minutes indicating a table was ready. Kona and Nomad both quoted over 45 minutes.

 

[lovin'fl]

Thank you everyone so much for all the info! I checked this morning and it looked like right at 11 am there was walk up list availability with a 10 minute wait. Brown Derby Lounge was similar so I have hope!! Thanks again everyone!!

Brown Derby patio lounge doesn't have food right now. Same with 50s Prime Time lounge (think called Tune-In). Just bar drinks. They are both operating as a walk up bar where you get your drink and can sit down on your own.

Maybe HBD lounge is back to doing food now...they have food on the menu on WDW site. Unless that has been there. Yep, started food back up in Sept. Wish I had known. We were just there last weekend looking for small bites and drinks and went to Baseline with the masses (long line). Would have tried the HBD.

 

[TinkBink]

Brown Derby patio lounge doesn't have food right now. Same with 50s Prime Time lounge (think called Tune-In). Just bar drinks. They are both operating as a walk up bar where you get your drink and can sit down on your own.

edit...Maybe HBD lounge is back to doing food now...they have food on the menu on WDW site. Unless that has been there.

Oh no that would be disappointing! We love getting drinks and apps there. They do have a walk up list you can join on the My Disney Experience app so maybe they just recently changed? I'll cross my fingers they are back to normal by my trip in May!