Nothing booked!

[hedgeh0g]

This may sound like a stupid question, but we (2 A's, ! C) are coming to WDW (staying @ The Dolphin) for the last two weeks of August and haven't booked a single restaurant, as I really didn't fancy planning my eating 6 months in advance!

Is this going to cause us problems? Will I be turned away from many places? What options do I have? Any recommendations on the best times to try and eat, bearing in mind my son is 5.

Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

The last week of August starts the free dining promotion time. Restaurants at the Swolphin don't take the dining plan so if you want to eat there you may be OK walking in.

If you want table service in the parks at all, call and start making reservations. You may be turned away from theme park TS restaurants unless you have them.

 

[pixiedust23]

I would try to call now and book some ADR's. The most popular restaurants you might not be able to get into regardless of the time you choose. I tried booking some restaurants like Le Cellier over 100 days in advance and the entire restaurant was booked everyday all day, while I'm going to be there.

 

[Belle5]

You're best bets will be to try and get into restaurants that don't offer the Disney Dining Plan (DDP). Some great choices would be: Fresh, Blue Zoo, Il Mulino, and Shula's. There are also many Downtown Disney locations that do not particate in the DDP. You are staying at a great location to utilize restaurants that won't be filled up with folks on the DDP! I would still call now and try to get some spots reserved if I were you.

 

[merfsko]

I've always gone down in January, so I've clearly had a different dining experience- we have never once made ADRs or planned our dining in advance. For example, We would show up atChef Mickey's, they would give us a beeper, and we would wander around four 10-30 minutes until there was a table ready. We were fine with that, as it gave us time to look in the shops

This will be my second time going in August, but last year we never did any sit-down meals.

My question: Would a walk-up even be possible?
We weren't/I wasn't planning on sit-down meals, and we might not even do one even if we could- it would just be nice to know our options and variety of available restaraunts.

Thanks all!
-merfsko

 

[iloveftwilderness]

Good luck getting into any restaurant that is on the DDP. I booked out at 180 days and still was unable to get some of the days I wanted.
You are going during Free Dining which means the restaurants will be full! I suggest deciding what park you will be visiting each day and then call early in the morning to see if there is availability. I read from other posters that any cancellations are processed and released the next day (7:00 am). I don't know how true this is, but it is worth a try. Also, some people make multiple reservations because they are like you and don't know exactly where they want to eat 6 months out. As they get closer to their vacation date, decisions are made and reservations are cancelled. Best of luck to you.

 

[Disneymommy2006]

When we went two years ago during the free dining promotion- there were signs up everywhere in the parks saying that the table service restaurants were full/or booked- can't really remember how they worded it (basically saying they were not taking walk-ups...) If I were you I would call and get ADRs now...I would try some of the "off the beaten path" restaurants...Maybe at Downtown Disney or some of the resorts?? I think I remember reading the Grand Floridian Cafe or restaurant in Morocco at Epcot were good ones to try to get last minute ADRs...

 

[KPLC]

I think you may have a hard time. I booked my meals months ago and even then I had to take times that are not that great. I have a CRT with 2 children 5 and 8 at 8:20 pm. I have not been able to change any of the times of my meals. You could try Chef Mickey for lunch from Aug 24 as they have added in the lunch for the Free Dining.

 

[hedgeh0g]

Thanks for the reply's!

I think I'm just going to have to chance it. We're near the Boardwalk and Downtown so can try there, or just rely on the restaurants in the Swan/Dolphin.

Does anyone know of a list of places that aren't in the dining plan (and hopefully won't be as busy)?

 

[Tink030]

You might have a hard time trying to get into ts at lunch or dinner times. You could try off times of the day.
I'm trying to get some of my ts changed for earlier times, because when I booked (4 months ago) they didn't have much then to choose from.
So good luck.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This location may not be on the DDP, however a few hours ago my family and I got an ADR for dinner Fulton's Crab House on August 21 without any problems. So that could be one location you might be able to eat at.

 

[septbaby]

Gosh, I wish I had seen this post 20 mins ago. I just cancelled ADRs for my 6yo nephew and I: H&V Lunch, CP Lunch, CM Dinner, Boma Dinner and the Plaza dinner for 8/28-8/31.

Just call the DINE line and try for lunches for the places in or near the parks. We had an early start in MK our first park day and lunch at Coral Reef, one of the meals and muc needed break. I booked lunch because we couldn't get dinner. We were starved and eat everything, even our 6yo ate all his apples, pizza and left just a bit of his make your own sundae.

H&V is a character meal that usually offers some flexibility.

The resort restaurants offer enough variety and tend to book up last. You could also try for something at DTD, but the LEGO store was the only draw I saw there for our 5yo (he loved that place) so book your meal when you plan to visit the store. McDonald's is right next door to LEGO (funny how that happened ) and we got him a meal there. We paid OOP, but he ate it all so good choice.

I say half full, call and get what you can and just keep calling. I wouldn't arrive w/o a few ADRs, and I'd really try for some character meals: H&V, Chef Mickey's, 1900 PF Bfast, Cape May Bfast are a few to try

 

[ROEDISNEY]

This may sound like a stupid question, but we (2 A's, ! C) are coming to WDW (staying @ The Dolphin) for the last two weeks of August and haven't booked a single restaurant, as I really didn't fancy planning my eating 6 months in advance!

Is this going to cause us problems? Will I be turned away from many places? What options do I have? Any recommendations on the best times to try and eat, bearing in mind my son is 5.

Thanks!

It's free dinning I would book something asap. I go them weeks every year. It's crowded you better call. Good Luck!

 

[pixiesnake]

If you aren't worried about doing sit down meals everyday, I wouldn't worry too much. I just called today for a last minute trip for Aug 21-24 and was able to get what we wanted. Granted, I wanted resort dining and not in the parks, but I was still able to get House of Blues and Kona for dinner, Whispering Canyon for lunch, and Boatwrights and Boma for breakfast. If there is something you really have your heart set on, then call and see if you can get something. Otherwise try places not on DDP (see the sticky for dining FAQs and you can see what places are on DDP), also try at off times, especially when the place first opens. We had a very last minute trip in June. The 4 of us were able to walk into 50's Prime Time when they first opened for lunch and LeCellier for an early dinner. Also some places don't take ADRs. Some that don't (not positive, someone correct me if I'm wrong) Beaches & Cream, ESPN, & Big River Brewing.